Our Country Ambassadors work with international universities to inspire graduates to join us in the UK and start a rewarding career in veterinary public health. In the veterinary industry, global talent is crucial, and our professionals come from around 50 countries to help us safeguard animal welfare and ensure food is safe to eat.
Paolo Di Mascio and Benedetto Davi are our Country Ambassadors for Italy and promote our roles at 13 EAEVE-accredited universities. This includes visiting career fairs, organising webinars and presenting to students on Veterinary Public Health roles.
We caught up with Paolo and Benedetto to find out more about their plans as Country Ambassadors…
What do you love about your ambassador country?
Paolo: Italy has a strong veterinary education with many EEAVE-accredited universities producing skilled graduates. I love Italy because it is my home and because people are very cheerful.
Benedetto: I love the rich culture and diversity of my ambassador country. It has a strong sense of community, a deep appreciation for education, and a growing interest in global careers such as veterinary medicine. The warmth and resilience of the people make it incredibly fulfilling to represent.
What universities are you focusing on?
Benedetto: In Italy, there are 13 officially recognised Faculties of Veterinary Medicine. These universities are located throughout the country and offer single-cycle master’s degree programmes in Veterinary Medicine, which last five years:
- University of Bari
- University of Bologna
- University of Camerino
- University of Messina
- University of Milan
- University of Naples
- University of Padua
- University of Parma
- University of Perugia
- University of Pisa
- University of Sassari
- University of Teramo
- University of Turin
My primary focus will be Parma, Bari and Messina.
Paolo: I have recently visited the University of Teramo, where I graduated from, and plan to visit more Italian universities during my time as a Country Ambassador.
What have you done so far as part of this role?
Benedetto: So far, I’ve connected with students and educators from Italian universities, planned webinar sessions, shared posters for international graduates with Parma University, and responded to enquiries from prospective applicants.
Paolo: I recently visited the University of Teramo where I presented to students about veterinary public health careers.
What impact do you hope to have through your role as a Country Ambassador?
Benedetto: I hope to engage fellow veterinary professionals and students who are interested in pursuing a career as an Official Veterinarian, by sharing my own experiences and offering guidance along the way.
Paolo: I hope to help veterinarians from my country to have the opportunity to work in the UK, where there is a lot of respect for veterinarians. In future, I hope to share our opportunities across all Italian universities.
Interested in a role with us? Head to our Join the Team page to find out more.
