Mérieux NutriSciences provides testing, consulting, auditing, and training services that help organizations improve food safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.
For its July 2026 Internal Auditor course, Mérieux NutriSciences introduced a hybrid learning model combining expert instruction, digital learning, practical exercises, AI-powered feedback, and skills measurement.
The course combined independent digital learning with instructor-led remote sessions and practical activities delivered through the learning platform.
Training internal auditors requires more than understanding standards and procedures.
Learners need to be able to apply what they know in real situations: analyze information, ask the right questions, identify gaps, make professional judgments, and conduct audits effectively.
Mérieux NutriSciences wanted to create a learning experience that would not only transfer knowledge, but also give participants opportunities to practice, receive feedback, and understand how well they were developing the core competencies required for their role.
Mérieux NutriSciences redesigned the course as an integrated hybrid learning experience combining:
Instructor-led learning, digital content, practical exercises, AI-powered feedback, and skills measurement.
Importantly, the learning platform was not limited to the self-paced portion of the course. It remained integrated throughout the instructor-led learning days as well.
The instructor taught and introduced the material, then directed participants to complete practical exercises within the platform. Learners received immediate AI-generated feedback on their performance, and their results then became the basis for further discussion, reflection, and learning with the instructor.
The final exam was also completed within the platform.
Practical application played an important role throughout the course.
Instead of only learning what an internal auditor should do, participants had opportunities to actively practice applying what they had learned.
Learner feedback specifically highlighted the value of this approach. Participants described the digital learning environment as convenient, structured, and easy to use, while several asked for even more opportunities to practice in future courses.
One participant reflected on the AI practice:
The learning experience went beyond course completion and a final exam score.
Each learner had access to a personal dashboard summarizing the key competencies required of an internal auditor, together with their individual assessment for each competency.
This gave participants a clearer understanding of their own development:
Which skills are already strong?
Which skills need further development?
What should they continue to maintain?
Instead of receiving only a final course result, learners could see a more complete picture of their professional capabilities and use it to guide continued improvement.
The hybrid course delivered stronger outcomes than the equivalent traditional course.
Participants in both formats completed the same final exam, allowing Mérieux NutriSciences to directly compare learning outcomes.
The average final exam score increased from 82% in the traditional course to 91% in the hybrid course.
That represents an approximately 11% improvement in average exam performance.
All participants in the hybrid cohort passed the final exam and qualified for certification. The assessment included 15 multiple-choice questions and two open-ended questions, with a passing score of 70%.
Overall learner satisfaction increased from:
6.5/8 in the traditional course
to
7.6/8 in the hybrid course
— an improvement of approximately 17%.
Feedback from the hybrid cohort also showed:
3.9/4 — Contribution of the course to learning
3.7/4 — Meeting learner expectations
4.0/4 — Satisfaction with the instructor
3.6/4 — Satisfaction with digital learning
The digital experience was repeatedly described as convenient, structured, and easy to use:
“The digital learning helped a lot. It was excellent instead of another full day of learning. The system itself is very user-friendly and convenient.”
Another learner wrote:
“The digital learning section was very convenient, organized, well structured, and easy to understand.”
Participants also specifically highlighted the value of practice and asked for even more hands-on exercises in future cohorts.
Mérieux NutriSciences' first hybrid Internal Auditor course demonstrated the value of connecting instruction, practice, AI feedback, discussion, assessment, and skills measurement within one continuous learning experience.
Compared with the traditional course, learners achieved a higher average score on the same final exam, while overall satisfaction also increased.
At the same time, the platform enabled learning to continue throughout the instructor-led sessions rather than functioning as a separate digital component. Learners could move directly from instruction to practice, receive immediate AI feedback, and then discuss their performance with the instructor.
And through their individual skills dashboards, participants left the course with more than a certificate or final grade: they had visibility into their strengths and the specific competencies they should continue developing.
Mérieux NutriSciences' own course summary concluded that the move to blended learning improved the course across its measures, with higher average scores and significantly higher satisfaction compared with the traditional course.
