Veterinary studies at UPWr receive Certificate of Excellence in Education

• The certificate was awarded based on the fulfillment of many conditions, including developing the study programme
• The assessors valued the good practices with respect to students.
• Educational excellence is the success of the entire team of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, in the opinion of experts from the Polish Accreditation Committee, met all the criteria of programme evaluation, additionally implementing good practices that are the basis for awarding the Certificate of Excellence in Education. Innovative teaching methods using apparatus and infrastructure, but also the level of internationalisation (English Division studies) were deemed exemplary. The proprietary e-learning platform EDUWET 2.0, running since 2010, and which successfully proved itself during the COVID-19 pandemic, was particularly well rated. The associated restrictions have affected the nature of the teaching process, shifting it to a large extent to online platforms. The formation and activities of the Leading Research Teams and the Leading Teaching Team were also positively assessed.

Certificate criteria

Certain conditions had to be met in order to receive the Certificate of Excellence in Education. This includes, on the one hand, the structure of the curriculum, its implementation (e.g. forms and methods of education, work placements), verification of student achievements, competence, experience, qualifications and the number of research and teaching staff, but also their self-development. On the other hand, the infrastructure used in the teaching process, the quality policy, the design, approval, monitoring, review and continuous improvement of the study programme, of course within the framework of the applicable educational standard, are also important when seeking certification. The assessors valued the use of external experts on the study programme, as well as listening to the opinions of internal stakeholders.

The use of state-of-the-art methods in the teaching process, such as a wide range of modern clinical training devices, anatomical phantoms and simulation computer programmes, was recognised as worth noting - the teaching of medical procedures on phantoms is conducted in a Clinical Simulation Laboratory, which is unique in Poland. Not without significance was also subjecting the direction of veterinary medicine to the evaluation by the European Commission for the fact that the veterinary faculty has been assessed by the European Commission for the Evaluation of Veterinary Faculties (EAEVE) and the positive outcome of this assessment is also not without significance.

For students

- Assessors from the Polish Accreditation Committee also valued the good practices towards students, the support they receive in acquiring education and a profession, but also in entering the labour market - says Prof. Stanisław Dzimira, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, quoting the opinions of experts: “Students receive comprehensive support. The activities undertaken by the university can be considered systematic, adequate to the individual needs of students and come in various forms. Some of the support methods that stand out in terms of adapting to the needs of students are: a wide scope of support for foreign students, creating conditions enabling studying on the basis of equal opportunities and the possibility of development in student research clubs, self-government and student organisations and associations ”.

Success of the entire team

The Polish Accreditation Committee considered the granting of the pro-quality bonus also to academic teachers with achievements in teaching as a good practice. It is based on obtaining the highest average of all grades from the surveys of teaching activities carried out in the academic year preceding the awarding of increased remuneration.

- The Certificate of Excellence in Education for our veterinary studies is not only a reason for satisfaction, but also recognition of the work and commitment of everyone thanks to whom we received it. This is a result of the activities undertaken at the faculty, initiated by the team of Prof. Krzysztof Kubiak, Dean in 2012-2020. Now we are working towards our next evaluation in four years' time - emphasises Professor Dzimira, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the 2020-2024 term, and Vice Dean for Student Affairs in the previous term.

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