Global Engagement
Through study abroad opportunities, Purdue’s Veterinary Technology Distance Learning program is helping students think globally
March 27, 2026
Promoting animal health is a value that transcends cultures and unites the world. That’s why there are veterinary professionals practicing in nearly every country around the globe. But access to high-quality, affordable veterinary care is far from universal — in many nations, particularly developing nations, access to veterinarians is inconsistent, and affordability is a concern all over the world. To confidently address these issues, veterinary professionals must be able to think globally.
That’s why Purdue Veterinary Medicine encourages students to study abroad, including those in the Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program (VTDL). “Study abroad enriches our online curriculum by bringing classroom concepts to life in a global, real-world context,” said Addison Sheldon, the college’s director of global engagement. The VTDL program offers students the option to study abroad in Guatemala, Japan and Zimbabwe by partnering with local universities and organizations.
Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Connection with Wildlife Rescue in Guatemala Highlighted during International Education Week
November 21, 2025
Hidden amid the dense forests near the shores of Lake Petén Itzá, the ARCAS Wildlife Rescue Center is one of Central America’s most active sanctuaries for endangered and trafficked wildlife. In addition to their conservation efforts, ARCAS (Asociación de Rescate y Conservación de Vida Silvestre) offers unparalleled hands-on experience for veterinary and biology students from around the world. The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine has proudly collaborated with ARCAS for many years, and International Education Week this week (November 16-22) provided the perfect opportunity to showcase this invaluable educational partnership.
Local Veterinary Celebration Highlights Global Veterinary Education
October 24, 2025
Going global is a popular ambition in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine as evidenced by the turnout for the college’s annual Global Engagement Fair last Friday, October 17. Held in the Veterinary Medical Library in Lynn Hall, the festive event featured international cuisine and displays about various study abroad opportunities available to Purdue DVM and Veterinary Technology students.
Conservation Leader from Brazil Shares with PVM Students, Staff and Faculty Insights Learned from Protecting Jaguars
October 17, 2025
Even in the midst of Purdue University’s Fall Break, Purdue students, staff and faculty turned-out to hear from an internationally recognized conservation leader who shared insights learned through her leading role in efforts to promote jaguar conservation in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Dr. Yara Barros, a biologist with a master’s and PhD in Zoology from São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil gave a special presentation at Lynn Hall hosted by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine Tuesday, October 14.
Purdue Veterinary Medicine Bids Fond Farewell to Visiting Students from Japan
August 22, 2025
The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s partnership with two veterinary schools in Japan was recognized last week when the college hosted a reception honoring visiting students from Kitasato University and Rakuno University. The ten member delegation included five DVM students and a faculty member from Kitasato and three veterinary nursing students and a faculty member from Rakuno.
PVM’s Expanding Opportunities for Global Learning Highlighted at Annual Global Engagement Fair
November 1, 2024
The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s ongoing efforts to emphasize and provide opportunities for Purdue Veterinary Medicine students to study abroad as part of their veterinary education are bearing fruit, and those results were on display recently at the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Global Engagement Fair. Held in the Veterinary Medical Library in Lynn Hall October 18, the evening reception and program highlighted expanding global engagement opportunities and increasing levels of participation in study abroad options available to both DVM and veterinary nursing students.
Second Antimicrobial Resistance Conference at Purdue Draws Expanded Audience
March 8, 2024
Attendance figures for Purdue University’s second Antimicrobial Resistance Conference demonstrated increasing interest in the event’s interdisciplinary approach to the topic that the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies as one of the top global public health and development threats.
Dean’s Global Vision Leads to Expanded Global Engagement for Students
December 15, 2023
Of the numerous notable advancements Dean Willie Reed has pioneered for Purdue Veterinary Medicine during his tenure, perhaps the most far-reaching involves global engagement. The establishment of the college’s Global Engagement Office with a full-time director in 2015 was followed by a consequent, soaring increase in global engagement involving both DVM and veterinary nursing students.
Global Engagement Fair Celebrates PVM’s Leadership in Providing Opportunities Abroad
December 1, 2023
The Veterinary Medical Library was the setting for a Global Engagement Fair held in celebration of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s expanding global engagement opportunities and ever-increasing study abroad options for DVM and veterinary nursing students. Hosted by the college’s Office of Global Engagement, the event on October 6 also provided the perfect opportunity to recognize students who successfully completed the requirements for obtaining the PVM Global Engagement Certificate. The certificate program was created to inspire students to change the world through their future veterinary medical careers by providing them with the tools to better engage, exchange, and collaborate with the world around them.
Japanese Students Enrich PVM Learning Environment During Visit to Lynn Hall
August 25, 2023
“We truly look forward to your visits each year,” Addison Sheldon, Purdue Veterinary Medicine director of Global Engagement, told visiting students from Japan as he began a farewell ceremony Friday, August 18 in the David and Bonnie Brunner Small Animal Hospital. The program marked the conclusion of a visit by students and faculty from the Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine and Rakuno Gakuen University. The visit was part of an ongoing international exchange relationship between Purdue University and the two Japanese universities.
