Recruiting the graduate voice: informing higher education initiatives to underpin an emerging,veterinary paraprofession in Australia

In Australia, the inception of veterinary technology, as a higher education discipline underpinning an emerging, mid-tier paraveterinary field, reflected global trends for more highly educated veterinary paraprofessionals to meet changing societal demands. In this study, veterinary technology graduates were surveyed about their experiences in the workforce and reflections on their education. Seeking feedback on how well a new programme has prepared graduates for the workforce is a useful quality assurance tool. Clinical veterinary practice was the primary employment sector with the majority of respondents in full-time employment. Career advancement, professional recognition and salaries were identified as key career challenges. The important roles of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions, the university, government and graduates in the development of this mid-tier, veterinary paraprofession were elucidated. Graduates’ feedback on criteria that underpinned ‘work-readiness’ revealed seven key domains: communication skills, research skills, knowledge, critical thinking/problem-solving, employability, practical skills and professionalism. Veterinary nursing skills, work placement, practice management and production animal health were flagged as areas for curricular improvement. This study illuminated facilitators and barriers critical to establishing a mid-tier veterinary paraprofession, bridging the divide between the vocational and higher education sectors in Australia.

Abbreviations: AUD: Australian dollar; AVA: Australian Veterinary Association; AVBC: Australasian Veterinary Boards Council; AVMA: American Veterinary Medical Association; BVNA: British Veterinary Nursing Association; CSU: Charles Sturt University; DAF: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; FWC: Fair Work Commission; GCA: Graduate Careers Australia; HE: Higher Education; NHMRC: National Health and Medical Research Council; QLD: Queensland; RCVS: Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; UK: United Kingdom; UQ: University of Queensland; VN: Veterinary nursing; VNCA: Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia; VSB: Veterinary Surgeons Board; VT: Veterinary technology; WIL: Work-integrated learning.     

Donkeys and Mules in Arabic Veterinary Sources from the Mamlūk Period (7th–10th/13th–16th Century)

The central place occupied by donkeys and mules in the life of the medieval Islamic world often necessitated medical care. Three veterinary treatises were chosen for the present study owing to the special attention attributed to these animals by their writers. The identity of the writers is of some interest: two of them were rulers of Yemen, whereas the third was the chief veterinarian of the Mamlūk Sul ?ān Mu[hdot]ammad Ibn Qalāwūn. In dealing with the treatment of donkeys and mules, these writings are mainly concerned with breeding, preventive medicine (including nutrition, exercise and diet), and the diagnostics and healing methods of ailments peculiar to donkeys and mules, including behavioural problems, infirmities of hooves and problems resulting from carrying heavy loads. The dedication of special sections of these treatises to donkeys and mules is an indication of their importance in the economy of Egypt and Yemen. They reflect the high professional level of veterinary medicine during the Mamlūk period.     

“角色扮演”在《兽医外科手术学》教学中的应用

《兽医外科手术学》是一门要求学生具有较高实践操作技能的专业核心课程,在教学过程中往往因教学条件限制或者教学方法不当,学生很难掌握外科手术基本技能及规范,达不到应有的教学效果。《兽医外科手术学》是我校精品课程,课程组教师通过多年的教学实践,形成了卓有成效的“角色扮演”兽医外科手术教学法,采用该教学方法进行授课,突出学生在课堂上的主体地位,让学生成为课堂的主人,变被动学习为主动学习,达到了事半功倍的教学效果。     

SWOT Analysis of Veterinary and Animal Science Education in India: Implications for Policy and Future Directions

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and rank the SWOT issues of India's veterinary and animal science education.

Design: The data were collected at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) from 168 post-graduate students. The two surveys generated 72% (N=121) and 68% (N=114) response rates, respectively. In the first stage, the vital SWOT issues were listed by respondents and in the second stage, they ranked the top eight issues on a Likert scale.

Findings: Uniform curriculum; merit-based admissions; and huge demand and employment prospects were perceived as major strengths. Gaps in curriculum revision and inadequate faculty, colleges and hands-on experience were perceived as key weaknesses. Regular curriculum revisions; novel instructional methods; and single admission tests were important opportunities perceived. Out-dated education model; urban biased admissions; and regional barriers were the major threats perceived.

Practical implication: The SWOT issues identified are similar to those faced by veterinary education programmes in many countries with minor variations.

Originality/value: The findings are of interest for veterinary faculties in developing and under-developed countries to harmonize their veterinary education systems on par with global norms. The related implications for policy and future directions are discussed.     

《兽医免疫学》多元化教学模式的探讨

为了提高《兽医免疫学》课程教学效果,探讨了翻转课堂、PBL、CBL、TBL、多媒体及虚拟仿真等教学模式在兽医免疫学教学中的应用。在传统教学模式基础上有机结合多种现代教学模式,是提高《兽医免疫学》教学效果和培养创新应用型本科人才的有效途径。     

以专业能力需求为导向的动物医学专业硕士人才培养模式研究

安吉共识-中国"新农科"建设宣言的发布,对"新农科"的建设和"新农人"的培养提出了更高的要求。生态农业和都市型农业的发展要求培养具有知识面广、创新思维能力和适应能力强的动物医学人才。该文以为都市发展需求服务为目标,以加强动物医学职业能力培养为导向,从培养目标定位、课程体系建设、培养模式及管理模式等方面探讨动物医学专业硕士人才培养模式。     

基于“雨课堂”智慧教学平台设计兽医药理学课堂教学

智慧课堂是"互联网+教育"背景下学校教育的信息化,"雨课堂"是信息化新技术与教育深度融合的产物。"雨课堂"通过手机实现跟踪课前、课中和课后的全过程,最大限度地释放教与学的能量。兽医药理学是研究药物与动物机体之间相互作用规律的一门兽医基础课程,传统教学存在不足,引进"雨课堂"师生可实时答疑、弹幕互动,教师及时了解学生对知识点的掌握情况,提高课堂教学效果。     

高职院校《兽医临床诊断技术》实践教学改革探索

《兽医临床诊断技术》是高职院校畜牧兽医专业的一门重要的专业基础课。高职院校《兽医临床诊断技术》在实践教学中存在着校内外实训基地不足、实践性教学环节实践性不强等问题。调整实践教学大纲、加强实训基地建设、改革教学方法和考核方式,以提高高职院校《兽医临床诊断技术》实践教学效果。     

Preclinical students’ predispositions towards social forms of instruction and self-directed learning: a challenge for the development of autonomous and collaborative learners

Self-directed and social forms of learning are fundamentally different from traditional didactic educational settings from which students are selected for veterinary, medical and other professional degree courses. It is therefore expected that a mismatch may emerge between students’ conceptions of effective learning and expectations inherent to the new learning environments. The present study addressed this issue by examining 128 preclinical students’ predispositions towards two key elements in problem-based and case-based learning, namely self-directed and social forms of learning. A mixed method approach revealed converging evidence of students’ overwhelming preference for external, teacher regulation and individual forms of learning. External regulation was consciously invoked as a coping strategy in managing large amounts of complex information. Constructivist conceptions of learning were positively related to an appreciation of the cognitive benefits of social forms of learning, a relationship that has attracted little attention in the higher education literature. These findings stress the importance of guiding students’ transition towards learning autonomy required for social forms of learning and continuous lifelong learning after graduation.