CAS ED-ProSpecialisation: Ethics in Animal Experimentation

Strengthen your contribution to ethical decisions in animal research

How should potential scientific benefits be weighed against harm to animals when outcomes are uncertain? What makes an ethical justification in favour or animal research convincing? How can concerns raised by researchers, veterinarians or animal care staff be examined constructively?

Ethical questions arise throughout animal research stages: when a study is proposed, during its review and conduct, and in everyday decisions about animal care. Addressing them requires careful examination of evidence, assumptions, and responsibilities.

This specialisation develops your ability to analyse these questions and contribute a reasoned position in professional discussions.

Through case analysis and discussion, you will practise:

• Identifying ethical questions within a research or animal care decision.
• Examining the assumptions underlying assessments of harm and benefit.
• Considering uncertainty, alternatives, and responsibilities towards animals.
• Assessing competing arguments and explaining the reasons for your conclusions.

• Target audience

  This specialisation is intended for researchers, animal welfare officers, laboratory animal veterinarians, animal care professionals and members of bodies responsible for reviewing or overseeing animal experimentation.

• Registration deadline

  Early-bird: 30 April 2027

  Regular: 30 June 2027

• Costs

  Early-bird: 6'950 CHF

  Regular: 7’950 CHF

• Dates

   

  BASICS
  Module 1 What Is Ethical Decision-Making? (4 ECTS)	10-11 September 2027 & 24-25 September 2027
  THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE
  Module 2 Animal Cognition (2 ECTS)	8-9 October 2027
  Module 3 Animal Ethics (2 ECTS)	5-6 November 2027
  SPECIALISATION
  Module 4a Ethics in Animal Experimentation (3 ECTS)	12-13 November 2027 & 19 November 2027
  INTEGRATION
  Module 5 Integration of knowledge and methods; writing of the final thesis. (4 ECTS)	14-15 January 2028