We have good stories to share
every day about the work we do at OVC. This week we have a particularly great
story to share regarding the latest Quacquarelli
Symonds (QS) university rankings. The QS rankings place the Ontario
Veterinary College as the sixth best veterinary school in the world, as well as
first in Canada and third in North America.
One of the purposes of the rankings is to help prospective students identify leading schools in their chosen field. The OVC has placed in the top 10 of veterinary schools in the world since QS first included veterinary science in their rankings in 2015.
Along with research impact, the QS ranking methodology relies on academic reputation among our peers, and the desirability of our graduates as perceived by employers. These are two outcomes that we consider of vital importance. We know our graduates are great, but it is particularly gratifying that this is so clearly recognized nationally and internationally.
Without question, we rank where we do because of our amazing staff, students, faculty, and alumni. We all share a commitment to the OVC mission, and it shows. You are all to be congratulated for your part in building OVC’s recognition as a world leader in veterinary education and research.
We excel at educating highly qualified personnel at the undergraduate, DVM, graduate and specialist levels, with increasing emphasis on One Health inter-disciplinary fields. Our graduates benefit from theoretical and experiential training through degree programs that provide them with the keys to impactful careers in animal and human health and the biomedical sciences.
Our research is world-class, with a focus on improving life for animals, people and the world we live in. As of February 2017, there is more than $36 million invested in research at OVC through more than 300 current research grants.
In addition to these research projects, more than 50 additional research projects are supported by our unique partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), demonstrating our very strong links to the Ontario agri-food industry.
Our strengths are further reflected in the centres of excellence based at OVC. They bring together broader knowledge and specialties from across the UofG campus, industry, provincial and federal governments, impacting translational medicine, the agri-food sector, animal welfare, and public health.
- Researchers in our dairy (Dairy at Guelph), poultry (Poultry
Health Research Network) and swine networks support Canada’s food university, ensuring the health, welfare and
productivity of livestock are maintained and improved to safeguard the
agri-food industry and guarantee a safe food product for consumers.
- The Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses, plays an indispensable role in protecting
public health in Ontario, along with our Master of
Public Health program. CPHAZ leads research, education, and knowledge
dissemination in public health at the human-animal-environment interface, collaborating
with local, provincial and federal government agencies and departments across
the public health community.
- TheCampbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, an interdisciplinary powerhouse at the
UofG for close to 30 years, offers a broad array of research and graduate
training opportunities in animal behaviour, welfare and human-animal
relationships.
- The Institute of Comparative Cancer Investigation andCentre for Cardiovascular Investigations, bring together expertise in cancer and
cardiovascular science with veterinary medicine for an integrated approach to
benefit both companion animals and humans.
- Equine Guelphis dedicated to developing programs to support horse health and welfare for Canada and beyond.
- OVC Pet Trustwhich has raised more than $35 million dollars over the past 30 years to support innovative discoveries aimed to improve the lives of companion animals; enhance veterinary education and create world-class facilities here at OVC.
We recognize that to remain at the top of our game and ensure we have a fulfilling, supportive, and healthy workplace, we need to continually improve and reinvest. I am pleased to report that today we have four more base-funded tenure track faculty positions than we did before implementation of the multi-year plans for base budget reduction during the years 2008-2015. Further investment in positions can be expected as a result of our strategic plan, which we expect to have ready this fall.
We are also engaged in capital projects with a total value of $45 million that will lead to further opportunities to improve capacity and quality of our teaching, research and health services.
I’m proud to share OVC’s successes everywhere I go and with everyone I meet. The work we do, caring for our patients, investing in new discoveries and teaching the next generation of highly qualified scientists and veterinarians, are touch points for all of us to share OVC’s story.
Congratulations and thank you again for your continued efforts to support and share OVC’s vision.