VetAgro Sup, an institution that provides high-quality training in the veterinary and agricultural sciences
In France, institutions of higher education are regularly evaluated by external organisations. These evaluations may be obligatory or voluntary, and their purpose to assess whether an institution’s current practices correspond to reference standards (e.g., pedagogical, professional); serve to continuously improve the quality of the services offered; and/or meet the implicit and explicit needs of stakeholders (e.g., students, professionals, public or private research partners, private companies). VetAgro Sup has received numerous types of accreditation, which each convey the excellence of the institution’s educational programmes, the dedication of all its pedagogic, research, and developmental teams, and the support provided by its general organisational structure.
The goal of accreditation is to ensure institutional quality. As a result, the process should lead to the implementation of certain formalised measures, which must properly communicated. Any problems should be documented, analysed, and appropriately addressed; solution efficacy should also be evaluated. Finally, there should be continuous internal verification of compliance with needs and standards.
The accreditation process often takes place as follows. First, an institution writes up a self-evaluation report. A visit is then made by a panel of evaluators who, based on interviews, inspections, and evidence provided by the institution, assess whether the institution’s practices and structural organisation meet accreditation standards.
VetAgro Sup’s range of accreditations reflects its commitment to excellence. It has been accredited by EAEVE and AVMA for its educational programmes in veterinary medicine. Its programme for agricultural engineers has received accreditation from the CTI. The institution, its teaching programmes, and its research activities have also undergone external evaluation and accreditation by HCERES. Finally, various certifications have been granted to its technical platforms (COFRAC, BPL, NF S-96900) and its ABCD professional bachelor’s programme (ISO 9001).
CTI - Commission des Titres d’Ingénieur
The Commission des Titres d’Ingénieur (CTI; Commission for Engineering Qualifications) is tasked with ensuring the quality of educational programmes in engineering in France. This responsibility involves performing pedagogic evaluations and promoting French engineering degrees and professions at home and abroad. The agricultural sciences programme offered at the University of Clermont-Ferrand is periodically assessed by the CTI, which authorises VetAgro Sup to award agricultural engineering degrees. In 2020, this accreditation was renewed for its maximum duration for the institution’s educational programmes for students and apprentices. Any engineering school that grants engineering degrees must have CTI accreditation.
For the sake of efficacy, CTI has better aligned its accreditation schedule with that of HCERES. The evaluation process is collaborative: the preparation of the self-evaluation report is overseen by a steering committee that includes the report’s editors. A group that is representative of the VetAgro Sup community (students and staff) then finalises the document before it is submitted to the entire institution for feedback. Once the latter has been appropriately incorporated, the report is validated by various administrative bodies, ending with the board of directors.
EAEVE - European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education
The European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) seeks to evaluate, promote, and enhance the quality of educational programmes in veterinary medicine in Europe. It verifies programme content and delivery and confirms that institutions are committed to continuous improvement. VetAgro Sup was evaluated in 2021 on the basis of the standard (SOP) approved in 2019 and was accredited for a period of 7 years, without major deficiencies.
AVMA - American Veterinary Medical Association
VetAgro Sup has been accredited by the AVMA since 2013. The last visit by AVMA experts was in March 2023. Then, VetAgro Sup has renewed its accreditation for a period of 7 years and is the only one of the four French veterinary schools to have acquired and annually maintained this accreditation, which gives VetAgro Sup graduates in veterinary medicine the opportunity to immediately take the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). The next AVMA visit will be in 2030.
Passing this exam is necessary for anyone wishing to practice in the United States or Canada, and normally foreign students are required to take three demanding and expensive preliminary exams (an English test, the BCSE theoretical test, and the CPE practical test). The cost is around $10,000 for all four tests versus $600–$1000 for the NAVLE by itself. The accreditation also allows North American students to study at VetAgro Sup knowing that they will receive the same level of education as in the US or Canada, increasing the opportunity for international exchanges.
North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) results
YEAR | STUDENTS TAKING EXAM(S) | STUDENTS PASSING EXAM(S) | AVERAGE SCORE | PERCENT PASSING |
11/2016 – 04/2017 | 4 | 3 | 63 | 75% |
12/2017 – 04/2018 | 6 | 4 | 64 | 67% |
12/2018 – 04/2019 | 8 | 8 | 71 | 100% |
12/2019 – 04/2020 | 24 | 19 | 67 | 79% |
12/2020 – 04/2021 | 14 | 8 | 430 | 57% |
12/2021 – 04/2022 | 3 | 3 | 519 | 100% |
12/2022 – 04/2023 | 9 | 3 | 411 | 33% |