Liberia
Academic education
Project start: 2019
Project Manager: Morris Darbo (CEO LAWCS)
Partner institutions: Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society (LAWCS), Lofa County University (LCU) and Cuttington University (CU)
Targeted courses: Bachelor of Science Agriculture
Accreditation of animal welfare training content and inclusion into academic curriculum
When the project started in 2019 educational institutions in Liberia offering animal health related courses lacked trained lecturers and proper educational materials. As a result, students graduated without sufficient knowledge of animal welfare. In order to improve the academic education of animal health professionals VETS UNITED started a project in cooperation with LAWCS, Lofa County University (former Lofa County Community College) and Cuttington University (selected due to their location and interest in the programme). In February 2019 a stakeholder meeting was conducted, and a veterinary paraprofessional who was trained during the VETS UNITED project in The Gambia was hired to help implement the project. From April to August 2021 a survey was conducted to identify the gaps and needs in the students training regarding animal welfare education. Using the results from the survey a review meeting took place in December 2021. Both institutions reviewed their curricula with the total involvement of the lecturers in the animal science department of each institution. Animal welfare related topics were developed and included in the new curricula in February 2022. The revised curricula were sent to the respective Board by each institution and were approved. Therefore, animal welfare training course is now included in the curricula at LCU and CU as a mandatory, lone-standing course for two semesters in the second and third year. The course started officially in September 2023 at LCU and in September 2024 at CU. In 2024 LAWCS supports two additional tertiary education institutions, Liberia International Christian College and Nimba County University to review their curricula and include needed animal welfare content.
Continuous provision of animal welfare training
Since March 2019 selected lecturers at both institutions were trained by the Gambian veterinary paraprofessional to teach animal welfare content in theory and practice to the students. In February 2022 the veterinary paraprofessional returned to The Gambia and the lecturers continued the student training independently. One lecturer per institution was selected to oversee the animal welfare course and to be the general contact person concerning animal welfare. To ensure the quality of the teaching and build further capacity an annual lecturer training workshop is conducted in collaboration with LAWCS. In 2023 two additional tertiary education institutions, Liberia International Christian College and Nimba County University requested support with lecturers training. Lecturers from the institutions took part in the annual workshop in 2023 and in 2024.
The students receive regular animal welfare training in theory and practice. To improve the practical lessons further WTS supported both institution with a small grant to build goat stables on site, so students have easier access to hands on training.
Independent Operation of the animal welfare training by project partners
Since August 2021 the partners discussed possibilities for the universities to take over financial responsibilities. Since April 2023 the universities are covering all costs for student training, WTS only provides support for collection of M&E data, an annual workshop for education staff as well as some funds for networking and advocacy with other education institutions in Liberia interested in integrating animal welfare into their education.