For a number of years now, lecturers from DVTD have been involved in teaching the elective Master Course on Tropical Animal Health at Utrecht University. The course is usually presented over a period of 5 weeks from the end of August to the beginning of October. During 2020 and 2021, however, the SARS-CoV2 pandemic placed severe restrictions on international travel, and lecturers from DVTD had to present their lectures on-line via live streams (mainly Blackboard and MS Teams) and other digital and electronic channels. 

In 2023, with the return to normal international travel, exchange of lecturers could again resume and Dr Hein Stoltsz (the only guest lecturer not from the EU) was invited to present lectures and a practical on the epidemiology of Ticks and Tick-borne diseases of livestock and wildlife in Africa from 19 – 23 September 2022. Participants are assessed based on a group activity that comprises of both a written review/literature study for a research project and production of a knowledge clip (short video presentation) on a chosen topic. In addition to the scheduled contact time for lecturing, Dr Stoltsz also supervised one out of the 4 groups of attendees throughout the course (both online and face to face during his visit) to prepare their research project and knowledge clip. 

Since this was his first return visit to Utrecht since 2019, there was also an opportunity to socialise with Utrecht students who had previously completed their internships under his supervision in South Africa.

Dr Stoltsz meeting with some of the students he had previously supervised during their internships in South Africa.