Much-needed student support from The Donkey Sanctuary

Veterinary students from across the globe receive online teaching through Covid-19 thanks to The Donkey Sanctuary

With Covid-19 affecting how students are taught all around the world, online learning has become a staple for schools, colleges and universities alike. The Donkey Sanctuary’s veterinary team has always played an active role in education and were keen to offer support when they were approached during lockdown to help students with placements that’ll prepare them for clinical work.

The team put together fact sheets, presentations, web links, webinars and case studies for pre-clinical and clinical veterinary students. Alex Thiemann, senior veterinary surgeon and education lead at The Donkey Sanctuary, said: “In a normal year, we’d devote many hours to hands-on teaching at our state-of-the-art donkey hospital or spend time at universities and colleges in the UK and abroad.

“It’s really important to us that we share our expert knowledge on donkey welfare and care with the next generation of veterinary professionals. Covid-19 means we’ve had to work differently to deliver this support, taking our teaching online to reach thousands of students.”

It was the University of Nottingham who first reached out, but these useful resources have been shared with other leading veterinary schools, too. Students from institutes such as Massey in New Zealand and Guelph in Canada – and beyond – have benefitted.

Professor Sarah Freeman, from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham, said: “We’re hugely grateful to The Donkey Sanctuary for sharing their fantastic resources and expertise. It has been a difficult time for the students with so many opportunities and practical experiences cancelled. Being given access to a range of excellent resources and their staff’s advice and expertise, as well as learning more about donkeys and the amazing work that The Donkey Sanctuary does has been a positive experience in challenging times.”

For more information, visit thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk