Retorna

Academic Council
USE OF ANIMALS IN TEACHING

MOTION

  1. The Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) in conjunction with the affected Divisions develop a University policy on the use of alternatives to animals in teaching.
  2. The AEC develop and implement a policy on the re-use of animals used for innocuous procedures.
  3. Wherever animals are used, the unit coordinator must establish a clear link between the objectives of the teaching session and student assessment at a time and level that is compatible with the objectives of the unit.
  4. Animal use must be related to learning objectives. Each year, as part of the annual reporting exercise, changes in animal use (including any increase or decrease in the number of animals used) must be justified against the defined objectives.
  5. To request Divisions, in conjunction with ITS, to develop a strategy for upgrading computer hardware in order to make available CAL materials for practical units.
  6. The AEC, through the Manager - Research Ethics, work with individual Unit Coordinators to address the report’s recommendations for the reduction, refinement and replacement of animals in particular units.
  7. To request the Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) to provide financial support to allow for investigation of integrating case histories, CAL and other interactive sessions to replace 'harmful' teaching sessions involving invasive procedures and the killing of animals.
  8. To request the affected Divisions to give consideration to the development of a laboratory animal handling unit component that does not require euthanasia of animals.
  9. To recommend to the Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) that the Division of Research and Development adopt the following procedures:
  1. An electronic version of all AEC forms be submitted to and maintained electronically on a database by the Research Ethics Office, in addition to the submission of paper based hard copies.
  2. The Research Ethics Office maintain and update a database of alternatives to the use of animals in teaching.
  3. The Research Ethics Office develop and maintain an inventory of CAL materials available and/or being used by teaching staff relevant to animal studies.
  4. The Research Ethics Office organise an annual meeting for teaching staff to discuss the use of alternatives to animals in teaching and assessment.
  5. The Research Ethics Office maintain a file of relevant journal articles relating to the use and evaluation of alternatives to the use of animals in teaching.
  6. The Manager - Research Ethics provide advice and support on the use of alternative materials and methods to staff who coordinate units that involve the use of animals.
  7. A standard approach be adopted (in collaboration with the Divisions) for collecting and recording animal use statistics to satisfy legal requirements and to allow meaningful comparisons to be made.