Harper Adams University: UK Survey Gathers Opinions on Animal-Related Education Methods

Researchers at Harper Adams University are asking both teaching staff and technicians across the UK and Ireland for their help in studying animal-related teaching and welfare.

The team from the University’s Department of Animal Behaviour, Health and Welfare at Harper Adams University want respondents to fill in a survey about how animals are currently being used to support teaching at Further and Higher Education institutions within the UK and Ireland.

The survey aims to discover the types of activities animals are used for, which animals are used, and what procedures in place to manage and monitor these activities. They are also interested in the opinions of respondents regarding welfare impacts of these activities and future research priorities in this area.

Lecturer in Animal Behaviour and Welfare Dr Ellen Williams said: “Animals are used for a range of things within educational facilities, including behavioural observations, animal handling for students to learn skills in animal restraint or undertaking health checks, and general husbandry routines, including enclosure cleaning or provision of enrichment.

“The idea behind this is that students who are going on to work in the animal industries are well equipped for situations to which they may be exposed once they graduate.

“We know that humans – including both their presence and their actions – can have a range of impacts on animals and that this is in turn affected by several different factors including the previous experiences of animals and their individual personalities.

“Principally, humans can have positive, negative or neutral impacts on animals, depending on the interaction and the animal’s perception of the interaction.”

To participate in the research project, respondents will need to meet all the following criteria:

• Be a member of staff at a Further and/or Higher Education institution offering animal-related courses/programmes
• The courses/programmes use live animals to support teaching of non-clinical skills

The team – Dr Williams, Dr Holly Vickery and Lecturer in Animal Science Jennifer Sadler – are using the findings from this research to establish a baseline of current practices of how animals are used in education across the UK and Ireland.

Dr Holly Vickery said: “The survey is contributing to a wider research project being undertaken looking at the experiences of animals in educational settings, in order to promote positive animal welfare.

“We are looking to find out what educational facilities currently do in terms of animal activities, what their perceptions are of the impacts of these experiences on the animals in their collection – and if they have any thoughts on how to mitigate any potentially negative experiences.”

Dr Williams added: “There are a large number of animals kept in educational facilities throughout the UK and Ireland. These animals are accessed by a number of students and courses – so these animals may be being exposed to high numbers of unfamiliar people.

“Facilities are likely to have their own guidance for undertaking animal activities, such as the numbers of animals being used, the activities undertaken, or an assessment of welfare methods.

“However, there is a paucity of information on this. Understanding what facilities are doing, and what the impacts are on animals, will help with identifying best practice for the industry.”