Brooke introduces virtual learning platform
Brooke says accessibility is important for breaking down barriers to education.
Equine welfare charity Brooke has launched a new online learning platform, designed to promote equal access to animal welfare education.
The Academy for Working Equids (AWE) aims to improve equine welfare knowledge in places which may struggle to access education resources, including low and middle income countries.
Brooke’s new initiative follows the success of its flagship Animal Health Mentoring Framework. Through this scheme, the charity has trained over 4,000 veterinary surgeons and animal health experts across the world.
The AWE platform will progress Brooke’s goal to improve the lives of working equines, providing more than 15 courses on topics ranging from equine emotions to calculating medicine dosages.
Brooke says its latest resources take a top-down learning approach to equine education and ensure that animal welfare and behaviour take centre stage. It hopes to inspire the next generation of animal welfare advocates, giving them the confidence to treat working horses, donkeys and mules and promote their importance.
The training courses are freely accessible across the world in multiple languages. They are available to download on browser and smartphone, and can then be accessed offline.
The charity says that this accessibility is important for breaking down barriers to education and fostering self-paced learning.
It also enables users to learn on the go. The charity believes this is particularly important for female veterinary surgeons, who typically have additional household roles in the countries where it works.
The charity has already implemented AWE in the training institutions it currently works with. It will be continuing to develop the training resources and support learners using the platform.
Laura Skippen, head of animal welfare at Brooke, said: “I am thrilled to announce the launch of the AWE as a dynamic way of bringing trainers or trainees together quickly to share knowledge. Everyone should have access to high-quality education, but I know this doesn’t always happen in practice.
“We want to ensure many more working animals, even where Brooke doesn’t work, have access to compassionate professionals, who have learnt to understand these hardworking animals and know how to provide them with the best possible care.”
Users can register for the AWE platform here.
Image © Brooke
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