[Animal experiments and animal consuming methods in teaching on Austrian universities]

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine Education
• Animal Ethics in Science

Background:

• Growing global demand for education without animal testing.
• Ethical concerns and advancements in alternative methodologies.
• Previous lack of comprehensive data on the prevalence of animal testing in student curricula.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the extent to which animal testing is compulsory in student training programs.
• To assess the adoption rate of alternative training methods in higher education institutions.
• To inform the ongoing debate on the indispensability of animal experimentation in scientific education.

Main Methods:

• Survey distributed to higher education institutions globally.
• Data collection on mandatory vs. optional animal testing requirements.
• Inquiry into the availability and use of non-animal alternative training methods.

Main Results:

• Only 6 (2.4%) institutions mandate animal testing for student courses.
• 5 of these 6 institutions also permit alternative training methods.
• A significant majority, 240 (97.56%) institutions, do not consider animal experiments essential or utilize alternative approaches.

Conclusions:

• Animal testing is rarely compulsory in current student training programs.
• The vast majority of institutions either do not require animal experiments or actively use alternative methods.
• Findings challenge the perceived necessity of animal testing in modern scientific education, supporting a transition to ethical alternatives.