Comparison of Veterinary Medical Education Systems Between Taiwan and the United States

Abstract

In Taiwan, there are veterinary departments in each of the four national universities, yet no central accrediting body similar to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in the U.S. for all the 28 colleges. Disparities are also evident between both countries in the amount of tuition and fees a veterinary student is charged. In the U.S. tuition and fees amount to 9-10 times greater than that of Taiwan Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) students. Furthermore, the ratio of new graduates to the U.S. population is around 1:115,000 whereas in Taiwan the ratio is about 1:92,000. Faculty size in Taiwan collegiate programs is smaller and salaries for collegiate faculty amount to only one-third to one-fourth those in the U.S. Paralleling the U.S. veterinary medical education system to Taiwan serves a method to foster a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in Taiwan. In the future, adopting a more in international viewpoint as well as hospital management regarding the veterinary medical education will help it to evolve into veterinary medical education system compliant to societal and global changes.