Published: 18 Apr 2016 | Last Updated: 18 Apr 2016 14:30:53

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) of the University of London and City University of Hong Kong (CityU) will promote academic exchanges and research collaboration in veterinary medicine and develop collaborative programmes a under a new partnership signed between the two institutions.  

Professor Stuart Reid, Principal of RVC, and Professor Arthur Ellis, CityU Provost, exchanged the signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony held on 14 April at CityU in Hong Kong.  

“I am very excited and very pleased to be partnering with CityU,” said Professor Reid at the ceremony. “This partnership signifies RVC’s long term commitment to work for the good of animals and humans in the UK and Hong Kong.”   He added that the RVC had been contributing to the training of local veterinary professionals in Hong Kong, which is essential for advancing public health and the One Health global multidisciplinary initiative .

As part of this relationship, academics from the RVC and CityU will have the opportunity to participate in exchange activities held at both institutions. Both the RVC and CityU are keen to explore the possibility of offering joint programmes and to encourage collaboration in scientific research. One of the first collaborative initiatives is the launch of the advanced diploma programme in veterinary nursing. The RVC will support the curriculum design and the creation of teaching materials for the programme which will be offered through the School of Continuing and Professional Education (SCOPE) at CityU. Starting this September, the diploma aims to meet the increasing demand for professionally qualified veterinary nurses  to support the local veterinary sector in Hong Kong. The course will provide professional knowledge and experience of workplace learning, equipping students with the essential skills to provide nursing support to veterinarians. The 2-year full-time diploma programme covers anaesthesia, critical care, animal health, preventive care, surgical and medical nursing as well as veterinary diagnostic imaging and laboratory techniques.

Professor Ellis was delighted with the opportunity to co-operate with one of the world’s most prestigious institutions in veterinary medicine. He said: “This is an important collaboration that will not only nurture veterinary professionals, but also aligns with CityU’s One Health initiative to achieve optimal health for people, animals and the ecosystem,”.