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World Conference On Veterinary Education Marks ‘Vet Year’ And 250th Anniversary Of The Profession

Author: WSPA
Posted: Monday 9th May, 2011. 15:30:52

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 World Conference on Veterinary Education will take place between 13th and 15th May 2011 in the presence of leading luminaries from the veterinary profession from all regions of the world.

This 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 [1].

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) [2] 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 curricula of a vet. 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 sciences’ 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, 15 km west of Lyon city center, from Friday 13th May until Sunday 15th May 2011. To register, please visit http://www.wcve2011.org/


[1] The world’s first veterinary school was founded in Lyon in 1761 under French veterinarian Claude Bourgelat. By setting up the world’s first veterinary training institutions, Bourgelat created the veterinary profession itself 250 years ago.

[2] The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is the world’s largest alliance of animal welfare organisations, currently representing more than 1000 member societies in over 150 countries. WSPA strives to create a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends. WSPA brings about change at both grassroots and governmental levels to benefit animals and has consultative status at the Council of Europe and the United Nations. WSPA itself employs 24 vets worldwide dedicated to the protection of animals and the promotion of animal welfare worldwide. WSPA vets are engaged in rescuing animals in disasters, responding to emergency disease outbreaks and humanely eradicating rabies. The WSPA training programme for Veterinary Emergency Response Units (VERUs) provides veterinary students with comprehensive training, structures and equipment in order to mount an effective domestic response in the aftermath of a disaster.
WSPA has just produced a booklet to champion the concept of animal welfare in veterinary work, Vet Files WSPA’s vets: leading the way in animal welfare

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