32nd General Assembly of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Medicine (EAEVE)

05.06.2019., News, News release

The 32nd General Assembly of the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Medicine (EAEVE) was held in Zagreb from 29th May to 1st June 2019.  More than 250 representatives from over 40 countries in Europe and the world took part in the General Assembly (GA).  The largest delegations came from Japan, Italy and Spain (more than 20 participants per country), then France, Germany, Portugal and Poland (more than 10 participants per country).  Apart from the rectors and deans of most European colleges and faculties, representatives of all the important world and European veterinary associations (WVA, FVE, AVMA, AAVMC, EBVS) also took part in the assembly, as well as delegations from Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. The proud host of this important event was the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Zagreb.  This general assembly of EAEVE was the best possible beginning of our celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Faculty and the 350th anniversary of the University of Zagreb. On the first working day of the assembly, 30th May, held in the Blagoje Bersa concert hall in the Music Academy, the minutes were adopted of the previous year’s assembly held in Hannover. The president of EAEVE Stéphane Martinot and the treasurer also presented their annual reports at this session. The most important event for the Veterinary Faculty in Zagreb was the reception of new members onto the executive committee of EAEVE (ExComm), whereby our Dean, Prof. Dr. Sc.  Nenad Turk was confirmed as the representative of region 7, and with the other newly elected regional representatives, joined the most important management body of EAEVE.

In the evening of the same day, at a gala reception held in the Auditorium of the Office of the Rector of the University of Zagreb, representatives of the academic community and the City of Zagreb welcomed the participants in the 32nd General Assembly of EAEVE. The rectors and deans of establishments of veterinary education in Europe and the world were greeted by the Vice-Rector of the University of Zagreb, Prof. Dr. Sc.  Miloš Judaš, deputy mayor Dr. Sc.  Jelena Pavičić Vukičević, and the Dean of the Veterinary Faculty in Zagreb, Prof. Dr. Sc.  Nenad Turk.

On the second day of the assembly, 31st May, the participants in the General Assembly gathered in the Large Lecture Hall of the Veterinary Faculty.  Those present were greeted by the Dean, Prof.  Nenad Turk. The educational programme began with presentations about the new challenges in the education of doctors of veterinary medicine and possibilities for improvement.  In addition, 20 posters were presented on the subject of clinical laboratory skills, methods of assessment in veterinary education and application of the 3Rs principle.  In the break, a barbecue was organized for lunch.  The participants had the opportunity to view an exhibition of paintings of animals studies by the academy artist Bane Milenković, and an exhibition of sculptures of horses by the academy sculptor Hrvoje Dumančić.  They could also visit the Reptilomanija+ exhibition of exotic animals, which has been organized for seven years now by students of veterinary medicines. After the working part of the Education Day, in the afternoon the participants at the assembly toured the clinics and institutes of the Veterinary Faculty.

A gala dinner was organized on the same day in the Crystal Ballroom of the Westin Hotel.  Towards the end of the dinner, the Veterinary Faculty in Nantes was confirmed as the candidate for organization of the 33rd EAEVE assembly. It will organize the assembly in 2020.  This year’s host, Dean Prof.  Nenad Turk, symbolically handed over the EAEVE standard to the representative of the faculty in Nantes, Prof.  Marc Gogny, whereby the official part of the assembly was successfully brought to a close.

On Saturday 1st June an outing was organized to the largest and oldest national park in Croatia, Plitvice Lakes, where the participants in the assembly were able to enjoy the exceptional beauty of the forests and the cascade of 16 lakes.  On the return journey they also toured Rastoke, where they were able to admire the plant life and the wealth of water at that tourist destination.  Alongside the successful working part of the assembly, our guests from Europe and the world were thereby given the opportunity to get to know some of the most beautiful natural sights in our country.

So, in the year in which the University celebrates its 350th anniversary, and the Veterinary Faculty the 100th anniversary of its foundation and work, we hosted all the leading deans and rectors of not only European but also other world institutions, whose work is to educate doctors of veterinary medicine.  This historic event, of international importance, was a great commitment and honour for our Faculty. We are proud because we showed ourselves to be good hosts and exemplary organizers, and that we are capable of organizing such a large, world-scale and important meeting just as successfully as countries which have been doing so for many years, with a great deal more experience and support.  How much benefit this event will bring to the Faculty, we shall see in the years to come, but it remains for us to rejoice in the fact that we have raised our institution of higher education and science to the level of European and world faculties and colleges of veterinary medicine.

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