International Vet Exchange Program (IVEP) - The University of Edinburgh -
- Report
The University of Edinburgh
Based on inter-university and inter-department exchange agreements, we are promoting educational and research exchanges, mainly student exchanges between the vet schools of Hokkaido University (HU) and the University of Edinburgh (UE), and students practice lectures and training of veterinary medicine and conservation medicine through this program of veterinary education at each university. The goal is to foster undergraduate students with effective experiences through such a unique international veterinary education programme. In particular, it is a great advantage for HU students to experience the global standard-setting veterinary education practiced at the University of Edinburgh with international veterinary education accreditation by both Europe and the United States. Although HU and UE students have been dispatched and accepted every other year until 2017, this programme has been bilateral every year since 2018.
At UE, HU students have experienced advanced and world-class veterinary education, as well as cross-cultural understanding through interaction with UE students, and English language improvement through conversation training. Specifically, clinic for exotic animals that are rarely touched in Japan, and clinical veterinary medicine and animal welfare studies of horses that differ greatly in the number of cases between Europe and Japan are a feature of this educational programme. This also includes husbandry management, animal welfare, wildlife conservation and management, as well as clinical pathology lectures and practice at the University of Glasgow, and lectures and practical training on fish farming and management at Stirling University.
On the other hand, at HU, students from vet school of UE have opportunities to learn ecology, management and conservation of wildlife that inhabit the rich natural environment of Hokkaido, and control of infectious diseases at nearby facilities. Specifically, clinical studies and husbandry management at Asahiyama Zoo, ecological survey and wildlife management and conservation for brown bears, deer, sea animals, raptors, and more in the field at Shiretoko Peninsula and Kushiro Shitsugen (wetland) Wildlife Center, and lectures and practical training of large animal clinics and husbandry management at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine and Japan Racing Association (JRA) Hidaka Farm. In addition, a symposium including research presentations by experts and young researchers is held over a day during the training period, and a student session is also provided for student presentations.
This program targets 3rd- to 5th-year students of HU vet school and 3rd- to 5th-year students of UE, and dispatches 6 students every year. The program is held at HU for 10 days at the end of August and at UE for 10 days at the end of September. “Advanced Seminar in Applied Veterinary Medicine” (elective, 1 credit) will be given to 5th-year students of HU, and “Long Term/Short Term Field Practice” (elective/mandatory, 2/1 credits) will be given to the 4th-year students of HU. This programme is also positioned as “Department-Specific Short Term Study Abroad” for Nitobe College students.