Global Vet Education Meeting Celebrates 250 Years

The World Conference on Veterinary Education will take place between 13 and 15 May 2011, attended by many leading luminaries from the veterinary profession from all regions of the world.

The most eminent figures from the veterinary world will soon assemble in Lyon, France, the birthplace of veterinary science, to hold the largest conference on veterinary education.

The event will include roundtables on global veterinary education needs and strategies, the views of statutory bodies on veterinary education around the world and on the work of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on competencies of veterinary graduates. The conference is being held as part of Vet Year 2011, to promote knowledge and understanding of the profession and to mark its 250th anniversary.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) will be in attendance at the conference to promote the teaching of animal welfare, a concept which, to date, has not formed an intrinsic part of the veterinary curriculum. WSPA believes good animal welfare is an integral part of animal health, and should therefore form an integral part of the education of veterinarians.

Ruth De Vere, Head of Education at WSPA International said: "We wish to congratulate the veterinary profession on its 250th anniversary and look forward to this conference and its debate on many of the important issues surrounding veterinary science education, including animal welfare. We fundamentally believe that veterinary practitioners are the gateway to improved animal welfare being uniquely placed to impact the lives of animals directly and indirectly."

The World Conference on Veterinary Education is taking place on the VetAgro Sup Veterinary Campus in Marcy l'Etoile, 15km west of Lyon city centre, from Friday 13 May until Sunday 15 May 2011. To register, please visit the web site [click here].