Galán JG. Animal Rights Education: An Initiative at University. Poster session presented at: Alternatives in the Mainstream: Innovations in Life Science Education and Training. 2nd InterNICHE Conference; 2005 May 12-15; Oslo, Norway


Abstract

At present, the defence of animal rights should rest on two main pillars: the educational, and the legal. Both are important in the university world, although the educational, on which we will be mainly focusing, is indispensable. This is because, firstly, it will act as a reference point for society and will be present in all scientific areas of knowledge; and secondly because universities are the key entities concerning the education of professionals (at all education levels). Conscious of the importance of this problem, we have developed a process of integrating education about animal rights at the Universidad de Extremadura (Extremadura University), unique in Spain and with few antecedents on an international level.

The development of this project comprises the application of a solid social and integration extension programme for the basic elements of the university: teaching and research. In order to attain both integration and social transformation, we have coordinated (1) a Collaboration Agreement between Universidad de Extremadura and the local Society for Protection of Animals (ADANA) with the chief objective of raising the public’s awareness about animals’ needs and rights. This agreement is based on joint effort between teaching, researching, informative activities, etc. Simultaneously, we have created (2) an elective Course of 4.5 academic credits for all students studying for a degree at the Universidad de Extremadura (although primarily targeted at future primary and secondary school teachers), entitled ‘Education, Animal Protection and Bioethics’ and already inserted in the university field; (3) a PhD Course, of 3 academic credits, for PhD students of diverse specialities (Biology, Veterinary, Environmental Studies, Psycho pedagogy, etc.) entitled ‘Education for Animal Rights’; and (4) a Line of Research also for PhD students, of 12 academic credits, for similar specialities, entitled ‘Animal and Environmental Protection from an Educational Perspective’. We will be able to evaluate the programme’s results by the end of next year.