Potential paths for the introduction of risk analysis to improve the veterinary epidemiology curriculum in Ukraine

The main purpose of veterinary education institutions is to prepare qualified, well-trained and knowledgeable professionals ready to serve local and global communities. Veterinary programmes vary within and among countries, creating a disparity in competencies. In less-developed economies, adhering to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) 'Day 1 competencies' and following its 'Guidelines for a Model Core Veterinary Curriculum' may decrease this discrepancy. The authors offer a comparison of Ukraine's veterinary epidemiology curriculum with the OIE suggested 'Core Veterinary Curriculum', particularly for infectious disease pathology in which epidemiology is taught, and propose different paths to structure advanced educational programmes in epidemiology. This course is relevant for the development of international animal trade and expansion of markets for animal products in Ukraine.Epidemiology is essential for the recently developed Risk assessment sector at the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection. Professional training is paramount and veterinarians graduating from Ukrainian institutions will have the basic knowledge to start working on animal trade and products and in the public service. The long-term goal is to improve the Ukrainian veterinary curriculum through modifications in epidemiology lessons and to develop and share a template for evaluation of veterinary schools' epidemiology content taught elsewhere in the country.