Harmonisation & Recognition of LAS education and training in MEmber States Erasmus Project

Project Title

Harmonisation & Recognition of LAS education and training in MEmber States

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Recognition, transparency, certification; Research and innovation; Open and distance learning

Project Summary

The Directive 2010/63/EU establishes that “Member States should ensure through authorisation or by other means that staff are adequately educated, trained and competent”.
The minimum requirements regarding higher education or training for the acquisition, maintenance or improvement of vocational skills in LAS Education and Training (LAS E&T) are at discretion of the EU MS, generating different regulatory scenarios. This legislative fragmentation obstacles the mutual recognition of training competencies in LAS at EU level, and the risk that different requirements for assuring the quality of LAS E&T courses may arise is very concrete. Therefore, it is urgent to share common principles and quality requirements for LAS E&T in Europe, in order to fill the still persisting gaps.
The HERMES Project sets a scheme for promoting quality in continuing education and training (C-VET) in LAS and contributing to the harmonisation of the approaches at EU level for the free circulation of movement of LAS professionals in the EU.
HERMES is the first tentative cooperation between EU stakeholders to develop and test methods and tools to harmonise and mutually recognise E&T programmes in MS. HERMES adopts a multi-actor approach mirrored in the partnership composition. In fact, the consortium partners play different roles in LAS. They belong to five different EU countries and represent accreditation bodies, research institutions, universities, education and training providers.
Such a unique alliance provided a robust architecture to fulfil the requirements of the Directive 2010/63/EU.
HERMES tested and validated a new model to assess and increase quality in LAS E&T initiatives, achieve the consistency of learning contents and outcomes to the legislative framework, and adopt a common certification system based on innovative IT solutions for the mutual recognition of the learning achievements.
Five intellectual outputs – original and innovative in scope, content and delivery method – have been designed, tested, validated (both internally and externally) and widely disseminated to the relevant target groups.
IO1 – LAS E&T quality standard. It is a voluntary scheme, which may be used by LAS E&T providers to improve the quality of their education and training offer, increasing their effectiveness. IO1 intends to facilitate the functions and legal duties of the Animal Welfare Body and promotes modern teaching methods (e.g. eLearning) to encourage the development of deeper learning and critical thinking in scientific research.
IO2 – LAS E&T Assessment Manual – This tool provides guidelines for evaluating on a common ground the different learning paths offered in MS for each function described in Art. 23 of the Directive 2010/63/EU. The guidelines are written as an advisory set of principles and procedures related to curriculum development, definition of the pedagogical approach, training methods and resources, or assessment. This tool represents the basis for mutual recognition of courses between EU Member States.
IO3 – Self-assessment tool for LAS E&T providers – is a web-based platform that applies the principles of the Benchmarking Analysis and offers the LAS E&T providers the possibility to assess internal resources, performances and services, and to measure them towards ideal parameters, in order to enhance the quality of their services.
IO4 is a pilot eLearning module on recognition of pain, suffering and distress in animals used for scientific purposes (focus on mice and rats). It offered the possibility to apply the HERMES approach to training while supporting capacity building in this field in EU and Non-EU countries.
IO5 – Digital certificate generator – is the last cornerstone of the HERMES model, a multi-language web-based tool that certifies knowledge, skills and competencies provided by LAS E&T initiatives for the functions described by Art. 23 of the Directive 2010/63/EU.
A solid communication plan has been implemented, since the very beginning, to inform relevant target groups and disseminate the project outcomes in each phase.
HERMES facts and figures in a nutshell:
– 15 Subject Matter Experts trained
– 2 posters presented in national and international conferences
– 1,496 beneficiaries of the pilot eLearning course
– 7 multiplier events realised in 6 countries involving 371 participants representing all LAS relevant stakeholders.
The impact of this project is very high. It stimulated the debate at all levels, involving policy and decision makers at the EU Commission and Member States and International Organisations, as well as LAS E&T providers and their associations (e.g. FELASA and ETPLAS). The five IOs – as whole – are at disposal of the LAS community of E&T providers in EU and Non-EU countries. Furthermore, the implemented tools are deeply scalable or reusable. In particular, IO4 can be further delivered to LAS professionals since its content is at very low risk of obsolescence and easily refreshable.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 429363 Eur

Project Coordinator

ISTITUTO ZOOPROFILATTICO SPERIMENTALE DELL’ABRUZZO E DEL MOLISE G CAPORALE & Country: IT

Project Partners

• UD’ANET SRL
• ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITA
• SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET
• UNIVERSIDAD DE MURCIA
• Veterinary Continuous Education in Europe – VETCEE
• ELLINIKOS GEORGIKOS ORGANISMOS – DIMITRA