Veterinary Education in Middle East Ehab Abu-Basha, DVM, MSc, Ph.D Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Jordan University of Science and Technology Irbid, Jordan

1

VEEs (Middle East, 25) 3

1

Lebanon

Syria

4

12

Afghanistan

Iraq

1

• 25 VEEs

Jordan Kuwait

Bahrain

2 Saudi Arabia

Qatar United Arab Emirates

• First VEE at Bagdad University in 1955

1

Oman

1

Yemen

: VEE(s) in the Middle East : no VEEs in the Middle East : non Middle East regions

TYPES OF VEES •

PUBLIC / PRIVATE / COMBINATION

MIDDLE EAST

TOTAL Combination 1% private 11%

public 100%

public 88%

THE GROWTH OF VEES 200 180 160 140 120 100 80

Middle East

60 40 4 5

20 1

0 1760

1780

1800

1820

1840

1860

1880

1900

1920

1940

1960

3 2

4

2

1980

THE YEAR OF CREATION

VEEs have been increased after 2000

2000 today

THE SIZE OF VEES • Female %: 0% 10% • One school is 46% •

17

4%4% 16% 42%

4 0 0-50

51-100

101-150

1 151-200

34%

0 > 200

THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES

•

[ref] Worldwide figure

Veterinary Education Establishments 

All follow Five-year program.



Students are directly accepted after finishing high school.



Most of the schools lack appropriate distribution of the basic vs clinical courses in curriculum (3 years basic vs 2 years clinical).



Most colleges have little role in continuing education and Veterinary Para-Professionals training. 6

Challenges of Vet. Education in ME  Lack

or inadequate governmental support.

 Lack

of accreditation body.

 Curriculum

(theory more than practical).

 Admission

criteria/ student interest & no.

 Education

of Clinical Staff (PhD vs Board certified clinicians).

 Cultural

issues.

7

Arab Association of Veterinary Medical Faculties 

Established in 1996.



It includes more than 45 VEES from the Arab region.



Under the Umbrella of Arab Universities Association.

Regional workshop on VE (13-15th April, 2016)   improve the standard of VE at the regional level.  Role Of OIE in Veterinary Education.  Guidelines on the Core Veterinary Curriculum based on OIE recommendations to fit Day one competencies.



8

9

Veterinary Education Needs 

Better global harmonization of Veterinary Education  based on OIE guidelines.



Strengthening the role of Veterinary Statutory Bodies (VSBs) in regulating veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals activates

 Work are ethical and of high quality 

Quality of VE together with effective VSBs are cornerstones of good veterinary governance. 10

Veterinary Education Needs There is an urgent need, specially in our region, to strengthen VS and VSBs competence according to OIE international standards. – Many countries don't have acceptable quality veterinary education  this problem is intensified by the inadequate regulation of the veterinary profession by VSBs.





How many VSBs are established in the region? How many are effective and comply with the OIE standards? 11

Promoting Vet Education in the ME Students enrollment

Talk to high school students and parents

Public Media

Promotion - Flyers - Vet Days

12

Community Awareness of Veterinary Education

13

Promotion flyers

14

Promoting Vet Education in the Region

Accreditation

Initiate a Regional body

Seek other Bodies AVMA, EAEVE, others

Curriculum and Veterinary Education 

OIE developed a Model Core Veterinary Curriculum to fit the requirement of Day 1 competence.



Focus on National and international Vet. Legislation, general certification procedure, and communication skills.



VEEs should revise their curriculum accordingly.



Veterinary Twining between VEEs. 16

Promoting Vet Education in the ME Inappropriate curriculum

Does not meet the stakeholder prospective

Confusing Theory more than practical

No class-free training

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Skills Lab/E-learning and Veterinary Education 

Veterinary Clinical Skills Center is a library of skills instead of books.



Teaching include clinical skills, physical examination, sampling and diagnostic, simulator (eg. Haptic cow and haptic horse).



Students are introduced to “Day one Skills”.



Self-directed learning is encouraged.



VEEs should promote the use of VCS. 18

Continuing Education 

OIE advocates, at high political level, the importance of allocating adequate resources toward the improvement of continuing education and Veterinary Para-Professionals training.



Establish OIE regional VE collaborating Center in ME.



VEEs Should promote “One Health concept” through continuing education.



Exchange information and collaboration between VEEs. 19

Thank You