Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Tanzanian university partner for World Organisation for Animal Health-supported twinning project
Monday, July 11, 2016
Kansas State University's College of Veterinary will work with Sokoine University of Agriculture Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Morogoro, Tanzania, on ways to strengthen veterinary education at both universities through a twinning program supported by a grant from the World Organisation for Animal Health. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — The College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University and Sokoine University of Agriculture Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Morogoro, Tanzania, have established a twinning partnership, which has been formed through a program administered by the World Organisation for Animal Health, or OIE, in Paris.
The Veterinary Education Establishment Twinning Program, offered through the Organisation of Animal Health, or OIE, aims to strengthen veterinary education at the two universities by establishing partnerships that lead to exchanges of ideas, knowledge and experiences for students and faculty. The ultimate program objective is to ensure that veterinary graduates are equipped with the competencies needed to support their national veterinary services. The OIE has committed a $457,213 grant for the twinning project between Kansas State University and Sokoine University.
"The OIE believes that strengthening the capacities of its member countries and, in particular, ensuring that veterinarians possess an adequate level of education, are fundamental," said Monique Eloit, director general of the OIE. "Veterinary students will become the professionals who will ensure that their countries meet the health challenges of tomorrow. The OIE Veterinary Education Twinning Program, in addition to the OIE recommendations and guidelines on veterinary education, were developed to ultimately improve the provision of high quality veterinary education worldwide."
The partnership with Kansas State University will strengthen the curriculum and educational resources at Sokoine University of Agriculture Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and provide opportunities for faculty and students from both universities to be exposed to global health challenges and veterinary production systems in a different cultural and socio-economic setting.
"International collaborations are critical to the future of our profession and our ability to educate the next-generation veterinary workforce," said Tammy Beckham, dean of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. "We have been working with the faculty at Sokoine University since October 2015 to develop mutually beneficial objectives for this project, an appropriate time frame and a work plan. We're very excited by the opportunities that will be available for our faculty and students."
Keith Hamilton, executive director of the College of Veterinary Medicine's Office of International Programs, was instrumental in identifying and developing the partnership with Sokoine University.
"As well as supporting curriculum development at Sokoine University, the partnership will allow faculty and students from the two universities to gain a global perspective with exposure to veterinary medicine and farming systems in a new country," Hamilton said. "The next generation of veterinarians will need a global perspective to address global health challenges and to ensure that the veterinary profession remains relevant."
While the initial project will be supported by the OIE for three years, Sokoine University and Kansas State University have committed to maintaining a long-term relationship, which is reflected in the official partnership agreement. The universities will explore multiple opportunities for supporting long-term collaboration and seek future funding for joint research projects, as well as develop mechanisms for ongoing exchanges of faculty and students to further enrich career development and educational experiences.
The Veterinary Education Establishment Twinning Program was established by the OIE in 2013 and has since supported partnerships between well-matched, eligible veterinary education establishments.
