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Introducing Scientific Training into the Veterinary Curriculum of the University of Helsinki

Correspondence: Address correspondence to Hannu Korkeala, Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 66, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. E-mail: hannu.korkeala{at}helsinki.fi.

In Finland, practical and professional skills have been emphasized in the veterinary medical curriculum at the cost of veterinary research education, which has raised concerns. The Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene (DFEH) established a summer school in 2000 during which veterinary students can conduct their graduation projects and improve their research training. The immediate aim is to introduce students to scientific research in a real research environment, improving their methodological and scientific problem-solving skills. The ultimate goal of the program is to better prepare students to enter the scientific field upon graduation and to ensure an adequate supply of veterinary scientists in Finland in the future. Students who complete the entire summer-school program earn 28 credits, corresponding to 8% of the veterinary curriculum. The students are selected through an application procedure based on scientific interest, general motivation, and knowledge; they work full-time in June, July, and August taking courses and conducting research in the DFEH research groups. The main emphasis is on practical laboratory work and scientific writing. Teaching and supervision are carried out by personal supervisors and DFEH academic staff. Feedback from students over the years indicates that students became inspired by their research problems, view experimental work positively, and find the analysis and discussion of their own results interesting. As a result, of the 58 students who have completed the program thus far, 9 (16%) are currently enrolled in PhD programs at the DFEH. It appears that organizing supervised research training within the veterinary curriculum increases veterinary students’ interest in scientific work.

Key Words: curriculum structure • food hygiene • research • veterinary graduate education

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