European veterinary public health specialization: post-graduate training and expectations of potential employers

Alonso, Silvia; Dürr, Salome Esther; Fahrion, Anna Sophie; Harisberger, Myriam; Papadopoulou, Christina; Zimmerli, Urs (2013). European veterinary public health specialization: post-graduate training and expectations of potential employers. Journal of veterinary medical education, 40(1), pp. 76-83. University of Toronto Press 10.3138/jvme.0512-034R

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Residents of the European College of Veterinary Public Health (ECVPH) carried out a survey to explore the expectations and needs of potential employers of ECVPH diplomates and to assess the extent to which the ECVPH post-graduate training program meets those requirements. An online questionnaire was sent to 707 individuals working for universities, government organizations, and private companies active in the field of public health in 16 countries. Details on the structure and activities of the participants' organizations, their current knowledge of the ECVPH, and potential interest in employing veterinary public health (VPH) experts or hosting internships were collected. Participants were requested to rate 22 relevant competencies according to their importance for VPH professionals exiting the ECVPH training. A total of 138 completed questionnaires were included in the analysis. While generic skills such as "problem solving" and "broad horizon and inter-/multidisciplinary thinking" were consistently given high grades by all participants, the importance ascribed to more specialized skills was less homogeneous. The current ECVPH training more closely complies with the profile sought in academia, which may partly explain the lower employment rate of residents and diplomates within government and industry sectors. The study revealed a lack of awareness of the ECVPH among public health institutions and demonstrated the need for greater promotion of this veterinary specialization within Europe, both in terms of its training capacity and the professional skill-set of its diplomates. This study provides input for a critical revision of the ECVPH curriculum and the design of post-graduate training programs in VPH.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	05 Veterinary Medicine > Research Foci > Veterinary Public Health / Herd Health Management 05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH) > Veterinary Public Health Institute 05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH)
UniBE Contributor:	Dürr, Salome Esther, Fahrion, Anna Sophie, Harisberger, Myriam
Subjects:	600 Technology > 630 Agriculture
ISSN:	0748-321X
Publisher:	University of Toronto Press
Language:	English
Submitter:	Susanne Portner
Date Deposited:	25 Jul 2014 15:47
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:30
Publisher DOI:	10.3138/jvme.0512-034R
PubMed ID:	23470243
Uncontrolled Keywords:	veterinary public health, training, employment, competencies, skills
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/44852