Minor Enhancing Companion Animal Welfare; Influencing (human) Behavior (Exchange)

Enhancing Companion Animal Welfare; Influencing (human) Behavior

Duration
5 months
Education type
Exchange programme
Field of interest
Animal sciences
Field of interest
Communication
Introduction

The study programme

This exchange programme focuses on the evolving human-animal bond and will addresses health and welfare issues in companion animal care.

Pet ownership comes with the responsibility to care for and protect them. With varying animal welfare laws across Europe, the sector must work collectively to promote responsible pet ownership. Enhancing or sustaining pet welfare starts on educating pet owners. Conveying knowledge to the pet owner seems to be inadequate for bringing about behavior change.

This Exchange programme focuses on the evolving human-animal bond and will addresses health and welfare issues in companion animal care. The goal of the programme is to gain insight into how these welfare problems arose, and what humane actions underlie. It incorporates cross-cultural perspectives to ensure applicability in diverse contexts. Students undertake projects investigating current welfare issues, such as obesity, behavioral problems, health problems linked to breeding, bite incidents involving high-risk breeds.

Admission requirements

This is how you get admitted

  • Do you have any questions about admission?

    Please contact our International Office by sending an email to international.uas@aeres.nl.

Characteristics

Does this study fit you?

  • International learning environment

    You study in an international classroom. You will study with other nationalities such as Dutch, Italian, French or German students.

    Aeres University of Applied Sciences, Dronten, students, international studies
Practical matters

How about...

  • Application
    • Programme duration: 1 February - 30 June
    • Application is open as of 1 October
    • Application deadline: 1 December

    The International Office will inform you via email about the application procedure as soon as your home university or university of applied sciences has informed us that you have been nominated for an exchange programme.

  • Fees and funding

    When you're going to study abroad, it's good to know what to expect finanicially. Here you can find information about tuition fees and other (study) costs.

  • Other practical matters

    Here you can find more information about:

Programme content

This is what you’ll learn

1 semester - 5 months

This programme consists of 1 minors of 30 ECTS.

Minor Enhancing Companion animal welfare; Influencing (human) behavior

  • Learning outcomes

    The student formulates a practice-oriented question related to a behavioral issue in the pet sector, aiming to design an intervention to either modify of influence the behavior of the chosen target group (e.g., owners, pet professionals, or communities). Using the Behavioral Change Wheel, the student analyzes behaviors influencing the issue and identifies the target behavior for modification, considering cultural and contextual factors. Based on the study findings, the student proposes potential interventions to alter the behavior, integrating knowledge from behavioral sciences, communication, and marketing. The proposed interventions are evaluated against pre-established criteria, and the most effective one is elaborated. The student considers ethical implications and sustainability in the evaluation process. The student also explores communication strategies, marketing techniques, and stakeholder engagement to maximize the intervention’s success.

  • Course content

    • Assessment (10 ECTS)
    • Human animal interaction (5 ECTS)
    • Behavior change (5 ECTS)
    • Communication (5 ECTS)
    • Intercultural influences (3 ECTS)
    • Personal development (2 ECTS)

    Participant must consider a total expenditure on literature up to 150 Euros. The literature list will be provided to participant 2 weeks before the start.

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Time for the next step!

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Practical information