University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romania Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Self-evaluation report
September 2004
INTRODUCTION
The history of Cluj veterinary medical education goes back to the second half of the XVIIIth century, more precisely to 1785, when under the auspices of Queen Maria Theresa, was founded in Cluj, the Surgical medical Institute. Within this institution, a chair of Veterinary Therapy began its activity, to become an essential landmark for the subsequent development of veterinary medicine in this academic perimeter. Founded in a difficult period of time, in the 1960s, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca was supported from the very beginning by remarkable personalities of Romanian higher veterinary education, trained during an effervescent scientific and cultural period, between the two world wars. Their contribution was essential to create a working climate for the development of competitiveness, higher performances and achievement of an exemplary moral and civic conduct. The faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cluj was established in 1962, as a constitutive part of the Agronomic Institute of that time, and later of the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine. From 1962 to 1974, the Veterinary Faculty represented a unit on its own, while beginning with 1974 and up to 1989 it was integrated in the Faculty of Zootechnical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine. In 1990, it regained its denomination as “Faculty of Veterinary Medicine”, being the largest of all the faculties of the University. The Veterinary Faculty of Cluj-Napoca had been authorized at national level. Through one of the PHARE projects, more precisely RO 00-IB-OT-01/2003, a program on mutual recognition of veterinary diplomas between France and Romania, the European education- oriented curricula, concordant with the Directives 78/1026 and 78/1027/EEC had been adopted. The material infrastructure, partly present from the beginning and then enlarged, gradually created the possibility of obtaining good results within the educational process in theoretical respects, by elaborating lecture notes, treaties, courses and experimental or practical textbooks. Meanwhile, the results in scientific research were officially recognized within the country and abroad. In order to optimize the educational and scientific activities, the faculty has numerous laboratories, lecture rooms, clinics, a hospital, a pharmacy as well as other units necessary to integrate the theoretical training with the clinical practice/ experimental training.
1 Between 1996 and 2000, capital renewal operations were performed and buildings VI, VII and the Faculty Hospital were covered with new roofs. Feasibility studies and a project were made for a new investment: a new lecture room and its annexes. After 2000, with a sustained support from the University, the restoration works in the clinics were intensified. In 2002, the Veterinary lecture Room was finished, while the annexes (Secretariat, rooms of the Faculty council, administrative department of the faculty, a special room for the presentation of diploma works) were finished in 2003. In 2004, the Emergency Room had been accomplished. Furthermore, in order to increase performance levels and the efficacy of the activities performed, the faculty of veterinary medicine in Cluj established in the last years, stable relationships of cooperation with various veterinary faculties around Europe, making possible the membership of EAEVE. Implementing programs supported by the EU for the benefit of both students and teaching staff, such as scholarships to EU countries and even US, enabled exchanges and increased mobility. The curricula for all the years of training had been modified according to the EU directives, Governmental Decision 125/2003 and EAEVE principles, restructuring analytical programs of the disciplines to avoid overlaps. The length of studies in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was of 5 years till, 1990, after that the curricula being restructured on 6 years of studies, the title awarded after the license exams being that of “Veterinary Medical Doctor”. Amongst the important decisions taken by the Faculty management were: introduction of the European Credit Transfer System (1999), the species oriented clinical activities (2000), tutorial system of education, introduction of the European oriented curricula, according to the Directives 78/1026 and 78/1027/EEC (2003). One important change concerning the organizational structure was that of introducing the four departments that replaced the former five chairs. In 2003, the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine has been evaluated with a positive outcome, by the Association of European Universities, being considered a success amongst the universities of the same kind in Romania. Beginning with 2000-2001 academic year, the courses of master training have been initialized, with several specializations such as: Animal pathology and Public Health, Surveillance and control of animal products, Clinics and veterinary medical radiology, Necropsy diagnosis and veterinary laboratory, Animal nutrition and nutritional pathology,
2 Applied veterinary epidemiology, Veterinary dentistry, Veterinary pharmacy, Biotechnology in reproduction. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine enjoys nowadays the esteem and appreciation at both national and international levels. All the above details and the exquisite nature surrounding the Faculty, as well as at last, but not at least, the specific traits of students’ lives in Cluj, made the Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca a place of great spirit and scientific load within the Transilvanian geographic area.
3 CHAPTER 1. OBJECTIVES 1. Factual information
Prepare the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to satisfy the requirements of the EAEVE evaluation in November 2004; Cooperation with local and national professional organisms (the College of Romanian veterinarians, the National Authority for Veterinary Medicine and Food Safety, the General Association of Romanian veterinarians, Veterinary Faculties) in order to expand the provisions of Romanian-French PHARE program on the mutual recognition of veterinary diplomas, for a free movement of professionals within the EU; Improvement of the ECTS system in our faculty. Improvement of the regulations in order to allow optimal participation in the ERASMUS/SOCRATES and CEEPUS mobility programs; Modernizing the Faculty curricula and contents of the disciplines, courses, seminars and practicals, in order to respond to the Bologna Declaration (1999) and the Berlin Conference (2003) on “Creation of an European Area for Higher Education” ; Strengthening in the Faculty the master training (11 specializations) and frequency doctorate (14 specializations) and conception in cooperation with the other faculties, the College of Romanian Veterinarians and the General Association of Romanian veterinarians of a national offer for life-long learning; initializing the introduction of a post-graduate training forms such as Internship (1 year) and Residentship (3 years); Development of the veterinary clinic and Emergency room for pets to meet the requirements of the European evaluation of the faculty, stressing issues of animal protection and welfare; Amplifying the research activities with regard to the integration perspective in the European Union Scientific Research Area, by choosing subjects of national and international importance (World Bank, Framework 6 thematic areas); development of the research within the Faculty by changing the existing research centers in Centers of Excellency; stimulate the students’ involvement in research activities; Stimulate the self-improvement of teaching staff; ensurance of an optimal proportion between senior lecturers, professors and other teaching categories, attracting young teachers by involvement in frequency doctoral studies;
4 Expanding the existing teaching facilities by continuation of the investments in the new lecture room and annexes, by building a second floor on the Clinic of Infectious diseases and garret on the clinics of Reproduction, Surgery and Internal diseases; Initiation of a new investment for an “Integrated research and teaching basis for food safety”.
2. Comments
The official list of developmental objectives for the Faculty is being established by the Dean’s managerial program, improved and subjected to the approval of the Professors’ Council of the Faculty. Amendments to this list of objectives are being done on yearly basis, upon the proposal of the Professors’ Council and approved by vote. Monitoring the developmental objectives is a task of the Commission on the quality management, during its quarterly reunions, both at Faculty and at University levels, by comparison planned/achieved activities, resulting from the objectives.
3. Suggestions
The main concern consists of an inappropriate payment system that does not stimulate the competitive spirit of the teaching staff to better fulfil academic and research tasks. Financing of the faculty should further be improved, dependent on the costs required by the field of expertise.
5 CHAPTER 2. ORGANISATION 1. Factual information Details of the establishment: Name of the establishment: FACULTATEA DE MEDICINĂ VETERINARĂ CLUJ-NAPOCA
Address: Calea Mănăştur nr.3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
Telephone: +40 264 596384;
Fax: +40 264 593792;
Website: http://www.usamvcluj.ro
Title and name of the head of the establishment: Prof. Dr.Vasile COZMA, Dean E-mail: [email protected]
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca is part of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Address: Calea Mănăştur nr. 3-5, Cluj-Napoca 400372, Romania
The leadership of the University: RECTOR Prof. Dr. Eng. Liviu MĂRGHITAŞ VICERECTORS: Prof. Dr. Ioan GROZA – Education and improvement of the teaching staff Prof. Dr. Eng. Mihai RUSU – Strategy, development, informatization and students’ problems Prof. Dr. Eng. Doru PAMFIL – Scientific Vice-Rector ADMINISTRATIVE GENERAL DIRECTOR Economist Viorel PORUŢIU
6 Four faculties compose the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine namely: Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Horticulture, Faculty of Animal Breeding Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
The University as well as its Faculties is part of the Ministry of Education and Research.
The administrative structural diagram of the of the Faculty
PROFESSORS’ COUNCIL The Council’s Board; Honorary members; Associated members
DEAN
CHAIRS OF THE VICEDEAN CHANCELOR DEPARTMENTS
DEPARTMENTS Animal production Preclinical Sciences Paraclinical training Clinical training and Food Safety
Disciplines
7 The Faculty Council is composed of 27 members (20 teaching staff and 7 students), elected by vote at the department level and students’ organizations, respectively. The representatives of the auxiliary staff and of the trade unions are invited guests at the Council’s Meetings. Between its meetings, the Professors’ Council accomplishes its tasks by the work of different Committees, headed by a manager. These Committees are: Professional and Reform Committee (Prof. Dr. Vasile Cozma), Scientific and Teaching Staff evaluation Committee (Prof. Dr. Marina Spinu), Institutional and International Relationships’ Committee (Senior Lecturer Dr. Emil Boldizsar), Deontological Committee (Prof. Dr. Eronim Suteu), Administrative and Financial Committee (Prof. Dr. Ovidiu Rotaru). The Dean chairs the Councils’ Meetings. The organizational structure of the Faculty also comprises Master studies: Animal pathology and Public Health (Prof. Dr. O. Rotaru), Surveillance and control of animal products (Prof. Dr. M. Mihaiu), Clinics and veterinary medical radiology (Prof. Dr. I. Papuc), Necropsy diagnosis and veterinary laboratory (Prof. Dr. Al.I. Baba), Animal nutrition and nutritional pathology (Senior lect. Dr. G. Giurgiu), Applied veterinary epidemiology (Prof. Dr. Gh. Rapuntean), Veterinary dentistry (Prof. Dr. A. Muste), Veterinary pharmacy (Senior lect. Dr. V. Nuielean), Biotechnology in reproduction (Prof. Dr. I. Groza). The veterinary profession and the general public takes part in the running of the Faculty by the Honorary Members of the Professors’ Council (field professionals from the country also members of the College of the Romanian veterinarians and the General veterinary Association; Honorary doctors of the Faculty as well as distinguished staff members of the cooperating faculties from abroad are honorary members of the Council: Prof. Dr., Tito Fernandes, Prof. Dr. Lucilia Ferreira, Prof. Dr. Carlos Martins, Prof. Dr. Cristina Lobo Vilela, Lisbon, Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy, Prof. Dr. Bertrand Losson, Liege, Prof. Dr. Winfried Drochner, Hochenheim, Prof. Dr. Daniel Tainturier, Nantes, Prof. Dr. Jerzy Kita, Warsaw, DVM Lauers Summer, Denmark; representatives of the local authorities are also associated members of the Council). The Dean, Vice-Dean, Chancellor are elected by individual confidential vote of the members of the General Assembly of the Faculty. The members of the Departments elect the Heads of the Department by confidential vote.
8 2. Comments
The Faculty Council, through the Dean, leads the activity of the departments and the other structures. The Vice-Dean, Prof. Dr. O. Rotaru, coordinates master studies. Responsible for the scientific research is the Chancellor of the Faculty - Prof. Dr. Marina Spînu. The Board of the Faculty is composed by the Dean, Vice-Dean, Chancellor, heads of the Departments. The Departments of the Faculty are led as follows: Preclinical Sciences – Prof. Dr. Aurel Damian; Animal Production and Food Safety–Prof.Dr. Marian Mihaiu; Paraclinical training – Senior Lect.Dr.Emil Boldizsar; Clinical Sciences – Prof. Dr. Aurel Muste. The Faculty has 12 members in (10 teaching staff and 2 students) in the University Senate. The Faculty representative within the leadership of the University is Prof. Dr. Ioan Groza, responsible of Education and improvement of the teaching staff.
3. Suggestions
Taking into account the specific traits of the veterinary education, the leadership of the Faculty militated for a certain degree of autonomy within the University, accomplished at a quite large extent, in the fields of educational management and scientific research. In the future, the leadership autonomy at department level will be encouraged.
9 CHAPTER 3. FINANCES 1. Factual information
3.1. Expenditure
All the information regarding expenses refer to year 2003. The quantum of the expenses is expressed in Euros and national currency – Romanian Lei (ROL).
Costs of training
The numerator comprises: a1 – salaries of the teaching personnel – 19,952,700,000 ROL (498,817.5 €) a2 – salaries of support staff – 4,379,860,000 ROL (109,499.5 €) b2 – expenditure relating to teaching – 1,009,030,000 ROL (25,225 €) c1 – equipment relating to teaching– 835,030,000 ROL (20,875.75 €)
19,952,700,000 4,379,860,000 1,009,030,000 835,030,000 Cost 26,179,590ROL 1,164 (654.4 €)
Direct cost of the training for a diploma: 157,077,540 ROL (3,926.4 €) * - the amounts were calculated in Euros based on a mean 40000 ROL / Euro exchange rate
10
Table 3.1.1. Annual expenditure of the establishment (calendar year 2003) National currency Euros (ROL) a. Personnel a1. teaching staff (82%) 19,952,700,000 498,817.50 a2. support staff (18%) 4,379,860,000 109,499.50 a3. research staff 204,000,000 5,100.00 Total for a 25,623,560,000 640,598.00 b. Operatting costs b1. Utilities 4,426,410,000 110,660.25 b2. Expenditure relating specifically to teaching 1,009,000,000 25,225.00 b3. Expenditure relating specifically to research 202,000,000 5,050.00 b4. General operations (excluding the above) 1,089,000,000 27,225.00 Total for b 6,726,410,000 168,160.00 c. Equipment c1. teaching 835,030,000 20,875.75 c2. research 32,000,000 800.00 c3. general (or common) equipment 153,000,000 3,800.00 Total for c 1,020,030,000 25,475.75 d. Maintenance of buildings 8,281,000,000 207,025 e. Total expenditure 40,260,000,000 1,006,500.00
Table 3.1.2. Cost of veterinary training National currency (ROL) Euros 1. Annual direct cost of training a student 26,179,590 654.40 2. Direct cost of training for diploma 157,077,540 3,926.40
3.2. Revenues All the information regarding incomes refer to calendar year 2003 The quantum of the expenses is expressed in Euros and national currency (ROL)
11 Table 3.2.1. Annual revenues of the established (Calendar year 2003) National currency (ROL) Euros a. revenue from the State or public authorities 22,632,720,000 565,818 b. revenue from private bodies - - c. revenue from research 670,500,000 16,762.5 d. revenue earned and retained by the establishment 7,262,000,000 181,550 d1. registration fees from students 7,150,000,000 178,750 d2. revenue from continuing 1,607,264,000 40,181.6 education d3. revenue from clinical activities 38,000,000 950.00 d4. revenue from diagnostic activities 74,000,000 1,850.00 e. revenue from other sources 8,057,518,000 201,437.9 world bank 5,200,000,000 130,000 Biotech 2,000,000,000 50,000 Other sources 1,057,518,000 21,437.9 f. total revenue from all sources 40,260,000,000 1,006,500.00
Table 3.2.2. Changes in public funding (in Euros) Year 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 Revenue 586,926 565,818 520,648 496,520 465,365
The income obtained by the activity of clinics, analyses for different beneficiaries (farms, processing units for animal products, veterinary practitioners) remain at the disposal of the Faculty, in a proportion of 70%. The University of Agricultural Sciences and veterinary Medicine, in its quality of general administrator perceives 30%, redistributed according to necessities, to the entire University. The Faculty, in its turn, out of the income it obtains, distributes 5 to 60% directly to those who bring this income (clinics, laboratories), the rest being redistributed within the Faculty. Concerning the budget funds, the Ministry of Education and Research allocates these to the University. The University redistributes these funds to each Faculty dependant on the number of budgeted students, enrolled in each accredited training form. Out of these funds, the University retains 25%to organize the activities at academic level, for the benefit of all faculties.
12 The budgetary fund allocated to veterinary training is higher in comparison with the other forms of training within the University. This is the consequence of a legal provision concerning education, stating each student within the higher medical training benefits of a coefficient of 1.9 compared with 1.65 calculated for the other forms of training. Concordant with the Law for Higher Education, The Statute of Teaching staff and the financial statements in the University Chart, in our University there are two financially functional compartments. On one hand, there are the funds that come from the Ministry of Education and Research to support salaries, the educational process and investments and on the other, the funds attracted by the University and the faculties, representing extra-budgetary funds, used at the level of the “producers” in 70%. Each year, the University jointly with the faculties, establishes the investment plan, the funds for general and current repair, as well as fund for equipment acquisition, constituting the necessary financial sources. All the decisions regarding the setting up and use of funds are initiated at faculty level, but final decisions and consumption of the funds are finalized at University level with the Senate approval. To meet the requirements of the labor market, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine offered, beginning with the academic year 1998-1999, places for the fee paying students in all the training forms (long term, short term, distance learning). For this form of frequency, the students pay the tax in ROL, by two or three installments. In 2003, the fee for one year was of 500 Euro, paid as its equivalent in lei, at the payment day’s exchange rate. According to the legal provisions in force, during the training process, all the student, independently on the training form they attend, have to pay, following the Senate’s decision, fees for the following: Enrolment fee 200,000 ROL Re-enrolment fee 4,000,000 ROL Re-examination fee 1,000,000 ROL
The funds consisting of these fees are being used according to the decisions, 70% by the Faculty and 30% by the University.
13 2. Comments
The financial sources attracted by the Faculty stay in its use only partially, since the University perceives between 25 and 30%, the Faculty being left with 70 to 75%, trying to support from these salaries, payment per hour taught (whether the case) and expenses due to the teaching process. It has to be mentioned that the veterinary training, by its specific traits, requires substantial financial resources, because the financial support for hospital activities and clinical training is considered to be up to 50-100 million lei (1250-2000 Euros) / month including maintenance and treatment expenses for the animals. This financial effort is being compensated in a proportion of only 50% from income obtained by clinical examination fees, treatments and analyses for external beneficiaries. The financial efforts of the Faculty above the budgeted funds are also being partly compensated by the fee supported training. This form of training is limited, for the material resources of young candidates are also limited, compared to the real costs of veterinary training. The number one priority for the use of increased funding would be institutional development and improved of training quality.
3. Suggestions
The civil society of Romania, through its organisms in charge, should move on for a realistic evaluation of medical training costs in general and veterinary medical training in particular, and proceed to an equitable allocation of financial resources.
14 CHAPTER 4. CURRICULUM
1. Factual information
At national level there is a curriculum which applies to the veterinary higher education. Within the PHARE RO-00/OT-01 programs, ”Mutual recognition of diplomas for professional purposes”, on the occasion of the working groups’ reunion (12 veterinarians), an analysis of the curriculum was accomplished. The frame program has been worked out by the Ministry of Education and research, with the direct participation of the deans of all the faculties of veterinary medicine in the country. Decisions concerning the changes in the national curricula are made when a consensus has been reached. The education programs are based on the UE Directives 1026/78 as well as Governmental Decision 1477/2003, which approve the minimum compulsory criteria for authorization and accreditation of higher education institutions within the medical, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medical and architecture fields. The faculty is free to modify around 20% of the frame programs, choosing the solutions that correspond the best to its demands, with regard to local requests, material base, teaching staff’s competence. At faculty level, decisions concerning the curriculum and the content of the courses are based on the professional commission’s proposals, which are approved by the Professors’ Council. The curricula are applied starting with the university year 2003/2004. Decisions regarding the number of hours per discipline and the balance between theoretical and practical training, are taken after consulting the professors, and are afterwards approved by the Faculty Council and by the Senate. The ratio of theoretical/practical training is 35% / 65%.
15 4.1. Curriculum followed by all students
Table 4.1.1: General table of curriculum hours taken by all students
Hours of training Practical Supervised Clinical Lectures Other Total work work work First 148/year practical 294/year 336/year 28/year - 806/year year probation + sport Second 120/year practical 308/year 420/year 14/year - 862/year year probation Third 120/year practical 322/year 322/year 56/year - 820/year year probation Fouth 120/year practical 364/year 266/year - 182/year 932/year year probation Fifth 120/year practical 308/year 84/year - 280/year 792/year year probation 224/year practical Sixth 140/year 56/year 42/year 308/year probation + 770/year year diploma work Total 1736 1484 140 770 852 4982
Total hours in compulsory disciplines: 4982 Total hours in elective disciplines: 238 Total number of hours attended by all students: 5220
* Note: To the total number of hours attended by all students, 280 hours of optional disciplines might be added.
16 Table 4.1.2: Yearly curriculum studies First year, 2 semesters, 14 weeks each Compulsory disciplines Hours of training Subject Practical Supervised Clinical Lectures Other Total work work work Animal biology and 28 28 - - - 56 ecology Vegetal biology 14 28 - - - 42 Biophysics 28 28 - - - 56 Anatomy 56 70 - - - 126 Chemistry/ 56 84 - - - 140 Biochemistry Cell biology, histology, 28 42 - - - 70 embryology Biomathematics, 28 - 14 - - 42 computer science Genetics 28 28 - - - 56 Nutrition, agronomy, control of fodder 28 28 - - - 56 quality Techniques and methods of - - 14 - - 14 documentation Sports - - - - 28 28 Practical probation - - - - 120 120 Total 294 336 28 - 148 806
17 Second year, 2 semesters, 14 weeks each Compulsory disciplines Practical Supervised Clinical Subject Lectures Other Total work work work Anatomy 28 84 - - - 112 Physiology 56 84 - - - 140 Cell biology, 28 42 - - - 70 histology, embryology Biochemistry/Molecul 14 28 - - - 42 ar biology Animal breeding 28 28 - - - 56 Animal production 28 42 - - - 70 systems Nutrition, agronomy, control of fodder 28 14 - - - 42 quality Microbiology 56 56 - - - 112 Hygiene and environment 42 42 - - - 84 protection Ethology - - 14 - - 14 Practical probation - - - - 120 120 Total 308 420 14 - 120 862
Third year, 2 semesters, 14 weeks each Compulsory disciplines Practical Supervised Clinical Subject Lectures Other Total work work work Animal protection and 14 - 14 - - 28 welfare Epidemiology 14 - 14 - - 28 Immunology 28 28 - - - 56 Parasitology 28 28 - - - 56 Pharmacology and 56 56 - - - 112 pharmacy Pathological anatomy 56 84 - - - 140 Physiopathology 42 42 - - - 84 Anesthetics and 14 28 - - - 42 surgical propedeutics Semiology and 56 56 - - - 112 medical imaging Animal production 14 - 28 - - 42 systems Practical probation - - - - 120 120 Total 322 322 56 - 120 820
18 Fouth year, 2 semesters, 14 weeks each Compulsory disciplines Practical Supervised Clinical Subject Lectures Other Total work work work Parasitology and 42 70 - - - 112 parasitic diseases Anesthetics and 28 - - 28 - 56 surgical propedeutics Pathology and internal 56 - - 70 - 126 diseseas Pathology and surgical 28 - - 42 - 70 clinic Infectious diseases and 56 70 - - - 126 preventive medicine Reproduction, obstetrics and 56 28 - 42 - 126 reproductive pathology Hygiene, food quality 56 56 - - - 112 and technology Toxicology 42 42 - - - 84 Practical probation - - - - 120 120 Total 364 266 - 182 120 932
Fifth year, 2 semesters, 14 weeks each Compulsory disciplines Practical Supervised Clinical Subject Lectures Other Total work work work Pathology and internal 56 - - 70 - 126 diseases Pathology and surgical 56 - - 56 - 112 clinic Infectious diseases and 56 - - 56 - 112 preventive medicine Reproductive 56 - - 70 - 126 pathology Veterinary 28 - - 28 - 56 dermatology Food inspection, foods 56 84 - - - 140 of animal origin Practical probation - - - - 120 120 Total 308 84 - 280 120 792
19 Sixth year, 2 semesters, first semester 14 weeks, second semester 7 weeks Compulsory disciplines Practical Supervised Clinical Subject Lectures Other Total work work work Legislation and 28 - 14 - - 42 deontology Veterinary management and rural 14 - 28 - - 42 economics Necropsy diagnosis 14 56 - - - 70 and forensics Large and small 14 - - 70 - 84 ruminants clinic Equine clinic 14 - - 56 - 70 Companion animals’ 14 - - 56 - 70 clinic Swine clinic 14 - - 42 - 56 Poultry clinic 14 - - 42 - 56 Nutrition and 14 - - 28 - 42 metabolic diseases Practical work in breeding units, animal slaughter procedures - - - 14 14 28 and animal products processing Practical work in - - - - 120 120 veterinary units Drawing up the - - - - 90 90 diploma paper Total 140 56 42 308 224 770
20
Table 4.1.3: Curriculum hours in EU-listed subjects taken by every student Practical Supervised Clinical Subjects Lectures Other Total work work work A. Basic subjects Anatomy (incl. Histology and 140 238 - - - 378 embryology) Biochemistry and molecular 42 70 - - - 112 biology Biology (incl. cell biology) 42 56 - - - 98 Biophysics 28 28 - - - 56 Biostatistics 28 - 14 - - 42 Chemistry 28 42 - - - 70 Epidemiology 14 - 14 - - 28 Genetics 28 28 - - - 56 Immunology 28 28 - - - 56 Microbiology 56 56 - - - 112 Parasitology 70 98 - - - 224 Pathological anatomy (macroscopic and 70 126 - - - 196 microscopic) Pharmacy 28 28 - - - 56 Pharmacology 28 28 - - - 56 Physiology 56 84 - - - 140 Physiopathology 42 42 - - - 84 Scientific and technical information and - - 14 - - 14 documentation methods Toxicology (incl. 42 42 - - - 84 environmental pollution)
B. Animal Production Agronomy 14 14 - - - 28 Animal behavior (incl. 14 14 - - - 28 behavioral disorders) Animal husbandry (incl. 70 70 28 - - 168 livestock production systems) Animal nutrition and feeding 42 28 - - - 70 Animal protection and 14 - 14 - - 28 welfare Environmental protection 42 42 - - - 84 Preventive veterinary medicine (incl. health 84 42 - 56 - 182 monitoring programmes) Reproduction (incl. artificial 28 28 - - - 56 breeding methods) Rural economics 7 - 7 - - 14
21
C. Clinical subjects Anesthetics 28 - - 28 - 56 Clinical examination and diagnosis and laboratory 42 56 - - - 98 diagnostic methods Clinical medicine 70 - - 266 - 336 Diagnostic imaging 28 28 - - - 56 Obstetrics 28 - - 42 - 70 Reproductive disorders 56 - - 70 - 126 State veterinary medicine, zoonoses, public health and 28 - - 28 - 56 forensic medicine Surgery 98 - - 126 - 224 Therapeutics 112 - - 140 - 252
D. Food Hygiene Certification of food 14 28 - - - 42 production units Food certification 14 14 - - - 28 Food hygiene and food 28 28 - - - 56 quality (incl. legislation) Food inspection, particularly 28 42 - - - 70 food of animal origin) Food science and technology 28 28 - - - 56
E. Professional knowledge Practice management 7 - 21 - - 28 Professional ethics 14 - - - - 14 Veterinary certification and - - 14 - - 14 report writing Veterinary legislation 14 - 14 - - 28 Total 1708 1484 140 744 - 4074
Table 4.1.4: Curriculum hours in other subjects taken by every student Hours in course Practical Supervised Clinical Subjects Lectures Other Total work work work Sports - - - - 28 28 Veterinary dermatology 28 - - 28 - 56 Practical probation - - - - 824 - Total 28 - - 28 852 908
22 4.2. Elective subjects They are chosen in the beginning of every academic year. The discipline becomes obligatory once chosen. A student has to attend the lectures of an elective discipline each year. The total number of hours, in six years, is 238. Table 4.2: Courses organized as elective subjects Hours in course Courses Practical Supervised Clinical within Lectures Other Total work work work elective - English 28 Elective - French 28 28 track 1 -German 28 - Clinical 14 28 Elective laboratory 42 track 2 - Veterinary 14 28 mycology - Cell pathology and 14 28 comparative Elective oncology. track 3 (III - Laboratory 42 rd year) animal Biology, 14 28 breeding and pathology - Breeding and pathology of Elective 14 28 game and track 4 (IV 42 exotic animals th year) - Veterinary 14 28 orthopedics - Safety of bee and fish 14 28 Elective products track 5 42 - Radiology (V th year) and 14 28 radioprotection - Functional 14 28 foods Elective - track 6 42 Biotechniques (VI th year) 14 28 in reproduction Total 70 84 84 238
23 4.3. Optional subjects
Students can choose some of these disciplines.
Table 4.3: Optional subjects in the veterinary curriculum Year of Practi- Super- Clinical Oth To- No. Discipline study Lectures cal vised work er tal work work 1. History of veterinary I 28 28 medicine 2. Romanian language, I 14 14 28 culture and civilization 3. Applied Modern II 28 28 Languages 4. Sports II 28 28 5. Pet Breeding III 14 28 42 6. Experimental surgery V 14 28 42 7. Driving V 14 28 42 8. Project management VI 14 28 42 Total 98 28 126 28 280
4.4. Obligatory extramural work
These training sessions are part of the curriculum, and take place at the end of the university year (years I-VI), as it can be seen in the table below
24 Table 4.4: Obligatory extramural work that students must undertake as part of their course Year of the course in which Type of practical work Minimum period work is carried out Initiation in animal breeding and exploitation; knowledge of 120 hours = 4 weeks I general sanitary veterinary activities Knowledge of animal breeding technologies and of general 120 hours = 4 weeks II preventive veterinary activities Specialty practical probation period in accordance with the activity programmes of the Cluj 120 hours = 4 weeks III county Veterinary Direction and of the sanitary veterinary and food security units Specialty practical probation period the Cluj county Veterinary Direction, in 120 hours = 4 weeks IV zootechnical units and in food industry units Individual in the speciality practical work in zootechnical units, regional and local 120 hours = 4 weeks V veterinary institutions, food industry units. Practical work related to the 120 hours = 4 weeks VI diploma paper Total 810 hours
4.5. Ratios
Theoretical training 1736 70 1806 1 Practical and clinical training 3246 168 3414 1.89
Clinical training 770 584 1354 1 Theoretical and practicaltraining 3866 3866 2.85
Note: The practical work in the third and fourth year is included in the clinic.
25 4.6. Other information about the curriculum
The curriculum worked out means to provide students with adequate knowledge regarding: - the anatomy and physiology of healthy animals, their rearing reproduction hygiene and fodder, as well as the technology of producing and preserving fodder - the diagnosis and the treatment of animal diseases and specific knowledge on diseases transmitted to man - the hygiene and the technology of obtaining, producing and marketing animal products - the adequate knowledge on legislative and administrative stipulations - the adequate clinical and practical probation The lectures are facultative in every discipline but the practical work is obligatory. There are a few ways to verify the presence: roll-call and marking down absent or present, discussion of group projects, surprise signed test papers.
A. Basic subjects 1. Anatomy (including Histology and Embryology) In the curriculum two separate disciplines are set out: Anatomy of domestic animals (4 terms) and Cell biology, histology and embryology (two terms). The Anatomy of domestic animals deals with the macroscopic morphology of each apparatus and system and with the topographical anatomy. Each chapter presents general data and characteristics of the species (equine, ruminants, swine, carnivores, rabbits and rodents, poultry). The practical work aims at creating skills for the individual and group study, the students have to examine bones, casts, corps, preserved pieces. Cell biology, histology and embryology (microscopic and inframicroscopic anatomy) study the normal morphological aspects of cells and tissues, as well as the embryonic development of domestic animals. Through practical work, the discipline contributes to forming the practical skills required for the application of histological techniques and to the increase of knowledge necessary to a correct interpretation of histological aspects.
2. Biochemistry and Molecular biology The discipline is taught in two terms (2 and 3) and deals with: elements of molecular and macromolecular structure of animal organism, large classes of metabolites and enzymes, vitamins, biochemistry of metabolic processes, principles of molecular pathology.
26 3. Biology (including Cell biology) The Cell biology represents a part of the embryology (see 1. Anatomy). Elements of biology are to be found in the disciplines: animal biology and ecology (the first term) in which the rudiments of General ecology and bioecology of the main classes of living beings are taught. The course deals with: the systemic structure of living matter, the ecological factors and their influence on organisms, supraindividual biosystems. The practical work deepens elements of bioecology of some classes of living beings. The Vegetal biology (1st term) completes the knowledge in the field of biology.
4. Biophysics For one term biophysics presents the notions necessary to the understanding of the physical structure, physical features of living matter and of biological systems, of physical processes and phenomena which form the base of the biological processes, of techniques and physical methods of living organisms study. The practical work represents applications in veterinary medicine.
5. Biostatistics This is denominated as biomathematics and computer science (1st term) and aims at acquiring the rudiments of working on a computer and of using statistics.
6. Chemistry Bio-chemistry is studied in the first term. Main organic and non-organic elements are taught, especially classes of biomolecules that have a structural role: proteins, glucides, lipides.
7. Epidemiology This deals with the basic notions of general epidemiology and epidemiology of diseases transmitted to animals, caused by infectious and parasitic agents.
8. Genetics This is also taught in the first term and presents basic elements of genetics (cytogenetics, heredity laws, genetic determinism, genetic biotechnology, population genetics, quantitative genetics, eredopathology), some elements of biostatistics being also used.
27 9. Immunology This discipline deals with the origin and classification of immunological phenomena (tumoral, cell), dynamics of immunogenesis phenomena and of immune response (primary/secondary), notions of specific and non-specific immunostimulation and immunopathology. Within the practical work the principles of immunologic diagnosis and methods of distinguishing are presented.
10. Microbiology During two terms, this discipline aims at teaching cell and special microbiology, especially taxonomy elements necessary to identifying various species (bacteria, viruses, microscopic funguses). Some laboratory techniques (general, special) are presented within the practical work.
11. Parasitology Parasitic diseases (3 terms) studies general parasitology notions, immunology in parasitic diseases. Within the practical work, diagnostic techniques used in parasitic diseases and clinical diagnosis are applied, together with examining the parasites’ morphology in order to identify them.
12. Pathological anatomy Pathological anatomy (2 terms) deals with notions necessary in order to understand the general pathological processes (general pathological anatomy), the pathogenetic mechanism of lesions (in organs and tissues) and diseases, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic aspects of the lesions. Many fresh or preserved preparations (which present lesions) and some cyto and histopathology are presented.
13. Pharmacy The discipline describes medicinal forms and galenic preparations, control methods of pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical legislation and vigilance. The practical activities consist in presenting and prescribing medicinal substances (term 5).
28 14. Pharmacology The Pharmacology (term 6) deals with notions of general and special pharmacology. The activities consist in presenting and prescribing medicinal substances.
15. Physiology This discipline (2 terms) offers the necessary knowledge for the understanding of functional processes from the animal organism (physiology of internal medium, of cardiovascular apparatus, of respiration, of digestion, of excretion and reproduction, of nervous and endocrine system etc.) for the understanding of functional integrity relations between all structures and of interrelations of the organism with the environment. Through practical work, the functional properties of organic systems are rendered evident.
16. Physiopathology (fifth term) It ensures the understanding of mechanisms that influence the initiation and development of diseases (fever, shock, normal and pathological reactivity of organism) and represents the functional alterations of different systems in pathological status. The practical activities complete the theoretical notions.
17. Methods of scientific and technical documentation The discipline is taught in the second term of the first year. Its aim is to lay the scientific foundations by using documentation methods, birotics and internet navigation. 18. Toxicology (including environmental pollution) This discipline deals with: physiopathology, specific and nonspecific therapy of intoxications, the diagnosis and treatment of the main syndromes, the prophylaxis of intoxication and the main mycotoxicoses. The intoxication with different groups of organic and inorganic substances is amply presented (theoretically and practically). One chapter refers to environmental and industrial pollution and to the diseases caused by this. In addition to this, a series of matters regarding the environmental pollution (atmospheric pollution, soils and water pollution) are dealt with at the discipline “Environmental hygiene and protection” (term 3).
29 B. Animal production 1. Agronomy It is a distinct part of the Nutrition, nourishment, fodders quality control, agronomy discipline. There are presented basic elements for knowledge and technologies of plants’ cultivation.
2. Animals behavior (including pathological behaviors) It can be found in the etology curriculum (the 4th semester). It approaches the behavioral physiological basis, the behavioral systems and the importance of knowing the behavioral types.
3. Animal breeding (including the production systems for the farm animals) Found as two disciplines: the animal breeding and animal production systems. The animal breeding – follows the supply of notions concerning: the animal external analytical exam, taxonomic criteria, improvement and selection. The practicalc deal methods of inhabitant characterization series, the ‘t’ test, the pedigree establishment and the appraisal of the improvement value. The animal production systems – offers information about: the morphological and productive characteristic features of some breeds from different species, the growing technologies, the productive performances’ improvement methods in correlation with the results obtained internationaly. The pets growth (an optional discipline) completes the data about pets.
4. The animal nourishing and feeding The discipline is called Nutrition, fodders sanitary-veterinary control and agronomy and it assures the theoretical and practical knowledge about the rational feeding of domestic animals (the appraisal of the fodder nourishing value, the animal s’ requirements, the varied feeding of species and animal cathegories) and the veterinary control of fodders.
5. The animal protection and welfare It is taught to the students in the 5th semester. Notions on bodily and preventive hygiene are being presented. The animal welfare corresponds to the chapter: „Special hygiene requirements and measures in the animal breeding and exploitation”.
30 6. The environment protection The discipline is found in Veterinary hygiene and environment protection. There are presented notions about the environment hygiene (water, air, earth, shelter hygiene), elements of water and pasture protection.
7. Preventive veterinary medicine (including health pursuit programs) It can be found in the Infectious diseases and preventive medicine disciplines. General and specific measures for control of animal diseases and the zoonoses prevention.
8. Reproduction (including artificial insemination) It can be found in the Reproduction and reproduction pathology discipline at which can be added Reproductive biotechnologies (elective descipline). The reproduction treats the reproductive morphology and phisiology of different animal species. Clasical and modern reproductive biotechnologies are presented.
9. Rural economy It is taught as part of the Veterinay management and rural economy discipline.
C. Clinical subjects
1. Anaesthology It is taught as part of the Anaesthology and surgery propaedeutics discipline.
2. Clinical control and diagnosis and laboratory diagnosis methods It can mostly be found in the curriculum of Semiology and medical imagistic and nutritional and metabolic diseases. Its object consists of knowing and using the animal clinical examination methods and of defining, classifying and characterizing the main semiological notions. The checks, clinical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis elements are being learned in all clinical subjects (Internal medicine and clinics, Surgical pathology and clinics, Cell pathology and comparative oncology) and in basis disciplines (like Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pathological anatomy, Physiopathology, Parasitology and parasitic diseases, Toxicology and intoxications).
31 3. Internal medicine There are obviated the disciplines: Pathology and internal medicine clinics and Nutritional and metabolic diseases. The disciplines approach apparatus and systems diseases of different species. It follows the clinical investigation, the direct clinical exam, the paraclinical investigation, the diagnosis and forecast establishment and also the treatment and prophylaxis of some internal diseases. The diseases that involve metabolic disturbance or defficiency diseases are treated separately.
4. Imaging diagnosis Knowledge of radio diagnosis, radio therapy, radio intoxication, radio protection are being teached as part as the Semiology and medical imaging discipline, as well as the Radiology and radio protection discipline (optional – the 9th semester). The ecographic diagnosis is being done and taught within the Reproduction and reproduction pathology and Internal medicine clinics.
5. Obstetrics It is part of the Reproduction, obstetrics and reproductive pathology discipline (the 8th semester). The chapters concerning obstetrics approach the problems (diagnosis, treatment) about pregnancy, birth and puerperal period of different animal species.
6. Reproduction disturbances It can be found in the Reproductive pathology discipline (two semesters: the 8th and the 9th). Infertility, sterility, andrology, udder pathology are presented.
7. State veterinary medicine, zoonoses, public health and legal medicine Zoonoses are being taught at the following disciplines: Infectious diseases and preventive medicine and Exotic and game animal’s breeding and pathology (elective discipline) parasitology and parasitic diseases, being presented the diseases and their impact on humans. Notions of forensic medicine are found in a chapter of the Necropsic diagnosis, where there are taught legal previsions concerning the diseases produced by bacteria, viruses, prions, etc. and their impact on the public health.
32 8. Surgery In the teaching the Pathology and surgical clinics are extended on three semesters. The discipline treats the basic surgical techniques and diagnosis of surgical diseases in different animal species.
9. Therapeutics Therapy elements are included in the basic and clinical disciplines (Surgical pathology and clinics, Surgical propaedeutics and techniques, Internal pathology and clinics, Nutritional and metabolic diseases, Reproduction and reproductive pathology, Infectious diseases, Parasitic diseases, Dermatology, Cell pathology and comparative oncology, Exotic pathology, Toxicology and intoxications, Pharmacology).
D. Food hygiene
1. The food production units approval This is a part of the discipline: Products and animal origin food inspection and control, in the chapter that treats the hygienic previsions on position, endowment and operating procedures processing, consumption and animal origin products’ control units.
2. Food certification It is part of the discipline: Animal products and animal origin food inspection and control. Students learn about the certification of products legal previsions and penalties on the slaughtering and food processing units, also the settlements concerning food circulation and marketing.
3. Food hygiene and quality (including Legislation) In the teaching plan it can be found the in Food hygiene, quality and technology. This includes the study of conditions, previsions and hygienic, technological and qualitative settlements on products and animal origin food categories. All the stages are covered, from the primary production to processing, packing, storing, transportation, marketing.
4. Food inspection, particularly the animal origin food Elements of animal origin food inspection are studied as part of the Products and animal origin food inspection and control discipline.
33 Meat and meat products, milk and milk products, eggs and egg products, honey, fish and other aquaculture products are studied The optional discipline The security of bee and fish products (the 9th semester) can be added.
5. Food science and technology Elements of animal origin food technology are being studied as part of the Food hygiene, quality and technology. In addition, this field is covered by the optional discipline – Functional food (the 11th semester).
E. Professional knowledge
1. Practical management It can be found as chapters in the discipline: Veterinary management and rural economy.
2. Professional ethics It is part of the discipline: Legislation and deontology (one semester) in the chapter: Veterinary medical deontology.
3. Veterinary certification Data concerning the veterinary certification and report writing are partially taught in the Legislation and deontology discipline within practical activities.
4. Veterinary legislation Legislation and deontology (one semester) presents the general legislative process notions of general theory of law, national and international regulation concerning the animals’ and animal products’ circulation and the legislation about the veterinary medicine practice. The veterinary previsions concerning the animal origin food control are presented in the Food hygiene, quality and technology.
34 4.7: Specific information on the practical clinic training
* Clinic shifts are mandatory and represent an essential part of practical training of all students from terminal years (V and VI). This practical clinical training is being done by mandatory clinical shifts in the clinics of: Internal Medicine (2,6 weeks); Surgery (2,6 weeks); Obstetrics-Gynecology (2,6 weeks); Infectious Diseases (2,6 weeks); Dermatology and Parasitology (2,6 weeks).
In the 6th year the practical clinical training of students is being done in 5 specializations (Pathology and Species Clinic): 1. Specialization in small and large ruminants; 2. Specialization in equine; 3. Specialization in swine; 4. Specialization in poultry; 5. Specialization in pets. * The 5th year extends on two semesters, each semester of 14 weeks. Clinical shifts are being done during those 14 weeks of each semester. In the first semester, the duration of the residential course for each of the 5 clinics above mentioned is of 2,8 weeks of 10 hours / week. In the second semester this residential course for each of these clinics is of 3,5 weeks of 12 hours / week. The 6th year is composed of two semesters too: 1st semester – 14 weeks; 2nd semester – 7 weeks. Shifts are done at the 5 above mentioned clinics, during those two semesters concerning each student’s options. This year the residential course length is 4,4 weeks for each clinic and each senior student, every week has 5 hours of clinic. * Students’ presence is mandatory in the clinic, during the time specified in the timetable, usually between 8-14. If by 14 hours the activity in the clinic has not ended, the students’ presence will be prolonged by the time the activity is over.
35 * The activities the students undertake are as follows: case history for animals presented for clinical examination; clinical examination of the animal; drawing the observation sheet; suggesting the paraclinical examinations which are to be performed for a correct diagnosis and interpretation of the results; case presentations to the professor that supervises the development of the clinical training and discussions on various aspects; taking part in the treatment of the animal with the professor; follow-up along case until the animals cures or dies * Students groups for the clinical shifts are composed of 7-9 individuals. * The animal examination principles are aquanted with the students in the discipline “Semiology and medical imagistic”. Furthermore, in each clinic, students are accustomed with the specific examination ways for each clinic. Before starting the clinic shifts period, the students perform practice in each clinic as follows: Internal medicine clinic during 4th year, perform practical activities such as drawing the clinic observation sheet, semiological examination, the methodology of clinic examination of diffrent systems, clinical diagnosis exercises on real and hypotethical cases; Propaedeutics and surgical clinic perform on the 4th year, propaedeutics and surgical semiology, ophtalmology, orthopaedics and imaging; the student assist to surgeries performed in the clinic. In the 4th year, 2nd semester in the Obstetrics-Gynecology clinics exercises of obstetrical-gynecological and andrologic examinations are performed, dystocia and the its manual rectification are presented, as well as surgical-obstetrical procedures which are applied in these cases. In the Parasitic diseases clinic and the museum of parasitic diseases, in the 4th year, students are accustomed with the parasites morphology, their biology and their ways of spreading, as well as with the methods of parasitological diagnosis. In the Infectious diseases clinic specific symptoms of infectious diseases, the general methods of their diagnosis, exercises of diagnosis of these diseases on real or hypothetical cases are presented. * Students in final years will participate in turn in the emergency room, 24 hours a day, along with the doctors that work there, according to the schedule made by the clinic
36 coordinator. They clean the hospitalized animals’ cages, clean and feed the animals, perform treatments indicated by the doctors. * Students have to take part in the mobile clinic activities. The activities in the mobile clinic are done weekly or as often as necessary, up on the animal breeders’ request or the veterinary authorities request. Students’ activities are as follows: take part in the identification of the animals presented for clinical examination; writing up the case history of the animals that are to be examinated; drawing the clinical observation sheet; performing the animal clinical examination; taking part in the fast diagnosis; taking part with the professor in the therapy. The hours spent in the mobile clinic, during the mandatory weekly activities, are included in the 4.1.3. table. The activities performed on the individual request of the animal breeders, are not included.
4.8: Specific information on the practical training of food hygiene
Hygiene, quality and food technology and Inspection and control of products of animal origin disciplines perform major practical training activities in production units and other specific units. Because of this, The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, has collaboration conventions with 5 slaughterhouses, 4 meet processing units, 3 milk processing and treatment units, 3 food storage units, one milk quality control regional laboratory, one food waste control section, one section of physico-chemical and microbiological control that belong to The State Veterinary Laboratory Cluj and 3 units of distribution / and place on market. The slaughterhouse S.C. “Everest” – is placed 5 km from Cluj. It is accesable by tram and two local buslines. The slaughterhouse S.C. “Elendoris” is placed in a nearby village, at 6 km from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. One can reach it by a local bus. The poultry slaughterhouse S.C. “Oncos” is placed 8 km from the faculty. There are local means of transportation. It is a large capacity slaughterhouse that processes up to 20000- 50000 birds daily.
37 These slaughterhouses are the main training units for students. During these activities students have at their disposal one locker room, rooms where the students can learn the technique of organs and carcasses examination. “Everest” slaughterhouse has distinct lines for processing bovine and swine while at “Elendoris” slaughterhouse bovine and swine are processed separately in the same premises. Students access is allowed only under the supervision of specialized academic staff, large groups of students are dispensed into 3 small groups (5 students), each small group being guided by a professor. During practical activities hours, students have the possibility to put into practice activities from various fields (documents’ control, examination before slaughter, bleeding, skinning control, examination of the head, organs and carcasses, control of refrigerating and freezing facilities). The slaughterhouse S.C. “Mariflor” Gherla and S.C. “Marele Alb” Turda are visiting slaughterhouses. These are located 30 km the first and 20 km the second from the faculty, transportation being done by the mini-buses belonging to FVM Cluj-Napoca. These slaughterhouses have a large capacity and are used for bovine and swine processing. These units have meat processing facilities, possibilities for complete follow-up of the technologiy being created: animal – slaughter – storage meat products – half-products – slaughter secondary products. Meat products’ factories “Discovery” and “Maestro” are the main units for practical activities in meat technology. These are closed units and have specific endowments for an industrial processing. S.C. “Napolact”, with its fresh milk products section from Baciu and cheese sections from Huedin and Dej, offer the possibility for students’ training in milk industrial processing. The milk quality control regional laboratory Floreşti, through its endowments with performing and automatic apparatus offers a good training space for students in the milk quality control field. Refrigerating storage facilities Baciu as well as those belonging to Metro store, are visiting units for the 5th year students, offering the contact with the realities of such profile units.
38 2. Comments
* The teaching plan underwent a series of changes that allow the future training of a veterinarian in concordance with the requirements of European integration. Thus, a series of meetings had taken place in the country and in France. A new legislative frame through Governmental Decision 1477/2003 has been put in place. * Due to a great variety of cases in pets from urban zones, a reorientation of faculty clinic activity was due, concurrent with the implementation or thoroughgoing study of some disciplines such as Pet clinics, Veterinary Dermatology, small animals breeding, Exotic pathology, Cell pathology and Comparative oncology. * Reports might be influenced by reducing the duration of the course in favor of increasing the time for individual study in the library or internet, hours of clinics and supervised work. For this, students have to have access to a non restricted adequate documentation (internet, photcopies, e-mail, video materials). * The teaching plan aims to: - realize a training that allows graduates to rapidly integrate in solving veterinary problems raised by breeding on farms and private micro farms in the center and north-west of Romania; taking the teaching process up to the requirements of the European Community and the European professional corps in the veterinary field; increasing the efficiency of actions and of veterinary services in order to become competitive both at national and international level. * The teaching plan is revised and restructured by the Faculty Council, based on proposals of heads of disciplines and of departments. These changes are approved by the University Senate. * In the near future, major development changes of the teaching plan could encounter problems like: food security; surveillance and control of emerging diseases animal protection and welfare toxicological supervision and of environment protection
39 3. Suggestions A more performant equipment for the emergency rooms, clinics and less for amphiteaters would improve the training process To ensure the necessary funds, the faculty will train a certain number of tax paying students and will increase the revenues from other resources (scientific research and paraclinical activities, specialized expertise).
40 CHAPTER 5. THE TEACHING PROCESS: QUALITY AND EVALUATION
1. Factual information 5.1. The teaching programme Within the framework of modernizing, new teaching-learning-evaluation methods have been applied. The curricula for the disciplines studied at FVM Cluj is being established according to the National Teaching Plan and comprises framework objectives of the veterinary medical profession as well as reference objectives. Framework objectives envisage the formation and development of a flexible thinking in the students as well as of certain abilities and specific action ways for the veterinary profession, development of mobile and the distributive attention. These are useful in noticing and understanding signs and symptoms and analyzing the biological processes. Reference objectives monitor the progress accomplished in gaining new capacities, new knowledge to enable the veterinary students competencies in the subsequent fields: Healthcare in farm animals and pets; Control of animal origin food quality and protection of human health; Toxicological surveillance in animal raising; Obtaining biological products and pharmaceuticals for veterinary use; Scientific research in specialized institutions; Teaching in veterinary high schools and faculties; Teaching plans are perfected by the den’s office, following suggestions from the disciplines, are validated by the Chairs and approved by the Professors’ Council. They are evaluated each trimester and follow the synchronization of the activities with corresponding units within the EU. The head of the discipline perfects analytical programs (contents of the disciplines). Coordination in teaching of the disciplines within the departments is being realized by direct consultative work, restricting in consensus the teaching materials in order to prevent overlap. The total number of disciplines in the Teaching plan for the 6 years of studies is of 60 (10 disciplines/ academic year, out of which 2-3 optional, 1-2 facultative ones). For the
41 facultative disciplines the offer is relatively small, being given the impossibility of teaching personnel to be stabilized on a reduced number of hours. The teaching process in our Faculty follows a logical, gradual pattern, from simple to complex from theory to practice. Fundamental disciplines ensure basic knowledge for preclinical discipline that will subsequently trigger the transition to clinical specialty training. Teaching methods are continuously changing. Case studies, debates, computer assisted learning have been more and more frequently in use. Following the same pattern of improving the content of the lectures, they become more practical, more formative, which makes them more attractive and pragmatic. Modern technical presentation methods such as audio, video techniques, Power Point presentations, problem based learning, algorithms, modeling and active participation are frequently used. Lecture notes stand for an innovative and systematic approach of the subject taught, approach improved by the students with suggested bibliography the access. In order to develop and consolidate the practical abilities of the students, there are agreements that support the teaching process, between the Faculty and other veterinary institutions, such as the Cluj County Veterinary Direction, the “Green Cap” Experimental farm, veterinary practices and farms within Cluj or its surroundings, etc. Some of the practical classes and probation periods take place in these institutions, while some of their specialists present lectures on various topics at the Faculty. About 50 students perform practical training of 2 to 3 months on private farms in Germany, France and Holland. Drug- or food supplies’ producing companies (Pfizer, Novartis, Whiskas, Intervet, and Farmavet) organize within the Faculty thematic lectures, round tables, with the participation of the interested students (undergraduate, master or doctoral). The proportion of indoor teaching has been continuously diminished, reaching from 36 h/week 12 years ago, to 26 hours/week nowadays, in order to leave the students enough time for individual studiesand other activities, including research. The curricula has been restructured to comprise 20 to 25 per cent fundamental disciplines, 50 to 70% specialty disciplines and 10 to 15% complementary disciplines. The actual proportion of 1/1 refers to lectures/practical activities (laboratories, seminars, projects, practical) for fundamental disciplines and ½ for some of the applied disciplines. New master and doctoral programs have been promoted, dependant on the profiles of the research centers, the academic training being correlated with the research methodology.
42 5.2. The teaching environment The teaching staff and the teaching support staff involved in the teaching process benefit of facilities that help them improve pedagogical capacities and their education in specialty through: improvement training, post graduate training, master or PhD in Romania or abroad (France, Germany, Spain, Portugal) or by enrolling in the foreign language courses or pedagogical training within the University. Presentation of the PhD theses, publishing scientific papers or specialty books/treaties, certificates of competency in foreign languages or pedagogic studies offer the possibility of a faster promotion, according to the criteria grid for teaching positions.
5.3. The examination system
The Faculty examination system functions according to a central policy of examination, perfected and approved by the Professors’ Council, that establishes and approves the examination procedure for each discipline (written, oral, practical, “during the route”, multiple choice, reports, etc.). During the academic year, there are two examination sessions (winter and summer), concordant with a pause in the teaching period, as well as a “behind exams” session, in the fall. The dominant examination form consists of oral exams. Only those students that have passed their practical exam may perform the oral exams and its grade represents 60% of the final grade. The presence of two cycles of studies, cycle I (years I to III) and 2 (years IV to VI) does not allow the students to pass from the first to the second cycle, unless all the exams for the first cycle were passed. Within the cycle (first or second), the student can move to the next year with 1 or 2 non-promoted disciplines, on the condition they do not count more than 10 credits. For the disciplines that have a “during the route” (continuous) examination, the students are being verified either during the entire semester or after 7 and 14 weeks of teaching, respectively. In this last case, the mean of the two grades represents the final mark. There are no external examiners, except the practical probation period in productive units, where the final grade takes into account the recommendation of the vet who supervised the student during that period. Two reexaminations are allowed.
43 The exams within a study year have to be promoted by the end of the reexamination session, 10 days before the beginning of the new academic year, unless credited within the cycle. The beginning of new courses is not being conditioned by being promoted any previous ones.
5.4. Evaluation of teaching
The main method to evaluate the quality of the training and implicitly the teaching process is being represented by the analysis of each discipline’s activity by the Professors’ Council of the Faculty. Aspects connected with quality are being discussed and propositions for improvement are being done. The basics of evaluation include: the preparation and management of the courses and practicals, expressed by the clarity of the lecture objectives, internal logic of the lecture’s organization, frequency of use of certain methods to facilitate learning, such as examples, applied training, demonstrations, etc. The course is being adapted according to the feed back from the students. They comment on the comprehensiveness of the subject taught scientific rigor of the information, correlation with and knowledge transfer to other courses or connect disciplines. Other criteria involve appropriate answers of the students to the questions, communication abilities of the students, clearness of the presentation, adequate rhetoric. The students’ results after the exams reflected by the correctness of the evaluation, use of adequate methods to examine the students and the quality of various teaching products are indicated by the amount of knowledge accumulated, gaining competencies, scholarships or publishing papers in the reviews. The evaluation is homogenous within the Faculty, the themes being established by the Professors’ Council, based on the teachers’ and students’ proposals. The students participate in the evaluation process of the teaching, but this activity is optional, based on questionnaires, the results of those being interpreted mainly by the teaching staff of the discipline. The teaching staff also participates in the evaluation process by attending interdisciplinary evaluation Committees at lectures and practicals. These activities are finalized with a general report presented, sustained and discussed within the Faculty Council.
44 5.5. Student welfare The Faculty manages Students’ Hostel VIII that accommodates 425 students and has a small buffet. The Sports rooms, cantina, the Central club of the University ensure recreation and meals for the students of the Veterinary Faculty as well. For those students that have social problems, the Faculty grants social scholarships, material help, tax exemption, leisure camps, trips for studies and recreation. By its permanent contact with the General Association of Romanian veterinarians and the College of Romanian Veterinarians, the Faculty helps its graduates to find a working place in developing their professional careers, mediatizing all the offers on the work market.
2. Comments
We consider that the curricula for veterinary medicine, as it exists in our faculty is well conceived, characterized by an appropriate quality, corresponding to the nowadays and perspective requirements of the veterinary profession in Romania. The curricula as it is, has a traditional component and a dynamic component, imposed by the continuous evolution in the field of knowledge and information exchange. Both preclinical and clinical disciplines share such components, new data and techniques/technologies in laboratory work, clinical training and research penetrating Romanian veterinary training. The external examiners are useful only in the disciplines where they directly work with the students for a longer period of time. Occasional round tables or conferences presented by these are useful to the students, but an exclusive evaluation of such activities would be incomplete. The participation of the students in elaborating and monitoring the courses and curricula is beneficial, but motivated students, led by realism and responsible for such activities should do it.
3. Suggestions
In order to diminish the examination time and increase the efficacy of and objectiveness of the grading, logical medical thinking/conduct will be taken into account as
45 well as the clearness, precision and conciseness of the answer, understanding of the phenomena and not the mechanical memorizing of it. During the semester, the students will be attracted to the continuous learning process by presentation of reports on certain topics of interest and clinical cases that complete their education. Only students who have proven good learning results as well as pedagogical abilities will be able to take teaching positions in higher education. The quality of teaching/learning process could be improved by: interactive courses, where the student would be more than a receptor; avoiding overlap and repetitions, unnecessarily hardening the teaching process; use of alternations of various techniques to facilitate receptiveness of the students (sensorial, audio-visual) development of a logical creative and pragmatic thinking, starting with the preclinical period of studies, by presenting the medical significance, where appropriate, for each fundamental notion development of managerial capacities of the future veterinarian, required by the dynamics of the working places and use of performing technical means in the veterinary practice accomplishment of a reasonable program of academic mobility and circulation of the information with the help of an informational network veterinary study lines in international languages.
46 CHAPTER 6. FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT 1. Factual information 6.1: Premises in general The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, owns a complex of buildings located within the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, on Mănăştur Str. no. 3-5, on the Western side of the city. Educational facilities are: the lecture rooms, the clinics, the laboratories, the hospital, the emergency room and other two different buildings that are functionally related, corresponding to the attached situation plan (annex l). The building complex is located in a very representative dendrological park and the access roads for the reception of all kinds of animals to the clinic and the hospital of the faculty are very easy to follow.
6.2: Premises used for clinics and hospitalisation These represent 40% of the whole space of the Faculty. In concordance with the attached situation plan, the clinics and hospital zone is composed of 3 well individualized subzones as it follows: 1st Zone – marked red – obstetrics and reproductive disorders’ clinic, surgery clinic and internal diseases clinic. 2nd Zone – marked blue – emergency hospital and cattle, horses and small animal hospital. 3rd Zone – marked black – Parasitic diseases clinic zone, infectious deseases clinic zone and the hospitals that belong to them.
Table 6.2.1: Places available for clinics and hospitalisation - number of hospitalisation spaces for cattle - 15 - number of hospitalisation spaces for horses - 10 - number of hospitalisation spaces for small ruminants- 30 - number of hospitalisation spaces for swine - 30 - number of hospitalisation spaces for dogs - 25 - number of hospitalisation spaces for cats - 15 The number of animals that can be accommodated in the isolation spaces: - small animals - 20 - farm animals and horses - 3 + 2 = 5
47 6.3: Premises for animals
Except the spaces for animals used for clinical and hospitalization purposes, the Faculty has a facility used for growing animals for teaching purposes, called the “Green Cap” Experimental Teaching Station. The main body of the ETS is located 3 km West from the Faculty and it has got facilities and shelters for growing and exploiting all categories of livestock. There are appropriate conditions for teaching the breeding, exploitation, animal welfare and the production technologies, mainly for the milk.
6.4: Premises used for theoretical, practical and supervised teaching
Our Faculty structured its teaching plan to follow four main training directions, linked to one another and with its own infrastructure each: - fundamental training direction; - preclinical training direction; - clinical training direction; - animal production, hygiene, animal welfare and food safety.
For each of these directions, the Faculty has facilities that ensure the theoretical training in lecture rooms. It also has specialized laboratories, clinics and hospitals for learning the practical part, the correlation of the two being done on the experimental farm or those units processing animal origin foods that have a collaboration contract with the Faculty.
Table 6.4.1: Premises for lecturing Number of lecture halls: 1 + 5 amphitheaters.
Number of places per lecture hall Hall A1 A3 A2 Albastru MV1 Fishery Places 88 180 180 130 40 40
Total number of places in lecture halls: 658
48 Table 6.4.2: Premises for group work Number of rooms that can be used for group work (supervised work): 47 + 6* * - Amphitheaters. Number of places in the rooms for group work:
Fundamental Sciences 14 rooms 240 Chemistry: 1/20 20 Anatomy: 1/20+1/20+1/20+1/10 70 Histology: 1/20+1/10 30 Physiology: 1/20+1/15 35 Biophysics: 1/20+1/10 30 Genetics: 1/20+1/15 35 Computer science: 1/20 20
Preclinics 12 rooms 170 places Physiopathology: 1/15+1/10 25 Pharmacology: 1/15+1/10 25 Pathology: 1/15+1/15+1/10 40 Microbiology: 1/15+1/15 30 Semiology: 1/15+1/15 30 Ecology: 1/20 20
Clinics 18 rooms 180 places Reproduction: 1/10+1/10+1/10 30 Surgery: 1/10+1/10+1/10+1/10+1/10 50 Internal medicine: 1/10+1/10+1/10+1/10 40 Parasitology: 1/10+1/10+1/10 30 Infectious Diseases: 1/10+1/10+1/10 30
49 Animal production, control and food safety 6 rooms 70 places Food inspection: 1/10+1/10 20 Nutrition: 1/10+1/10 20 Hygiene: 1/15 15 Animal breeding: 1/15 15
Lecture halls, amphitheatres 5 rooms 658 places A1: 1/60 88 A2: 1/80 180 A3: 1/80 180 MV1: 1/30 40 The Blue Amph.: 1/130 130 Fishery 1/40 40 Total number of places in rooms for group work 658 + 610 = 1268
Table 6.4.3: Premises for practical work Number of laboratories for practical work by students: 29. Number of places per laboratory Laboratories rooms places 1. Chemistry 1/20 20 2. Anatomy: 1/20+1/20 40 3. Histology: 1/20 20 4. Physiology: 1/20 20 5. Biophysics: 1/20 20 6. Genetics: 1/20 20 7. Computer science: 1/20 20 8. Physiopathology: 1/15 15 9. Pharmacology: 1/15 15 10. Pathological anatomy: 1/15 15 11. Microbiology: 1/15 15 12. Semiology: 1/15 15 13. Ecology: 1/20 20
50 14. Reproduction: 1/10+1/10 20 15. Surgery: 1/10+1/10 20 16. Internal medicine: 1/10+1/10 20 17. Parasitology: 1/10+1/10 20 18. Infectious Diseases: 1/10+1/10 20 19. Food inspection: 1/10+1/10 20 20. Nutrition: 1/10 10 21. Hygiene: 1/15 15 22. Animal breeding: 1/15 15
Total number of places in laboratories: 405 places/ 29 rooms
All the rooms presented above ensure the requirements for the safety and good health of the students, as follows: 1. Each student has 1,8 to 2,5 m2 and an air volume of 2,5 – 5 m3 . 2. Each room has very good ventilation and access spaces and exits required by any hazardous situation. 3. Each room has a place for the students to dress in safety equipment. 4. Each room has places for hand washing and hygiene. 5. The students get firstly informed about the protection measures specific for each laboratory; the students sign in a table to acknowledge attendance to this first training session.
6.5: Diagnostic laboratories and clinical support services
- Diagnostic laboratories = 9 - Departments – sections for clinical activity – 7 Diagnostic laboratories Clinical laboratory for internal diseases Bacteriological and virological diagnostic laboratory The pathological anatomy diagnostic laboratory The parasitological diagnosis laboratory The toxicological diagnosis laboratory The biotechniques in reproduction - laboratory
51 Surveillance of the environmental hygiene and animal welfare - laboratory The control and safety of foods of animal origin - laboratory The quality and safety of forages - laboratory
Central clinic support services 1. radiology and imaging diagnosis 2. forensic medicine and necropsy diagnosis hall 3. experimental animals’ sector 4. sterilisation of instruments and surgical material - block 5. anaesthesiology ward 6. the emergency hospital and the watch service 7. the administrative-supply sector
6.6: Slaughterhouse facilities
The Faculty does not have its own facilities in this field because the legislation is very restrictive in this domain. But it has established protocols with 8 slaughterhouses for large animals, small animals and poultry, where students can go directly for practical applications. These units are placed on a 5-8 km radius area from the Faculty and the access to them is very easy and it can be done with convenient means of transportation. The veterinarian authority has to authorize all the slaughterhouses and they are included in the UE standard harmonization process.
6.7: Foodstuff processing unit
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine owns two experimental workshops for meat and milk processing but the endowment is limited because of the sanitary laws from Romania and UE, for this field. Therefore, for the rigorous teaching of the students, the faculty has concluded protocols with 15 processing units for every food product and animal product needed.
52 6.8: Waste management
All the compartments of our Faculty use and handle products and biological materials at a high rate of risk. For the control and elimination of this risk, every laboratory, clinic and hospital is connected to a circuit with 4 different levels of administration of the hazardous, both chemical and microbiological materials. LEVEL I – obtaining, handling and processing the high hazardous products, under the strict supervision of qualified people. LEVEL II – the handling of hazardous materials during the entire processing procedure, done by highly qualified specialists. LEVEL III – each compartment has isolation and chemical inactivations means for the products at high risk that have been used. LEVEL IV – directing all products and materials at high risk to the cremation unit of the necropsy diagnosis laboratory.
6.9: Future changes
At the point of founding and building the complex of buildings of FVM Cluj-Napoca (1962-1967), the teaching in the Romanian veterinary medicine was mainly based on the study of livestock and in a very small proportion, on small animals or pets. The new orientation forces the FVM to make substantial changes : 1. Realizing secure circuits for animals and animal origin products, integrated in the learning process. 2. Setting in place and development of the hygiene, production and animal welfare sections. 3. Development of the animal origin products’ and its hygiene sections.
2. Comments
The majority of the buildings of the Faculty are adequate for the purpose they serve, being designed from the very beginning for teaching.
53 The equipment used for teaching purposes in the clinics more than in the laboratories are partially adequate for modern training. All the disciplines should be provided with computers and network systems. The maintenance of the buildings and equipment is mostly satisfactory; the lack of funds sometimes hardens the renewal process. New buildings were already built to meet the requirements of the EU integration (Emergency room), but all the old buildings should gradually undergo a restoration process. The following objectives were realized: 1. New compartments in the hospitals, so each species can have appropriate conditions for hospitalizing. 2. Restructuring the space in the clinics, so that large and small animals could follow separate tracks. 3. Finalizing the building of the emergency room and permanent watch services, with the veterinary students taking active part.
3. Suggestions
The equipment used for teaching is in many of the cases obsolete, replacements by purchasing new and modern apparatus, mainly audio-visual machines such as overheads, dia- projectors, video players, internal circuit television, video cameras. A special interest should be awarded to informatics and access to Internet. The founding of a research center for Food hygiene and food safety, where the students would gain “hands on” competencies in food control, would be of help in training both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
54 Annex 1
55 Annex 2 SITUATION PLAN
C
A B
A – Preclinic building B – Clinics – Internal medicine - Surgery - Obstetrics, Reproduction Pathology C – Hospital
56 Annex 3 SITUATION PLAN
A C
B
A – Infectious Diseases B – Parasitology Clinic C – Pathology, Forensic medicine
57 CHAPTER 7 : ANIMALS AND TEACHING MATERIALS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN
1. Factual information
7.1. Basic subjects
ANATOMY For teaching the practical part of the studies, the Discipline Anatomy of the Domestic Animals uses as teaching aids domestic animals and different parts of the animal body like: bones, joints and organs. Castings, drawings, video films and slides are used for training purposes. To study the muscles, the blood vessels: arteries, veins and lymphatic system, the nervous system and the topography of the organs horses, donkeys, sheep, dogs and rabbits are used, alive or prepared as teaching aid. In the laboratory classes, bones from different species are used as well as fresh or preserved organs. Beside all these material aids, the Discipline also has a very representative museum that contains many well-preserved pieces for direct “hands on” training.
Bone collection Tarsal Phalanx Phalanx Phalanx Coxal Tibia and Femurus (sets) 1 2 3 bone fibula Horse 7 120 100 12 25 130 120 Large 14 160 140 50 6 30 25 ruminants Sheep and - - - - 30 40 50 goat Swine - - - - 12 28 40 Dog - - - - 20 40 25 Cat - - - - 4 5 4 Rabbit - - - - 40 30 15
58 Bone collection Radius Carpals Skeletons Skulls Mummies Scapula Humerus and ulna (sets) Horse 1 12 1 80 90 70 4 Donkey 1 - 1 - - - - Cow 1 20 1 45 35 21 3 Buffalo 1 ------Lama 1 ------Sheep 1 - - 11 40 30 17 Goat 1 - - Swine 1 8 - 60 40 30 5 Dog 1 14 1 30 35 18 7 Red deer 1 ------Bear 1 ------Panther 1 ------Wolf 1 ------Coypus 1 ------Rat 1 ------Goose 1 ------Lion 1 ------Tiger 1 ------Cat 1 - - 6 4 4 - Duck 1 ------Ostrich 1 ------Fox 1 ------Human 1 ------Rabbit - 6 - 9 30 14 -
Bone collection Cervical Thoracic Lumbar Sacrum Ribs Joints vertebrae vertebrae vertebrae Horse 150 20 70 6 170 Large 30 40 15 2 40 ruminants Sheep and 60 60 65 5 80 goat 150 Swine 20 30 20 1 20 Dog 60 85 70 10 120 Cat 8 14 6 2 6 Rabbit 30 50 45 4 10
59 Formaline preserved preparations Head Urinary Genital Heart Head Intestines Lungs sections system system Horse 2 6 6 4 6 6 6 Large 2 4 4 4 2 4 2 ruminants Sheep and 4 4 5 2 3 3 1 goat Swine 3 3 3 3 2 1 2 Dog 4 6 6 6 6 6 7 Cat 2 2 - 1 2 2 1 Rabbit 6 5 4 4 4 2 2
All the animals that are used for dissection are clinically healthy, reformed or wounded (dogs) not showing any signs of transmissible diseases. The animals are subjected to euthanasia, respecting all the requirements to lessen pain, using tranquilizers. The bones and the organs come from different animals used as teaching aid (horses, donkeys, dogs, rabbits), and as well from animals subjected to euthanasia (pets, dogs and cats given up by their owners for euthanasia, suffering from chronic, untreatable, non contagious diseases) and farm animals (cows, pigs, sheep, rabbits and birds). The bones and the organs are prepared by special techniques for anatomical study or preserved by formaldehyde treatment. The fresh carcases for disections are kept in refrigerators for the duration of use. The organs are preserved in recipients (different types of glass jars and basins) filled with 10% formaldehyde, being very well washed with water before use in the labs. The technology of preparing the bones goes through all the steps: cleaning, washing, whitening and removing the fat with various chemicals (hydrogen peroxyde) after which being kept in a special room until being used as teaching aids. During one academic year, for 120 students 25-35 reformed horses, 40-50 sheep, 6-10 dogs, 20-30 rabbits and a different number of cats (10-20-25) are used. The teaching aid is provided by purchase by the University or the Faculty, by sponsorships and donations.
60 PATHOLOGY
Table 7.1: Number of necropsies over the past 3 years Species Number of necropsies 2003 2002 2001 Farm/large animals cattle 24 27 11 equines 10 18 12 small ruminants 86 100 98 pigs 82 159 95 other* 457 659 708 Small/pets dogs 997 360 95 cats 8 16 21 others* 36 33 24 Total 1700 1372 1064 * Farm birds (hens, chickens, turkeys, ostriches, pheasants, quails), deers, rabbits; ** Other small/pets / - fox, pigeon, cage birds, reptiles, small rodents, fish;
Additional sources of material for the teaching of necropsies and pathological anatomy:
1. Animals included in experiments: a. Mice and rats – about 150 for year; b. Rabbits – about 50 for year; 2. Organs from slaughterhouse: a. Bovine, pigs – about 500 kg. b. Chickens – about 250 kg. 3. Biopsy samples a. 2004 – 20 samples; b. 2003 – 107 samples; c. 2002 – 91 samples. 4. Museum of pathology - about 1,000 pieces in formaline: a. Infectious diseases b. Parasitic diseases c. Nutritional diseases d. Malformations e. Reactive lesions and regeneration 5. Collection of histological slides – about 100,000 slides: 6. Pathology images:
61 a. Pictures – about 5,000; b. Slides – about 5,000; c. Digital pictures – about 5,000 7. Wax embebed samples – about 10,000 cases.
7.2. Animal productions
The activity of the disciplines involved in animal productions is organized with the students in the faculty laboratories, faculty farm (“Green Cap” Experimental Farm) and on several other farms (Someşeni, Jucu, Apahida). On the faculty farm (“Green Cap” Experimental Farm) the studied species are: cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, chickens. The themes of the practical laboratories are: evaluation of the animal productive performances, evaluation of the reproductive material, fodder quality, mechanical milking systems, etc. The number of animals that the students work on are the following: 220 cattle, 20 horses, 100 pigs, 400 sheep and 3000 fowls. Our faculty is also involved in tehnical assistance for some microfarms around Cluj- Napoca, where the students’ access is permited: Jucu Horse Farm, Bonţida, Cojocna Sport horse farm, Someşeni Dairy farm, S.C. Victoria Apahida – swine farm, Hoia farm specialised in sheep breeding, sport Club A.S. Victoria, etc. The numbers of animals on these farms vary: Someşeni Farm – 150 dairy cows, S.C. Apahida – 600 pigs, Jucu Farm – 180 horses, Hoia Farm – 400 sheep, Horse Club A.S. Victoria – 50 horses. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca also cooperates with several other farms in our region:
62 Farms that cooperate with the Veterinary Faculty Administrative Surface , from: Animals Nr.crt Farm name Adress Tel/fax person Total Used Propr Cattle Pigs Fowls Sheep S.C.AGRIMPEX SRL Cluj Napoca ,Str. 1 0264231979 BUDA IOAN 80 70 10 103 100 190 - APAHIDA Alverna nr.63 Cluj Napoca, Str. S.C.BIZO IMPORT- 2. Nic.Titulescu Nr. 0264231668 BIZO IOAN 1,5 - 1,5 - - 63083 - EXPORT 145 Ap.8 Cluj Napoca ,Str. RATIU 3 S.C. DELGIA SRL Nasaud Nr. 16 0,32 - 0,32 - - 11428 - MARIANA Ap. 49 ORGANIZATIA ECCE Cluj Napoca , Str. 4 0264437179 BALAS LIVIU 1,00 - 1,00 15 76 - - HOMO APAHIDA H.Barbusse Nr. 43 Cluj ORGANIZATIA ECCE 5 Napoca,Str.H. 0264437179 BALAS LIVIU 52 - 52 29 127 - - HOMO AITON Barbusse Nr. 43 Com.Apahida COSTIN 6 S.C.PATA PROD SRL ,Sat. Pata ,Str. Gh. 0264431811 1,5 - 1,5 - - 11000 = GHEORGHE Cosbuc F.N. Aschileu Mare PRUNEAN 7 S.C.PROLACT SRL 0264595432 - - - - 30 - - Nr.80 EMIL S.C.MAYER PANE Com.Baciu , Str. 8 0264260402 MAIER IOAN - - - - 110 190 - SRL-BACIU Principala Nr. 825 S.C.PLANT EXTRACT Com. Baciu , Sat PEEV IGOR 9 0264260688 10,23 3,48 6,75 - - - - SRL-BACIU Radaia KIRIL S.C.AGROFLIP SA Com.Bontida ,Nr. FLORIAN 10 0264262275 163 - 163 342 60487 - - BONTIDA 834 LIVIA S.C.TRANSILVANIA SPORT HORSE Cluj Napoca, MARIUS 11 0264262291 523 523 - - - - - COMPANY SRL Str.Oasului Nr. 27 BRAEKSTAD BONTIDA Loc. Huedin ,Str. S.C. AGROCOM CLUJ PITIC 12 Pr. A. Muntean 0264351414 300 300 - 237 54 - - SUC. HUEDIN DUMITRU Nr. 72
63 Loc. Cluj Napoca 13 S.C. BASTO SRL CLUJ , Str. Cpt. Grigore 0264416328 STAN MARIA 128 128 - 306 - - - Ignat STATIUNEA Loc. Cluj Napoca DIDACTICA 24 , Calea Floresti , 0264452272 ROTAR IOAN 45 45 - 227 117 - - EXPERIMENTALA - Nr. 56 FLORESTI Loc. Cluj Napoca S.C. ONCOS IMPEX ONACA 15 , Str. Donath Nr . 0264265927 1,54 - 1,54 - - 228243 - SRL CLUJ VASILE 76 SUCURSALA Over PENTRU Loc. Cluj Napoca GIOARSA 110 16 REPREZENTARE SI , Str. Napoca , Nr. 0264598776 66 66 - 13 2973 23043 DORIN ha/surf PROTOCOL 16 ace VICTORIA CLUJ S.C. KARNA SRL Loc. Floresti ,Str. LEAHU 17 0264265102 0,26 - 0,26 - - 24000 - FLORESTI Cetatii F.N. ADRIAN S.C. GEMATO PROD Loc. Floresti , Str. MUDURE 18 0264265102 0,39 - 0,39 - - 24000 - SRL FLORESTI Cetatii , F.N. MARCELA Loc. Cluj Napoca SZAKACS 19 S.C. LORIETE SRL 0264423973 0,2 - 0,2 - - 26000 - , Str. Tazlau ,Nr. 1 PETER S.C. AMARETO Loc. Floresti , Str. COBORZAN 20 IMPEX SRL 0264265539 3,74 - 3,74 - - 92000 - Gh. Doja VIORICA FLORESTI Loc. Cluj Napoca S.C. ALE-AVIS SRL BALAS 21 , Str. Gh. Dima , 0744391865 0,27 - 0,27 - - 24000 - CLUJ CAMELIA Nr. 15 , Ap. 16 S.C. ASENA SRL Loc. Floresti , Nr. TARTA 22 0264265492 0,27 - 0,27 - - 23500 - FLORESTI 15 SILVIU STATIUNEA DE CERCETARE SI Loc. Turda , Str. 0264311680 23 DEZVOLTARE Agriculturii , Nr. HAS IOAN 1484 1484 - 36 303 - 672 0264311792 AGRICOLA TURDA- 27 TURDA
64 On all these farms, practical activities are being organized concerning various subjects, such as: studies on morphologic types, examination of dynamic in horses, analytical and synthetic examination in horses, preservation methods for nutrients, etc.
7.3. Food hygiene
The educational programs mentions the details included in this discipline. On the IV th year the discipline called “Technology, hygiene and food products’ quality” includes two semesters – 56 hours of lectures and 56 hours of practical applications. The practical activity is being organized up to 80% in food industry units based on a cooperation contract, signed between the unit and the Faculty. On the Vth year the discipline deals with “Food control and examinations for food safety”, including two semesters: 56 hours lecture and 84 hours practical activities. Practical activities are organized in two separate modules: - animal products’ examination and inspection in productive units, processing methods corresponding to the principle „from stable to table”. - practical applications for evaluation of the pshysico-chemical, microbiologic and toxic qualities of food products. All practical activities take place either in specialized units or in the Faculty’s food control laboratory. FVM has cooperation conventions with 5 slaughter houses, 4 meat processing units, 3 milk processing units, 3 food storehouses, one milk control laboratory, one psihico-chemical and regional microbiological examination unit, one EST diagnosis unit from state Veterinary Laboratory Cluj, 3 distribution units.
List of the slaughterhouses: 1. Slaughter house CS Everest Cluj-Napoca – large capacity slaughter house for cows and pigs. 2. Slaughter house CS Elendoris Baciu – small capacity slaughter house – cows and pigs. 3. Slaughter house CS Oncos Floreşti – poultry slaughter house, large capacity. 4. Slaughter house CS Mariflor Gherla – visiting slaughter house. 5. Slaughter house CS Marele alb Turda - visiting slaughter house.
65 Meat processing units: 1. Discovery Cluj-Napoca 2. Maestro Cluj-Napoca 3. Mariflor Gherla 4. A.F. Mureşan Cluj-Napoca
Milk processing units: 1. SC Napolact – fresh milk products unit – Baciu 2. SC Napolact dairy products unit – Huedin 3. SC Napolact dairy products unit – Dej
Food storehouses units:
1. Baciu 2. Metro – Floreşti 3. Bila - Cluj-Napoca
On the VIth year, the students have to participate in a food security practical training – 1 semester, 14 hours of lectures, 28 hours practical activities, the objective being to train them in HACCP and GMP.
7.4. Consultations
Number of the weeks when the clinics are open 52 Consulting days/week 5 Consulting hours/day 12
When the clinics are closed the faculty offers a non-stop emergency service (see chapter 7.7)
66 Table 7.4: Number of animals received for consultation in the past three years Number of patients Species 2003 2002 2001 Farm/large animals: Cattle 987 1005 995 Equines 985 995 1002 Small ruminants 630 480 500 Pigs 685 630 750 Fowl 62 83 75 Total farm/large animals 3349 3193 3322 Small/pets Dogs 4114 3996 4012 Cats 2032 1997 2068 Guinea pigs 13 11 8 Caged birds 9 14 6 Rabbits 25 21 15 Ostriches 3 1 - Turtles 18 21 12 Hawks 1 - - Total small/pets 6215 6061 6121
7.5. Hospitalisation The hospital is divided and separated for different species, being functional all year round. With a non-stop activity it ensures emergency assistance and also patient’ hospitalization. Table 7.5: Patients hospitalised in the clinics in the past three years Number of hospitalizations Species 2003 2002 2001 Farm/large animals Cattle 304 297 309 Equines 758 762 735 Small ruminants 143 115 138 Pigs 42 29 31 Fowls - - - Total farm/large animals 1247 1203 1213 Small/pets Dogs 1039 1006 1011 Cats 512 497 491 Guinea pigs 11 9 5 Caged birds 7 11 3 Rabbits 15 12 9 Ostriches - 1 - Turtles 2 3 - Hawk 1 - - Total small/pets 1587 1539 1519
67 Operated animals in the past three years Patients number Species 2003 2002 2001 Farm/large animals: Cattle 173 158 160 Equines 512 506 497 Small ruminants 96 94 82 Pigs 21 14 10 Total farm/large animals 802 772 749 Smalls/pets: Dogs 609 612 604 Cats 307 291 301 Guinea pigs 1 - - Caged birds 2 2 - Ostriches 2 1 - Turtles 3 2 - Hawk 1 - - Total smalls/pets 925 908 905
7.6. Vehicles for animal transport Sick animals from different farms are transported to the faculty clinics with a truck (number CJ 08 USA) which correspond to the hygiene reglementations. The owners are not charged for this service. Sometimes (acute diseases, severe injuries and at big distances, holidays) the owners bring the animals with theirs own transportation means.
7.7. Emergency service
Emergency service was reorganized afer 01.10.2004 with a new location according to the actual standards. Emergency services consist of surgery, orthopedy, obstetrics and ginecology, intensive care, internal medicine etc. Emergency veterinary services are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks/year. In some difficult cases, depending on the disease of the patient, the head of the concordant department is called to give medical assistence to sick animals. They come quickly because they live 0,5-6 Km distance arround faculty.
68 7.8. Mobile clinic
The clinics work 40 hours/week. Out-of-hours emergency services are available on calls, in collaboration with field vets. One bus (45 places) and two mini-buses (16 places each) are available to transport the students with the mobile clinic. During one year, the mobile clinic performs examinations as follows: 1,850 cattle, 380 horses, 2,750 sheep, 1,850 pigs, 13,850 fowls. The average number of visits made every year to farms by the mobile clinic is: 80 cattle farms, 50 swine farms, 25 horse farms, 60 poultry farms, 80 sheep farms.
7.9. Other information
The Faculty is involved in a sterilization program for the stray dogs. Students, along with the surgeons from the faculty, participate weekly in dog shelter activities (str. Bobâlna).
The level of clinical service offered by the establishment compared to outside practices is higher because the faculty owns: - services of radiology, radioscopy, endoscopy and ecography - specialized vets - inhalatory anaesthesia - laboratory for biochemical analysis - hospitalisation - non-stop emergency service - mobile clinic - animal transportation All these facilities can be found only partly in private practices or clinics,
Out of all cases, 65% decide as first option by the faculty clinics and other 35% are sent by private practices and clinics. For farm animals, the first option of the owner is their local vet because most of the farms are located in small villages around Cluj. Difficult cases are brought to faculty clinics.
69 The clinical specialisations covered by the faculty are: abdominal surgery, orthopedy, stomatology, ophtalmology, andrology, gynecology, obstetrics, radiology, ecography, cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, parasitology, mycology, dermatology, infectious diseases, intensive therapy. The coverage is 5 days a week, according to the activity of the clinics. For clinical services the taxes are minimal, established by the College of Romanian Veterinarians while in private practices, as far as we know, the taxes are higher. We have co-operation relations with the practitioners. They send to the faculty clinics the sick animals and we sent them back with the diagnosis and therapy recommendations. When the animals’ owners ask for that, the treatment can be done in our clinics. Milking cows and horse farms have good relations with the faculty veterinarians. When are asked for, our vets with the students resolve their veterinarian problems. In the private practices, students are welcome for practical stages. Their activities are then discussed in the faculty with the professors for a better understanding of the cases. There are good relationships between Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and: Veterinary Police, Veterinary Direction, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Zoological Gardens and Animal Welfare Societies. In those structures, students are taught in specific subjects like: veterinary regulations, animal and food imports, veterinary medicine for companion animals, exotic animal pathology, etc. All cases presented at the faculty clinics are registered separately in each clinic being introduced in a database. In the future all data from clinics, diagnosis laboratories will be kept on computers accessible for each veterinarian from the faculty.
7.10. Ratios
7.10.1. Animals available for clinical work
Refference year is 2003. Ratio: students/production animals
number of students graduated in thelast year 108 1 * number of production animals * 3,349 31.0 * poultry examined by the mobile clinic are not included
70 Ratio: students/companion animals
number of students graduated in thelast year 108 1 number of companion animals 6,215 57.5
7.10.2. Animals available for necropsy
Ratio: students/post-mortem examinations
number of students graduated in thelast year 108 1 number of cadaversnecropsied 1,700 15.7
2. Comments Although the faculty has many facilites for education activity, there are a lot of things to be done. New, modern veterinary equipment is needed along with the modernizing of the diagnostic facilities. Clinical services must develop also in: cancer therapy, diagnosis of immune diseases, reproduction biotechnologies in companion animals. Emergency service will function at high standards ensuring a complete veterinary assistance. The local conditions and circumstances that can negatively influence the ratios from chapter 7.10 are mainly the decrease of production animals and pet patients, creation of private clinics, the higher interest of field vets and providing animal welfare. In the positive way, the ratios could be influenced by a higher quality of the faculty services due to specialized equipment and hospitalisation facilities with permanent assistence.
3. Suggestions All the ratios are satisfactory according to the indicative table in annex I. In 2004, the hospital was modernized and there are new premises for increasing the number of hospitalized animals according to animal welfare regulations. For the mobile clinic we will collaborate with field vets (24 private practices and 60 large animal clinics) because our country has many farms of small and large ruminants.
71 CHAPTER 8: LIBRARY AND LEARNING RESOURCES
1. Factual information 8.1. Library
General description of the library / libraries belonging to the university, available for students. The USAMV Library, Cluj-Napoca, holds the position of a central library and is placed under the University leadership. The main objective of the USAMV central library is supporting the process of education, by offering the teaching material for all the specializations. The library also supplies the informational basis for scientific research and professional development of students teaching staff, doctoral and MA students.
How the library is managed (ex. the library committee)
The library functions according to a regulation sanctioned by the Senate of USAMV Cluj-Napoca and is managed by a chief appointed by the Rector of the University. The library leadership is assisted by the Scientific Council, i.e the Director of the “Book Fund Development Department” and a teacher chosen by each faculty. On the proposal of the Scientific Council, The Senate agrees on the annual funds designated for the development of the library activities. Within the limits of these funds, the library can do the following activities: internal and international exchanges of publications, delivery of the USAMV Bulletin (the Agriculture, Horticulture, Zootechny and Biotechnology, Veterinary Medicine series) and other publications of the Academic Press publishing house; book acquisition and subscription to internal and external publications. The library consists of the following sections: 1. Completing and organizing collections 2. Information and documentary 3. Periodicals, subscription, exchanges 4. Loan 5. Free access to shelf 6. Internet
72 7. Electronic database 8. Spiral binding, photocopying, lamination. It also comprises the department libraries, organized by the faculties with which the central library cooperates. The timetable is established by the Scientific Council and can be modified periodically to meet the students’ and teaching staff’s requirements. If requested, the library also offers the following services at cost: photocopying, printing, spiral binding, lamination. Free services offered are: access to the online catalogue for the 1980-2004 period, access to traditional catalogues; consulting publications in the free shelf access room; loaning publications; assistance with identifying publications in the catalogues and on-line data base; consulting the data base on CD-rooms and DVD-rooms; access to Internet. The library is the main beneficiary of the book and information exchanges, and it is to be included in the protocols of collaboration, which will be established with other university and academic institutions.
Main Library
The main library is not exclusively destined for veterinary medical education. It serves all four faculties that belong to USAMV Cluj-Napoca. Beside taht, the library also serves the colleges that represent the short-term education units of the Faculty.
Acquisition budget for the last 3 years Year Local currency Euro/Dollars 2000 60.458.607 ROL 3719 $ 2001 251.982.923 ROL 3908 $ 2002 468.608.315 ROL 3931 $ 2003 488.805.731 ROL 5875 $ and 651 €
Number of full-time employees
There are nine full-time employees out of who eight are librarians and one is secretary typist. There are no part-time employees.
73
Number of journals/periodicals and books received yearly Year Periodicals Books Total 2000 47.393 volumes 158.854 206.247 2001 47.671 volumes 160.694 208.233 2002 48.030 volumes 163.064 211.094 2003 48.521 volumes 155.229 203.200
Number of seats for students in the reading hall: 36
Library timetable:
Working days Weekend University year Monday – Friday 8 – 20 8 – 14 Session 8 – 20 8 – 14 On holiday - -
Number of volumes lent - for students per academic year
Year Number 2000 272.504 2001 290.521 2002 307.811 2003 315.550
Subsidiary library (Description of discipline libraries and condition for the students’ access)
Most of the disciplines possess their own book fund, which is recorded both by the central library and by each discipline. The volume of this book fund varies from one discipline to another and is used both by the teaching staff and by the students included in research groups, or those preparing their diploma papers. The access to the disciplines book fund is only restricted during the weekend and on holiday. Each discipline has a very strict record of its own and loans are made for a short time period and at special request for those outside the discipline.
74 The central library keeps the book records every year, by making a periodical inventory. The disciplines can enrich their book fund, on request addressed to the central library, and within the limits of the funds granted by each faculty, or by the University.
8.2. Information technology services a) Audiovisual services
Each discipline possesses its own database in this field. There is a variable number of videotapes within each department. They represent recordings of special clinical cases, or of experiments presented in doctoral theses, or, as it is the case with preclinical disciplines (Physiology, Physio pathology, Nutrition etc.) of didactic experiments that replace those made directly on laboratory animals (mice, rats, frogs, etc.). There are no special employees to serve recording. The total number of available videotapes for the discipline is around 175-180, and of those recorded in the last 5 years is approximately 65-70. The materials recorded on the cassettes can be viewed in the laboratories used for teaching activities with the students. The number of seats depends on the size of the laboratory and varies between 15-24, which is the number of the students in a group. The number of hours designated for viewing the tapes depends on each discipline, being influenced by the number of didactic materials.
Timetable Working Days Weekend - during the normal schedule 8 – 18 - - during the holiday - -
b) Computer service
75 Students have free access to the computer services of the University which is part of the central library. The timetable is the same as for the central library and access is permitted during the working hours, on the basis of a membership card, issued by the central library. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has its own computer department, with 10 computers to which the students have access only during the working hours. Moreover, each discipline has a variable number of computers, depending on the number of teaching staff in the discipline, and on the financial resources (research grants) which allow purchasing and maintaining them in a good estate. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, in its turn, is involved in equipping the disciplines with computers not older than 3 years. The total numbers of computers per faculty is 52, out of which around 20 are 3 years old or less, the rest being older. Students have free access to these computers, as far as they are involved in the activities taking place in various disciplines and as far as their training hours correspond to working hours. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine offers special services designated to computer. There is a full-time teacher, that familiarizes students with various activities on the 10 available computers. For this purpose, interactive CD-ROMs are also available. The faculty establishes the schedule and it represents 2 hours weekly per each group of students.
2. Comments
Library The specialty journals and books, which belong to the central library or to the disciplines’ libraries, are extremely useful for the students’ and for teachers’ training. The teaching staff constantly uses the magazines’ room and the library’s book fund in order to update their knowledge. On the other hand, this database is very important in the research process, especially as a basis for the bibliographical documentation, necessary for writing scientific papers and diploma works. As for the students, they use the library services to accumulate material relevant to courses and laboratories they attend during the teaching program.
76 At the same time, the present book fund is also used for literature surways, which represent an important aspect of students’ activities, at least for those disciplines that adopt such an approach of the didactic process. Unfortunately, because of the lack of an optimal financial support, the library does not always offer the latest update on the major fields of interest, at least as far as the specialty magazines and journals are concerned. Luckily, the free access that both the students and the teaching staff of the Faculty, have to the Internet compensates for this shortcoming. The working hours, the access rooms and the personnel of this sector represent aspects that satisfy the teachers and students demands, at least for the time being.
IT Facilities (individual training) For the students individual study the library offers 36 seats in the reading room in addition to the 20 seats in the magazines and specialty journals room. Although the services that the library offers are of the best quality, the factor which impedes the development in this field is the limited financial support, that the University anf the Faculty have in order to update the main foreign specialty publications (magazines, journals, reference book, etc.).
3. Suggestions For the development and modernization of the library with regards to european standards we have considered the following suggestions: supplimentary finance in order to enrich the international veterinary book inventory, to increase the number of journals and other veterinary periodicals from Europe and around the world. supplimentary investments for implemetation of a on-line registration system to electronic veterinary journals increasing the number of computers for a more rapid acces to information implemetation of a network system in order to faciliate the link between the departments and central library
77 CHAPTER 9: ADMISSION AND ENROLMENT
1. Factual information 9.1. STUDENT NUMBERS
The method of organising and unfolding the admission contest
Now, the admission in the higher educational sistem at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is made according to the educational Law no. 84 / 1995, modified and republished in 1999. The order 3017 / 15.01.2003, considering the general criteria of organising the admission in the state higher educational system, the Law 441 / 2001 for the approval of the Emergency injunction of the Government no. 133 / 2000 regarding the state undergraduate and postgraduate tax paying educational system.
General criteria regarding the admission
The admission in the state higher educational system at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, a national authorised faculty according the Governmental decision 696 / 17. 08. 2000, takes places as follows: a) On places financed from the state budget - frequency education b) On places with fee - frequency education A candidate can participate to the admission by choosing different speciality from the same institution in the same time or different higher educational institutions, on positions financed from the state budget, but he can be admitted to a single university with places financed by the state budget. The candidate who is admitted to several universities must choose the university where he wishes to be finaced by the state budget, by presenting there the file with the original documents in due time designated by the University’s Admission Committee. The graduates with a university degree from a private university have the right to follow a second faculty at a state university on the places financed from the budget after succeeding the admission contest.
78 The graduates without a university degree from the public or private university have the right to participate in the admission for studying a new speciality, in accordance with the following: a). if the first speciality was budgeted, the second must be payed for; b). if the first speciality was obtained in a private institution or a tax-paying state educational system, the second can be obtained if the admission requests are met. The graduates with a degree from a short term trainig (college) can continue their studies in a long term trainign (faculty), in the same speciality, after contest, regarding the available places established by the University’s Committee. The admitted candidates will attend the difference exams settled by the Faculty’s committees and they will be placed in the third year of studies in the faculty, after passing the difference exams.
The necessary documents for a candidate’s admission
Romanian citizens can apply for the admission contest in higher education. They must be high school graduates with graduation diploma or an equivalent diploma. To apply for the USAMV Cluj-Napoca admission contest, the candidates must possess their identity card and all the necessary documents gathered in a personal record, including: application form school-leaving examination diploma (copy or original) birth certificate- a legalized copy medical certificate recruitment certificate, military book three photos a certificate to prove the student estate and a school-leaving examination diploma (legalized copy) (the original is held at the first university), or a faculty or college diploma (in original or legalized copy) for those who apply for a second specialization. receipt proving the payment of the admission fee the teacher’s children, the orphan children from at least a parent, the children coming from the orphanage, the children of the martyr heroes of the Revolution are excluded from the admission fee.
Application for the postgraduate education admission contest requires the following:
79 the high-school graduation diploma and the university degree (or its equivalent), both in original birth certificate- a legalized copy three photos identity card type Both admission to the university and admission to the postgraduate education implies that the candidates must also have documents that prove their particular situations (a legalized copy of the parent’s death certificate - when the candidate is an orphan; a certificate from the orphanage - when it’s the case; a legalized copy of the parent’s death certificate, being the martyr hero of the Revolution or documents proving that the parent(s) is (are) teacher(s). The admission takes place between the 10-18 of July and if there are vacant places, a second admission session is being organized between the 8-12 of September. All the students admitted to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine attending the classes (budget + tax paying) in the academic year 2003-2004, during the 6 years of studies, can be seen in the table no. 9.1.1. The higher number of male students (531), representing 65,9% from the total of the students, compared to female students (269 and 34,1%) can be noticed. The number of native students is prevalent (792), representing 98,2% out of the total student numbers. The number of foreign students is 14, that is 1,7% from the total. 7 of them are from Europe and 7 are from outside the U.E., representing 0.8% from the total of the students. The number of students during the 6 years of studies varies. The higher number of students in the first years of study can be noticed. This number decreased in the last 2 years, due to the selection, the quitting and expelling of the students along the years. Table 9.1.1: Undergraduate student composition Academic year 2003-2004 a Total number of undergarduate students 806 b Male students 531 c Female students 275 d Number of native students 792 e Number of foreign students 14 -from U.E. 7 -outside U.E. 7 f I-st year 130 g II-nd year 132 h III-rd year 164 i IV-th year 155 j V-th year 117 k VI-th year 108
80 Table 9.1.2: Postgraduate student composition Total number of students 198 Males 163 Females 35 Romanian 191 foreign 7 UE 3 non UE 4 1st year students 57 2nd year students 43 3rd year students 33 4th year students 33 5th, or subsequent, year students 32
Total number of students (undergraduate and postgraduate) is 806 + 198 = 1004
9.2. Student admission
Since 1962 until now, the admission criteria used at the University of Veterinary Medicine Cluj had been different: During 1962- 1997 the contest consisted of tests at two disciplines: the XII grade Biology and the Pathology of domestic animals, or the X and XII grade Organic Chemistry. During 1997-1999 the contest was based on multiple choice test system (the XII grade Biology and the X and XII grade Organic chemistry). Since 2000, the selection had been made calculating the mean ofthe high-school years and the graduation high-school diploma examination mark, at a 50% percent participation in the final average each. For the postgraduate studies (the master) the criteria are: a) the average of the marks from the six university years - 50% b) the average of the final exams (graduation) - 50% At the end of the admission, ranking of candidates is made in a decreasing order of their grades. If there are several candidates with an equal rank after the admission to either undergraduate or postgraduate education (budget and tax paying), distribution criteria that do not surpass the number of places aproved by the Education and Research Committee, are applied. In this case, the distribution criteria are:
81 1. The average from the high-school 2. The average of the gigh school graduation diploma 3. The average of the XII grade Biology. The candidates who didn’t succeed in obtaining a budgeted place can choose the tax paying education, within the annual number of places established by the Education and Research Committee. The high-school graduates, with a school-leaving examination, who obtained special results at international cotests (called “Olympics”) or the I, the II or the III prize at a national contests during the last two years of studies, can apply for the next university year without taking the exams at the disciplines they had already promote. The enrollement of the “Olympic” students is made according to the number of the places established for the next university year at the budgeted education form, with the approval of the University’s committee. Regarding the knowledge of admitted candidates, there is a higher degree of competence in the students that come from specialized veterinary high schools in specialized topics, while those from other high schools are more competent in fundamental topics. This variability is present among the students from the first year. Starting with the third year, the level of knowledge between students is less heterogeneous. The number of budgeted places has been established by the Ministry of Education and Research together with the Universities and the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine. In the future, the number of places will be established by the Ministry of Education and Research, The College RomanianVeterinarians and the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine. The number of admitted students can be supplemented over the established number when a candidate graduated a budgeted faculty, owns a diploma and subscribes for tax paying education. In this case, the number of places is limited. The changes in the annual number of places are due to the market absorption potential. The data regarding the numbers of candidates on budgeted and tax paying places as well as the number of students admitted in the last ten years is shown in table 9.2 The number of candidates from 1994 to 2003 varied between 254 in 1994 and 844 in 2001. The number of candidates increased from 254 in 1994 to 414 in 1998, than decreased to 378 in 1999 and increases again to 844 in 2001, in 2003 reaching to 534 candidates. The number of admitted candidates was 75 in 1994 and 220 in 2000. For the academic year 2003-2004, the number of admitted students was of 170.
82 The supplemented places, which consist of candidates admitted as national contests winners, students owning a national scholarship, students with the second faculty or students which applied based on their own money varied between 0 in 2000 and 10 in 1997 and 2001.
Table 9.2. Intake of veterinary students Applying for Number of admitted Year admission Budgeted and fee Supplimeted 2003 534 170 6 2002 536 170 1 2001 844 170 10 2000 552 220 - 1999 378 130 4 1998 414 149 7 1997 373 85 10 1996 329 80 7 1995 291 75 5 1994 254 75 7
The number of admitted students six years ago (1998) was 149 in the first year from which 90 graduated in the sixth year. During the six years, 35 students quit due to a variety of reasons (expelled, transferred).
Table 9.3.1. Student flow (admitted in 1998; total 149)
1st year - 2nd year - 3rd year 2 4th year 3 5th year 19 how many have graduated 90 how many have dropped out or been 35 asked to leave. how many are not in any identifiable 0 year
83 The number of graduates in the last six years was similar, varying between 81 in 2002 and 96 in 2003 and 108 in 2004.
Table 9.3.2. Number of students graduating annually (from undergraduate training) over the past five years
Year Number graduating 2004 108 2003 96 2002 81 2001 83 2000 91
The request for finishing one year from the course is to get a mark of at least 5. The evaluation modality is established together by teachers and students at the beginning of each year (oral, written, multiple choice test). The number of graduate students which study for a period of 6 years is 85%. 10% graduate in 7 years and 5% after 8 years. This 15% refers to students which graduate in our faculty. The transferred students are not kept in our records after leaving our faculty.
Table 9.3.3: Average duration of studies Duration of attendance number k. 4 years 0 l. 5 years 0 m 6 years 90 n. 7 years 15 o. 8 years 3 p. 9 years 0 q. 10 - 13 years 0 r. more than 13 years 0
Average duration of studies of the students 6,19 who graduated in year N:
84 The requirements for progressing to a subsequent year of the course is to obtain 50 credits (out of 60) from the exams in that year. The rest of 10 credits will be credited exams which the students have to pass in the following year. A student is obliged to leave the course when: the students obtain less than 50 credits; fail to pass a credited exam in the following year; severe indiscipline; if misses more than 50% of the practical training hours, except medical reasons (in this last case he will repeat the year).
2. Comments The Faculty can establish the number of students that can be admitted according to the space, infrastructure and teaching staff availability. The numbers of admitted students are based on labour market, the budget and the school’s capacity to teach (spaces and teaching staff). The curricula are equivalent at national and European levels so the same topics are taught and students can benefit of the ECTS and will be able to work in countries that signed the partnership of degree recognition with our country. The students’ progress is obvious because the information is taught gradually (from simple to complex) with a theoretical basis and an applied practical training. A highly professional teaching staff sustains the high level of students’ performance. This staff is always available to the students and they periodically examine the students. The probable percentage of graduate students can be determined approximately 60,4%, a pretty high percent because until the 6th year the selection was rigorous. The number of students coming from urban locations is increasing compared to rural locations. 3. Suggestions In the future we plan to re introduce the admission system based on multiple choice test in biology (34%) along with high school graduation diploma mark (33%) and overall highschool average mark (33%). We plan to introduce a threshold between the first cycle and the second cycle, so students cannot pass from the first cycle to the second one unless if they pass all the exams. We will encourage the young graduates to enrolle to postgradute studies by creating extra places with fee.
85 CHAPTER 10. ACADEMIC AND SUPPORT STAFF
1. Factual information
Table 10.1: Personnel on the establishments Non- Budgeted Total budgeted posts (FTE) (FTE) posts (FTE) 1. Academic staff Teaching staff 73 - 73 Research staff 1 1 2 Consultant professors - 4,5 4,5 Associate professors 38,6 - 38,6 Total academic staff 112,6 5,5 118,1 2. Support staff responsible for the care and treatment of - animals 11 11 responsible for the preparation of practical - and clinical teaching 21 21 responsible for administration, general - services, maintenance, etc. 24 24 engaged in research work - 5 5 others - - -
Total support staff 56 5 61
3. Total staff 168,6 10,5 179,1
Table 10.2: Allocation of personnel to the various departments
Academic staff (seniors Support staff Name of lecturers+lecturers) Other Department Full Assistant Associate Technical / animal Admin./ Assistant prof. prof. prof. Teaching Research general 1 5 8 7 2 4 - 7 2 4 5 6.6 6 5 - 4 3 4 9 8 6 6 - 6 4 6 11 17 7 17 5 7 Total 19 33 38.6 21 32 5 24 4.5
86 Table 10.3: Personnel responsible for undergraduate teaching
A. Number of budgeted and non-budgeted teaching staff 118,1 involved in undergraduate teaching B. Number of research staff involved in undergraduate - teaching C. Total number of personnel responsible for undergraduate 118,1 teaching (A+B)
Ratios
Ratio: teaching staff/undergraduate students
number of teaching staff = 118.1 = 1 number of undergraduate students 806 6.82
Ratio: teaching staff/support staff number of teaching staff = 118.1 = 1 number of support staff 61 0.52 The University our faculty is part of has 254 teaching staff and 276 support staff, and our faculty can benefit of this support staff. a. Selection and hiring of the teaching and support staff. In the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca (USAMVCN), all teaching or auxiliary staff positions are obtained by competition, in concordance with the Teaching staff Law (84/1995), USAMVCN Chart (2000) and the University Senate’s decisions. Hiring of the teaching personnel is being done depending on: faculty needs, financial resources and the competence of the candidate. An evaluation committee composed of internal and external specialists, named by the Rector’s order organizes the contests. For preparatory and assistant positions, candidates must be licensed, in the field of the vacant position or a similar one. Recently, the Senate introduced a request a master diploma and the candidate must prove competency in a foreign language. The contest comprises written and oral examinations and also a foreign language exam. A list of publications, in addition to the CV, is also needed.
87 For a lecturer position, a public presentation has to be performed, in front of the committee members and students besides a complete CV. The list of publications must contain at least 12 articles, and the candidate has to be either a PhD student or have a PhD diploma. For these positions, the Senate validates the contests’ results, and the employment is being carried out by the Rector’s Order, without the involvement of the Ministry of Education. To fill in a higher teaching positions such as senior lecturer or professor, the candidates have to be PhD in the field of the position or a similar one, with a satisfactory scientific and professional activity to satisfy the minimal general criteria established by the Senate. After the confirmation by the Senate, the National Council of University titles, diplomas and certificates (CNATDCU) within the Ministry of Education and Research are evaluating the candidate’s file. This organism, following some specific criteria, will accept or reject the candidate. The Ministry of Education and Research’s decision confirms the position. Professors with special merits may apply according to the Senate criteria, for doctorate advisor -ship. These professors’ files are evaluated directly by CNATDCU based on some specific criteria and the Ministry confirms the accepted candidates. The maximum number of students for a PhD supervisor is ten. The Senate is approving the consultant professor title for the teaching staff that retired, but continues special scientific activities. They also stay as PhD supervisors, they publish scientific papers, direct grants, are members of at least one international organization. The renewal of the consultant professors’ position is made on yearly basis. The associate teaching staff may only take vacancies, for per hour payment or cumulated with their own position, but they usually hold a permanent position outside the University. The position is occupied by hiring a person with the Dean’s and the Professors’ Council’s approval. The candidates must be trained according to the position they apply for. The confirmation is being done every half year. The invited associate professors may take vacant positions, or specially created positions, as the training needs require, for a determined period of time. Outstanding specialists from practice may also be invited to present conferences, for a honorary. The payment for this kind of activities is being discussed in the Professors’ Council and approved
88 by the Dean from the budget or other revenues of the Faculty. The Rector can approve the prolongation of the employment period for the associate professors. The administrative staff is employed by a contest, the result of which have to be confirmed by the Labor Direction of the County. The contest comprises a practical and a written exam. The Rector names the evaluation committee. b. The Faculty Teaching Council sets up the structure of the departments. This is being done depending on the similarities of the disciplines, their location in the teaching plans, teaching cycle. According to the Statute and USAMV Chart, in one Department there must be a minimum of 15 teaching positions, out of which at least 12 have to be taken. c. In the last years, the Ministry of Education and Research, following the requests from USAMV and FVM, offered financed positions for frequency PhD students. Thus, the selection for the teaching staff is more efficient. The major problem consists of the low salaries for junior positions, which are still non-attractive, compared to those in the private field of practice, private clinics, farms or companies. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Education and Research does not finance the resident and internship courses. d. Within the FVM there is requirement and are possibilities to employ young specialists, but the positions are not being taken because of the low level of payment. The movement of the professors from the teaching field to other fields and from other fields to teaching exist but the percentage is low (1-2%). Usually, the requests are in a higher number than positions, but the unsatisfactory salary acts as a repellent. e. Additional staff is not being employed from service income. The legal provisions allow the employment of additional staff from the research revenue, but the numbers of such people in our faculty is low. f. USAMV Chart and the faculty professional regulations allow the teaching staff to work in private clinics in their spare time. Usually, there is an agreement of these private clinics with the Faculty, specifying that students may have their practical training or work there as volunteers, supervised by the teaching staff or the practitioners.
89 The main aim is to encourage the young specialists to have private practices and improve their financial status, but also to offer places for students’ practical training, mainly in pet medicine. g1. A considerable number of teaching staff members from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Cluj-Napoca, participate in internal and international scientific meetings. The person involved pays the financial support for the participation (usually from research grants). For some of those people who have papers accepted for oral presentations, the Faculty can subsidize, in a reduced percentage, the tuition fee and some of the accommodation costs. Some of the teaching staff takes the advantage of being abroad on various scholarships where the duration is longer, such as master or doctoral studies, and participate in congresses or symposia. Some private companies offer sponsorship. g2. Scholarships through joint cooperation agreements with other faculties or research institutions can be obtained. These are financed according to the provisions that regulate the bilateral agreements. Other possibilities to obtain financing are to apply to international organisms that finance research, such as Marie Curie scholarships, Nato scholarships, and so on. g3. There is a provision concerning the sabbatical leave in the Internal Regulations of the University but non of the teaching staff took advantage of this so far. 2. Comments
The necessary number of teaching staff for the teaching and research process in the Faculty is a management problem. The Dean and the Teaching staff Committee of the faculty decide on this issue. The criteria taken into account are the budget, teaching needs, the staff’s needs, and replacement needs. The insufficient budget will influence the number and the quality of the teaching staff. At this moment, there is a satisfaction balance between young and experienced teaching staff (60%-40%). The future efforts will be directed to improve the balance between teachers and students, but this will depend on the evolution of the budget and the other sources for income.
90 The quality of the training and research activities performed by the teaching staff is evaluated at University and Faculty levels in the specific Committees. They examine discuss each candidate to be promoted and analyze the structure of the teaching staff. The levels of the teaching staff salaries’ in FVM are above the mean value of salaries within the country economy. The salaries for full professors were doubled in January 2004. In general, the level of the payment does not satisfy the expectancy of the teaching staf and is not concordant with the level of professional performances of the trainers, in comparison with remuneration offered in the private sector, which is much higher. Solving the problem of the hiring and retaining the teaching personnel and support staff is a matter of budget and extra budgetary funds, as mentioned before. Post gradual education, such as master and frequency PhD courses, provide excellent material for replacement of retired teaching staff. The colleges that function within the University allow a selection for the support staff. The teaching staff sometimes faces social problems, connected with accommodation and commutation, partially solved by the University and the Faculty, by ensuring rooms in the students’ dormitories or in the block of flats the University has, but these resources are limited. Mostly veterinarians (90%), represent the teaching staff with few professionals from connected professions (four chemists, one physicist, one specialist in computers, one economist and one philologist), having a permanent job in FVM Cluj Napoca.
3. Suggestions
1. The improvement of the faculty academic management by extra budgetary funds. 2. The development of more specialized assistance and better services activities, for attracting other financial resources in FMV budget. 3. The teaching staff promotion based more on the quality not the quantity of performed activities. 4. The compulsory payment by the Ministry of Education and Research of the expenses of invited professors to enhance mobility. 5. The establishment of the resident ship and internships as a possibility for the graduates’ specialization and to ensure the replacement of the retiring teaching staff.
91 6. The increase of the financing by the Ministry of Education and Science per student and reduction of rate between professors and students.
92 CHAPTER 11. CONTINUING EDUCATION 1. Factual information 11.1. Continuing education courses held at the establishment
Table 11.1.1. Courses organized by the establishment itself in 2003 Number of Total number of Title of the course participants hours of the course Diagnosis and control of infectious equine anemia 84 4 Surveillance of pesticides/residues in meat, milk and animal origin products 70 4 Directive 96/102/EEC Directive 96/23/EEC The identification of animals within the EU Directive 92/102/EEC 94 6 Regulation 97/820/EEC Regulation 2000/1760/EEC Animal protection and welfare – EU legislation Directives 88/166/EEC; 99/74/EEC; 91/629/EEC; 120 6 91/630/EEC; 98/58/EEC; 91/628/EEC, 91/497/EEC; 93/119/EEC; 64/433/EEC.
Table 11.1.2. Courses organized by the establishment itself in the preceding year Number of Total number of Title of the course participants hours of the course Bovine tuberculosis- epidemiology, diagnosis and 80 6 control Differential diagnosis and treatment in convulsive 38 4 intoxications of carnivorous pets Veterinary border controls in the EU 46 4 Commerce and use of veterinary pharmaceutical products - regulations Directive 65/65/EEC 50 6 Regulation 81/851/EEC Regulation 81/852/EEC Differential diagnosis in acute abdominal disorders 50 6 in horses Differential diagnosis in swine infectious neurological diseases: classical swine fever, edema 90 6 disease, Teschen disease
93 Table 11.1.3. Courses organized at the establishment by outside bodies in the most recent year (2003) Number of Total number of Title of the course participants hours of the course Courses organized by lecturers invited through TEMPUS - PHARE, Socrates programs or open lectures Applied epidemiology 30 40 h Recognition of diplomas in professional 20 10h purposes – legal regulations Development and consolidating the 120 8h managerial and administrative performances
The involvement of the teaching staff of the institution in development of the continuing training organized by outside bodies: Number of Total number of Organizer/Title of the course participants hours of the course Cantacuzino Institute Monitoring resistance of bacteria to 60 6h antibiotics Intervet Scientific seminary “Chicken industry” 100 8h A novel approach to classical swine fever 80 6h Swine pathology – a scientific seminar 90 6h A&S Pasteur Modern methods to determine mycotoxins, the immune status of the animals, and 120 6h decontamination efficiency (modules) SC Farmavet Drug presentations Department meetings
11.2. Distance learning (including via internet)
Whether the Faculty is being involved in the distance-training offer, please specify the nature and volume of this work: The Faculty has contracts with the National Authority for Veterinary Medicine and Food Safety, County Veterinary Laboratories, Food Control Laboratories in largest cities, by e-mail and Internet, for information and professional messages.
94 2. Comments The Veterinary Faculty in Cluj, in cooperation with the General Association of Romanian Veterinarians and the College of Romanian Veterinarians in North Western Romania, have joint continuous training programs. They organize conferences, round tables, practical demonstrations, closed by handing the students certificates of participation with points, valuable for professional qualification. We have to mention that the interest of Romanian veterinarians for continuous training is generally low. The Romanian veterinarians do not take an active part in the activity of European veterinary organizations.
3. Suggestions
Establishment of the themes according to the requests from the veterinary authorities and dependant on the epidemiological situation, if the case, of various regions; Improvement of the knowledge on EU regulations and harmonization with the internal legal provisions. Initiation and development of participation of the Romanian veterinarians to European programs, as well by direct contact and by coordination of the central and local veterinary authorities.
95 CHAPTER 12. POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION
1. Factual information
12.1. Clinical postgraduate training (interns, residents) According to the Romanian legal provisions, for the veterinary training, opposite to human medicine, there are no recognized and applied educational steps similar to internship or residentship. Subsequently, the veterinary authority, in cooperation with the College of Romanian Veterinarians proposed a training system to be carried out within the premises of the veterinary faculties and designated to improve the professional qualification of the graduates. This program comprises practitioners that participate on yearly bases in six courses of clinical training, presented by the Faculty’s teaching staff. Table 12.1.1. Postgraduate clinical training courses No. of students (2001- Diploma or No. Clinical discipline Duration (h) 2003) title Full time Half time awarded Reproductive failures Participation 1 induced by ovary diseases 8 40 - certificate in ruminants Parasitic and micotic skin 2 6 35 - “ diseases in dogs and cats Limping in farm animals: 3 etiology, diagnosis and 8 45 - “ therapy Equine rhabdomiolysis syndrome: clinical traits, 4 8 42 - “ laboratory findings, pathogenesis and therapy 5 TSE in animals 8 38 - “ Security of animal 6 products in the circuit 8 39 - “ “from stable to table”
12.2. Taught postgraduate courses
Besides the already mentioned data, the faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Cluj organized Master courses, including 9 specializations.
96 Table 12.2.1. Taught postgraduate courses No. of students No. Clinical discipline Duration Full time Half time 1 Animal pathology and Public Health 3 semesters 10 - 2 Surveillance and control of animal “ 10 - products 3 Applied veterinary epidemiology “ 7 - 4 Veterinary pharmacy “ 3 - 5 Clinics and veterinary medical “ 7 - radiology 6 Animal nutrition and nutritional “ 3 - pathology 7 Necropsic diagnosis and veterinary “ 5 - laboratory 8 Veterinary dentistry “ 1 - 9 Biotechnologies in reproduction “ 4 -
Dependent on the theoretical and practical performances of the students, scholarships can be granted. Out of the 9 specializations, one (Surveillance and control of animal products) does not include clinical training. Every year, approximately 10-30% of the graduates of the Faculty in Cluj enroll for Master studies.
12.3. Post-graduate research programs
Traditionally for our Faculty and also according to the Romanian veterinary regulations, graduation from the master courses is being accomplished by a dissertation exam, including the presentation of a theoretical and experimental study on a certain topic. The subject of the thesis is established during the studies; the research is being carried out based on a plan, in agreement with the coordinator. This way, annually 10 to 30 research topics are engaged. In the academic year 2003, 12 theses were finalized: 1. Researches on “in vitro” reproductive cycle in dermacentor reticulatus tick and aspects of the tick attack therapy in mammals and birds 2. Management of the bovine reproduction by embryo transfer 3. Contamination risk evaluation through the content of Echinococcus cysts in currently slaughtered pigs
97 4. Evaluation of the efficacy of certain sanitation tests for surfaces in food industry 5. A comparative study on the dynamics of composition parameters for cow and buffalo milk 6. Apical resection in canine 7. The influence of certain pharmaceutical compounds on weight gain in broiler chickens 8. Dental implant in dogs 9. The level and dynamics of heavy metals and arsenic in milk and milk products processed on specific plants 10. Harmonization of EU and Romanian legislation on preventing prionic diseases in animals 11. The level and dynamics of nitrates, nitrites in pork meat products in correlation with the risk of nitratamine production 12. Epidemiological studies on external otitis in dogs
Postgraduate education is being well represented in the “doctoral (Ph.D.) studies” system. The status of the Ph.D. educational program in 2003 was represented below: 1. Total number of Ph.D. advisors in veterinary medicine in Cluj: 19 2. Total numbers of students (2001-2003) - 148, out of which: - frequency (4 years of studies) : 32 - non-frequency (6 years of studies) : 116 - paying foreign students: 7
Out of the total of 148 students, 11 are non-veterinarians. In 2003, 4 thesis were presented: 1. Contributions on canine behavior; 2. Morphological and biochemical studies on spontaneous and experimental tumor tissues; 3. Research on etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of dermatomicoses of domestic carnivores; 4. Researches on the consequence of Pteridium aquilinum consumption on horses. The master students benefit during their studies of a study scholarship of 1,600,000.00 lei (40 Euros), dependant on their performances.
98 The frequency doctoral students benefit of a monthly scholarship of 3,200,000.00 lei (80 Euros) for the whole duration of their studies (4 years).
2. Comments
The postgraduate education has to be further developed on three basic directions: 1. Specific clinical training designated for practitioners by short courses (1 to 6-12 days); 2. Specialization in specific fields, within the Master courses, of 1 to 2 years (in our Faculty, 3 semesters=1.5 years); the specialization have to be selected according to the market needs; 3. The highest level of education through the doctoral program of studies has to become an integrated part of the teaching and research programs of the Faculty.
3. Suggestions
In order to further harmonize the training programs with those approved in the EU, our Faculty aims to develop specialization courses in more limited fields such as: - anesthesiology; - radiology; - veterinary ecography; - veterinary ophthalmology; - Pathology of milking cows, etc. Proposals will be made to the Ministry of Education and Research, Ministry of Agriculture and the National Authority for Veterinary Medicine and Food Safety to introduce the educational forms of Internship and Residentship.
99 CHAPTER 13. STUDENTS’ SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 1. Factual information
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Cluj is a higher education institution, which also became famous in the field of scientific research due to its important body of specialists. The proof of its prestige consists in the fairly large number of research grants (over 30 every year), financed by government (Ministry of Education and Research), and also in the last few years, by foreign beneficiaries (World Bank, UE). The local and foreign financing of research themes has been obtained by the staff of various disciplines but also as a result of interdisciplinary collaborations within the “High Performance Centers” in the fields of nutritional and metabolic pathology, zoonoses and comparative medicine. Collaboration contracts involving students’ practice, have been drawn up with Research Centers ”Birkberck College-University of London (Anatomy); Ministry of Agriculture of the Baden– Wurtenberg -Land (Nutrition and Nutritional Pathology); LVK and LOK Denmark (Animal sciences); Lebensmittel hygiene in Chemistchen Veterinarium- tersuchurg-Samt-Sttutgart Germany (hygiene and animal welfare); F. V. M. Lisbon –Portugal (Epidemiology and legislation); F. V. M. Cordoba-Spain (Microbiology and Morphopathology); F. V. M. Murcia –Spain (Microbiology); Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel (Infectious diseases, Legislation); I.N.R.A. Tours-France; F. V. M. Liege-Belgium (Parasitology, Morphopathology, Genetics,); The Hygiene Institute Hohenheim-Germany (Nutrition, Biochemistry, Hygiene). The students’ scientific research activity will be presented including the coordination of this activity (who and how), the place of putting it into practice as well as objectives and validation of results. The teachers, during their research activities, also train those students who are more interested in this aspect of the medical training or simply do scientific research for their diploma work and become the coordinators of students’ research activity and bear responsibility for the latter’s results. The research activity takes place in the research laboratories of the disciplines, apart from those designated for students’ laboratory work. The disciplines that train students in scientific research are both basic and clinical disciplines.
100 As for the equipment of these research laboratories, it should be emphasized that, although great efforts have been made for it, these are no last generation or competitive apparatuses. Despite these shortcomings, the students can improve and develops the knowledge acquired during the courses. In accordance with the objectives and the complexity of the students’ three main directions can be identified within this activity: - research for the completion of the diploma work on a certain subject;
- research carried out by the students that enroll to a certain discipline in the
students’ debating society;
- research within the group that works at a certain discipline to prepare and
carry out a research grant.
Research activity within the frame of the diploma paper All the students take part in this activity, starting with their 5th year of studies. This work usually takes up two semesters, and it is being finalized by the end of the 6th year, when the students present the diploma work in front of a license commission. Usually, the students decide upon the discipline and they choose one of the research subjects suggested by the coordinators within that discipline. After that, the research protocol and the contents of the diploma work are designed in agreement with the coordinator and approved by the Professors’ Council of the Faculty. The diploma work has two parts, the first including bibliographical references on the subject and the second, concerning personal research data, discussed with the coordinator and interpreted together with him/her. In order to pass this exam, the students have to be ranked with a minimal grade of 6 (in Romania, grades range between 1- minimum and 10-maximum).
Research carried out by the students that enroll to a certain discipline in the students’ debating society These debating societies are open to all the students, interested to join, depending their own will and available time, a team doing research within one or the other of disciplines, on a various particular topics, along the years. Co-working with students coming from different years of studies, strengthens the team-working spirit while the debates within the group allow an exchange of experiences for all the participants, learning to design experiments, analyze data and write a scientific paper. This completes the students professional profile and improves the medical thinking. The students write up their results and
101 communicate and/or publish them within the Students’ Yearly Symposium at the Faculty in Cluj or other Faculties, or even participate in the Faculty’s Yearly International Symposium. Presentation of these papers or even prizes they can obtain at these symposia are one of the criteria in evaluating the scientific value of the diploma paper and finally ranking the student. In December 2003, besides the Yearly Symposium of the Students, F. V. M. Cluj hosted an international student symposium, organized by the Association of Veterinary Students from Cluj and the International Association of Students in Veterinary Medicine. Forty foreign students, from faculties of Veterinary Medicine in U.E., Croatia, Hungary, Moldavia, U.S.A., took part in this symposium. The scientific papers presented under the guidance of the teaching staff, were published in USAMV Bulletin, distributed to participants, thus contributing to present the research results of our students to other veterinary medicical students all over the world.
Research within the group that works at a certain discipline to prepare and carry out a research grant The students may also participate, together with a research team, to fulfil the provisions of a research grant proposal that has been accepted for financing. Basically, the research within such a team has a more pronounced interdisciplinary character, is being carried out under the supervision of a general coordinator of the team, not by the leader of a certain discipline and includes cooperation with institutions outside the Faculty. The students for such projects are usually selected from those who are members of different debating societies, by their coordinators, once they have proven qualities and interest in research work. Not all the students, but up to 30% could be elected to take part in this work. The outcome is being represented by papers and reports, sent to national or international symposia, where the students’ names appear as participants.
Other information concerning the students’scientific research The time that students dedicate to scientific research has not been rigorously monitored for each objective of the research they are involved in. According to the advisors, it can vary from 6-8 hours per week for the diploma work. Practical laboratory work is being combined in this case with study of the literature, for the first part of the work as specified. In order to overcome the constraints caused by lack of funds, reagents, animals, briefly financing, for the students’ research, some of their themes represent part of research grants of different disciplines or research Centers.
102 2. Comments
FMV Cluj has the infrastructure and a fairly well equipped library, to satisfy the requirements for students’ research purposes. Students have access to spaces specially designed for scientific research, and also the possibility of getting familiarized with a research equipment specific for various disciplines. Although the laboratories are not equipped at the highest level of performance, there is the possibility of performing good quality research, mainly responding to the demands of the national medical veterinary activity. The students integrate in multidisciplinary research groups, having the possibility to broaden their knowledge on practical tests in various sectors of the veterinary research activity. Participation within the financed multi-institutional research grants allows the students to use the equipment of other higher educational institutions (Faculty of Human Medicine, Cluj, Faculty of Biology), in order to perform certain laboratory investigations. Although the student scientific research is good on the whole we believe that the students must get more involved in this type of activity, and especially in the activities that take place in the high performance centers and prestigious laboratories in our faculty. Those students who take part in the international students’ exchange programs (Socrates) have access to the research infrastructure of the faculties they visit as well as the guidance of experts in those educational establishments.
3. Suggestions
Encouraging the students of our school to participate in higher numbers in the exchange programs, would widen their horizon in research as well as in theoretical training, considering that the faculties they visit are better equipped than the Faculty in Cluj. Broadening the number of the European schools within the Socrates contracts the Faculty already has, will offer multiple possibilities for research training, according to the student’s interest and the research profile of the school. New contracts, signed between the Faculty in Cluj and other institutions (National Institute of Diagnose and Animal Health, the Pasteur Institute), with a scientific research profile will grant the access of the students to a better infrastructure.
103 Contents
INTRODUCTION ...... 1
CHAPTER 1. OBJECTIVES ...... 4
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 4 2. COMMENTS ...... 5 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 5
CHAPTER 2. ORGANISATION...... 6
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 6 2. COMMENTS ...... 9 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 9
CHAPTER 3. FINANCES ...... 10
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 10 3.1. Expenditure...... 10 3.2. Revenues ...... 11 2. COMMENTS ...... 14 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 14
CHAPTER 4. CURRICULUM ...... 15
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 15 4.1. Curriculum followed by all students ...... 16 4.2. Elective subjects ...... 23 4.3. Optional subjects ...... 24 4.4. Obligatory extramural work ...... 24 4.5. Ratios ...... 25 4.6. Other information about the curriculum ...... 26 A. Basic subjects ...... 26 B. Animal production ...... 30 C. Clinical subjects ...... 31 D. Food hygiene ...... 33 E. Professional knowledge ...... 34 4.7: Specific information on the practical clinic training ...... 35 4.8: Specific information on the practical training of food ...... 37 2. COMMENTS ...... 39 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 40
CHAPTER 5. THE TEACHING PROCESS: QUALITY AND EVALUATION ...... 41
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 41 5.1. The teaching programme ...... 41 5.2. The teaching environment ...... 43 5.3. The examination system ...... 43 5.4. Evaluation of teaching ...... 44 5.5. Student welfare ...... 45 2. COMMENTS ...... 45 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 45
CHAPTER 6. FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT ...... 47
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 47 6.1: Premises in general ...... 47 6.2: Premises used for clinics and hospitalisation ...... 47 6.3: Premises for animals ...... 48 6.4: Premises used for theoretical, practical and supervised teaching ...... 48 6.5: Diagnostic laboratories and clinical support services ...... 51 6.6: Slaughterhouse facilities ...... 52 6.7: Foodstuff processing unit ...... 52 6.8: Waste management ...... 53 6.9: Future changes ...... 53 2. COMMENTS ...... 53 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 54
CHAPTER 7 : ANIMALS AND TEACHING MATERIALS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN ...... 58
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 58 7.1. Basic subjects ...... 58 7.2. Animal productions ...... 62 7.3. Food hygiene ...... 65 7.4. Consultations ...... 66 7.5. Hospitalisation ...... 67 7.6. Vehicles for animal transport ...... 68 7.7. Emergency service ...... 68 7.8. Mobile clinic ...... 69 7.9. Other information ...... 69 7.10. Ratios ...... 70 7.10.1. Animals available for clinical work ...... 70 7.10.2. Animals available for necropsy ...... 71 2. COMMENTS ...... 71 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 71
CHAPTER 8: LIBRARY AND LEARNING RESOURCES ...... 72
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 72 8.1. Library ...... 72 8.2. Information technology services ...... 75 2. COMMENTS ...... 76 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 77
CHAPTER 9: ADMISSION AND ENROLMENT ...... 78
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 78 9.1. STUDENT NUMBERS ...... 78 9.2. Student admission ...... 81 2. COMMENTS ...... 85 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 85
CHAPTER 10. ACADEMIC AND SUPPORT STAFF ...... 86
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 86 2. COMMENTS ...... 90 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 91
CHAPTER 11. CONTINUING EDUCATION ...... 93
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 93 11.1. Continuing education courses held at the establishment ...... 93 11.2. Distance learning (including via internet) ...... 94 2. COMMENTS ...... 95 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 95
CHAPTER 12. POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION ...... 96
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 96 12.1. Clinical postgraduate training (interns, residents) ...... 96 12.2. Taught postgraduate courses ...... 96 12.3. Post-graduate research programs ...... 97 2. COMMENTS ...... 99 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 99
CHAPTER 13. STUDENTS’ SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ...... 100
1. FACTUAL INFORMATION ...... 100 2. COMMENTS ...... 103 3. SUGGESTIONS ...... 103