Veterinary tie-up with Netherlands

Prof Anton Pijpers, dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, and Dr Tritsadee Chaosuancharoen, director-general of the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, represented their organisations to enter into the MoU on veterinary medicine last week at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangkok.

Witnessed by Dr Yukol Limlaemthong, deputy prime minister and minister of agriculture, and Assoc Prof Kamjorn Tatiyakavee, deputy secretary-general of the Office of Higher Education Commission, the event symbolised the successful cooperation between the veterinary faculties of Utrecht and Thailand and the professionalisation of Thai veterinary services in the future.

Soehirman Patmo, director of Nuffic Neso (Netherlands Education Support Office) and Henk Cor van der Kwast, charge d'affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, welcomed all the guests.

This event marked the 20th anniversary of collaboration with the five veterinary faculties in Thailand; namely Chulalongkorn University, Kasetsart University, Khon Kaen University, Chiang Mai University and Mahidol University. The aim is to share in the field of education, research, patient knowledge and experience. The Utrecht method of education is highly regarded worldwide and international experience is an important part.

In the past 20 years, the six faculties of veterinary medicine have been working together at educating students, teachers and veterinary researchers. There are more than 30 Thai PhDs who have graduated from Utrecht University and published more than 130 publications.

In this new MoU, the student exchange is intensified and special attention will be given to the training for specialists in the veterinary care of pets. Additionally, an important focus will be on the veterinary research of infectious diseases, tumours, bones, stem cells, reproduction, surveillance and control of infectious diseases, and to increase the effectiveness of diagnostic tools.

In the region, Thailand is at the forefront of veterinary development, especially when it comes to outbreaks of contagious animal diseases. With this collaboration with Utrecht University and six Thai partners, together with neighbouring countries Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, Thailand tries to be the centre to ensure that human and animal health remains guaranteed.