Fachschaft Veterinärmedizin
Universität Bern

GROUP EXCHANGE WITH IVSA GLASGOW

This year the IVSA Bern once again went on an adventure, when 12 students left for the north to Glasgow. In the first week of March students from Bern flew to Glasgow and got to experience an amazing 7 days jam pack program. From Sheep and Reptile Handling to site sighing in Edinburgh or even learning everything about Bird nursing, the Bern students got to see everything that there was to see. And of course we can forget seeing the Highland cow’s.


GROUP EXCHANGE WITH IVSA MESSINA

On March 24th, we flew from Zurich to Catania and then continued by car to Messina to the "Universidad Veterinario Messina." During the week, we attended a lecture on fish parasites, dissected mackerels in the dissection hall, visited the SkillsLab, and of course, also toured the on-site veterinary hospital. IVSA Messina also took us on excursions outside the university. One morning we took the ferry to Reggio Calabria, and on another day, we visited the Gole del Alcàntara and then Taormina. On a free day, we explored the city of Messina together and had a small picnic by the sea. The highlights, of course, also included Italian cuisine: from pizza to gelato, piadinas, arancini, and granitas – we lacked nothing! On the last day, we had a short city tour in Catania before, unfortunately, heading back home.

Two months later, the students of IVSA Messina arrived at our place. For a week, we showed them our university with its various clinics, the city of Bern and its surroundings, and some Swiss specialties. We had a great time together, and the memories of it will stay with us for a long time :).



GROUP EXCHANGE WITH IVSA PORTUGAL

 After a lot of planning, we were able to embark on the trip to Vila Real, Portugal on March 20, 2023. On the first day, our group was warmly welcomed with a traditional event at the Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD).
The week continued with many insights into the faculty and its veterinary clinic; among other things, we were able to attend a workshop on processing local foods, visit the pathology department, and receive guided tours of the clinic and its bird rescue center. In addition, we explored the old town of Vila Real, tried local specialties, walked along the Corgo River, and experienced Portuguese university life.
On March 25, after a day in Porto, we had to bid farewell to sunny Portugal and our caring hosts.
About two weeks later, we welcomed the delegation from Portugal in Bern. For a week, we showed them our faculty, the city of Bern, and the mountains.


GROUP EXCHANGE WITH IVSA FINNLAND

In March, it was finally time! For a week, we were able to introduce the Finnish delegation to parts of Swiss culture and history as well as our Vetsuisse Faculty, all while making wonderful acquaintances. About a month later, the IVSA Bern delegation was able to explore the veterinary faculty in Helsinki, as well as the city and the Finnish landscape.


GROUP EXCHANGE WITH IVSA RVC LONDON

 In February 2020, we were allowed to travel to London, where we participated in a group exchange together with IVSA Thailand. The Londoners spared no effort, and thus we were able to enjoy a fantastic program in one of the last weeks before the Corona lockdown. In London, we visited the zoo and the musical Wicked, received a tour at the Royal Veterinary College on the Hawkshead Campus and around London, watched the 'Changing of the Guards' at Buckingham Palace, and much more. Unforgettable are also the 'Jack the Ripper' tour in the evening through the city of London and the 'Traditional Scottish Ceilidh' dance with all the participants of the exchange.


ONLINE EXCHANGE WITH IVSA MULTAN

In the fall semester, we received a request from IVSA Multan, Pakistan, for an online group exchange. Many IVSA MOs (Member Organisations of individual countries) opted for online exchanges because nothing else was possible. The good thing about this is that you also get in touch with more distant countries, as we did with IVSA Pakistan.
On a Sunday afternoon, about 30 students from Multan and Bern met in a Zoom meeting to learn about various aspects of veterinary medicine and the culture of the other country. We had the opportunity to meet dedicated and interested students from Pakistan, who were very enthusiastic about Swiss culture and would love to visit us in Bern.
We were informed that Pakistan is a very diverse country, with many different cultures and 15 universities that offer veterinary medicine programs. And that in Pakistan, one also has "religion classes" while studying veterinary medicine. None of us would have thought that...