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