The University of Queensland’s School of Veterinary Science has received official confirmation of full accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for the next seven years.
Deputy Vice Chancellor International, Dr Anna Ciccarelli, said full American accreditation opened up a truly global workplace for UQ veterinary graduates from 2012.
“This will enable those who graduate with their Bachelor of Veterinary Science from this year and beyond to sit the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, a prerequisite to practice in North America,” Dr Ciccarelli said.
The UQ School of Veterinary Science also has full accreditation for the maximum seven years with both the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the UK.
This enables UQ graduates to also practice in Australia, New Zealand, UK, Hong Kong and most of Asia.
Head of the School of Veterinary Science, Professor Glen Coleman, said the AVMA Council on Education (COE) had compared the School’s veterinary program to the 11 COE standards.
“AVMA has written to the School congratulating it on achieving benchmarks for all the required standards, which cover areas such as physical facilities, clinical resources, curriculum and research,” Professor Coleman said.
The accreditation team undertook the accreditation in a two-stage process with an initial visit in 2010 followed by a comprehensive site visit in August 2012.
Professor Coleman said the AVMA accreditation was a “tremendous result” and would have substantial benefit for current and prospective students, staff, the University and the profession in general.
“AVMA accreditation is well recognised as the international benchmark for quality in veterinary education,” Professor Coleman said
“This is a ringing endorsement of the quality of the School’s staff, students and facilities.”
Professor Coleman said that students enrolling in the Bachelor of Veterinary Science at UQ could now be assured by this external recognition that the program meets world best practice.
“AVMA accreditation will also enable the UQ School of Veterinary Science to develop agreements with international veterinary schools for student exchanges which will enhance options for students and capitalise on the different veterinary experiences available at UQ and abroad,” he said.
Since its first intake of students in 1936, The UQ School of Veterinary Science has been recognised for a sustained record of excellence in teaching and learning across the veterinary disciplines and the quality of its research.
The Bachelor of Veterinary Science is offered at UQ’s Gatton campus where purpose-built facilities costing AU$100 million are used for teaching and research.
Media: Professor Glen Coleman (07 5460 1967) or Professor Jonathan Hill (07 5460 1970)
