Hygiene and industrial safety education in Algeria: An assessment of university curriculum and student perceptions

Process safety education is essential for preparing engineers to manage risks in high-hazard industries. In Algeria, process safety competencies are primarily addressed through Industrial Hygiene and Safety (HSI) programs, although no dedicated process safety specialization currently exists. This study evaluates Algerian HSI curricula through national curriculum mapping, a student perception survey, and benchmarking against the IChemE-accredited MSc Process Safety and Loss Prevention program at the University of Sheffield (UK) and the Master in Sécurité des Procédés Industriels, Environnement et Qualité (SPIEQ) at the University of Lorraine (French). The analysis shows that Algerian curricula provide broad coverage of risk assessment, fire and explosion safety, reliability, emergency management, and safety management. However, gaps remain in areas including inherently safer design, functional safety, human factors, and advanced process safety competencies. A survey of 42 students from the University of Laghouat indicates generally high satisfaction with the specialization, while also revealing concerns regarding assessment methods, language-related comprehension, and the connection between theoretical education and industrial practice. The findings highlight the need for a more competency-oriented curriculum, stronger university–industry collaboration, experiential learning, and greater integration of emerging digital technologies. This study provides an evidence-based framework to strengthen process safety education in Algeria and improve graduates’ preparedness for high-hazard industrial environments.