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Ethics and Legislation Business Management

Code: 102680
Credits: 3
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Veterinary Medicine OB 5

Contact lecturer

Name :
Xavier Manteca Vilanova
Email :
xavier.manteca@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Manel López Béjar

Teaching staff (external to UAB)

Pere Mercader

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are no official prerequisites

Objectives

Objectives
 
This is a fifth year compulsory subject that covers both legal and ethical aspects related to the veterinary profession, as well as the business management aspects that are useful in the field of veterinary practice. 

We aim to: 

 

a) Provide students with the legal, technical and practical tools for an accurate knowledge of the Spanish, European and international legal framework, as well as the ethical values of the veterinary profession.

 

b) Address contenst related to business management techniques.

 

 

The specific objectives are:

1.     Identify, analyze and understand the legal, legislative and regulatory framework of the professional veterinary practice.

2.     Reflect on the ethical and deontologic issues related to professional practice

3.     Know the tools necessary to develop a business plan, from an entrepreneurial or wage-earning aspect. Business strategy, financial economic management, human resources and marketing aspects will be covered.

Learning outcomes

  1. Analyse, synthesise and resolve problems and make decisions.
  2. Recognise personal limitations and know when to ask for professional advice and help.
  3. Draft and present satisfactory professional reports, always maintaining the required confidentiality.
  4. Seek and manage information related with professional activity
  5. Have basic knowledge of the profession, and in particular of the organisation and functions of professional practice.
  6. Describe the characteristics and functions of the economic production unit.
  7. Make an effective diagnosis of the financial situation of a company and establish suitable action plans.
  8. Handle the necessary economic and financial data for business level decision-making.
  9. Evaluate the impact of commercial, production and organisational decisions on the economic results of the company.
  10. Use tools to identify opportunities, threats and changes in the competitive environment of the company.
  11. Identify the most common marketing tools applicable to a veterinary company.
  12. Describe the scientific basics of veterinary law and apply the principles of veterinary legislation.
  13. Explain the historical mechanisms of codes of conduct, legislation and public liability in the cultures and development of countries.
  14. Apply a holistic conception of the acquired technical knowledge in the legal framework.
  15. Explain the factors that influence the degree of fulfilment of legislation.
  16. Issue judgements in consideration of existing legislation.
  17. Perform technical assessments based on scientific, legislative and ethical data.
  18. Evaluate the legislation of different countries and produce relevant reports.
  19. Recognise the risks of breaching legislation.
  20. Use legislative and legal terminology correctly.
  21. Explain the ethical principles of the practice of the profession.
  22. Carry out expert valuations based on based on scientific, legal and ethical data.
  23. Correctly use the terminology of the code of practice and ethics.

Contents

 ETHICS and LEGISLATION


Topic 1. Introduction to ethical and legal aspects related to animal welfare.
Topic 2. Protection of companion animals.
Topic 3. Protection of production animals: general aspects and minimum standards for the protection of pigs, broilers, laying hens and calves on livestock farms. Transport and slaughter.
Topic 4. Protection of wild animals. CITES Convention.
Topic 5. Protection of animals used in research and teaching procedures.
Topic 6. Legal framework of the veterinary profession in Catalonia, Spain and Europe.
Topic 7. Professional responsibility in the practice of the companion animal clinic, in the field of livestock farming and in the field of public health.
Topic 8. Professional expertise.
Topic 9. Legal framework of veterinary centers. Zoos. Companion animal centers. Control and identification of companion animals. Responsible pet ownership.
Topic 10. Veterinary certifications.


BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Topic 1. Introduction to the Business Plan 1.1. Strategic vision of the company. 1.2. Marketing: The consumers' needs. Key factors in market research. Product and Price
Topic 2. Human resources. 2.1. Human resources and their importance. 2.2. Team and organization.2.3. Jobs. 2.4. Objectives. 2.5. Remuneration
Topic 3. The financial plan. 3.1. Income, expenses, profit and loss account. 3.2. The balance sheet. 3.3. Financing.
Topic 4. Marketing. 4.1. Communication and distribution. 4.2. The global market. 4.3. Strategic alliances. 4.4. Implementation schedule.


 

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Lectures 17 0.68 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Resolution of the case studies 24 0.96 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Self Learning 25 1 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Seminars- tutorials 8 0.32 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

Methodology

In order to achieve the course's objectives, we will undertake the following methodologies and activities:

The methodology of the lectures, seminars and tutorials will b e carried out in a mexed way : presential and not presential

1. Participative Theoretical Lectures

In these lectures, the professor will present the subject highlighting its most relevant aspects. These presentations will offer the student structured information that will enable them to face those case studies addressed in the seminars and during self-directed study, as well as in the future, during their professional development. In these sessions, the professor will give out guidelines and directions relevant to the course. The student will acquire knowledge of the subject that will later be complemented via self-directed study of the covered material.

2. Workshops

These sessions will consist of a reduced number of students, and will encourage participative discussion. They will serve to deepen the scientific and technical knowledge acquired during theoretical lectures and complete their comprehension. They will also provide a natural forum for discussion and the exchange of ideas and knowledge with the mission of promoting the capacity for analysis, synthesis, critical reasoning and problem-solving. In these sessions, the student is obliged to take an active part in the learning process and thus it is appropriate to use them to raise questions and/or resolve any doubts regarding the subject matter. Furthermore, they allow the professor to follow through with individual student progress. When group work is being considered, attitudes of involvement and initiative are encouraged as they improve the student's degree of understanding and create a positive social relationship.

In these seminars, different activities will be carried out: analysisof information, problem solving, problem-based learning, etc. In some cases, before the sessions, students will have to work autonomously on problems thatthe professor will have previously posed, as they will be addressed in class discussion.

3. Self-directed learning:

In relation to BLOCK 1: Ethics and Legislation, the student will have to prepare an assignment on a topic related to the subject, with the professor's approval.

In relation to BLOC 2: Business Management, the student must prepare and defend a business plan. Public presentations facilitate the learning of oral communication.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Essay 50% 0 0 1, 3, 4, 5, 23
Written examinations 45% 1 0.04 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Participation during the seminars 5% 0 0 1, 2, 21, 23

ONE-DAY EVALUATION IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THIS SUBJECT


Exams: there will be one exam once the teaching of the subject has finished. The exam will be a test (true / false) and will account for 45% of the final mark.

Essay: students will have to deliver a written essay that will account for 50% of the final mark. Participation in the seminars will represent 5% of the mark.

Students that do not take the exam (neither the first nor the second one) and those that do not hand in the essay will considered as \"not evaluable\".

Students that fail the first exam will be able to sit the second one.

In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is allowed as an integral part of the development of the work, provided that the final result reflects a significant contribution of the student in the analysis and personal reflection. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated with this technology, specify the tools used and include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity. The lack of transparency in the use of AI will be considered a lack of academic honesty and may lead to a penalty in the grade of the activity, or greater sanctions in serious cases.

The commission of any irregularity in an assessment act (academic fraud, plagiarism or improper use of AI), which may lead to a significant variation in the grade, means that this act will be graded with a 0. Apart from this, a disciplinary process may be initiated against the student who incurs in any of these irregularities.


Bibliography

BLOC 1.  ETHICS AND LEGISLATION

. DIARI OFICIAL DE LA GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA.

. BOLETIN OFICIAL DEL ESTADO

Codigo de los animales de compañía. https://www.boe.es/biblioteca_juridica/codigos/codigo.php?id=210_Codigo_de_Animales_de_Compania&modo=2

Ley de enjuiciamiento Civil https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2000-323&tn=2&p=20201112

Ley de enjuiciamiento criminal  https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1882-6036&tn=2

.  DIARIO OFICIAL DE LAS COMUNIDADES EUROPEAS.

https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/pesca/temas/calidad-seguridad-alimentaria/reglamento178-2002_tcm30-290827.pdf

https://www.wto.org/spanish/tratop_s/sps_s/sps_s.htm

https://www.boe.es/doue/2005/255/L00022-00142.pdf

. CAHPA repports. Consell d'Europa.Strasbourg.

. COL.LEGI OFICIAL DE VETERINARIS DE BARCELONA: Docs es troben al web:  http://www.covb.es

SAVATER F.(1991): Ética para Amador. Ariel. Barcelona. 

Webs d’interès:

https://www.covb.cat/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/REGLAMENT-PER-A-L%E2%80%99EXERCICI-PROFESSIONAL-CLI%CC%81NICA-CAT.pdf

http://www.veterinaris.cat/sites/default/files/reglament_aiac.pdf

http://www.avhic.com/

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/es/index.html

http://www.fao.org/docrep/w6419S/w6419s01.htm#introducción

http://www.fao.org/noticias/2001/010406-s.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/spanish/default.htm

http://www.oie.int/esp/es_index.htm

http://www.colvet.es/madrid/

http://www.recol.es/web/Veterinaria/default.asp?idCmdad=22&nombCmdad=Veterinaria

http://www.gencat.es/sanitat/cat/cindex.html

http://www.uruciencias.com/index.html#top

http://www.consumaseguridad.com/

http://www.fao.org/noticias/2001/010406-s.htm

http://www.gencat.es/sanitat/cat/cindex.html

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/es/index.html

http://www.mapausa.org/Guia/subguia6.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/spanish/default.htm

http://www.recol.es/web/Veterinaria/default.asp?idCmdad=22&nombCmdad=Veterinaria

http://www.oie.int/esp/normes/mcode/e_summry.htm

http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/aib766/aib766.pdf

http://www.who.org

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/index.html

 

BLOC 2:  Business Management 

  • El plan de márketing en la práctica. J. Mª Sainz de Vicuña. (18ª Ed.) 2013. ESIC Editorial
  • La empresa basada en equipos humanos. G. Gil García. 2012. Ed. Marcombo
  • Finanzas para managers. K. Berman, J. Case, J. Knight. 2007. Ed. DEUSTO
  • Como preparar el Plan de empresa. J. A. Neira Rodriguez. 2010. Ed. FUND. CONFEMETAL

 

Software

See section on "Continguts"

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 2 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 3 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 4 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 5 Catalan first semester morning-mixed