Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, Vol 30, Issue 4, 358-359
Copyright © 2003 by Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
INFORMATIC AND TECHNOLOGY APPROACHES TO VETERINARY EDUCATION
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International cooperation in veterinary public health curricula using web-based distance interactive education
LJ Lipman,
VM Barnier,
and
KK de Balogh
Department of Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 80.175, Utrecht University, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands. l.j.a.lipman@vvdo.vet.uu.nl
The expanding field of Veterinary Public Health places new demands on the knowledge and skills of veterinarians. Veterinary curricula must therefore adapt to this new profile. Through the introduction of case studies dealing with up-to-date issues, students are being trained to solve (real-life) problems and come up with realistic solutions. At the Department of Public Health and Food Safety of the Veterinary Faculty at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, positive experiences have resulted from the new opportunities offered by the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education. The possibility of creating a virtual classroom on the Internet through the use of WebCT software has enabled teachers and students to tackle emerging issues by working together with students in other countries and across disciplines. This article presents some of these experiences, through which international exchange of ideas and realities were stimulated, in addition to consolidating relations between universities in different countries. Long-distance education methodologies provide an important tool to achieve the increasing need for international cooperation in Veterinary Public Health curricula.
