Chinese Deans Visit Edinburgh
Animal welfare experts have welcomed representatives from the Chinese veterinary profession for a three day workshop at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
Hosted by the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education, the workshop was attended by Deans from three key veterinary schools in China.
Senior colleagues from the China Agricultural University (Beijing), Nanjing Agricultural University and the Inner Mongolia University Veterinary School travelled to Edinburgh for the event.
Delegates were provided with information and demonstrations showcasing how animal welfare education is at the heart of the veterinary curriculum at RDSVS.
They were shown specialist facilities, such as 3D printers that can produce animal models to help students develop their spatial skills whilst learning anatomy.
They observed how students are taught clinical skills - such as suturing, needle placement and intubation - using models that replace the need for animals.
The delegation also visited the University’s veterinary clinics, farms and The Roslin Institute to see how high quality animal health and welfare research underpins teaching and clinical practice.
The role of veterinarians is gaining importance in China in the face of greater urbanisation, increasing demand for food, growing companion animal ownership and the emergence of zoonotic transboundary diseases.Animal welfare is an essential foundation for the delivery of effective and quality veterinary care. We are working with colleagues in China to embed animal welfare teaching as an integral component of training future vets.
The Edinburgh workshop was sponsored by World Animal Protection and supported by the Chinese Veterinary Medicine Association. Experts from RDSVS will visit China in November this year to reciprocate the exchange.
In 2013, the University of Edinburgh and Chinese Veterinary Medical Association signed an agreement to collaborate on innovative veterinary research and educational programmes.