One Health in veterinary academia
Perceptions, challenges, and a conceptual proposal from the teaching perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29155/VET.62.225.2Keywords:
One Health, Veterinary Education, University TeachingAbstract
Given the consolidation of the One Health paradigm as an integrative approach to the complex interrelation between human, animal, and ecosystem health —a scenario in which veterinary schools play a leading role— this study delves into the perceptions and challenges that this concept raises within the Faculty of Veterinary at the Universidad de la República (Udelar), Uruguay. Through an exploratory survey, faculty discourses on the concept, its application, and the obstacles to its development were qualitatively analyzed. The findings reveal diverse streams of thought, from a canonical view centered on the human-animal-environmental health triad to a systemic perspective that integrates it with production and sustainability. A strong perception of institutional barriers emerges, such as a lack of time and collaborative spaces. This perception, however, coexists with a complex institutional reality, marked by the existence of a One Health Academic Hub within the Faculty itself and the recent approval of an Interdisciplinary Institute at the university’s central level; a juncture that creates a unique context of opportunity. As a corollary to this analysis, a conceptual and strategic proposal for the Faculty is articulated, designed to align its internal potential with these existing and emerging structures.
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