Study programme description

The learning objectives achieved in the study programme Animal Hygiene and the Environment are methodologically based on the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF). The Framework defines the requirements for learning outcomes for knowledge, skills, responsibility and independence.

For level 8, the required learning outcomes include highly specialised knowledge, some of which is at the forefront of the field of work or study.

The core knowledge is provided on core courses, in particular in the field of livestock and pet animal breeding, toxicology, the environment in terms of its pollution, the impact of biological (microorganisms, parasites, pests), physical (radiation, noise, etc.) and chemical pollution on the individual components of the environment or ecosystems. The focus of the courses, the core knowledge and the required skills are described in detail in the syllabi of the compulsory courses. Additional knowledge is gained by completing compulsory optional courses from related fields of study - analysis of contaminants, microbiology in animal hygiene and in individual environmental components including waste. Other complementary courses are environmental parasitology, ecotoxicology and ecoproduction of forages and feedstuffs. By studying the above compulsory and compulsory optional courses, the student is familiarized with the overview of the impact of negative factors (biological, physical and chemical) on the health of animals and their healthy breeding (including bees), on all components of the environment, learn about the behaviour of chemical substances in the environment, study methods of assessing biological, physical and chemical risks to animals and ecosystems and the environment as a whole.

The graduate acquires extensive knowledge in several areas of the study programme which will later serve as a basis for research and development in the field of animal and environmental hygiene. The study programme emphasizes the latest theoretical knowledge and new scientific methods and practical skills based on the current state of scientific knowledge in individual areas of animal and environmental hygiene.

The studies build on the knowledge acquired at the second-level of higher education, in particular veterinary and medical faculties (universities), pharmaceutical, natural sciences, or other faculties of medicine and natural sciences. The knowledge on the third level includes information on livestock and pet animal husbandry, toxicology, the environmental protection, the impact of biological (microorganisms, parasites, pests), physical (radiation, noise, etc.) and chemical pollution on the individual components of the environment or ecosystems. Particular attention is paid to knowledge in the field of zoohygiene (hygiene of animal husbandry), toxicology, ecotoxicology, radiobiology, animal welfare, veterinary ethology, the production of quality or safe feed and fodder and the system of organic farming. It also focuses on the acquisition of the latest knowledge in the study of investigative, analytical, mathematical and statistical methods used in scientific work and in the assessment of the risk of physical, biological and chemical factors on animals and the environment.

For level 8, the most 'advanced and specialised skills and techniques, including the ability to synthesise and evaluate, are required to solve fundamental problems in research, are also needed in innovation and to extend and redefine existing knowledge on the subject.

The graduate of the study programme Animal Hygiene and Environment is qualified to perform highly qualified activities in state administration, research, veterinary care, environmental protection, organic agriculture, ecological and health-safe breeding of domestic and wild animals as well as bees. Graduates of the study programme Animal Hygiene and Environment are able to carry out expert activities and act as specialists or highly educated experts studying the issues of environmental protection, animal breeding and health, quality and health safety of food, feed, organic farming and veterinary medicines, etc.

The graduate of the study programme Animal Hygiene and Environment may hold any position in public veterinary medicine organisation or work as an expert at theoretical-cognitive, methodological and political-practical level. On the basis of the knowledge of theoretical possibilities, practical skills, methodological skills, graduates will be able to solve existing problems in the field of protection and recovery of the environment, in the field of healthy and ecological animal husbandry with minimal impact on the environment, to minimize the negative impacts of animal husbandry while promoting its benefits on the environment, to assess and minimize the risks of physical, biological and chemical factors at the current level of scientific knowledge.

The graduate is able to formulate scientific problems (experimental, health, legal, environmental, ethical and other social aspects) to carry out creative and independent research in his/her field and independently present the results of his/her work in internationally accepted journals or present them at scientific events. The results of creative work not only contribute to the development of science and scientific knowledge, but they can also be used their in human and veterinary medicine and agriculture.

Responsibility and autonomy, defined for Level 8, is "the ability to display considerable authority, innovation, independence, scholarly and professional integrity, and a sustained commitment to developing new ideas or practices that are at the forefront of a given work or learning environment, including research."

The graduate is characterized by independent, critical and analytical thinking. He/she takes into account social, scientific and ethical aspects when formulating research intentions and interpreting research results. The results of his/her own creative work contribute to the development of science, scientific knowledge and the usage of acquired knowledge in practice. He/she presents the results of research and development independently to the professional community and is able to determine the focus of research and coordinate a team in the relevant study programme. The graduate is able to independently design, validate and implement new research and working practices based on their outputs and findings.

1. The graduate of the study programme Animal Hygiene and Environment can work as an expert in basic and applied research, in state administration bodies, in the department of agriculture and environment.

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 Seminar of the profession: State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic.

a) Based on many years of experience, we can state that graduates find employment mainly in the State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic, in the Chamber of Veterinarians of the Slovak Republic, at universities where veterinary disciplines are taught, at research/diagnostic institutes where diagnostic methods in veterinary medicine and toxicology are implemented. The graduates may also find work in laboratories of the Departments of Agriculture and Environment.

Examples of successful graduates of the Animal Hygiene and Environment programme are: In the academic years evaluated, there were no successful graduates in this study programme in the external form of study.

Employers' evaluation of the quality of the study programme (feedback): UVMP has prepared questionnaires about graduates for employers.

1. The rules for the formation of study plans in the study programme Animal Hygiene and Environment are based on the general provisions contained in Article 8 of the internal regulation Study Regulations of the UVLF in Košice, Part B.
2. The recommended framework study plan for full-time doctoral students is given in Table 1

Table 1 Framework study plan for full-time PhD students in the study programme Animal Hygiene and Environment

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

Compulsory optional courses (the postgraduate student chooses a total of 2 compulsory optional courses based on the field the dissertation tackles) from the following courses:

1. Analysis of contaminants in food and feed
2. Microbiology in animal hygiene and the environment
3. Waste from agricultural and food production
4. Environmental parasitology
5. Ecotoxicology
6. Eco-production of fodder and forage

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 number of credits which must be earned to complete the study and other conditions that the student must fulfill to graduate, including the conditions of state exams, rules for retaking courses and rules for extension, interruption of studies:

The condition for the proper completion of studies is obtaining 240 credits, which include credits for passing the dissertation examination and defending the dissertation. Other conditions that the student must fulfill to complete the studies, including the conditions of state exams, rules for retaking courses and rules for extension, interruption of studies are listed in Articles 2, 15, 18, 19 and 29 of the internal regulation Study Regulations of UVLF in Košice, Part B.

• 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

UVLF in Košice has described the rules regarding student evaluation and the possibility of repeating exams in Articles 17, 18 and 25 of the internal regulation Study Regulations of UVLF in Košice, Part B.

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

UVLF 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 UVLF in Košice, Part B.

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

Since the academic year 2008/2009 no dissertation topic has been announced in this study programme in the full-time form of study.

1. UVLF 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 study programme committee were the students of veterinary medicine Marek Ratvay, DVM e-mail: marek.ratvay@student.uvlf; Teodora Blatníková, DVM e-mail: teodora.blatnikova@student.uvlf.sk; Pavel Gomulec, DVM e-mail: pavel.gomulec@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: Júlia Jančura, Mgr. e-mail julia.jancura@uvlf.sk; career counsellor: the position 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 study programme and the characteristics of their participation : not the case

UVLF in Košice provides excellent conditions for the above .

Students of the Veterinary Nurse 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 in Article 42 of the Internal Regulations of the Study Regulations of the UVMP in Košice, Part B.

They are laid down in Article 1 and Article 2, Part B, Part II Organisation of Studies of the Internal Regulations of the Study Regulations of the UVMP in Košice.

These are laid down in Article 3 and Article 4, Part B, Part II Organisation of Studies of the Internal Regulations of the Study Regulations of the UVMP in Košice. Examination boards for admission examinations are at least 4-member and are appointed by the Rector on an ad hoc basis according to the 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. As part of the measures to improve the quality of the study programme, the vice-rector for education, study advisors and coordinators of individual fields of science and research step in and address the issues resulting from the feedback.

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.