Strategic plan and updated SWOT analysis

 

Summary
The strategic objectives of the Faculty are as follows:
-Providing and maintaining high quality education for veterinary students.
-Providing advanced animal health care and welfare.
-Providing life-long training opportunities for veterinarians.
-Carrying out innovative research through high-class scientific methodologies.
-Maintaining relationship with stakeholders.
-Implementing a strategy for the continuous enhancement of quality and quality assurance in all facets of the function of the Faculty.
Updates of the strategic objectives are instituted to ensure that all students in the Faculty are provided with necessary knowledge, skills and experiences to successfully meet current standards of the veterinary profession. Objectives also develop in response to internal and external circumstances. The Assembly of the Faculty (Governing Body) is responsible for determining, assessing and amending the objectives and the strategic plan of the Faculty.

Details
The general objectives of the Faculty refer to (a) the provision of high-quality veterinary training to undergraduate students, (b) the performance of innovative research for improving the health and welfare of animals and the education of the future generation of veterinary scientists and (c) the availability and provision of optimal veterinary medical services for the public.
From the educational point of view, the objectives of the Faculty are as follows.
-To provide students with the knowledge, skills and competences to pursue a successful career in the fields of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease, animal health and production, food safety / public health and animal welfare.
-To offer a stimulating learning environment for highly qualified and motivated students, with the final aim to produce veterinarians of the highest standards.
-To provide lifelong learning opportunities and contribute to the professional development of veterinarians.
-To ensure that, on completion of the undergraduate program, graduates would have acquired a thorough knowledge and understanding of the scientific disciplines on which primary activities of veterinary practitioners are based, and possess the required ‘Day-one skills’, being in a position to veterinary duties.
-To confirm that the Faculty employs teaching staff, includes infrastructure and is equipped with facilities necessary to deliver high standards of veterinary education.
From the research point of view, the objectives of the Faculty are as follows.
-To perform veterinary and biomedical research through doctorate research studies.
-To provide opportunities for the personal development of all academic staff.
-To establish collaborations with other teaching and research establishments, nationally or internationally.
-To expand knowledge and publicise research perform at the Faculty.
-To contribute to the sustainability and protection of the natural environment.
The Faculty is engaged in research with benefit and added value for the country and the European Union, through collaborations with scientific establishments nationally and internationally.
From the services point of view, the objectives of the Faculty are as follows.
-To provide medical veterinary services of high standards to the public, referring specifically to improved health management in animal farms (all species), quality clinical services (farm and companion animals) and high-class consultancy services to all interested parties.
-To be involved in courses of continuous professional development and seminars for veterinarians and the general public and to be present in relevant conference nationally and internationally.
-To support practicing veterinarians in their professional work, by means of advice, consultancy and diagnostic services.

 

SWOT Analysis  

Strengths

-High quality undergraduate students, selected among Greece’s top 5% of pupils in secondary education.

-Extensive welfare benefits for students: complete waive of tuition fees, free provision of all textbooks, provision of free meals and provision of free residence and various others or, alternatively, significant monetary subsidies.

-Availability of several active programs for international training of students in other veterinary teaching establishments in Europe.

-Availability of many teaching platforms within the University, with educational material available online and easily accessible by students.

-Availability of a livestock farm within the University, used for teaching.

-High employment rate (> 85%) of Faculty graduates, in the private or the public sector, in Greece or internationally.

-High quality and dedicated academic staff (by law, all academic staff hold the degree of PhD and several of them also hold European Veterinary Specialisations), with excellent or very good reputation in the veterinary community in Greece and internationally.

-Increased motivation and involvement of academic staff and high level of interactions between staff and students.

-Presence of three official training centres of veterinary specialization (Aquatic Animal Health, Small Ruminant Health Management, Veterinary Dermatology).

-Presence of strong research groups, formed by academic staff, in association with research institutes, other academic faculties etc., leading in research of international caliber and high publication output.

-Significant collaboration of the Faculty with veterinary clinics, livestock farms and food- processing or producing outlets, facilitating clinical teaching.

Weaknesses

-Disproportionately low (for the needs of a veterinary teaching establishment) funding, which does not allow maintenance of infrastructures and renewal of equipment.

-Number of full-time tenured academic staff small for a veterinary teaching establishment, with needs in teaching staff covered by annual contracts. -Significant lack of support staff.

-Very limited population of companion animals in the local and regional area, which does not suffice for the coverage of teaching needs.

-Location away from the central administration of the University.

Opportunities

-Development of extra-mural clinical training of 5th year students in companion animals.

-Location in a predominantly agricultural area, with increased livestock populations.

-Priority of national and local government to expand the livestock and food sector in Thessaly and fund relevant research, with significant involvement of the Faculty.

-Development of Averofeio AgroFood Technological Park within the University, as a platform for liaison between University scientific staff and farmers / consumers in the region.

-Strong connections with the veterinary profession and the relevant industries (agricultural, animal health, food etc.) in Greece.

-Strong connections with research establishments in Greece and abroad.

Threats

-High annual number of student admissions, decided by the Ministry of Education and outside the Faculty’s regulation.

-Decreased interest of students for professional careers in farm animal work or in food hygiene / public health work.

-City of Karditsa unattractive for veterinarians and students, leading to problems related to staff residence on location.