SVEK13022U NOVA Summer School in Nordic Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Medicine

Volume 2014/2015
Education
MSc in Veterinær medicine, Animal Science, Biology and Medicine
Content

On-line module

First preparatory e-learning sessions spread over June and July (expect 2 weeks of full time study). This involves an introduction (video conference) of students and main teachers, and continues with different e-learning assignments (reading, theoretical exercises and tests and in groups, production 2 written assignments and a short video). The sessions will address Nordic wildlife species and introduce students to the concept of Conservation Medicine, infection biology, pathology and anaesthesia of Nordic wildlife.

On-site module

The second module is 2 weeks on-site course in beginning of August at a NOVA-university campus or field station of the hosting country. The on-site course consists of 10 days’ sessions with the following topics will be addressed through lectures, practical exercises, field assignments and excursions: (1) Introduction to conservation medicine, including definition of wildlife, animal welfare, wildlife diseases, threats to wildlife etc. (2, 3) Ecosystem health, including threatened species, interfaces between wildlife, human and environmental health, climate changes and environmental (artic) toxicology and antibiotic resistance; (4, 5) Zoonosis, infectious diseases and disease surveillance in wildlife; (6, 7) Wildlife handling, capturing and immobilization; (8, 9) Wildlife pathology, and (10) conclusion of course.

Learning Outcome

The overall objective of the course is to introduce veterinary students and other MSc-students with interest for conservation biology and wildlife management, to the skills and knowledge required to meet challenges of the many infectious diseases that are transmitted between wildlife species and domestic animals and humans, and that, in many cases, have wildlife species as the reservoir.

The focus is Nordic wildlife and ecosystems including the artic.

The interdisciplinary cooperation between students and lecturers from different countries has a key role in the course as the challenges of conservation medicine crosses borders and calls for international solutions.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:

  • Discuss and define zoo, wildlife and conservation medicine and ecosystem health in relation to human, animal and environmental health
  • Identify diseases in Nordic wildlife and zoo animal species (mammals and birds), as well as semi-domesticated reindeer important in Nordic conservation medicine
  • Understand how a conservation medical approach can be applied in a range of practical situations, including handling of environmental problems with toxics and antibiotics/ anthelmintics

 Skills

  • Perform simple field necropsy techniques and sampling regimes for wildlife diagnostics and surveillance
  • Write protocols and prepare for working with wildlife, including human safety and laws and regulations
  • Plan / organize basic trapping / immobilization of selected wildlife species, including animal handling, anaesthesia, and method of drug delivery and subsequent monitoring
  • Communicate efficiently using orally, in writing and using ICT including videos with an international group of colleagues (fellow students) in order to solve complex problems and reflect on the process

 Competences

  • Apply theory and basic methods in relation to conservation medicine and surveillance of wildlife diseases, and discuss interdisciplinary solutions
  • Work independently and in international and interdisciplinary groups on topics regarding conservation medicine.

The course material will be published and supplied through Absalon (Copenhagen University Learning Manegement System) at the start of on-line precourse.

Participants and academic requirements

The course is targeted:
(1) Undergraduate veterinary students at the Masters level or last year Bachelors level, and
(2) Other animal or life science students* and including medical students at Masters level with interest for conservation medicine, conservation biology and wildlife.

English is the course language, therefore participants must have proficiency in spoken and written English.

* Attention: Other than veterinary students must be prepared for that the starting level in the sessions is based on the competences of an average 3rd year veterinary student, e.g. competences within anatomy and physiology, epidemiology, microbiology, parasitology, pharmacology, toxicology and general pathology.
Application must be done on-line: see "Application Form" page
Application deadline is April 10th, 2014

The application must be written in English.

The applicant will have to briefly present him or herself including present education / educational status, describe previous experience with wildlife, the motivation to take the course, and their expectations.

In the application, non-veterinary students must reflect on how they can overcome presumed lack of basic pre-course competences within the veterinary field, e.g. epidemiology, pathology, pharmacology (anesthesiology), parasitology, microbiology.

The applicant must document the academic / educational status by submitting necessary signed documentation from his/her home university with the application.
Completed BSc in Veterinary Medicine or BSc Animal Science, Biology or Medicine or with documented knowledge of wildlife / wildlife management.
The teaching and learning activities during the on-site course will largely be problem-based or case-based and including short lectures, theoretical and practical case work and exercises, field assignments and excursions.

The assignments include the production of two short videos by student groups. One at the e-learning module covering a specific issue of interest and one at the on-site part documenting an acquired practical skill in relation to conservation medicine (e.g. preparation and setting of wildlife traps, preparation for and immobilization of wildlife (reindeer), field necropsy). Students must produce a portfolio reflecting the various activities, and in groups collaborate on solving and presenting the various assignments.

The course is taught by lecturers from the NOVA universities and by other national and international researchers or experts.

The on-line learning will take place on the Copenhagen University e-learning platform "It' learning / Absalon" during the e-learning course module as well as during the on-site module in Tromsø.

Participants will be enrolled in the on-line learning site during May 2014 and in relation to this they will be informed about usernames and passwords
The course will only be offered if more than 15 qualified students will participate.
Selection procedure:
The first 15 students that are found qualified (see Participants and academic requirements). Applications will be handle continuously as they are uploaded on the webpage, and the organizers strive to respond within 2 weeks.
The last 15 qualified students will (a) be selected on basis of their motivated application, and (b) be selected on the basis of their nationality and education with the purpose of composing the best possible international and interdisciplinary student group on the course.

Tuition fee and expensive for travel, meals and accomodation:
COURSE FEE:
The course fee is 4800 DKK.

The following students are exempted from this fee:

NOVA/BOVA -students
- Students from NOVA/BOVA partners.
- Students enrolled at the University of Copenhagen, provided they by participating in the course transfer credit to their study program.

Erasmus students
Students on Erasmus exchange at the University of Copenhagen for a minimum of three months who wish to extend their stay in order to attend the summer course:
- Students from Erasmus partners enrolled as exchange students at the University of Copenhagen in the spring semester 2014, who wish to stay for the summer,
- Students from Erasmus partners enrolled as exchange students at the University of Copenhagen in the autumn semester 2014, who wish to come one month early.

Overseas bilateral exchange students
- Exchange students using bilateral exchange agreements with the University of Copenhagen may be exempted from the course fee, if the summer course is approved by the partner university. The partner university must nominate the students as exchange students at the University of Copenhagen.

MEALS & ACCOMODATION
The price for meals and accommodation is 150 euros (NOVA/BOVA students: see below). Payment details will be available on acceptance.

TRAVEL:
All students must cover their own travel expenses (NOVA/BOVA students: see below).

SPECIAL INFORMATION for NOVA/BOVA students.
Students from NOVA and BOVA partner universities will get travel support of 330 euros in the form of Nordplus grant (430 euros to Icelandic students). Application forms will be sent to NOVA and BOVA students automatically. The application forms must be stamped in Tromsø on students’ arrival, and then sent to the Nordplus secretary, so students will be required to cover their expenses first and have them reimbursed through the grant later.
More information about Nordplus grants for students from NOVA and BOVA universities is available on NOVA’s homepage: http:/​/​www.nova-university.org/​page.cfm?open=10&MenySidor_id=43#stud
An application to the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) to cover meals and accommodation is currently being processed. The result of the NCM application will be known by June. If the application is successful, meals and accommodation will be covered totally by the NOVA University Network and Nordic Council of Ministers. If the application is unsuccessful, participants will be required to prepay 150 Euros to cover the costs of meals and accommodation.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • E-Learning
  • 60
  • Excursions
  • 8
  • Field Work
  • 16
  • Practical exercises
  • 8
  • Project work
  • 48
  • Seminar
  • 25
  • Total
  • 165
Credit
6 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Other
Documentation of active participation in the on-site course, including results of various assignments and reflective notes on own learning and professional accomplishments.
Groups of students present a tentative research project or case within the course disciplines and are subsequently orally examinated
Exam registration requirements
Active participation in the on-line pre-course including accomplishment of formative MCQ-quizzes and written / video assignments.
Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
completed/not completed
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

As define above under "Målbeskrivelser" (i.e. Learning Goals)