Veterinary collaboration with China
Veterinary care in China is to benefit from a new collaboration with Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh.
The agreement will enhance China's veterinary training and allow both the university and the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) to work together on research and educational programmes.
CVMA, who has never agreed to work with a UK university before, hopes that the arrangement will help strengthen the role of the veterinary surgeon in the country.
The two parties will focus particularly on Chinese animal welfare, but will also promote and support innovation in postgraduate veterinary education.
Part of the university's school of veterinary studies, the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare, formed the agreement to draw upon its expertise in animal health and welfare research in order to help another nation.
Natalie Waran, of the centre, said: "This historic agreement will promote and support the development of continuing veterinary education in China.
"Along with the CVMA, we hope to develop dynamic educational expertise to enhance veterinary education – not only training chinese veterinarians to meet the challenges of a changing and globalised profession, but also promoting animal welfare in the veterinary curriculum."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
