Crucial but Neglected: Limited Availability of Animal Welfare Courses in Education of Wildlife Researchers
Animal welfare is a subject of increasing scientific and ethical concern in today’s society, crucial for the well-being of animals used in research and the integrity of scientific data. Equipping researchers in the life science disciplines with a science-based knowledge of animal welfare, behaviour,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/18/2907 |
| _version_ | 1827727490080047104 |
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| author | Miriam A. Zemanova |
| author_facet | Miriam A. Zemanova |
| author_sort | Miriam A. Zemanova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Animal welfare is a subject of increasing scientific and ethical concern in today’s society, crucial for the well-being of animals used in research and the integrity of scientific data. Equipping researchers in the life science disciplines with a science-based knowledge of animal welfare, behaviour, physiology, and health is, therefore, essential. Nevertheless, previous studies evaluating animal welfare education focused on veterinary, laboratory, or farm animal science. Consequently, the aim of this study was, for the very first time, to map the prevalence of animal welfare courses in the university education of ecologists, wildlife biologists, and conservation managers in Europe, Canada, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. A comprehensive assessment of 1548 universities was conducted, resulting in the identification of 596 relevant programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Analysis of the curricula revealed that only 1% of the programs offered a formal course on animal welfare, while 65% provided courses on animal behaviour, 59% on animal physiology, and 34% on animal health. However, the majority of these courses were listed as electives rather than mandatory components of the programs. These results underscore the need for universities to incorporate more formal and obligatory education in animal welfare in order to better prepare future ecologists, wildlife biologists, and conservation managers for the challenges of working with wildlife. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:07:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-19a4a1248296487fba0e4c24b98b3040 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:07:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-19a4a1248296487fba0e4c24b98b30402023-11-19T09:15:16ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-09-011318290710.3390/ani13182907Crucial but Neglected: Limited Availability of Animal Welfare Courses in Education of Wildlife ResearchersMiriam A. Zemanova0Environmental Sciences and Humanities Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 4, 1700 Fribourg, SwitzerlandAnimal welfare is a subject of increasing scientific and ethical concern in today’s society, crucial for the well-being of animals used in research and the integrity of scientific data. Equipping researchers in the life science disciplines with a science-based knowledge of animal welfare, behaviour, physiology, and health is, therefore, essential. Nevertheless, previous studies evaluating animal welfare education focused on veterinary, laboratory, or farm animal science. Consequently, the aim of this study was, for the very first time, to map the prevalence of animal welfare courses in the university education of ecologists, wildlife biologists, and conservation managers in Europe, Canada, the USA, Australia, and New Zealand. A comprehensive assessment of 1548 universities was conducted, resulting in the identification of 596 relevant programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Analysis of the curricula revealed that only 1% of the programs offered a formal course on animal welfare, while 65% provided courses on animal behaviour, 59% on animal physiology, and 34% on animal health. However, the majority of these courses were listed as electives rather than mandatory components of the programs. These results underscore the need for universities to incorporate more formal and obligatory education in animal welfare in order to better prepare future ecologists, wildlife biologists, and conservation managers for the challenges of working with wildlife.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/18/29073Rs principlesanimal welfareanimal behaviouranimal physiologyanimal healtheducation |
| spellingShingle | Miriam A. Zemanova Crucial but Neglected: Limited Availability of Animal Welfare Courses in Education of Wildlife Researchers Animals 3Rs principles animal welfare animal behaviour animal physiology animal health education |
| title | Crucial but Neglected: Limited Availability of Animal Welfare Courses in Education of Wildlife Researchers |
| title_full | Crucial but Neglected: Limited Availability of Animal Welfare Courses in Education of Wildlife Researchers |
| title_fullStr | Crucial but Neglected: Limited Availability of Animal Welfare Courses in Education of Wildlife Researchers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Crucial but Neglected: Limited Availability of Animal Welfare Courses in Education of Wildlife Researchers |
| title_short | Crucial but Neglected: Limited Availability of Animal Welfare Courses in Education of Wildlife Researchers |
| title_sort | crucial but neglected limited availability of animal welfare courses in education of wildlife researchers |
| topic | 3Rs principles animal welfare animal behaviour animal physiology animal health education |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/18/2907 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT miriamazemanova crucialbutneglectedlimitedavailabilityofanimalwelfarecoursesineducationofwildliferesearchers |