Academic exchange program to foster global collaboration in veterinary medicine

Leaders from Iowa State University and Kansas State Universities (K-State) recently traveled to Dublin for more than football and "Farmageddon," as the longstanding rivalry between the two land-grant institutions is known.

The presidents of the two universities and the University College Dublin (UCD) on August 22 signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during the One Health AgriTech Summit held in conjunction with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Ireland.

The Iowa State Cyclones defeated the K-State Wildcats 24-21, but all parties won: The agreement established an academic exchange program to foster research collaboration among the three AVMA Council on Education-accredited veterinary colleges.

Leaders of Iowa State University, Kansas State University, and the University College Dublin (UCD) signed a memorandum of cooperation and understanding during the One Health AgriTech Summit in August, held in conjunction with the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Ireland. Left to right: Dr. Dan Grooms, dean of Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine; Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen; Dr. Rory Breathnach, head of UCD School of Veterinary Medicine; UCD President Orla Feely; Kansas State University (K-State) President Richard Linton; and Dr. Elizabeth Davis, interim dean of K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. (Courtesy of K-State)

"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," said Dr. Elizabeth Davis, interim dean of K-State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, said in a press release.

The four-day summit drew almost 90 stakeholders from Ireland and the U.S., as well as Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.

University leaders, government officials, and industry partners discussed emerging opportunities in agricultural technology, innovations in precision farming, and potential economic development opportunities, as well as One Health initiatives and the global response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Dr. Dan Grooms, dean of Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, emphasized the need for global collaboration to tackle borderless issues like AMR, which the United Nations has declared as "one of the most urgent global health threats and development challenges."

"There are valuable perspectives that come from conversations with people around the world to understand how we combat antimicrobial resistance," Dr. Grooms said in the press release. "The practicalities of what can and cannot be done are different in other countries, which is why we must think of this at a global level."

Under the agreement, the three universities commit to exploring ways of promoting collaboration across their veterinary colleges, such as:

• Hosting exchange students for periods of study and clinical rotations
• Sharing the latest developments in education and research
• Pursuing joint research initiatives and continuing education programs
• Providing faculty and staff opportunities to travel for teaching, research, and professional development
• Organizing academia symposia and related conferences

Specific plans and programs are still under discussion, but the goal is to foster a deeper understanding of each institution's cultural, social, and economic environments.

"Having … students visit University College Dublin and learn about veterinary medicine in a well-established program and understand the profession in a different culture will greatly benefit our students," Dr. Davis said. "Additionally, having students from University College Dublin or Iowa State visit K-State will build on our ability to exchange knowledge and skills that are well established throughout our curriculum, particularly in the fourth-year clinical rotation."