June 2005

Equine Science Certificate program receives national program award of excellence

The Equine Science Certificate has been awarded the National Award of Excellence.
The award was presented to Open Learning and Equine Guelph, University of Guelph, at the Canadian Association of University Continuing Education (CAUCE) 2005 annual conference, held in St. John’s, Newfoundland, for the Equine Science Certificate program, an online program for the horse industry. The CAUCE Program Awards recognize excellence in university continuing education programs and the concept of scholarship of practice inherent in the program development process.

The Equine Science Certificate program, which can be viewed as a catalyst to strengthen collaboration among equine researchers, horse owners, and the equine industry, consists of six courses: Management of the Equine Environment, Equine Functional Anatomy, Equine Growth and Development, Equine Exercise and Physiology, Equine Health and Disease Prevention, and Equine Nutrition.

The overall objectives of the program are to:

• enable equine enthusiasts and practitioners to acquire the skills and knowledge they need to progress in the equine industry.
• improve equine welfare through continued education for horse owners.
• offer an innovative web-based continued education program to meet the needs of the equine community for flexible delivery and increased accessibility.

“This program has been well-received by the equine industry and the learning community continues to grow to over 500 learners, representing 12 of 13 Canadian provinces and territories, since its launch in summer 2002,” according to Gayle Ecker, Senior Manager, Equine Guelph.

“The Equine Science Certificate program is an excellent example of collaboration amongst students, instructors, industry and the University of Guelph, creating synergies to help horse enthusiasts and professionals to improve equine health and well-being, both nationally and internationally,” says Virginia Gray, Director, Office of Open Learning. Approximately eighty-nine percent (89%) of the students are located in Canada, while ten percent (10%) are from the United States and another one percent (1%) located in Australia, France, Korea, Dubai and Egypt.

For more information about the Equine Science Certificate, visit www.equinesciencecertificate.com or contact Melanie Prosser at the Office of Open Learning at 519-767-5000, mprosser@open.uoguelph.ca.