1078 Budapest, István utca 2. T: +36 1/478-4100

E-mail: dekan@aotk.szie.hu

Web site: www.univet.hu

PROGRAMS

Degree courses: DVM, BSc in Biology (formerly applied Zoology)

Accredited postgraduate professional courses: (4 semesters) veterinary toxicologist, veterinary expert on companion animals, veterinary expert on food safety, veterinary expert on infectious diseases and state veterinary medicine, veterinary expert on equine medicine, veterinary expert on poultry medicine, veterinary expert on ruminant medicine, veterinary expert on exotic animals, veterinary expert on porcine medicine, veterinary microbiologist, hippiatrist.

Doctoral Program: (3 years) area of science: Veterinary Science

SZENT ISTVÁN UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE

The legal predecessor of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, established in 1787, was one of the first veterinary schools in Europe. Its aim is to train qualified veterinarians who can respond to constantly changing expectations. The Faculty has always been able to fulfil this mission excellently, because teaching, research, continuing education and consultation have always been considered inseparable within the Faculty's range of activities.

In the beginning, maintaining the health of the strategically important horse-stock stood in the forefront of veterinary science. In the past centuries the centre of interest gradually shifted to food-producing animals, and for the past 10-15 years companion animals have also become important. Food safety has recently become a major issue. Veterinary training in Hungary has been both nationally and internationally recognised for meeting the needs of the community.

IN THE CENTRE: QUALITY OF TEACHING

In Europe, the quality of teaching is receiving more and more emphasis.

Parallel with the increased permeability of borders, the danger of spreading contagious diseases and the possibility of circulating unsafe food products have increased.

Only a well-organised state veterinary service working with well-qualified veterinarians can guarantee proper veterinary care for the livestock, and epidemiologic and food safety for the country. One of the most important achievements of the EU member states is free movement of people and products - citizens of any member state can go to live and work in other member states. Members of the veterinary profession can, of course, also enjoy the benefits of free movement; education of uniformly high-level is prerequisite to that.

The faculty provides training in two courses in three different languages.

Its training programme is internationally excellent. The total number of classes is higher than what is required by the EU.

Annually 100-120 state-subsidised Hungarian students are admitted to the institution. The majority of the students study for a degree in veterinary science, the rest pursue a BSc degree in Biology (formerly applied Zoology).

The number of international students studying Veterinary Science in English or German keeps increasing. At the moment more than 500 foreign citizens from all over the world are studying here to become a veterinarian.

In order to ensure the quality of diplomas, the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education, EAEVE has established considerably stricter accreditation conditions for training programs, and initiated regular re-accreditation as the prerequisite to recognition of the equivalence of diplomas. Becoming aware of the importance of accreditation, in 1994 the then University of Veterinary Science was among the first ones in the EU and the first one in the area to submit the institution to the EAEVE examination. Based on the documentation submitted for evaluation and according to the assessment of the visiting committee: "the level of veterinary training at the faculty is equal to good European standard". A veterinary diploma awarded in Budapest is equivalent to that of any Western European veterinary school. In 2007, the Faculty met the requirements of the international accreditation again.

CLINICS - IN THE FOREFRONT OF EUROPE

Opening the Large Animal Clinic in Üllő in 2001 was an important milestone in the fulfilment of the accreditation conditions of practical training. Owing to the young experts working there, the clinic ranks among Europe's most modern large animal hospitals. After opening it, the patient flow doubled. Keeping the clinic in operation entails extra costs for the university, but it has resulted in significant improvement of veterinary students' practical training.

There had been dreams of having a similarly high-standard Small Animal Clinic on the site of the then vacant Clinic of Large Animal Surgery and Internal Medicine - and the dreams were realized in 2006. The three clinics (Clinic of Internal Medicine, Clinic of Surgery, Clinic of Reproduction), which had formerly been in three different places, and their diagnostic laboratories were merged into the complex Small Animal Clinic meeting every demand. Many of the veterinarians working at the clinic have specialised in various fields and gained nation-wide reputations. In this clinic, well-equipped with instruments, there are good prospects for the presently high patient flow (40,000 cases annually) to continue to increase, which will furnish the basis for further improving the practical training of veterinary students. Extending the time of veterinary education from 10 to 11 semesters serves the same purpose. The extra time will be utilised in practical training.

SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND

High quality research is the precondition to high quality teaching, this is indicated by the number of successful grant applications, the number of publications in prestigious journals, the number of successful books as well as the demanding requirements of the Faculty. It is our Research and Development strategy to take an active part in EU research programmes, and to seek international co-operation to participate in complex multi-disciplinary development processes utilising the EU support system. The integration process accomplished in the past years provides the opportunity to co-operate with other faculties, and it also contributes to the development of well-qualified veterinarians. These experts, owing to their traditional professional as well as legal and economic knowledge, will be able to play a decisive role in rural development and in the EU integration of agriculture. The scientific-professional background of veterinary work in the field of Food Hygiene and Food Safety is of particular importance. Integration created new perspectives both in rural development and in social communication. The Faculty of Veterinary Science - together with other Faculties providing education in different fields - can become an important factor in a more extensive professional and cultural development of the countryside, which previously could be promoted by veterinarians only through the infrastructure of state veterinary service and animal health care.

In the past years eleven postgraduate professional courses have received accreditation. They played a significant role in the course of EU accession.

PROFESSIONAL CULTURE

Scientific research at the institution covers every field of veterinary science (molecular biology, veterinary physiology, anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, animal breeding and nutrition, food hygiene, animal hygiene, parasitology, microbiology, clinical sciences, etc. and several fields of biological sciences. The high level of the academic staff is indicated by the large number of their publications in international journals and the high impact factor of the publications. The Faculty has 79 scientifically qualified academic staff members. Two of them are members of the Academy of Sciences, and 14 hold a DSc (Doctor of Sciences) degree.

OUR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS

Owing to the international character of the profession and to the fact that it is the only veterinary school in Hungary, the Faculty of Veterinary Science has traditionally had broad international professional relationships. The institution is an active member of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education, EAEVE.

Apart from the numerous research co-operation agreements, the Faculty of Veterinary Science co-operates with more than thirty Western and Central European universities, two American universities (Purdue, Minnesota) and an Indian university (Bombay) under bilateral agreements; with seven universities in the Veterinary Network for Student and Staff Transfer (VetNEST); and some twenty universities under ERASMUS bilateral agreement.

STUDENT LIFE

Although the Faculty of Veterinary Science does not lure students with prospects of earning a degree without any effort, life here is not just about academic work and obtaining practical skills. Being a student at the Faculty means being part of a vibrant community. The Students' Research Association provides students with the opportunity to become immersed in a special field of the profession. Approximately one third of all the students take this opportunity to do research. Students are often actively involved in cultural events and entertainment like the traditional Freshmen's Ball, the spring events of Equus days and the annual Veterinary Students' Concert. The Faculty has a choir, a folk-dance group and several hobby groups.