This week, the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed Dr. Alex Jen, provost of City University of Hong Kong, and Dr. Michael Reichel, dean of Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences at City University, as part of a three-day visit that strengthened an already fruitful international partnership.

For the past decade, City University of Hong Kong and Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine have collaborated to establish a veterinary college in Hong Kong modeled on Cornell’s problem-based curriculum. The two institutions now continue to expand upon this relationship. “A major focus of this visit was to showcase the capacities our institutions have for entrepreneurial activities and innovation and develop new opportunities for collaboration,” says Dr. Alexander Travis, associate dean for international programs and public health.

Provost Jen and Dean Reichel began their trip with a stop at Cornell Tech in New York City, which provided the officials a look at the latest efforts Cornell has made toward developing a campus devoted to integrating technology with innovation and discovery.

This emphasis continued at the veterinary college, where they toured the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, the Animal Health Diagnostic Center, the Equine Park, CVM research facilities and the Teaching Dairy Barn. They also viewed state-of-the-art teaching facilities such as the simulation lab and the modular resource center.

Provost Jen and Dean Reichel met with college administration and faculty for broad-ranging discussions; innovation stayed central to the conversation, and involved faculty members who had created start-up companies based on Cornell research. The officials also discussed educational innovations and collaborations, including new curriculum development and the CityU-Cornell interdisciplinary Ph.D. program.

Travis emphasizes how the partnership between CityU and Cornell continues to benefit each institution, with Cornell providing key expertise in areas such as accreditation preparation, and City U providing expertise in fields such as warm water and marine aquatic production. “In an increasingly global world, we want our students to be truly prepared for international-scale problems and solutions,” says Travis, “and partnerships like this really expand that capability.”

By Lauren Cahoon Roberts