Norecopa makes dataset of worldwide educational resources available
Posted on 2020-04-28Norecopa has embedded a dataset of over 560 resources from 6 continents within education and training in their website. The dataset was produced by the EU Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC). The data, collected between June and September 2018, provide a snapshot overview of education and training courses and resources on the theory and application of the 3Rs principle offered at high school, university and professional levels worldwide.
Norecopa has used the dataset's categories to make over 70 search filters, so that the number of hits can be expanded or narrowed as desired, e.g. by country, language or potential audience. Searches on the Norecopa website will automatically retrieve hits from this dataset, but the filters can be applied to remove all or some of them, depending on the user's wishes.
The work of integrating the dataset was kindly sponsored by Sanofi, to whom Norecopa is most grateful.
Some of the data will need updating, and cross-checking with data already held in the Norecopa database. This work is ongoing. The dataset complements Norecopa's International Webinar and Meetings Calendar, overview of training courses and the NORINA database of educational and training aids, all of which are updated continuously.
The dataset is described in the 2019 EURL ECVAM Status Report on the Development, Validation and Regulatory Acceptance of Alternative Methods and Approaches. A total of 569 E&T courses and resources with Three Rs relevance were identified in 52 countries worldwide, the majority located in Europe (72%) and North America (14%). In Europe, more than 80 courses were delivered in the United Kingdom, whilst Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands provided 41, 29 and 26 courses respectively. Several E&T courses and resources combined both classroom and distance learning formats. Distance learning through, for example, webinars or interactive online resources represented 30% of the total courses and resources. The map of Europe is taken from this report.
Norecopa reminds readers that The Education & Training Platform for Laboratory Animal Science (ETPLAS) has been established to enable information sharing and communication between EU Member States, accrediting/approval bodies and training providers. The ETPLAS website contains comprehensive information about the requirements laid down by the EU Directive and associated guidance documents.