B8405 - Ethics of Animal Use

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student is capable of assessing their own and other stakeholders’ perceptions regarding ethical dilemmas related to the use of animals in different contexts, and making informed recommendations. In particular, the student: knows the main ethical frameworks and sources of ethical dilemmas in the veterinary profession, understands their rationale, can identify them when a position on an ethical issue is expressed, and is able to propose a reasonable course of action.

Course contents

This Course is part of the Integrated Course "The Background for the Veterinary Profession".

The Integrated Course aims to provide students with adequate skills in veterinary biosecurity, proper laboratory practices within a quality assurance framework, and techniques for handling and approaching animals that prioritize the safety of both the animal and the operator. It also provides zoological knowledge and zootechnical classification of animals relevant to veterinary practice, while fostering a critical perspective on their ethical use.

The Integrated Course "The Background for the Veterinary Profession" contributes to the achievement of the following ESEVT Day One Competences: 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.9, 1.10, 1.12, 1.17, 1.29.

Specific Course contents of B8405 - Ethics of Animal Use: the course is structured as follows

Lectures (2 hours):

• Overview of different scenarios of animal use and their ethical implications.
• Introduction to the main ethical frameworks applied to animal use: utilitarianism, animal rights, respect for nature, relational ethics and contractarianism).

Practical sessions (8 hours):

• Self-assessment of students' ethical perspectives through a structured questionnaire (2 hours).
• Analysis and discussion of an ethical case involving animals used for food production (2 hours).
• Analysis and discussion of an ethical case involving animals used in research (2 hours).
• Analysis and discussion of an ethical case concerning veterinary responsibility, companion animals or wildlife (2 hours).

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials for this course are available on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en).

Required study material:

• Teaching slides provided during the course and made available on Virtuale.

Supplementary reading:

• Mullan, S., & Fawcett, A. (2017). Veterinary ethics: navigating tough cases (pp. 1-5). Sheffield: 5M Publishing.
• Rollin, Bernard E. (2013). An introduction to veterinary medical ethics: theory and cases. John Wiley & Sons.

Websites:

• Animal Ethics Dilemma: http://www.aedilemma.net/home

Teaching methods

The course combines theoretical lectures and practical sessions designed to foster active participation, ethical reasoning and critical discussion. Students are encouraged to analyse complex situations from multiple perspectives and justify their conclusions using recognised ethical frameworks.

Teaching methods include:

• In-person teaching and discussions.
• Structured peer discussions.
• Role-playing activities (where feasible, depending on class size)
• Individual and group analysis of ethical case studies.

Students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD) who require accommodations for teaching activities are encouraged to contact the instructor at the beginning of the course and/or the University Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD to discuss appropriate support measures (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en).

Assessment methods

Students can register for the exam through the online AlmaEsami platform (http://almaesami.unibo.it/ ). Exams are scheduled during the designated periods in the academic calendar. Additional sessions are available for students beyond the standard program duration.

The final exam of the Integrated Course "The Background for the Veterinary Profession" consists of two parts.

Part 1 – Written examination

The written examination consists of 27 questions (26 multiple-choice questions and one short-answer essay).It cvers topics from the modules Zoology, Ethics, Biosafety/Biosecurity and Ethnography, and is designed to assess the student's comprehensive knowledge of the subjects.
Each correct answer is awarded 0.5, 1 or 2 points, depending on the question type. Incorrect or unanswered questions receive no penalty. No supporting materials or electronic devices (including calculators, books, notes, tablets, smartwatches or computer apps) are permitted during the examination. The written examination lasts 1 hour and is passed with a minimum score of 62%.Students who do not pass the written exam will not be allowed to sit for the practical exam.

Part 2 – Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE)

The OSPE assesses students' acquisition of practical and verbal skills related in the modules Safe animal approach and containment and Working in the biochemistry laboratory. The examination consists of 4 stations (2 for each module), each testing a specific skill. assessing a specific competence. Each station lasts 5 minutes and can award up to 2 points. A minimum score of 2.5 points (i.e., 62%) in each of the modules is required to pass the OSPE. The result of the OSPE is communicated at the end of the examination session.

The examination results are published within five working days on AlmaEsami by the designated course contact.

Final grade

The Integrated Course examination is passed only if all six module components are successfully completed during the same examination session. Passing the the written examination (which includes the modules taught by Professors Costa, Guarniero, Piva and Nannoni) is mandatory to access the two OSPE modules (taught by Professors Foglia and Zannoni).

The final grade is calculated by summing the scores obtained in the OSPE and the written examination. A minimum final grade of 18/30 is required.

If a student receives a borderline result in only one written module, the instructor may, depending on the nature of the mistakes, offer a brief compensatory oral examination within the following two working days.

In case of failure, the examination may be repeated after a minimum of three weeks.

In accordance with Article 16, paragraph 5, of the University Teaching Regulations, students may refuse a passing grade once by notifying the course coordinator via email within five working days. The course contact is Eleonora Nannoni.

Students with disabilities and/or specific learning disorders (SLD) are invited to contact the University Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as early as possible so that appropriate accommodations can be proposed. Requests for examination adjustments must be submitted to the instructor at least 15 days before the examination date. The instructor will assess the appropriateness of the requested accommodations in relation to the learning outcomes of the course.

Use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). During the assessment, the use of generative AI tools is not permitted. Any unauthorized use constitutes a violation of academic integrity.

Teaching tools

Teaching tools include:

• Lecture slides integrated with interactive Wooclap polls to promote active participation and self-assessment.
• Videos, selected online resources and supplementary reading materials.
• Collaborative online platforms (Whiteboard and Miro) to support brainstorming and group activities.
• Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used as optional support for individual study, for example to compare ethical frameworks, explore alternative perspectives on ethical dilemmas and prepare self-assessment questions. Students are expected to critically evaluate AI-generated content and verify it against the course materials and recommended references.

All teaching materials are available on the Virtuale Learning Environment, accessible through the link provided on the instructor's webpage.

Students are encouraged to contact the instructor by email to arrange individual meetings for further clarification or discussion of course topics.

Office hours

See the webpage of Eleonora Nannoni:
https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/eleonora.nannoni2/en

Office hours

See the website of Eleonora Nannoni