The origins of veterinary medicine in this CIVME region trace back thousands of years.The importance of animal health was referenced in the Code of Hammurabi.

The origins of veterinary medicine lie deepest in this region of the world, where records demonstrate ancient Arab civilizations were focused on animal health long before the advent of Islam. Horses and cattle were critical for transportation, draft and nutrition and their health was essential for the survival and wellbeing of the people. It is known that the ancient Code of Hammurabi (dating back to about 1754 BC) included five laws regulating human medicine and three laws regulating animal medicine. It is believed that the word "veterinary" can be traced to the Arabic word "Baitari," which means "surgeon of animals." In the modern Arab world, the first college of veterinary medicine was established in Egypt in 1827, followed by Sudan in 1938 and then Iraq in 1955. Currently, there are more than 100 veterinary medical institutions in the MENA region. Unfortunately, there is great variation in teaching systems, curricula, entry qualifications and other criteria among these institutions. This highlights the need for harmonization and standardization of veterinary education in the region. Click here to read the comprehensive article on veterinary education in the MENA region.

Ebola, Zika, SARS, and MERS - these diseases have caused great concern in recent years, ravaging communities, spreading across continents, and disrupting economies. One Health scientists are changing the way we fight infectious disease, and projects in many countries are focusing on determining where emerging diseases come from and what can be done to stop them. PREDICT, a $175 million early warning project developed and operated by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is working to detect emerging viral diseases in 31 developing countries through global surveillance for emerging viral pathogens using geospatial modeling, genomics, molecular virology, epidemiology, and targeted field studies. Jordan is one of those countries. Read more.

Many postsecondary institutions have started to explore what it means to develop and demonstrate teaching expertise. A presentation entitled "A Developmental Framework for Teaching Expertise in Postsecondary Education," recently made at the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL) Conference October 11-14, 2017 at the University of Calgary, provides useful new insights in this area. The authors recognize that teaching expertise is developed through a learning process that continues over time and demonstrate that teaching expertise involves multiple facets, habits of mind (or ways of knowing and being), and possible developmental activities. They have structured a framework that introduces three foundational habits of mind: 1) inclusive, 2) learning-centered, and 3) collaborative ways of knowing and being, which anchor five interwoven and non-hierarchical facets of teaching expertise: 1) teaching and supporting learning, 2) professional learning and development, 3) mentorship, 4) research, scholarship, and inquiry, and 5) educational leadership. Within each facet are possible activities that reflect a developmental continuum from explore, to engage, to expand, demonstrating a shift from the growth of oneself within a local context toward contributing to the growth of others and creating processes and resources for the broader teaching and learning community. Read more.

Educators are invited to attend the inaugural presentation of the Australasian Veterinary Educators Symposium February 13-14 at the University of Adelaide in Australia. The meeting, entitled VetEd Down Under, will be held on the School of Animal & Veterinary Sciences' Roseworthy Campus. The meeting seeks to promote the advancement of veterinary education in the Australia/New Zealand region by sharing innovations, ideas and best practices. For more information, click here to see a promotional flyer or visit https://www.adelaide.edu.au/vetsci/veted/