The European Coordinating Committee on Veterinary Training (ECCVT) met last month in Vienna under the chairmanship of EAEVE President Petra Winter, bringing together representatives of EAEVE, EBVS, FVE and IVSA. The committee provides a platform for educators, practitioners, specialists and students to work together to improve veterinary education and address the evolving needs of the profession and society.
Three priorities for veterinary education
Discussions identified three priorities for future work: digitalisation and artificial intelligence, veterinary education and competency standards, and aligning educational capacity with workforce needs. FVE will develop practical guidance on the responsible use of AI and emerging technologies in veterinary practice. Meanwhile, the ECCVT Day-One Competences Task Force will consider how AI-related skills should be reflected in the revised competence framework.
Veterinary nursing and research ethics
The meeting also examined veterinary nurse education and regulation, with a contribution from Krista Arnold (ACOVENE), and the ethical review of non-experimental clinical veterinary research, presented by Peter Fordyce (University of Cambridge, Association of Veterinary Ethics Committee).
Revising Day-One Competences
Work on the revised ECCVT Day-One Competences is progressing, with stakeholder consultation and a Delphi process planned. The committee will also continue to strengthen cooperation with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), including work towards a Memorandum of Understanding.
UEVP President Volker Moser welcomed the collaboration. ‘Bringing experience from daily practice into veterinary education helps prepare graduates for professional responsibilities. As AI advances, sound clinical judgement, professional responsibility and compassionate care must remain central to veterinary practice.’
(photo ©Bermix studio/Unsplash)