By Jamie Martin
A new three way alliance is connecting veterinary programs at Kansas State University Iowa State University and University College Dublin. Presidents Richard Linton Wendy Wintersteen and Orla Feely signed a Memorandum of Cooperation and Understanding on August 22 at the One Health Ag Tech Summit in Ireland. The agreement builds an academic bridge for teaching research and student experience across the three institutions.
"This partnership will provide tremendous value to our College of Veterinary Medicine," said Beth Davis, interim dean of the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. "As a next-generation land-grant university, forging important partnerships like this helps our K-State veterinary medicine students, researchers and faculty members to do good in Kansas and across the world. We look forward to working with our collaborators at Iowa State University and University College Dublin."
The collaboration enables visiting faculty and staff appointments shared courses and coordinated teaching activities. Undergraduate and graduate students will have opportunities for short term study research and clinical exposure within partner colleges. The universities will co host conferences short courses and symposia on emerging issues while launching joint research and continuing education programs. They will also exchange information on curriculum student development and research progress.
Leaders from the institutions emphasized student value and global problem solving. K State noted that international partnerships strengthen its next generation land grant mission. Iowa State stressed the need for global perspectives to tackle antimicrobial resistance where policies and practical solutions differ by country. University College Dublin underscored the shared commitment to improving learning outcomes through collaboration.
"Today's agreement signing is the culmination of highly valued collaborative efforts from all institutions involved to further enhance the educational experience for our students," said University College Dublin President Orla Feely.
The One Health Ag Tech Summit gathered nearly 90 participants from academia and industry between August 20 and 23 highlighting animal health digital agriculture and the interconnected health of people animals plants and environments. Roundtables industry panels and site visits helped participants explore best practices and create long term collaborations.
K State researchers in production medicine pharmacology engineering and agronomy joined senior administrators to showcase expertise in animal health and digital agriculture. Through this alliance the three universities aim to accelerate innovation connect classrooms to industry needs and provide students with meaningful international experiences that prepare them to serve communities at home and abroad.
Photo Credit: kansas-state-university
Categories: National