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Efforts are on for an Indian certificate programme in Laboratory Animal Medicine between KVASU and University of Guelph

                     Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and the University of Guelph’s Centre for Open Learning and Educational Services (COLES-Canada)  will enter in to a joint collaborative agreement to develop an Indian Certificate Programme in Laboratory Animal Medicine. The University of Guelph in Canada will provide its software platform to the KVASU for offering this course to registered Veterinary practitioners in India. A letter of intent to this effect has been exchanged to this effect between Dr B Ashok the Vice Chancellor of KVASU and Dr Patricia Turner, the Program Leader in Laboratory Animal Sciences of the University of Guelph. As part of the same a Consultative meeting on Contemporary laboratory Animal medicine and Welfare was held at Hotel Mascot, Trivandrum on 19th February 2013 with scientists from KVASU and University of Guelph. Dr.Patricia Turner, Programme Leader, LAS, Ontario Vet. College (UoG) participated in the meeting. Dr. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chairman, Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment launched the programme. Director of Entrepreneurship Dr.S.Ramkumar presided over the session. Registrar Dr.K.P.Sreekumar, Dr.A.Jalaludeen, Dr.M.R.Saseendranath, Special Officer  (Academics & Research), Dean CVAS, Mannuthy Dr.H.Subramanian, Dr.T.V.Anilkumar of Sree Chithira Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences, Registrar KSVC Dr.N. N.Sasi, Director Museums and Zoo Dr.Udayavarman and Director of Department of Animal Husbandry Dr.K.G.Suma were among the few dignitaries who participated in the meeting. COLES is committed in providing administrative and developmental support for establishment of this programme. The first batch of veterinary doctors will be admitted by the next semester. The course will have four modules with substantial internet-assisted distance education learning and practical placement centres in India and Singapore.
                  This certificate program is designed to meet an urgent need to provide entry-level continuing education and applied training for licensed Canadian veterinarians who are working in the field of laboratory animal medicine. The distance certificate program is particularly appropriate for Veterinarians who are working part-time/consulting in this field, who are working at a location distant to Guelph, or who are working in the field but cannot return to university for full-time graduate studies in this specialty.
                 The certificate consists of a 4 course program of study totaling 160 hours of effort. The first course consists of an online, web-based, self-study course consisting of core topics Each module concludes with a multiple choice quiz randomly selected by the computer from a bank of available questions. Candidates need to achieve a score of 80% to complete each module prior to beginning the next module and have 2 attempts. There are additionally 6 short written assignments that provide practical experience for the different topics. These are graded as pass/fail by the course instructor. Unsatisfactory assignments are returned to the participant for correction. The next 3 courses (Applied Laboratory Animal Medicine I, II, and III) consist of 1 week placements at regional training centres. Candidates spend 40 hours/week at these facilities and need to acquire a number of skills during each week (eg, animal handling, bleeding, protocol review, facility inspection, etc). These courses conclude with a one page evaluation form prepared and submitted by the regional mentor and by the course participant and are graded overall as Pass/Fail. Regional training centres are assessed by the Canadian Council on Animal Care and hold Good Animal Practice (GAP) certificates. Sites were selected based upon location in Canada, number of experienced veterinarians, and range of species housed. Applied courses are be coordinated by the program coordinator.
               50 leading researchers, laboratory animal scientists and animal welfare personnels attended the Consultative meeting and deliberated the need for such courses of higher learning for non-veterinarians working in an animal house. The panel discussion was moderated by Dr.TV. Anilkumar, Scientist, SCTIMST. Dr. Turner conducted a two day long Trainers Training Course for selected veterinary doctors for the benefit of potential faculty who are expected to act as mentors for the trainees at the peripheral centres. Fifteen veterinarians from the potential participating institutions in India attended the course that concluded on 20th February 2013. Dr.K.S.Prasanna expressed vote of thanks.