CAHFS-affiliated faculty Dr. Karin Hamilton and VPHPM resident Dr. Jacob DeVries have been in Kosovo this month leading a workshop "From the Farm to Table - Poulty Production" with the University of Prishtina.
Various University of Minnesota (UMN) departments have entered this partnership project with World Learning in order to work with the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary at University of Prishtina, Kosovo (FAV UP) with the primary goals to help develop, strengthen, and sustain a modern academic program for agriculture, food systems and veterinary education. November's workshop is being held with lecturers from the UMN College of Veterinary Medicine, and lecturers from FAV UP.
This workshop is attended by 26 students from various departments of FAV UP and aims to enhance their professional level on the integration of safe systems in the production of poultry and eggs.
The key components of this 4 year twinning project between FAV UP and UMN are the academic mobility through which up to now eight teachers and teaching assistants have had fellowships at UMN to be trained in teaching, research methodology and professional development. During their visits to the UMN campus, these teaching fellows have attended classes and visited agribusinesses and farming operations, which have served to deepen their knowledge, observe various teaching methods, and gain ideas for developing courses they will teach upon their return home.
7 previous visits from faculty and staff of the University of Minnesota to the University of Pristina have also been accomplished to support the teaching process, thus improving the climate for research.
In addition, UMN has supported the functionalization of a small animal clinic, by bringing and implementing several protocols for the clinic and laboratories and by donating a large number of university textbooks. One of the most important activities is the support from UMN in drafting the business plan for the opening of the University of Prishtina Food and Veterinary Institute and the preparation of a strategic plan for FAV UP for the next 5 years.
story adapted from the University of Prishtina website: "Workshop 'From Farm to Table - Poultry Production' with the University of Minnesota"