Multi-level impact of continuing professional development on Sri Lanka’s veterinary sector

The paper reports on a capacity-building programme between the RVC in the UK and the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka that offered scholarships for two distance learning MSc programmes to Sri Lankan veterinarians: ‘Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health’ and ‘Livestock Health and Production’. In addition, scholarships were offered to academic staff members at the Sri Lankan veterinary school to undertake the RVC blended learning Postgraduate Certificate in Veterinary Education.  This study used a case-study approach to assess the programmes’ impact at different levels: individual, institutional, institution’s students, the profession, the public and animals. Graduates from the blended learning programmes are now experts at the centre of a new community of practice and have the ability to inspire future generations of Sri Lankan veterinary surgeons.

This research was possible thanks to both the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, UK, who funded the collaboration between the RVC, University of London and the University of Peradeniya, and an evaluation study funded by the Centre of Distance Education, University of London, UK.

Full reference:

Tierney Kinnison, Christine Thuranira-McKeever, Ruwani Kalupahana & Ayona Silva-Fletcher(2020) Multi-level impact of continuing professional development on Sri Lanka’s veterinary sector, Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, DOI: 10.1080/02680513.2020.1758650