University of Nicosia agrees international affiliation with the Royal Veterinary College of the UK
Creating a world-class Veterinary School in Cyprus
The University of Nicosia is pleased to announce an agreement with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) to create Cyprus’ first veterinary school.
This new initiative aims to deliver two new bachelor degrees in Veterinary Medicine in Cyprus. The University anticipates that its first class will commence in September 2020, with students choosing between a five-year course and a four-year accelerated course.
The agreement was confirmed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities on Thursday 30th August, in London, by Professor Andreas Charalambous, Executive Dean of the University of Nicosia Medical School, and Professor Stuart Reid CBE, Principal of the RVC.
This new agreement between the two universities draws on the RVC’s position as one of the world’s leading veterinary institutions, and its 227 year track record in research, education and clinical service. The two universities will form a working committee with the aim of promoting and developing the relationship that will steer the new initiative.
Work will be carried out in Nicosia, with support from the RVC, to create a centre of excellence to address issues related to animal health, genetic improvement of livestock, links between the health of animals and humans, the improvement of food safety, and animal welfare.
Professor Andreas Charalambous, Executive Dean of the University of Nicosia Medical School: “The new Veterinary School in Cyprus will be modelled on the template of the University of Nicosia’s Medical School to ensure that it becomes a regional and international centre of education and research that follows international quality assurance criteria.”
Professor Stavros Malas, Foundation Chair for the Veterinary School: “The new Veterinary School will also have significant economic and social benefits. In addition to offering world-class education to students, veterinarians will be offered opportunities for continuous professional development and farmers will be provided with modern tools and knowledge required to maintain competitive farming units in a rapidly changing commercial environment In our commitment to the One Health agenda, we will work closely with all stakeholders to improve the public’s awareness of animal rights and to protect and preserve a healthy ecosystem, which will safeguard the health of both animals and humans.”
Professor Stuart Reid CBE, Principal of the RVC: “The RVC is delighted to be establishing a partnership with our colleagues in Cyprus and to contribute to the advance of animal health expertise in the region. We have a strong commitment to the One Health approach and together I am sure we can build on the success of the University of Nicosia’s Medical School to create an exceptional new veterinary programme.”
Professor Philippos Pouyioutas, Rector of the University of Nicosia: “The agreement and the new joint venture is in line with the University’s strategy for internationalization and for offering a world-class education. We are honoured and delighted that RVC is now a partner university of the University of Nicosia. The new programmes, underlying research and the expected significant contribution to society will further support the University of Nicosia’s teaching, research and internationalization objectives.”
About the Royal Veterinary College:
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK’s largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a constituent College of the University of London offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.
In 2018, the RVC has been ranked as one of the top three veterinary schools in the world by the prestigious QS World University Rankings for the fourth year in succession.
The RVC’s position at number three in the rankings table positions it as the top veterinary school in the UK and Europe and makes it the highest ranked school outside North America. The RVC is placed third out of 324 institutions offering veterinary science courses worldwide and is the only independent veterinary school in the top three.
It is currently the only veterinary school in the world to hold full accreditation from AVMA, EAEVE, RCVS and AVBC. In 2017, the RVC received a Gold award from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) – the highest rating a university can receive.
About the University of Nicosia:
The University of Nicosia (UNIC) is the largest university in Cyprus and the largest university in Southern Europe that teaches primarily in English, welcoming 11,500+ students from over 70 countries across the globe.
UNIC’s recent focus is characterised by innovation in new technology and transnational programme delivery.
UNIC founded the first and largest Medical School in Cyprus in 2011 by offering the St George’s, University of London Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) graduate-entry programme.
Building on this experience, the School has since added an undergraduate-entry six-year medical programme (MD) and a number of postgraduate degrees, and also established global partnerships with prestigious hospitals in the USA, Israel and the UK.
From a total number of 255 MBBS graduates so far (2015-2018), 252 or 99% have been offered positions at over 200 medical centres around the world for residency training and research. These include medical centres such as John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, St Mary’s Hospital, King’s College Hospital and the University College Hospital in London, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston (Harvard University affiliated), Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Mount Sinai in New York, and the University of Toronto and Dalhousie University in Canada.
