Sher Consulting & Training, part of the Mérieux NutriSciences Expert Partners network, delivers professional training in quality and food safety. For its July 2026 Internal Auditor course, the team introduced a new blended learning model designed to make a traditionally content-heavy program more flexible, practical, and engaging.
For the first time, the course combined self-paced digital learning with live remote sessions and AI-powered practice activities.
Training internal auditors requires more than understanding standards and procedures.
Learners ultimately need to be able to apply what they have learned in real audit situations: ask the right questions, interpret information, identify issues, and conduct an audit with confidence.
At the same time, much of the foundational material is knowledge-heavy and can take up valuable instructor time when delivered entirely in live sessions.
Sher wanted to find a better balance: move relevant knowledge acquisition into an effective digital format while preserving the practical, human elements of the course.
Sher redesigned the course as a blended learning experience.
Participants completed part of the program independently through a structured digital learning environment and then joined two live remote sessions. The digital experience incorporated varied learning activities and AI-powered practice, giving participants opportunities to engage actively with the material rather than simply consume content.
The practical components were particularly important because learners were preparing to conduct real internal audits in the workplace.
One participant described the value of the approach:
“The practice was very important because ultimately an auditor goes out into the field, and practice is what helps you feel what that is like.”
Participants also reported that the AI simulation initially felt unfamiliar, but became increasingly valuable after repeated attempts, with one learner suggesting that even more AI practice be incorporated into future courses.
The first blended cohort produced strong learning and satisfaction results.
100% of participants passed the final exam, with an average score of 91%. The assessment included 15 multiple-choice questions and two open-ended questions, with a passing grade of 70%.
Participant feedback was also highly positive. Based on 10 completed feedback surveys:
Sher’s learning team concluded that the transition to blended learning improved the course across its key measures. According to the course summary, average grades increased and learner satisfaction was significantly higher compared with the traditional version of the course.
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.
By combining structured digital learning with live instruction and AI-powered practice, Sher was able to create a learning experience that supported both knowledge acquisition and practical skill development.
The new format gave learners greater flexibility, preserved instructor time for higher-value interaction, and introduced opportunities to practice before applying their skills in real audit environments.
Most importantly, the results showed that moving part of the learning experience online did not require compromising learning quality. Instead, the blended approach was associated with strong assessment results and higher learner satisfaction compared with the previous traditional format.
