International Higher Education Teacher Award ^2024/25

According to Iatridou et al. 2019 (doi:10.1136/vetreco-2019-000343) there is a strong need for international education of veterinarians in different study levels due to the large variation in curriculums within the studies for teaching honeybee biology and pathology throughout the different study curriculums trough the Europe. The veterinary profession strongly promotes the principle of lifelong learning and harmonization of undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum for ensuring the proper implementation of the teaching of honeybee medicine. Vets4BeesPath include learning, teaching and assessment practices linked with research on undergraduate, master and doctoral studies. Also it enclose the benefical insects (honeybees, bumblebees, solitary bees) biology and diseases, as well as managing practicies and practical skills. Practices include discussions, research and use of the educational models, examinations of honeybee colonies and work on productive apiaries. Existing skills lab for beekeeping and diagnostic laboratory APISlab offer many possibilities for vertical and interdisciplinary approach learning of biology – technology – hive products – diseases. That means handling, examining, diagnosing and treating the bees, as well as ensuring the biosecurity. Also, students are actively included in research for preparing their graduate and doctoral thesis. There is a possibility of choosing the optimal or attending elective courses from the area of production and elective courses from other studies is a novelty that provides education and training of students in the best possible manner according to their wishes and preferences. In frame of international cooperation, staff and students mobility the exchange of practice is interconnected. This way of learning enable students to acquire the necessary competences and hands-on skills to be ready to practice veterinary medicine in field of beekeeping. Consequently, veterinarians under umbrella of One health approach and with join efforts with other disciplines and professional parties (policy makers, farmers) get healthy honeybee products and improved insect pollinators diversity.

Methodology

Course objectives enclose requirements that student must obtain general knowledge about honeybee breading in order to comprehend the importance and role of veterinarians in recognizing and controlling diseases. The skills which one must accomplish are proper examination of honeybee colonies, recognition of clinical signs, sampling and sending the materials for laboratory procedures, and also apply prevention and therapy of honeybee diseases. In lecturing and learning process the intensive motivational context is used thru clearly stresed aim of learning topic, high student activity, interactivity and independence, highlighting the most important knowledge contents, discussion and critical review. To achieve wanted outcomes, the systematical supervision of learning process and evaluation of learning outcomes are necessary. So, short discussions in format of evocation-understanding-reflexion are beginning of each education term are implemented. Lectures enclose topics: Honeybees in nature, pollination, veterinarians and bees; Species and races of honeybees (origin, Asian and European); Honeybee colony (members and division of work); Honeybee colony during season (building up of colony, migratory beekeeping, overwintering); Reproduction (development of brood, queen rearing); Apian products; Honeybee pathology and particularities of epizootiology; Viral diseases; Diseases caused by bacteria; Diseases caused by fungi; Diseases caused by parasites; Non-infectious diseases; Pest and enemies; and Intoxications. Practical learning enclose work in practicals, educational skills laboratory and disaese diagnostic laboratory as well as field work on productive apiaries. Content of practical work enclose main topics: Hives and beekeeping equipment; Anatomy of honeybee; Diagnostic proceedings of disease and sanitation; Work on apiary; Breading and diseases of bumblebee colony; Breading and diseases of solitary bees (Osmia spp.). Laboratory work includes teaching sessions where students themselves prepare and use microscope preparations of biological and pathological materials, macroscopic and microscopic examinations, section of artifical broods of solitary bees, filling of cover documentation, etc. Skills acquisition and development are essential for the performance and continuous modernisation of veterinary profession in beekeeping. Due to that many educational models are used before work with opservation hives and live honeybees. Next step is observation of honeybee colony members, brood, food stores and their overall functioning, and finally examination of honeybee colony in Faculty facilities (Educative arhive station for beekeeping). To face students with real intensive working environment at apiaries, as well as with beekeepers and other stokeholders communication, they attent two - five or more field trips (depends on study level). Apiaries are lecturing bases with different kind and intensity of production and with all accompanying objects for extraction, storage and utillisation of honeybee products. Also, students can work with different beekeeping equipment and tools, and are additionaly familiarized with e.g. all stages of procession of wax to wax foundations, as one of good production, biosecurita and environmental practice. At field work students practice communication, entrepreneurship and digital skills. Accessing to continuous knowledge checking thru written colloquium and oral final exam is regular manner, with possiblility of partially on-line performance. Quality evaluation methods that ensure the acquisition of output knowledge, skills and competences are performed by anonimous student questionar about subject concept and teaching work.

Tools, equipment, technology used

The dynamic nature of veterinary medicine in beekeeping as a profession requires continuous monitoring of new expertise and adaptation of the programme to the emerging needs. In frame of improvment of lecturing of honeybee veterinary medicine, the Educative arhive station was established at Faculty yard. It is uniqe learning environment composed of two houses and modern observation hive situated outside and populated with honeybee colony. With this exhibition the whole beekeeping sector linked with its ecosystem is presented. To explain biology and physiology of bees, and their interaction with nature thru pollination services there are huge vitrina with many dehydrated plants, hive, apisarium with life colony and honeybee brood. Than collection of traditional-modern and profuturo hives and beekeeping equipment, protective clothes and tools (e.g. new aparatus for artifical insemination of honeybee queens with accompaining tools and consumables) for explaining and demonstration of technology. Exibits are arranged in easy understanding way from histological to modern with aim of learning developmental and technological improvements during time. Student can use many of educational models like frames of virtual hive, model of different members of honeybee colony, model of honeybee brood, microscopic line with microscopic preparations of anatomical parts of honeybee, as well as slides with different patologies. Also, there are special vitrines which contents present few different but closely linked good veterinary, beekeeping and environmental practicies (veterinary medicines and food additeives for bees; honeybee products and products based on honeybee products; procession of wax - from old dark honeycombs to new wax foundations and virgin wax; main causative agents of honeybee diseases, parasites, peast and enemies). Whole educative arhive station is well equipped and presents innovative learning enviroment adapted to vertical and horizontal learning manners. Lecturing rooms are well equipped with modern digital equipment for presentations of learning and working materials.

Outcomes and outputs, main results

Learning outcomes at the level of the programme to which the courses contributes are linked to the basic veterinary courses learned in previous years of study, and represents synthesis of previous veterinary disciplines applicable to the biology and pathology of beneficial insects (honeybees, bumblebees, solitary bees). The course prepares students for laboratory and field work in biology and pathology of beneficial insects array. Learning outcomes expected at the level of the course: Annotate the role of honeybee in natural ecosystems; Explain manner of life and activities of honeybee colony, construction of combs and development of brood; Recognize different types of hives, feeders and water suppliers, and beekeeping equipment; Describe individual organs of health honeybee and alterations caused by diseases; Distinguish diseases of brood and adult bees based on characteristic signs; Apply basic clinical and diagnostic techniques with aim to appoint suspicion on honeybee diseases; Define role of veterinarian in procedure of sampling and sending materials for laboratory examinations, treatments and sanitation of diseases.

Lessons learnt

Upon completion of students will: - be able to actively participate in honeybee colony protection programmes and wild bee species conservation programmes; - know the basics of managing apiaries and ancillary facilities; - carry out all the tasks of veterinarians in the apiary in accordance with the requirements and specifics of the life of colonies of honeybee as social insects; - be able to identify, manage, control and prevent diseases of honeybee colonies; - be able to participate in basic epidemiological research related to honeybee colonies as well as other selected pollinator insects (bumblebee colonies, solitary bees of the genus Osmia). The guiding idea of the quality system is to enable the excellence from the highest quality teaching to the latest research and organisational skills, which together provide support to national and international students studing in Croatian and English language, but also improves relationships and communication with broader community.

Adaptability and sustainability of the best practice (for other institutions)

The initiation of the students to study veterinary medicine in English language in Croatia arises as a response to the recognised needs of the global working environment and prepares the students of full-time integrated undergraduate and graduate study in veterinary medicine in English for an open international labour market. This enables the subject students to continue their education and work at their alma mater. The proposed Vets4BeesPath practice on all study levels is based on traditional values in the study and protection of honeybee colonies, which have been specifically developed at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Veterinary Medicine through the work of the Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees since 1936, as well as the work of the National Reference Laboratory for bee diseases, accredited according to the requirements of HRN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard for performing laboratory tests in the field of veterinary medicine and in the following scope: Test procedure for honeycomb with bee brood for the presence of Paenibacillus larvae spores through microscopic examination; and Procedure for determining the presence and morphological identification of Aethina tumida, Varroa destructor and Tropilaelaps spp. In addition, the honeybee veterinary practice is part of a fast-growing economical sector and area within veterinary medicine and as such uses all state-of-the-art knowledge at European and global level, as evidenced by the inclusion of professors who are active participants in global organizations in the field of bee health protection (FAO, OIE, FVE, EURL, NRL, ...). The best practice is based on the highest ethical standards and is in line with the requirements of current labour market demand.

Promotion of best practice

The recognisability of veterinary medicine in sector of beekeeping on our Faculty, especially working with honeybee colonies in the field conditions, as well as practical work in the skills and diagnostic laboratories for honeybee diseases is evidenced by the great interest of foreign veterinary medicine students from Western European countries for the summer school within the international project Vets and Bees, ERASMUS+ practice, as well as possible student exchanges in this area. This practice was multiply presented in frame of invated lectures organised by Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE), EAEVE, Veterinary Chambers of numerous countries, studens associations, ERASMUS+ stuff mobillity (Pretoria, Cuba), appointment as guest lecturer in Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria for: development of postgraduate/graduate programme on bee health and biology, review South African policy framework on bee health and honey, review and identify gaps in bees research in South Africa, develop continuous educational programme on bee health for graduate/postgraduate and development of diagnostic assays and laboratories capacity for South Africa. Learning book for students in Croatian and English language was published, educative videos linked with different good practices in beekeeping, video clips and catalouge of Educative-arhive station presents promotion materials, and all lecturing materials are available for students on LMS application on Faculty web page. Promotion of this practice and gaps in this field education was presented in few published scientific and popularisation articles, with active leadership and participation in project Vets and Bees funded from EVERI, and by establishing and active participation in first international working group Vets4BeesInt. Also, topic of education in field of honeybee health is presented during chairmanship of Croatia with the European Union Council.

Scope and impact

• Course/department level
• Faculty level
• Institutional level
• Cross-institutional level
• National level
• EU/EHEA/International level

Vets4BeesPath contributes on all mentioned levels thru decribed 5.6 Promotion, transnational seminars, workshops and lecturings, as well as spreading knowledge and skills linked with extremly important part of veterinary medicine. Scope of this practice include One Health principles which are strategy for implementing interdisciplinary collaborations and communications in all aspects of health care for humans, animals and environment. European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is symbol of One World - One Health principles because insect species dependent on the environment, currently affected by health crisis that is likely to impair human feeding and welfare in the future. So, honeybee colonies need and deserve veterinary care. During education it is important to learn how to show empathy in veterinary profesional situations with beekeepers at apiary, reflect own communication behaviour, skills and limitations, as well as regulate own emotions. Also, recognizing and exploit opportunities, develop ideas within the field of honeybee veterinary medicine is part of education and working motivation of veterinary students.

6.1 Digitalization

• Other:

  Students, teachers and administrative employees are connected thru Information System in Higher Education (hr. ISVU), so its include stady program names, levels of study programms, academic titles, qualifications, vocations, courses, types of classes and descriptions, elective groups, weekly lessons plans, ect. ISVU suports various certificates, diplomas, supplements, final exams and diploma thesis, results of final exams,...etc.

Reasoning: Everyday using of ISVU system. At Faculty level studens have available softwer Learning Management System (LMS) were all datas linked with individual subjects or courses, semestral students studying programm schedule, all lecturing materials-presentations-educational videos, possibility of on line short exams, etc. Practicals in form of special clinical exercises at field requires using of different mobile applications regarding monitoring of environmental, in hive conditions, scales, GPS, ..

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6.2 Internationalization

• Outstanding practices of international online collaborative learning
• Developing students' multicultural awareness
• Students engagement in international projects
• Courses implemented in international cooperation (projects, co-teaching, virtual/blended mobility, etc.)
• Courses offered to international multicultural students both online and offline

Reasoning: In the field of international cooperation and mobility, Faculty is an internationally recognized that promotes cooperation between the lecturers of honeybee courses with higher education institutions in the region and the world. Honeybee veterinary medicine is field of study which is very important element in strengthening the international recognition of the Faculty and its involvement in exchanging of knowledge and skills linked with beneficial insects and beekeeping. See Promotion section.

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6.3 Inclusion and diversity, universal design

• Other:

  Specialistic courses for lifelong education. Professional meeteengs with official veterinarians at veterinary stations. Practical workshops incorporated in Programs of scientific-professional conferences. SUMMER SCHOOL FOR European College of Zoological Medicine RESIDENTS

Reasoning: Out of regular curicullums for honeybee field, due to general benefical insects pollination and diversity significance, there are specialistic courses organised for lifelog education of veterinarians, beekepers, other interested stakeholders and policymakers. Specialistic courses: Honeybee Diseases; Recognizing of Honey Bee Diseases; Official sampling in beekeeping; Early dectection of Aethina tumida. Also, education of youngs and children of different age is performed in special terms.

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6.4 Sustainability

• Teaching material contains profession related sustainability aspects
• Special courses reflecting to UN 2030 Sustainability goals, Green Deal - mini-courses, microcredentials
• Social entrepreneurship projects, service-learning in the topic
• Extra-curricular student activities for sustainability
• Environmental attitude, skill development and assessment either general or profession-related
• Sustainability aspects are considered in all phases of the learning practice - "hidden curriculum"

Reasoning: Honeybee veterinary medicine is offten called „minor veterinarian field“ is increasingly conscious of the stakeholders involved in the current honey bee health situation. Practice of education with incorporated recognizing of sensitive topic and communicate appropriatly in challenging situations describes its sustainability. e.g. participation in EIT Food Challenge Lab 2021 (mentor, students and employees) e.g. vet students volountire at Educative bees station, APISlab

3.3 Public contact datas

Name	Email address	Website
Ivana Tlak Gajger	ivana.tlak@vef.unizg.hr