Study programme description

The learning objectives achieved in the study programme Animal Parasitic Diseases are methodologically based on the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF). This defines the requirements for learning outcomes for knowledge, skills and competences.

For Level 3, a broad knowledge of the field of work or field of study, including scholarly and pedagogical work and a critical understanding of theories and principles, are required. The full-time doctoral study programme defines the prescribed course structure on the basis of which the doctoral student, in cooperation with his/her supervisor, develops his/her individual study plan and fills in the enrolment form in the AIS. The content of the doctoral studies is determined by the supervisor in an individual study plan. The study plan shall be drawn up on a uniform form within one month after the start of the studies, with regard to the specifics of the doctoral thesis, and approved by the person responsible for the implementation, development and quality assurance of the study programme. The study plan shall be supplemented by the basic methodology of the dissertation. The methodology, which shall be drawn up by the doctoral candidate in collaboration with his/her supervisor within three months of starting the studies, shall include in particular the basic scientific, social and implementation objectives and the timetable of the experimental activities. The doctoral student's study plan consists of a study part, which ends with the dissertation examination, a scientific part and the defence of the dissertation. Individual courses in the study part and activities in the scientific part were assigned credits (ECTS, Art. 10, Credit System). The study part represents 1/3 of the study programme. It focuses on the acquisition of in-depth theoretical knowledge and the acquisition of a methodological system supported by knowledge of selected courses. The doctoral candidate's individual study plan includes a list of courses, including a foreign language, a list of dissertation examination courses selected from a list approved by the study programme committee, and a list of required and recommended literature to be studied by the doctoral candidate as part of his/her individual preparation for the dissertation examination. The compulsory courses are picked given the requirements for in the field of study. The compulsory and compulsory optional courses are chosen by the student from the offer of courses of the study programme (Catalogue of compulsory and compulsory optional courses for the third level of higher education) in accordance with the topic of the dissertation and supplemented with the required number of credits. Courses usually end with an examination. By completing the compulsory courses, the doctoral student will acquire knowledge in the field of helminthology, parasitology of bees and wildlife, protozoology and parasitozoonoses. By completing the compulsory optional courses, the graduate will acquire general knowledge of parasitology, including parasitic diseases of fish, arachnoentomology and molecular parasitology, where the graduate will acquire knowledge of the molecular properties and genomics of parasites.

In the context of disease processes, the graduate will have knowledge of investigative diagnostic methods of parasitoses; have scientific knowledge of parasitic diseases of companion animals with emphasis on zoonoses classified according to OIE and WHO; also the graduate is able to navigate pathological processes and recognize clinical signs of parasitoses; he/she is proficient in the management of veterinary care of patients and clients and is proficient in laboratory techniques and scientific methods; he/she is proficient in the management of the administration of therapy for individual diseases; he/she is proficient in preventive veterinary health programmes for different species of animals; he/she has acquired scientific knowledge, knowledge and skills in the field of parasitology. It follows that the graduate will acquire the advanced and specialised skills, including the ability to synthesise and evaluate, required to solve fundamental problems in research and/or innovation and to extend and redefine existing knowledge or professional practices.

The graduate of the study programme of parasitic diseases of animals is qualified to work in various fields (private veterinarians, diagnostic laboratories, specialized scientific workplaces of the Slovak Academy of Sciences), perform epidemiological and epidemiological activities in the protection of the health of animals and humans, as well as in the prevention of parasitic diseases and the protection of the environment. The scientific part represents 2/3 of the study programme. It is carried out systematically by independent and team scientific research activities in line with the topic of the dissertation. An integral part of the study is the active participation of the student in conferences, seminars and his/her publishing activity. The individual study plan of the doctoral student includes the topic of the dissertation, which may be modified by the supervisor in the doctoral student's enrolment letter following the approval of the chairman of the third-degree study programme committee and the UVMP management in the period before the dissertation examination. By completing the profile courses, the graduate will acquire skills that will enable him/her to master the practical skills and scientific knowledge necessary to implement and complete scientific methods, including laboratory diagnostic methods in the instrumentation of individual workplaces. He/she will have the skills necessary to collect biological samples and to perform laboratory methodological procedures in the field of parasitology. Broadly defined competencies for this level are - ability to manage complex technical or professional activities or projects, to be accountable for decision making
in unpredictable work or study environments, to accept responsibility for scientific work and for publishing the results of scientific objectives in national and international journals, to manage the professional development of individuals and groups.

The graduate is characterised by the ability to display considerable authority, innovation, autonomy, scholarly and professional integrity, and a sustained commitment to developing new ideas or practices that are at the forefront of a given work or study environment, including research, as well as independent, critical and analytical thinking. The graduate takes into account social, scientific and ethical considerations when formulating research intentions and interpreting research results. The graduate’s work will contribute to the development of science and knowledge in the chosen field. He/she presents the results of research and development independently to the professional community. The graduate able to determine the path of the research and coordinate a team in the relevant study programme, independently design, validate and implement new research and working practices based on their outputs and findings

1. Graduates of the study programme Parasitic Diseases of Animals can work as assistants in veterinary practice, as university teachers of natural and medical sciences, in animal protection organisations, as researchers in veterinary and pharmaceutical practice, in veterinary publishing, as experts in parasitic animal diseases, as laboratory supervisors, as consultants in animal husbandry and in zoos, etc.

Relevant external interested parties who have provided a statement or a favourable opinion on the compliance of the acquired qualification with the sector-specific requirements for the exercise of the profession: Institute of Parasitology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

1. Graduates of the study programme Parasitic Diseases of Animals can work as university teachers of medical or natural sciences, in the field of agriculture, in diagnostic laboratories in science and research departments of the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Slovak State Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Society.

Examples of successful graduates of the study programme Parasitic Diseases of Animals: There have been no graduates so far in the full-time study programme Parasitic Diseases of Animals offered in English.

Employers' evaluation of the quality of the study programme (feedback): the quality of the study programme can be positively assessed indirectly given the interest in this study programme among graduates of the second level of higher education from various fields (medical and pharmaceutical sciences, natural sciences and agricultural sciences. UVMP has prepared questionnaires about graduates for employers.

1. The rules for the formation of study plans in the study programme of Parasitic Diseases of Animals are based on the general provisions contained in No. 8 of the internal regulation Study Regulations of the UVMP in Košice, Part B.
2. The recommended framework study plan for full-time doctoral students is presented in Table 1.

Table 1 Framework study plan for PhD students in the external form of study in the study programme parasitic diseases of animals

Explanatory notes: S - exam, SŠ - state exam, Z - credit

Compulsory optional courses (the doctoral student chooses a total of 2 compulsory optional courses based on the focus of the dissertation) from the following courses:

1. General parasitology
2. Arachnoentomology
3. Molecular parasitology
4. Pathological anatomy

The dissertation examination may be taken by a student who has achieved 50 credits for five CSs and at least 10 credits for two selected OCSs during the study period, no later than 24 months from the start of the doctoral studies. A minimum of 240 credits is required for graduation.

1. The study plan includes:

• listed individual parts of the study programme (core and compulsory optional coursess),
• allocated credits to each section based on the learning outcomes achieved
• and the associated workload,
• the listed locations of the course (if the study programme is carried out at more than one location),
• the course syllabi for each educational part (course) include the following:
• learning outcomes and related criteria and rules for their assessment so that all the learning objectives of the study programme are met,
• learning activities through which the learning outcomes are achieved,
• the methods by which the educational activity is carried out,
• the designated course guarantor as well as other persons providing teaching of the course,
• course topics,
• the student's stated workload.

1. The condition for the proper completion of studies is the acquisition of 240 credits, which include credits for passing the dissertation examination and defending the dissertation. Other conditions that the student must fulfil during the study programme and for its proper completion, including the conditions of state examinations, rules for repeating the study and rules for extension, interruption of the study are specified in Articles 2, 15, 18, 19 and 29 of the internal regulation Study Regulations of UVMP in Košice, Part B.
2. The conditions for completing the individual parts of the study programme and the student's progress
   in the study programme in the structure:

• number of credits per core courses required for proper completion of the studies/completion of part of the study : 50
• number of credits for compulsory courses required for proper completion of the studies/completion of part of the study : 10,
• number of credits for the dissertation examination: 20
• number of credits for the defence of the final thesis required for proper completion of studies: 30

UVMP in Košice has laid down the rules for the verification of learning outcomes and evaluation of students and the possibilities of repeating exams in Articles 17, 18 and 25 of the internal regulation Study Regulations of UVMP in Košice, Part B.

1. Conditions for the recognition of studies or part of studies:

UVMP in Košice addresses the conditions for recognition of studies or parts of studies in Articles 19, 38 and 42 of the internal regulation Study Regulations of UVMP in Košice, Part B.

1. Topics of the final theses of the study programme:

UVMP in Košice annually publishes a list of topics of the final theses in study programme Parasitic Diseases of Animals on the UVMP in Košice website.

No doctoral student has been enrolled so far, and no topic has been announced in this study programme, form of study and language.

1. UVMP in Košice has laid down:

• the rules for assigning, processing, opposing, defending and evaluating final theses in Articles 1, 8, 9, 10, 25, 26, 27 and 28 of the internal regulation Study Regulations of the UVLF in Košice, Part B,
• possibilities and procedures for participation in student mobility in Article 42 of the internal regulation Study Regulations of UVLF in Košice, Part B,
• Code of Academic Ethics in the internal regulation Disciplinary rules for Students of the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice in the internal regulation UVLF Employee Code of Ethics and in the internal regulation UVLF Student Code of Ethics,
• procedures applicable to students with special needs in Part II, Article 2, point 7; Article 3, point 12 of the internal regulation Study Regulations of the UVLF in Košice, Part B,
• the procedures for filing complaints and appeals by the student are specified, in addition to the Study Regulations of UVLF in Košice, in particular in the internal regulation Directive on the handling of complaints at UVLF in Košice.

The member of the committee responsible for the study programme of Parasitic Animal Diseases was a student of the study programme of general veterinary medicine Mgr. Miriam Sondorova; e-mail miriam.sondorova@student.uvlf.sk.

Study programme advisor: vice-rector for research and doctoral studies at UVMP in Košice

1. Other study programme support staff - assigned study officer: Mgr. Júlia Jančura, e-mail julia.jancura@uvlf.sk; career counsellor: the function of the career counsellor is performed by the doctoral student's supervisor.

All literary resources for study outlined in the syllabi are available either in print or electronic form, all information databases purchased and licensed by the university are widely available to students.

Description and scope of distance education in the study programme with per course. Access data, manuals of e-learning portals. Procedures for the transition from in-person to distance learning.

UVLF in Košice also provides distance learning for all courses via the MOODLE and MS Teams platforms. Each student can access manuals either in electronic form or in the form of video instructions.

Partners of the university in the provision of educational activities of the study programme and characteristics of their participation: the SAV and the ŠVPS SR.

1. Characteristics Social, sports, cultural, spiritual and social life:

UVLF in Košice provides excellent conditions for the above.

Students of the Immunology study programme are guaranteed the opportunity to participate in mobilities. The entire agenda containing instructions and conditions for applying for mobility, conditions and rules of participation as well as rules for recognizing mobility as part of the study plan is covered by the Vice-Rector for International Relations and Internationalisation and the organisational unit managed by her, which is the UVMP Mobility Office. The whole process requires coordination with the supervisor, and is recommended after the study part of the study plan has been completed. Participation in mobility and other contexts are regulated Article 42 of the Internal Regulations of the Study Regulations of the UVMP in Košice, Part B.

They are laid down in Article 1 of the Study Regulations of the UVMP in Košice, Part B, II. Part Organisation of studies.

Admission procedures: are laid down in Article 3 of the Study Regulations of the UVMP in Košice, Part B, II. Part Organisation of studies. Examination boards for admission examinations are at least 4 members and are appointed by the Rector on an ad hoc basis according to the study programmes to which students apply.

1. Procedures for monitoring and evaluating students' views on the quality of the study programme:

The students of UVMP in Košice can evaluate the quality of teaching anonymously through an anonymous questionnaire after graduation, where they evaluate the quality of a particular study programme and the quality of the lecturers who provide the course. Monitoring of study programmes is also continuously carried out by the coordinators of individual fields (5) of science and research at UVMP.

The feedback and measures to improve the quality of the study programme are part of the Annual Reports on the Educational Activity at UVLF in Košice for individual academic years and the Annual Reports on the Quality of UVLF in Košice for individual academic years. They are also presented at the Teachers' meeting, which is held at the beginning of each academic year. In general, the principle that the results of the feedback are very important for drawing conclusions from the evaluations, as these are implemented into concrete measures aimed at improving the quality of the study programme.

The results of alumni feedback and related measures to improve the quality of the study programme are part of the Annual Reports on Scientific and Research Activities at UVMP in Košice for individual AY and Annual Reports on the Quality of UVMP in Košice for individual AY. The Vice-Rector for Science, Research and Doctoral Studies and the coordinators of the individual domains of science and research act within the framework of the measures to improve the quality of the study programme by personally entering into the solution of the problems arising from the results of the feedback.