Education and Teaching

A substantial commitment to providing continuing education for present and future veterinary surgeons has always been a core principle of the Irish Equine Centre. Lectures are regularly provided for those involved in the horse industry. Should your organisation wish to invite a member of the professional staff to give a talk in their area of specialisation or to participate in a discussion group please see “Our Team” for contact details.

The IEC also supports young people in achieving their academic goals. The IEC team has contributed to the Equine Science degree course at the University of Limerick (UL) since its inception and Tom Buckley and Ann Cullinane are Adjunct Professors in the Department of Life Sciences. Equine Science students have the opportunity to apply for placements in the Centre to perform their final year projects. MSc and PhD students registered at UL may perform their research projects at the IEC. In 2006 Michelle Quinlivan was awarded her PhD for a project entitled “The Application of Molecular Techniques to the Diagnosis and Prevention of Equine Influenza” . In 2012 Sarah Gildea was awarded a PhD for a project entitled “Equine Influenza Surveillance and Control”.

[Dr.Sarah Gildea receiving her PhD from University of Limerick. Pictured with Prof Sean Arkins, Prof Ann Cullinane and Alex Blake (Mace bearer)]

All Heads of Units are Associates of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin and a series of virology and microbiology lectures are delivered to the veterinary students as an integral component of their course. Similarly, lectures and project supervision are provided to the Equine Science students at UCD. Veterinary and equine science students may apply for placements at the Centre.

The Centre welcomes scientists from all over the world for technical training and the provision of scientific assistance is one of the core functions of the Centre’s OIE reference laboratory for Equine Influenza.

[Dr. Zhe Hu during her OIE training at the IEC]