Presentation

Educational aims

Specific objectives: The Degree Course in Veterinary Medicine is a single-cycle course with limited access and mandatory attendance , training graduates with technical, professional and ethical skills enabling them to carry out their functions in the care and prevention of diseases of livestock, pets and non-conventional species, in the protection of animal welfare and in the correct technical and health management of production, nutrition and reproduction of farmed species, in the health surveillance of animals raised within the national health service, in particular in the prevention of the spread of zoonotic diseases with the consequent potential repercussions on the economic-productive sector, in the control of foods of animal origin and specific production technologies. The aim of the degree course is therefore to provide graduates with the fundamental knowledge and skills to practice the profession of Veterinarian following the indications of the European Association of Establishment for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) and the national guidelines. The quality of the veterinary doctor's training is achieved through a complex training process, within a five-year study course, organized in 2 semesters/year for a total of 10 semesters, which provides for the achievement of 300 CFU. Students will gradually acquire specific knowledge and skills to independently face professional choices in the diagnostic-therapeutic field and in the treatment, control and eradication of diseases. The first year includes the following teachings: computer science, physics and statistics, chemistry, animal biology and histology, biochemistry and molecular biology, animal genetics and general zootechnics, animal anatomy as basic training activities, economics of the animal production system as class specific activity and English language, level B2. The second year includes: veterinary physiology as basic training activity, animal breeding and welfare, animal nutrition and feeding, veterinary microbiology and immunology, general pathology and diagnostics and prophylaxis of infectious diseases as class-specific activities, and veterinary entomology and agronomy and forage cultivation as related training activities. The third year includes veterinary pathological anatomy, animal genetic improvement, safety, food hygiene and inspection and control of food of animal origin, epidemiology, parasitology and parasitic diseases, pharmacology and toxicology as class-specific activities, general and applied hygiene as related training activity and the Practical Evaluation Internship (TPV). The fourth year includes veterinary anaesthesiology and surgical medicine, semiotics and medical pathology as class-specific training activities, diagnostic imaging, veterinary legislation and sociology and professional communication as related training activities. During this year, related and integrative training activities and elective teachings are also planned, as well as a Practical Evaluation Internship (TPV). The fifth year includes veterinary clinical medicine, clinical surgery, clinical reproduction, and obstetrics and reproductive pathology as class-specific training activities, as well as a Practical Evaluation Internship (TPV). The Practical Evaluation Internship (TPV) is related to specific training objectives and provides professional skills and abilities in the various fields in which the profession of veterinary doctor is practiced, in accordance with the 'first day skills' established by EAEVE and with European legislation. Students acquire practical-professionalizing skills in the following sectors: clinical practice of companion animals, horses and exotic animals; public health and food safety; animal production and livestock medicine. At the same time, from the first year students carry out practical clinical handling activities on companion animals and livestock, assisted by specially trained tutor teachers, at affiliated facilities such as the Experimental Zootechnical Institute of the Sicily Region and affiliated private entities such as some Veterinary hospitals in the city of Palermo. In the first and second year, students acquire the practical skills and abilities necessary to interact safely and in different breeding contexts with ruminants, pigs, horses and pets, respecting their specific ethological characteristics. In the third year, they acquire the skills related to the productive and health management of livestock breeding and the management of animals admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital to be established. In the fourth year, they carry out activities in the territory in pet shelters (for example, municipal kennels), accredited livestock farms and wild bird recovery facilities to acquire the skills needed for the healthcare, productive and clinical approach in various fields. From the third to the fifth year, students carry out Practical Evaluation Internship (TPV) activities at the University facilities and national or foreign affiliated bodies, aimed at acquiring professionalizing skills and abilities in the various sectors in which the veterinary medical profession is practiced, in accordance with the provisions of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education and European legislation. Pursuant to Articles 1 and 3 of Law No. 163 of 8 November 2021 and Interministerial Decree No. 652 of 5 July 2022, the final exam for the achievement of the single-cycle Degree in Veterinary Medicine (class LM-42) qualifies the student to practice the profession of Veterinarian. To this end, the final exam includes, before the discussion of the degree thesis, a practical test to evaluate the professional skills acquired with the Practical Evaluation Internship (TPV) within the course, aimed at ascertaining the candidate's level of preparation for the qualification to practice the profession. In particular, students acquire practical-professionalizing skills in the following sectors: animal production and livestock medicine, clinical practice of companion animals, horses and exotic animals; veterinary public health and food safety. The skills and competences acquired in the practical exercises and in the Practical Evaluation Internship (TPV) are documented in a specific document (LogBook). Throughout the course, attention is paid to the acquisition of the 'Day one competences' (DOCs), a list of fundamental knowledge and competences that the new graduate must possess from the first day after graduation. These skills are detailed in a document drawn up by the European Coordinating Committee on Veterinary Training and adopted by EAEVE and specified for each course. The aim is to monitor the adaptation of the minimum standards required for the veterinary training study program, established by the European Union Directive 2005/36, and to evaluate, promote and further improve the quality standards of the Veterinary training facilities.

work perspectives

Profile: Veterinarian Functions: - diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis of animal diseases belonging to the various species, especially those of zootechnical and affection interest, evaluating any pathological states of the animal, structuring a therapy appropriate to the species, developing a verification plan to monitor the course of the disease and the validity of the applied treatment. - protection of animal welfare within the production chain of food of animal origin, of affection and of those used for scientific purposes. - epidemiological surveillance of the territory, in the control of foodstuffs of animal origin in order to guarantee their wholesomeness for the safety of man, in animal welfare and in the prevention of diseases especially of a zoonotic nature in a One Health perspective, in the production, reproductive and nutritional management of farmed species (also with regard to fish species), in the control and certification of agri-food chains in order to limit the environmental impact of livestock farms. - work at the interface between animal and human health in a perspective considering environmental determinants, with attention to emerging infections, non-communicable diseases and the alteration of the structures and therefore the functioning of biodiversity most often because of an anthropic impact. - planning, organization and implementation of basic and applied research plans. - support to industrial sectors of expertise (zootechnical, pharmaceutical, feed, production and distribution of foods of animal origin). - from a One Health perspective, contribution of knowledge, skills and experiences to be applied to a range of health issues such as food safety, antibiotic resistance, animal health and welfare issues, environmental protection, by disseminating methodological models useful for the human/animal/environment integration and therefore ability to dialogue in a sustainable network with the various experts of the triad. Skills: To adequately perform the indicated functions, graduates in Veterinary Medicine must acquire skills enabling them to operate in the different professional areas. To carry out their function in the clinical field, they must be able to detect and evaluate the state of health and well-being of a single animal or a group of animals and to develop appropriate treatment plans in the interest of patients, considering the available resources. In this regard, they must possess the following skills: provide advice to the owner on breeding, feeding, develop selection and genetic improvement plans, reproductive management of animals, drugs to be administered and vaccinations to be carried out to keep the animal in good health; they must be able to collect information for a correct anamnesis, to identify the pathological state of the animal, to develop a therapeutic program appropriate to the identified pathology, the species and the age of the animal, to draft a verification plan to evaluate the course of the disease and the effectiveness of the therapy, adapting it to the conditions that have arisen. To operate correctly in the field of livestock production, they must be able to evaluate the physical condition, well-being and nutritional status of an animal or a group of animals and provide advice on the principles of breeding and feeding. In this regard, they must be able to: analyse the need expressed by the breeder; use biotechnology, feeding plans and breeding techniques to improve the condition of the animals and livestock production, respecting animal welfare and the environment; provide the breeder with indications on the preventive measures to be adopted to avoid the spread of any pathologies within the farms (e.g. separation of animals based on age and physical condition, etc.); monitor the health status of the animal from a reproductive perspective, subjecting it regularly to tests and checks useful for improving its fertility; apply assisted reproduction techniques (induction and synchronization of ovulation, artificial insemination, etc.). To practice in the field of animal health, graduates in Veterinary Medicine must be able to develop and recommend prevention and prophylaxis programs for individual animal species in line with accepted standards of animal health and welfare and public health, to recognize suspicious symptoms of possible reportable and zoonotic diseases and take appropriate action, including notification to the competent authorities. In this regard, they must be able to: build and update animal health registers; program and carry out the controls, prophylaxis and periodic clinical visits required by law; prepare the intervention measures required by law in the event of a threat to public health; carry out extraordinary interventions (non-specialist emergency clinical activity, health control of wild populations, etc.) following reports from private individuals/law enforcement and public bodies. To operate in the field of inspection of foods of animal origin, graduates in Veterinary Medicine must be able to detect and critically evaluate the suitability for consumption, hygiene and quality of foods of animal origin. In this regard, they must be able to: create and manage the quality control system in the agri-food production sector; ensure the correct management of the slaughter phase by performing the pre-slaughter check on the animals to ensure correct identification, the absence of diseases transmissible to humans or animals, as well as symptoms of diseases/disorders that may make the meat unfit for consumption; carry out the post-mortem check of the carcass (heart, lung, liver) of the slaughtered animal; supervise the health marking of the meat; take blood samples for hygiene and health checks on refrigerated carcasses. Opportunities: 1. Freelance professional activities more traditionally referable to the veterinary profession, i.e. clinical activities (including behavioural ones), surgical and obstetric-gynaecological activities, both outpatient and in the field, in livestock and pets; 2. Public and private industry (zootechnics, pharmaceuticals, feed, processing of food of animal origin. 3. Upon acquisition of suitable specialization qualifications, graduates can carry out their professional activity within the functional veterinary areas (animal health, food, environment and animal welfare) of the National Health Service and in other national public bodies (Region, Province, ISS, Ministries), both at Ministerial level and in Local Health Authorities, in Experimental Zoo-prophylactic Institutes and in the Armed Forces. 4. Upon completion of an appropriate specific post-graduate training course, they can carry out their activity within bodies evaluating quality and certification processes, as quality insurers in production chains.

Characteristics of the final exam

To be admitted to the final exam, it is necessary to have obtained all the credits foreseen by the educational programme as well as the relevant practical-clinical skills. The final exam qualifies graduates to practice the profession of veterinary doctor and therefore the discussion of the thesis, on a topic chosen by the graduate according to his/her scientific and professional interests, is preceded by a practical evaluation test aimed at verifying the acquisition of professional skills and abilities typical of the Veterinary Doctor in accordance with the so-called "first day skills" identified by the EAEVE (European Association for Evaluation of Veterinary Education) and with the relevant European legislation. The final exam aims at ascertaining the level of maturity and critical capacity of the graduate, with reference to the learning and knowledge acquired upon completion of the educational path, therefore it includes the discussion of a thesis through which the graduate must express his/her research and experimentation ability, vision ability and originality.