Evaluation of common trends and strategies of different institutions to support veterinary curricular renewal

Abstract

The veterinary profession is diverse and rapidly evolving, requiring constant adaptation from veterinary schools. Reforms are often based on insights from other institutions and on the intended curriculum. The ongoing curricular renewal of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal, motivated the collection and comparison of national (i.e., Portuguese) and international veterinary curricula from fifteen institutions to identify overall trends and strategies. Our hypothesis was that comparing the curricula from different institutions would reveal common trends and strategies, which can guide curricular revisions. Most institutions followed a modified traditional veterinary curriculum, integrating electives, internships, and clinical rotations which also provide opportunities for specialization. Fundamental Sciences represented almost half of veterinary education. International institutions already implemented early clinical contact to develop technical skills. Nontechnical skills (i.e., soft skills) have been gaining importance. In summary, the complexity of the veterinary profession requires the development of a core veterinary curriculum based on the fundamental principles of the profession, complemented by specialization opportunities offered by electives, internships, and clinical rotations.