CA25113 - European Veterinary Education and Training for Professional Advancement, Specialisation, and Skills (VET-PASS)

VET-PASS addresses Europe’s fragmented postgraduate veterinary specialisation, where only 15 countries have formal systems and training standards vary, impeding mobility, qualification recognition, and workforce planning. The lack of comprehensive data leaves policymakers, educators, and professionals without the insights to align training with emerging needs.

To bridge these gaps, VET-PASS will:

– Build a GDPR-compliant, centralised database documenting specialisation systems and accreditation bodies across all European countries.
– Conduct a pan-European market analysis by integrating specialisation data with human and animal demographic and workforce metrics.
– Forge a dynamic network of veterinary faculties, professional associations, regulatory authorities, and CPD providers to develop responsive specialisation models.
– Harmonise criteria, quality assurance benchmarks, and mutual recognition mechanisms for postgraduate specialisation.
– Deliver career-development toolkits, mentoring schemes, and tailored workshops, with dedicated support for Young Researchers and Inclusiveness Target Countries.
– Implement a multi-channel outreach campaign – including a dedicated website, digital newsletter, social media, and conference sessions – to raise awareness of specialisation’s role in advancing One Health objectives.
– Pilot digital and interdisciplinary modules in postgraduate training.

Structured into seven Working Groups, VET-PASS will leverage COST networking tools namely Working Group activities, workshops, training schools, Short-Term Scientific Missions, and Virtual Mobility Grants to coordinate activities, foster stakeholder engagement, and build capacity. A monitoring and evaluation framework with DEI indicators will ensure adaptive management and impact.

By delivering transparent data and harmonised standards, VET-PASS will empower veterinarians to make informed career decisions, boost retention, and enhance service quality. It strengthens Europe’s veterinary workforce, safeguard animal and public health, and advance One Health.