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Veterinary research and education in Europe: a university viewpoint
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Veterinary Microbiology, 23 ( 1 9 9 0 ) 6 - 7 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., A m s t e r d a m - - P r i n t e d in The N e t h e r l a n d s
Veterinary research and education in Europe: a university viewpoint L. Pouplard Faculty of VeterinaryMedicine, Universityof Liege (Belgium)
I am particularly happy to welcome the distinguished members of the European Society for Veterinary Virology on behalf of Prof. Bodson, Rector of the University of Liege, and also in my own name as Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The University of Liege is proud that this first congress is held in its buildings. This choice reflects the importance that the organizers wanted to give to this congress. The European character of your Society is obviously linked to the co-operative spirit that is developing nowadays within the m e m b e r states. The veterinary world has probably been one of the first sectors to tackle the organization of the profession, education and research on a European scale. For more than 10 years an advisory committee on veterinary education has been working actively within the European C o m m u n i t y (E.C.). It endeavours to bring together the legislation of the various countries as well as the educational programmes both in the field of basic education and in the sometimes intricate sphere of specialization. Veterinarians have been among the first to ensure free m o v e m e n t of their graduates within the E.C. However, this undeniable advantage raises problems. Let me remind you of the important number of graduates: every year approximately 5000 new veterinarians graduate in the countries of the Community, where a total of 39 faculties or veterinary schools are located. The compulsory organization of continuing education should also be stressed. Knowledge develops so rapidly that entirely new scientific concepts appear, which the veterinarian never even heard of during his studies. This has been the case for computerization and biotechnology. Now it is the turn of molecular biology. In view of the continuing development in these fields, the increasing number of veterinarians, often considered as plethoric, gives a unique opportunity for our profession to maintain its important position in scientific research. Your congress is evidence of this concern. Within the framework of the Europe to come, teaching of veterinary medicine is on its way to harmonization, not to standardization. The importance of keeping a high level of education is well perceived by those responsible for education in the various member states and several initiatives have been developed. In this respect,
the application of the "Erasmus" programme will considerably accelerate this trend and provide our students with perspectives whose importance is still difficult to imagine. However, university education worthy of the name can no longer be contemplated if it is not backed up by a solid foundation of active and up-to-date research. The veterinary faculties have understood that more than a simple harmonization of education is needed, and that it is even more urgent to facilitate the exchange of information on research. The European association of veterinary schools created in Paris in 1988, the next general assembly of which will be held in Brussels in May 1989, placed this objective among its priority concerns. In a recent report on the condition of science and technology in Europe the E.C. states that, during recent years, cooperation in Europe, involving industry as well as the universities, has expanded. The action programmes of the c o m m u n i t y based on the principle of shared costs have received requests beyond their financing capacity, which reflects the importance of the needs and the wish to co-operate. However, as a proportion of the total effort on research, these activities remain small. The total cost of the projects developed within the frame of community programmes is equivalent to 4% of the total estimated budget for research in Europe. This means that the major proportion of research is still financed at national level and based on national budgets. As mentioned previously, the veterinary world has shown very early its wish to co-operate. As far as animal health is concerned, the importance of concerted actions beyond national borders is indeed vital and has already shown its usefulness, particularly in the field of viral diseases. Veterinary medicine benefits from the huge development of scientific knowledge, especially in fields such as cellular biology and molecular biology, genetics and biotechnology. These words have an almost magic effect on the public. In fact, they constitute extraordinary fields of research where we must maintain a presence. Our efforts can not only improve the quality of services in the animal health sector, but can also allow our future and numerous graduates to occupy places of prime importance in Europe. Finally, I should like to tell you that the organization of this European congress on the campus of the University of Li6ge has a symbolic value for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Cureghem. I shall not elaborate on the history of this faculty, which is the only francophone veterinary school in Belgium. I shall only remind you that this institution, which was created in 1836, remained independent for more than a century and a half until 1969, when we joined the University of Li6ge. The veterinarians have always shown their immense wish to participate in the life of this important institution and to be immersed in the ceaseless exchange of ideas so essential to real progress. Our transfer to the new buildings on the campus will probably take place in 1992, year of the disappearance of internal frontiers in the E.C. This will be an opportunity for us to show our interest in international co-operation, of which this first Congress of the European Society for Veterinary Virology already constitutes an important proof.
Veterinary Microbiology, 23 ( 1 9 9 0 ) 6 - 7 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., A m s t e r d a m - - P r i n t e d in The N e t h e r l a n d s
Veterinary research and education in Europe: a university viewpoint L. Pouplard Faculty of VeterinaryMedicine, Universityof Liege (Belgium)
I am particularly happy to welcome the distinguished members of the European Society for Veterinary Virology on behalf of Prof. Bodson, Rector of the University of Liege, and also in my own name as Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The University of Liege is proud that this first congress is held in its buildings. This choice reflects the importance that the organizers wanted to give to this congress. The European character of your Society is obviously linked to the co-operative spirit that is developing nowadays within the m e m b e r states. The veterinary world has probably been one of the first sectors to tackle the organization of the profession, education and research on a European scale. For more than 10 years an advisory committee on veterinary education has been working actively within the European C o m m u n i t y (E.C.). It endeavours to bring together the legislation of the various countries as well as the educational programmes both in the field of basic education and in the sometimes intricate sphere of specialization. Veterinarians have been among the first to ensure free m o v e m e n t of their graduates within the E.C. However, this undeniable advantage raises problems. Let me remind you of the important number of graduates: every year approximately 5000 new veterinarians graduate in the countries of the Community, where a total of 39 faculties or veterinary schools are located. The compulsory organization of continuing education should also be stressed. Knowledge develops so rapidly that entirely new scientific concepts appear, which the veterinarian never even heard of during his studies. This has been the case for computerization and biotechnology. Now it is the turn of molecular biology. In view of the continuing development in these fields, the increasing number of veterinarians, often considered as plethoric, gives a unique opportunity for our profession to maintain its important position in scientific research. Your congress is evidence of this concern. Within the framework of the Europe to come, teaching of veterinary medicine is on its way to harmonization, not to standardization. The importance of keeping a high level of education is well perceived by those responsible for education in the various member states and several initiatives have been developed. In this respect,
the application of the "Erasmus" programme will considerably accelerate this trend and provide our students with perspectives whose importance is still difficult to imagine. However, university education worthy of the name can no longer be contemplated if it is not backed up by a solid foundation of active and up-to-date research. The veterinary faculties have understood that more than a simple harmonization of education is needed, and that it is even more urgent to facilitate the exchange of information on research. The European association of veterinary schools created in Paris in 1988, the next general assembly of which will be held in Brussels in May 1989, placed this objective among its priority concerns. In a recent report on the condition of science and technology in Europe the E.C. states that, during recent years, cooperation in Europe, involving industry as well as the universities, has expanded. The action programmes of the c o m m u n i t y based on the principle of shared costs have received requests beyond their financing capacity, which reflects the importance of the needs and the wish to co-operate. However, as a proportion of the total effort on research, these activities remain small. The total cost of the projects developed within the frame of community programmes is equivalent to 4% of the total estimated budget for research in Europe. This means that the major proportion of research is still financed at national level and based on national budgets. As mentioned previously, the veterinary world has shown very early its wish to co-operate. As far as animal health is concerned, the importance of concerted actions beyond national borders is indeed vital and has already shown its usefulness, particularly in the field of viral diseases. Veterinary medicine benefits from the huge development of scientific knowledge, especially in fields such as cellular biology and molecular biology, genetics and biotechnology. These words have an almost magic effect on the public. In fact, they constitute extraordinary fields of research where we must maintain a presence. Our efforts can not only improve the quality of services in the animal health sector, but can also allow our future and numerous graduates to occupy places of prime importance in Europe. Finally, I should like to tell you that the organization of this European congress on the campus of the University of Li6ge has a symbolic value for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Cureghem. I shall not elaborate on the history of this faculty, which is the only francophone veterinary school in Belgium. I shall only remind you that this institution, which was created in 1836, remained independent for more than a century and a half until 1969, when we joined the University of Li6ge. The veterinarians have always shown their immense wish to participate in the life of this important institution and to be immersed in the ceaseless exchange of ideas so essential to real progress. Our transfer to the new buildings on the campus will probably take place in 1992, year of the disappearance of internal frontiers in the E.C. This will be an opportunity for us to show our interest in international co-operation, of which this first Congress of the European Society for Veterinary Virology already constitutes an important proof.