The sea of green and gold jumpers seen at the University of Queensland this week was not that of a crack sports team but the Veterinary School’s biggest tour group.
About 200 Japanese Animal Health Technology students descended on UQ for guided tours of the Small Animal Clinic and Veterinary Teaching Hospital and School.
The students, from a private school in Tokyo called Yamazaki College, spent half-a-day hopping from lectures to the Vet Hospital’s radiology and surgery units.
They attended lectures on animal behaviour management and identification and tracking of dogs by microchip and witnessed a physical examination of a greyhound and Staffordshire bull terrier.
The animal health technology students, mostly women, donned their Australian coloured college jumper as an interpreter led four groups through the Vet School.
Two students even got to hold a feisty baby possum for photographers.
Event organiser, Dr Trish Clarke, coordinator of the third year of UQ’s vet technology and management program, said Yamazaki College requested Monday’s visit because UQ was one of the few universities to offer a Bachelor of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology and Management.
The course equips graduates to work as veterinary technologists, who assist veterinarians in private practice, government agencies or the rural sector.
Dr Clarke said it was the largest group the vet school had hosted.
“The group thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity view pets at close proximity in the hospital and observe the live animal demonstrations,” a spokeswoman for the head of the college Ms Yamazaki said.
“It is anticipated that further talks will take place between the Head of the School of Veterinary Science Professor Neil McMeniman and Ms Yamazaki to discuss possible educational links with the first Animal Health Technology College in Japan,” Dr Clarke said.
For more information contact Dr Clarke (phone: 0418 767 821, 07 3365 8223, email: patricia.clarke@uq.edu.au) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (3365 2619, email: m.holland@uq.edu.au.)
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