It was with great pleasure and satisfaction that I accepted the invitation of the Rector of the University of Nicosia, Professor Philip Pouyoutas, to attend and address today's press conference on the establishment of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine by the University of Nicosia, as well as the official announcement of the opening of the first Undergraduate Veterinary Medicine Programme in Cyprus.
The establishment of the School is a very important development for the educational activities of our country, as it places Cyprus on the international map of veterinary education, with all the consequent benefits, scientifically, economically and socially. At the same time, it contributes to the implementation of the goal that the present government has set since the beginning of its term of office for the upgrading of higher and higher education. Personally, I feel particularly satisfied because I see the result of the efforts made during the period when I served as the political head of the Ministry of Education and Culture, with the creation of the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Body for Higher Education. Through the operation of the Body, Universities, Schools such as the one announced today, Departments and Programmes of Studies are evaluated and Cyprus is established as a quality destination for university studies.
As far as the agricultural sector is concerned, we are confident that the establishment of the School will make a great contribution to the livestock industry and by extension to the economy of Cyprus, providing the opportunity to promote research for the benefit of the livestock farming world. In addition, it will contribute significantly to the efforts made to enhance animal welfare and health.
The importance and value of the operation of the School is highlighted by the multilevel nature of veterinary science and the fact that veterinary issues are in the news almost every day. The protection of the health and welfare of animals, ensuring the supply to the consumer of hygienically safe and qualitatively appropriate food of animal origin, the smooth conduct of trade in animals and animal products and the rational distribution and use of veterinary pharmaceutical products are only some of the aspects of our daily life that veterinary science deals with. It is characteristic that veterinarians are professionally active in many different areas, such as animal breeding units, animal hospitals and veterinary surgeries, slaughterhouses, production and processing plants for products of animal origin and food production plants.
The role of veterinary science is also decisive in the field of research on animal management at farm level, on the hygiene and technology of food of animal origin and on the development of new pharmaceutical products. Veterinarians are directly and actively involved in areas of modern research such as comparative medicine, biosciences and animal and human medicine.
As the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment we recognise the great value and important role of veterinary science. For this reason, we attach great importance to the proper and constructive functioning of the Veterinary Services, for the benefit of animal health and welfare and public health. Indeed, we look forward to a close cooperation between the Veterinary Services and the new Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Nicosia, through which I am confident that mutual benefit will result.
In conclusion, I would like to wish every success to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Nicosia and the first undergraduate Veterinary Medicine programme in Cyprus, and to assure you that the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment will stand by the University in a constructive manner, supporting every effort to promote science, research, knowledge and education of young scientists.
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