History of IVSA Ankara

IVSA Ankara was founded in 2000, being the pioneer IVSA organization in Turkey had concluded many exchanges and many organizations. These activities may be summarized as; group exchanges (2003-with Ivsa Zurich, Switzerland; 2005-with Ivsa Utrecht, Netherlands), individual exchanges (2002-Budapest-Hungary; 2005-8 Hellenic Wildlife-Greece), attendance to meetings as IVSA Ankara delegate (2000-IVSA South Eastern European Group, Bulgaria; 2001-II. IVSA Lakeweek Organization Meeting, Macedonia; 2009- 58th Annual Summer Congress, Poland; 2009-Discover the Buffalos World Workshop; 2010-SAVMA Symposium, USA, 59th Annual Summer Congress, Denmark) and even in the executive committee of IVSA SEEG in 2001


Ankara University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Ankara University keeps international standarts regarding modern scientific approaches and technology applications and aims to educate professionals and to perfom research work in accordance with the general economic and hygiene policies in the country. Ankara University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is the veterinary faculty in Turkey which was fully accreditated by JEC (Joint Education Committe) to EAEVE (European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education) since April 2007and it was the first faculty to initiate Erasmus cooperations since 2004. We have Erasmus bilateral agreements with different countries Italy (Bologna, Teramo, Padova), Germany (Leipzig, Hannover, Berlin), Austria (Wien), Bulgaria (Trakia), Slovakia (Kosije), Poland (Warsaw), Greece (Tselloniki), Hungary (Szent Istvan) and keep student exchanges each year in increasing number. The students who had already attended these exchanges take attention to the other students on studying abroad, so each year we have great potential for the demand on abroad exchanges.


Finance

IVSA Ankara is supported by Ankara University in both financial and social ways. Ankara University offers recreation hotels for students in touristic areas of Turkey (Antalya-beach resort, Ilgaz-skiing resort, Istanbul-meeting hall..etc).

The structural organization of IVSA Ankara on financial basis, was based on basically the Ankara University funds. As being a student organization, Ankara University supports the activities from culture funds. Besides financial, Ankara University provides IVSA Ankara conference halls, busses for trips, accommodation facilities,..etc utilized for several activities. In past, it was also supported by pet food-drug companies and other private companies. We have strong relations with veterinary organizational associations such as Turkish Veterinary Medical Association and Ankara Veterinary Chamber on currency, which also have high potential for financial support. For individual exchanges around Europe, Ankara University supports as Erasmus funding; regardless of university exchanges, including other private sectors. For group exchanges, we have already two projects concerning youth programs; awaiting further partner confirmation.

Therefore, the potential of outgoing students abroad in Ankara University is vast; compared to other faculties around Turkey. As well with the outgoing potential, there are many incoming students from different countries who are attracted to Ankara Universities for summer training, exchange programs and post graduate studies.


Activities

The are currently 124 members in IVSA Ankara which sets to an increasing demand; expecting more than 50 more members for the incoming year 2011. The weekly meetings are opened to all members in the faculty after the lecture hours. Besides those weekly meetings, many informal meetings are done for other specific purposes outside the faculty. In order to merge the members more closer, many other activities such as drinking, tracking, barbecuing, sport competitions,..etc are done. The members are all participating in the brainstorming process for all the activities, as well as having special duties to be done. The subcommitees are formed for special tasks; having students to work actively participating on activities. We would like to add that, in 2005, special identitity card was given to all members showing the membership. Many former IVSA member, still carry those id cards as a good memories; inwhich we are planning to prepare this year again. The activities of IVSA Ankara has attracted many other students in the Student Festival of Ankara University. Those festivals had also turned out to be beneficial for the financial purposes by the selling of IVSA Ankara logo tshirts, cups, handmade delicious stuffs made by IVSA members,…etc. These activities have also guided the students, to be more active. 

IVSA members are in good contact with private vet-sectors; providing students trainees in companies. We are organizing sector-student meetings creating closer relations and possible job outcomes. Besides private sectors, the members are also guided from governmental policies and workers. We have also projects to work together with governmental sectors, and previously with close connections by university; IVSA Ankara members was supported by governmental hatcheries, horse breeders unions, stockbreeders unions as well. In 2005, with the group exchange with Dutch students; the students for the first time taken to the “Official Government Assembly House” to have a lunch and have speech with veterinarian parliement members. As described, these close connections, will also guide foreign students to create a bridge who would like to work on these enterprises. 

IVSA Ankara has also a good system in documentation. All the corresponding writings are kept in filed in at least two copies. The demands as financial and other formal supports are requested in authorized petitions to the deans office along with rectorates. The files are also kept in computers in order with the hardcopies. 

IVSA Ankara Executive Commitee is coaching the younger members, encouraging and guiding them to become more experienced on managemental issues. There are assisstants who are former members of IVSA Ankara, guides these freshmans to become more attracted, and more competitive on these exchanges. IVSA Ankara has also a academician guide (still young:) officially accepted by the faculty, who was also a former IVSA Ankara active member. There are four other doctorate students helping and guiding the members.

IVSA Ankara members; as being in the center for international contacts more immense compared to other cities in Turkey; have more potential for fluent English speaking. TOMER (Ankara University Organization for foriegn languages) provides students foreign language courses to almost half price. English is not the only foreign language, but German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic..etc are also spoken by the members. These members provide potential support from local services for possible exchanges and activities. Besides, all the collaborations across the world, we also would like to gather around the Turkish speaking mid-Asian countries under the developing projects such like providing support for summer trainings, vet-book aids,..etc.