Are biology students at Lund University given equal opportunities regardless of their animal welfare beliefs?

Abstract

While active learning through practical exercises is recognized as an efficient method to increase students' learning, there are also risks of achieving the opposite results if students are forced to perform an activity that goes against their beliefs. A persons beliefs is in Sweden protected as a ground for discrimination, which is also incorporated in the Lund University equal opportunities plan. We wanted to evaluate whether students at the Department of Biology at Lund University perceived that their beliefs were in conflict with practical exercises involving animals. We sent out a questionnaire to students and interviewed a former student, the director of studies and one teacher. We received 82 responses by current and former students to our questionnaire. Of these, twelve responded that because of their animal welfare beliefs they felt their education was being compromised, and four students felt discriminated against. Our findings suggest that there is a need to review how animals are used in education at the Department of Biology. Among other things, we suggest that non-invasive alternatives should be offered to students whenever it is not in conflict with the intended learning outcomes. Also, teachers should incorporate discussions of ethics in their teaching, especially in connection to practical exercises involving animals.