Self Evaluation Report SER - 2009
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Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria di Milano Self Evaluation Report SER - 2009 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Milan, Italy Self Evaluation Report SER - 2009 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Milan, Italy Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Milan July 2009 Milan (Italy) Photos cover Teaching and administrative buildings - Lodi Centre 1 The Faculty at the beginning of the 20th century 11 Surgery unit, Large Animal Teaching Hospital - Lodi Centre 19 Break in the garden - Milan Site 45 The main building of the Faculty - Milan Site 57 The main hall - Lodi Centre 87 The Experimental Farm - Lodi Centre 101 X ray examination of a bull at the Large Animal Teaching Hospital - Lodi Centre 121 Ancient anatomical preparation (19th century) and ancient surgical instrument with the corresponding figure in a book (19th century) from the museum of the Faculty 137 Ancient book from the library of the Faculty 145 Picture of the Faculty in the 19th century 155 Students and Faculty staff at the Experimental Farm - Lodi Centre 165 Faculty party at the end of the academic year - Milan Site 175 Student and cat at the Large Animal Teaching Hospital – Lodi Centre 185 Picture of the Faculty in the 19th century Index Chapter 0 Introduction 1 Chapter I Objectives 11 Chapter II Organisation 19 Chapter III Finances 45 Chapter IV Curriculum 55 Chapter V Teaching and learning: quality and evaluation 85 Chapter VI Facilities and equipment 99 Chapter VII Animals and teaching material of animal origin 119 Chapter VIII Library and learning resources 135 Chapter IX Student admission and enrolment 143 Chapter X Academic and support staff 153 Chapter XI Continuing education 163 Chapter XII Postgraduate education 171 Chapter XIII Research 181 Annex 189 Appendices 193 Short dictionary of the Faculty 251 Introduction University of Milan (UNIMI) - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Information to be provided according to Annex III of the SOP-manual. Please provide an outline of the main features of the history of the establishment in the period since the last evaluation visit or, if there has not been a previous visit, in the last ten years or so. It should cover: • The main organisational changes. • New regulations relating to teaching. • New buildings or major items of equipment. • Main changes to the study program. • Important decisions made by the management of the establishment, or by the authorities responsible for it. • Major problems encountered by the establishment, whether resolved or not. 2 University of Milan (UNIMI) - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Introduction 01. HISTORY OF THE FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE OF MILAN The School of Veterinary Medicine of Milan was established in 1791. Initially there was a one-year farriery school in equine diseases with a later addition in cattle and small ruminant diseases. In 1805, the school was officially recognised and reformed by Napoleone Bonaparte into a 3 year degree course in equine and ruminant medi- cine. During the Austrian dominion the curriculum was modified according to the Viennese model with several degrees and awarding of farriery diplomas, diplomas in equine medicine, as municipal veterinary official, and as veterinary surgeon. In 1858, a single three-year Veterinary Diploma was introduced. In 1860 it was inte- grated, by the Italian Kingdom under the Ministry of Public Education (now Ministry of Instruction, University and Research - MIUR), awarding the qualification of “Doctor in Veterinary Medicine”. In 1932, the School was transformed into the Faculty of Veteri- nary Medicine and was included within the system of the State University of Milan. Figure 0.1 shows the logo of the Faculty. The history of the logo is reported in appen- dix 0.1. Figure 0.1 - The logo of The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Milan 02. PREMISES In 1927, the School was transferred to the premises that are currently still utilised for major teaching, research and for the small animal clinics in Milan. In 2005, the small animal and the large animal facilities were separated and an extension for large animals was opened in the outskirts of the city of Lodi (38 km far from the old facil- ities). The Lodi extension of the Veterinary Faculty is composed of the Large Animal Teaching Hospital (LATH), and the Experimental Farm (EF). In the year 2014, the building of the entire Veterinary Faculty will be completed and all facilities and activ- ities will be transferred to the new facilities in Lodi. 03. VETERINARY MEDICINE CURRICULUM CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS In October 1988, a Presidential Decree divided the degree course of Veterinary Med- icine into a common two-year preparatory curriculum and a three-year course based on 5 specializations (curriculum H01). In the academic year 1989/90 the second curriculum (H03) was established. The cur- riculum H03 was characterised by 4100 hours of total teaching with 32-33 exams, a University of Milan (UNIMI) - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 3 6-month compulsory practical training and an English examination. In the H03 cur- riculum students had to choose a specific study route termed “orientation” before the start of the third year. Study orientations were as follows: clinics, food inspection, animal husbandry and breeding, infectious diseases, clinical pathology. Orientations had specific exams, although major courses such as infectious diseases, anatomical pathology, pharmacology and therapy continued to be compulsory. In the fifth year, students had to choose one of 5 specializations (hygiene and welfare of animal farm- ing and breeding, large animal medicine and husbandry, small animal medicine and welfare, wildlife farming and breeding, hygiene and inspection of animal foodstuff). In the academic year 1995/1996, curriculum H06 was activated with the same hours of teaching and number of exams, but the study orientations were eliminated while the fifth year specializations remained. In 2001/2002 academic year, curriculum H08 was activated with 300 credits distributed into 50 credits of basic subjects, 172 in specific subjects, 30 in interrelated subjects, 15 elective subjects (pre-professional modules of the last year), 15 for the preparation of the graduation thesis and 18 for practical training (3 credits were for English). In the academic year 2009-2010 (starting in October) the new curriculum (H15) will be activated. The major changes introduced by the new curriculum compared to cur- riculum H08 are that the percentage of credits for specific (qualifying) subjects and integrative subjects will increase while the percentage of “basic” and “interrelated” subjects will decrease accordingly. 0.4 ADJUNCT FACULTY DEGREES In 1968, a 5-year Degree Course in Animal Production Science was established, later followed by other courses in the area of Animal Production. In 1995, a 3-year First Degree Course in Veterinary Biotechnology was activated, with the first year being in common with the Faculties of Agriculture, Biology, Pharmacy, and Medicine. At the moment, the following degrees other than Veterinary Medicine are offered by the Faculty: A) Three year degrees: • Animal Husbandry and Welfare; • Veterinary Biotechnology; • Animal Husbandry and Production. B) Two year degree careers (attended only after a first degree of 3 year): • Veterinary Biotechnological Sciences; • Animal Production Science and Technologies. 05. FIRST EAEVE VISIT TO THE FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE OF MILAN The first full evaluation of the School of Veterinary Medicine of Milan took place in 1988. The 1988 report evidenced major deficiencies and several suggestions were made. They are included in appendix 0.2. The practical teaching was considered insuf- ficient, the number of students elevated compared to the teaching and technical staff available. As an example, the necessity to remodel most of the facilities was defined. Major criticisms pointed during the 1988 visit, amendments implemented, amend- ments expected to be realised in the near future and major constraints to future undertakings are summarised in table 0.1. 4 University of Milan (UNIMI) - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Introduction Table 0.1 - Amendments from the 1988 visit. Criticism Amendment Future Amendment Amendment not possible 1) ORGANISATION Lack of facilities to 2005: Large Animal In 2014 the entire Faculty increase practical work Hospital (LATH) in Lodi will move to Lodi extension. October 2008: Experimental Farm (EF) in Lodi Centre. Too many small Organisation in 4 Institutes Departments Lack of managerial Technical commission approach to the created for the construction remodelling of the Faculty in Lodi. Agency for the governance of the Lodi Centre Increase the collaboration 1995: Degree Course of with the Faculty Biotechnology with a of Agriculture 1st year in conjunction with Faculties of Agriculture, Biology, Pharmacy, Medicine. 2008: Food Research Centre (C.I.R.A.) composed of Departments of the two Faculties of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture 2) FINANCES Underfunding, Increased income from Increase of the income Most funding depends most funds come from research grants and from activity at on Ministry of Instruction the government clinical work Lodi Centre University and Research (MIUR) and subsequent cutbacks from Government Low cost of students Reduced the number of Increase in tuition fee due to Student/teaching students to 177 per year. cannot be determined by staff ratio too high ratio decreased 10/1 the Faculty, depends on varying from 24-30/1 MIUR and UNIMI Increase the number of The technical staff has The teaching staff has Teaching staff hiring teaching and technical increased minimally increased progressively, is blocked by the MIUR. staff despite the government Technical staff hiring hire blockage in the years is blocked by the Faculty 2004 and 2007 administration and Government University of Milan (UNIMI) - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 5 Table 0.1 (cont.) - Amendments from the 1988 visit. Criticism Amendment Future Amendment Amendment not possible 3) PHYSICAL FACILITIES and EQUIPMENT Aged buildings 1990: stated the In 2014 the new Facilities remodelling of old buildings. will be completed 2005: opened teaching facilities and LATH in Lodi.