BOVA veterinary education network meeting
A meeting of the representatives of Baltic veterinary faculties took place in
Tartu in September 9, 2004. The objectives of the
meeting were to discuss the main problems of veterinary education in our states,
developmental strategies of veterinary education and further possibilities of
co-operation. Twenty nine representatives from BOVA member
universities participated in the meeting.
The aims of the network are:
- to provide PhD students with the best scientific knowledge available in
Baltic-Nordic area,
- promote international co-operation in university studies and research,
- promote teachers and students exchange;
- increase competitiveness of Baltic universities in the European higher
education area
The meeting was opened by Professor Toivo Suuroja, PhD, The Dean of the
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of EAU. He gave a brief introduction to the
meeting and stressed the importance of co-operation in contemporary education
and research. Lea Michelson, Academic Secretary of EAU and Chairman of the
NOVA-BOVA WG on Joint MSc Programmes, introduced the main problems which have to
be discussed in order to maintain a sustainable co-operation of Baltic
agricultural universities and development of joint activities including joint
curricula. She introduced briefly a project of Rectors' agreement what has to be
signed in September, 16.
Toomas Tiirats, MSc, Vice-Dean of Studies of Veterinary Faculty of EAU
presented an overview about undergraduate "tracking" in veterinary medicine.
"Tracking" means a possibility to select a specific area of veterinary medicine
for obtaining deeper knowledge in this specific field during the studies.
Mainly, this selection is done on the last year of undergraduate studies. The
reason for "tracking" is development towards a species differentiation in
veterinary practice (urban regions: companion animals; agricultural areas: farm
animals), increased importance of the veterinarians in food safety and quality,
prevention of environmental pollution and zoonoses; the need for veterinarians
in (inter)national administration and management / policy positions, the need
for veterinarians in research. A more specialised education responds to societal
needs and student interest and allows greater competence and confidence when a
graduate enters the work market. T.Tiirats introduced also advantages and
disadvantages of specialization and gave multiple examples of clinical
"tracking" in North-America and Europe. To provide good basic knowledge in
veterinary science, meet Bologne agreement (bachelor+master) and differentation
component of ~20% within uniform diploma studies, the length of 6 years seems to
be appropriate for veterinary training in future.
Aloyzas Januskauskas, PhD, Chairman of Veterinary Faculty Board, introduced
the main changes in the Faculty structure and the teaching process in the
Lithuanian Veterinary Academy after the recent EAEVE evaluation. The number of
departments has decreased, emphasis is placed on student-based learning, the
number of teaching hours is reduced by one-third, simultaneously increasing
self-study hours. Implementation of new subjects has been important, as well as
better presentation of existing under-emphasized subjects. Integrated teaching
was applied in many subjects. More hours are provided for studies in clinical
fields. In clinical sciences, reorientation from farm animals towards companion
animals is of highest priority. The amount of teaching in the field of food
hygiene has increased. The examination system was revised. Many of the
facilities were renovated and some new laboratories established. Important is
start of the renovation of large animal clinic.
Gunars Petersons, PhD, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
of the Latvia University of Agriculture gave an overview about the visit of the
EAEVE evaluation team to Jelgava. The main suggestions were: to increase the
number of academic staff in area of priority for teaching, research and
continuing education; increase the amount of practical/clinical training by
decreasing the number of lectures; develop the provision of the full-scale 24
hour emergency service; create isolation facilities for infected small and large
animals; increase by all possible means the availability of large animal cases
for teaching students. G.Petersons introduced also the main changes in the
veterinary curriculum. The investments have allowed to renovate some
laboratories and lecture halls.
After the lunch, the participants had a tour to the new Large and Small
Animal Clinic, Pathology and Anatomy complex of the EAU. The new rooms were
introduced by Toomas Tiirats, MSc, Vice-Dean of Studies of Veterinary Faculty.
The meeting continued with a discussion about the future prospective of Baltic
co-operation in veterinary research and education.
The participants agreed that considering relatively small number of PhD
students in Baltic countries and their very different research interest, it is
not very realistic to develop specific doctoral schools in Baltic countries in
near future. The participants supported continuation of joint NOVA-BOVA PhD
courses. Further contacts are necessary to discuss if it possible to develop a
joint "umbrella" project and apply finances for this from Socrates/Erasmus or
other EU funds.
Tracking is actual topic in all universities. Of Baltic veterinary faculties,
however, differentiation is included into the curriculum only in Estonia. At the
present situation, Latvian and Lithuanian participants expect to obtain more
information and sharing of tracking experience by the Nordic universities before
to make changes in their curricula.
The participants agreed that to stimulate exchange of teachers, we need much
more information about each other than we have at present. To solve this
problem, the easiest way is to add some information to the faculties' home pages
like research area of the academic staff members, available lectures in English
(or German, Russian), list of recent publications.
It is reasonable to start with mailing list. Besides that, it was good to
have periodically small workshops in different specific area to stimulate
contacts between the Baltic countries and find possibilities for co-operation in
research.
Submitted by:
Prof. �lle Jaakma, PhD
Co-ordinator of the BOVA veterinary education network
Estonian Agricultural University
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