Study programme description

The learning objectives achieved in the study programme Animal Nutrition and Dietetics 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 8, the learning outcomes required are highly specialised knowledge, some of which is at the forefront of the field of work or study and underpins original and creative thinking and/or research; basic knowledge of all the related fields. The field requires solving problems in which many related factors are at work; learning is often highly specialised. 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 achieved by completing other compulsory courses in the study programme. By completing the core courses, the graduate will gain knowledge about the importance of hygiene and quality of production of food of animal origin for their health safety. The students will acquire the latest methods of food production technology, while acquiring the latest scientific knowledge in the field of food production, ensuring the desired animal performance and efficient productivity of animal breeders. Graduates of the Animal Nutrition and Dietetics programme are are qualified to exercise the profession a veterinarian specialist in nutrition, dietetics and prevention of health disorders, specialist in diagnostics and quality control of feed, research and development in the field of nutrition, dietetics, production and animal breeding. The level of current knowledge of the biological relationships between nutrition - production - animal health represents the theoretical basis of veterinary medicine. Nutrition and veterinary dietetics, by analyzing the health and quality of feed, studying the intake, digestion and absorption of nutrients with monitoring the metabolic transformation of nutrients for the nutritional provision of production (quantity and quality), body resistance, health and reproductive capacity of animals, represents a production-medical approach to the productive animal health. Rising production that exceeds the metabolic limits of the animals in phase represents a risk of metabolic diseases. Therefore, nutritional physiology, analysis of the causes of malnutrition, knowledge and nutritional support of adaptive mechanisms are essential elements of nutritional prevention of metabolic diseases in high production animals. Dietetics and clinical nutrition includes knowledge of nutritional support and regulation of metabolic processes in the clinical stage of morbidity, chronic organ disorders and in the convalescence phase. Dietetics and clinical nutrition in companion and domestic animals, forms an important part of prevention and therapeutic procedures with an irreplaceable aspect on the modification of metabolic parameters and clinical changes. In proportion to the impact of the studied issue, the need for professionals is increasing.

The skills and learning outcomes corresponding to level 8 can be used in problem solving, research and/or innovation to develop new knowledge and practices and to integrate knowledge from different fields. The syllabi describe the skills that the graduate of the course will achieve. Together, the skills achieved in the individual courses represent an interrelated complex that results in skills that determine the successful implementation of the competences.

The broadly defined competences for level 8 of the EQF include the following - the ability to demonstrate considerable authority, innovation, autonomy, scientific and professional integrity and a sustained commitment to developing new ideas or practices that are at the forefront of the work or learning environment, including research.

1. Graduates of the study programme Animal Nutrition and Dietetics can work as livestock breeders, in management of individual sectors of livestock production, in companies with large-scale livestock breeding and in farms, operation and management of feed production plants and consultants in the field of statistical processing of results in the field of animal nutrition and dietetics.

Graduates of doctoral studies can work in the following fields:

1. data, statistical and information processes, setting up breeding conditions and processing of feed of plant and animal origin,
2. management of agricultural holdings, focusing mainly on crop and livestock production, preparation and evaluation of feeds fed to animals and their impact on the quality of animal products,
3. advice and control in the field of animal nutrition and dietetics, feed production, welfare compliance, advice and prevention of livestock diseases.

Relevant external stakeholders who have provided a statement or a favourable opinion on the compliance of the acquired qualification with the sector-specific requirements of the profession: Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Animal Physiology.

1. On the basis of previous long experience with graduates of the study programme Animal Nutrition and Dietetics it can be stated that the graduates find employment at university workplaces and workplaces of the Slovak Academy of Sciences as well as at the workplaces of the Slovak State Veterinary School and also in the private sphere in the field of agricultural production.

Examples of successful graduates of the study programme Animal Nutrition and Dietetics: In the study programme Animal Nutrition and Dietetics provided in the English language in the full-time form of study, no doctoral student has studied so far.

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. UVMP has prepared questionnaires about graduates for employers.

1. The rules for drawing up the study plans in the study programme Animal Nutrition and Dietetics are based on the general provisions contained in Article 2 of the internal regulation Study Regulations of the UVMP in Košice, Part B.

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 16-17 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 also accepts graduates of other universities in the Slovak Republic and abroad to study doctoral programmes if they can prove sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge for successful completion of the relevant study programme. Recognition of a part of doctoral studies follows the Bologna Convention.

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

In the study programme Animal Nutrition and Dietetics provided in the English language in the full-time form of study, no doctoral student has studied so far, and no topic has been announced in this study programme, form and language version.

1. UVMP in Košice has laid down:

• the 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,
• the procedures for filing complaints and appeals by the student are provided, in addition to the Study Regulations of UVMP in Košice, in particular the internal regulation Directive on the handling of complaints at UVMP in Košice.

The members of the committee in charge of study programmes for the third level of higher education are students Marek Ratvay, DVM (3rd year of SP Immunology); e-mail: marek.ratvay@student.uvlf.sk; Teodora Blatníková, DVM (3rd year of SP Veterinary Morphology and Physiology); e-mail: teodora.blatnikova@student.uvlf.sk and Pavel Gomulec, DVM (1st year of SP Internal Diseases of Animals); e-mail:pavel.gomulec@student.uvlf.sk.

Study programme support staff - assigned study officer, Mgr. Júlia Jančura, e-mail: julia.jancura@uvlf.sk.

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.

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.

In the provision of some activities, especially in the field of practical performance of activities of high societal importance, the participation of contractual partners is envisaged, including organizations under the management of the State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic, the Slovak Academy of Sciences and private veterinarians.

UVLF in Košice provides excellent conditions for the above .

Students of the Veterinary Morphology and Physiology 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.

These are laid down in Articles 1 and 2 of the Study Regulations of the UVMP in Košice, Part B, II. Part Organisation of studies.

1. Admission procedure requirements:

These are laid down in Articles 3 and 4 of the Study Regulations of the UVMP in Košice, Part B, II. Part Organisation of studies.

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.