As part of the student exchange program jointly organized by the International Veterinary Students Association Cyprus (IVSA Cyprus) and IVSA Olsztyn, Polish veterinary prospectives who came to Near East University received theoretical and practical training and reinforced their professional development. Continuing its activities with the scientific support of the Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Near East University Animal Hospital provides important professional experience to veterinary prospectives with the practical training opportunities it offers to students coming to the TRNC from abroad.

As part of the internship and exchange program, veterinary prospectives who came to Near East University from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Poland received practical training at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Near East University Animal Hospital. Students who participated in the neutering operation of a female dog at the Near East University Animal Hospital, the first and only fully-equipped animal hospital in the TRNC, had the opportunity to develop their professional skills.

Polish students, who had the opportunity to develop themselves academically and professionally, also experienced the culture and history of Cyprus on site. Students who visited the Cyprus Herbarium and Natural History Museum, the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts and the Cyprus Car Museum on the Near East University campus, as well as the Walled City Museum in Kyrenia Gate, discovered the country with the Famagusta and Closed Varosha Tour. During their Kyrenia tour, Polish students visited St. Hilarion Castle and Bellapais Monastery, as well as the Ecopark of the Animal Behavior Research and Protection Center.

They practiced at the Near East University Animal Hospital

The visiting prospective veterinary students started the day by visiting the Dean of the Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. Dr. Deniz Seyrek İntaş, and after visiting Dean İntaş, they toured the Near East University Animal Hospital and received information about the hospital’s facilities. Later, students who participated in the neutering operation of a female dog conducted examinations on real animal tissue in a laboratory environment. Polish students who followed the neutering operation learned this special surgical technique and intervention methods from Prof. Dr. İsfendiyar Darbaz. The second session of the day was the Eye Examination Workshop given by Dr. Ali Çürükoğlu. Participants received detailed information about eye diseases and examination techniques. Finally, students learned about the effects of parasites on health and the ways they are transmitted with the mini-conference on Toxoplasmosis by Assoc. Prof. Mehmet Ege İnce. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Feride Zabitler Tepik provided histopathological training to Polish students and participated in the operation performed at the Animal Hospital together with the students.

Near East University Animal Hospital, which has been providing services in the field of animal health since 2014 with its advanced technology equipment and expert veterinary staff, offers comprehensive treatment opportunities in many areas such as surgery, obstetrics-gynecology, internal medicine, laboratory diagnosis and imaging services. Equipped with advanced diagnostic methods such as digital x-ray, Doppler ultrasonography and echocardiography, the hospital carries out world-class applications in the fields of orthopedics, eye health, birth and artificial insemination. At the same time, the hospital, which provides 24/7 service, provides rapid intervention in emergencies with its ambulance service and offers great convenience to animal lovers for routine check-ups. Students of the Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine increase their professional competence by benefiting from all these opportunities.

We are a part of the International Network in Veterinary Education!

Emphasizing that the Near East University is included in the international education network in veterinary education with the opportunities it provides, including this network, Prof. Dr. Seyrek İntaş, Dean of the Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, said, “We were very happy to host students from Poland at our faculty. While introducing them to our education system and the opportunities of our faculty, it was very valuable for us to listen to the academic experiences they gained in different countries.”

Vice Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Near East University, Prof. Dr. İsfendiyar Darbaz, who is also the consultant of IVSA Cyprus, said that international student exchange programs are of great importance for veterinary candidates in terms of enriching their academic and practical knowledge. Prof. Dr. Darbaz said, “We were very pleased to host Polish students in our faculty and Animal Hospital within the scope of this program jointly conducted by IVSA Cyprus and IVSA Olsztyn.

IVSA Cyprus President and Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Student Dilara Atış said, “As IVSA Cyprus, we aim to encourage the sharing of knowledge and experience with our colleagues from different countries by organizing international student exchange programs. It is very important for our friends from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Poland to benefit from the educational opportunities offered by Near East University.” Atış also said, “As students of Near East University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, we also have the opportunity to experience veterinary education and practices in different countries within the scope of the same exchange program. We will continue to create a global information network in the field of veterinary medicine by increasing international collaborations in the future.”