Leading Significant Institutional Change in the Context of an OIE-Endorsed Veterinary Twinning Project

Abstract

A 5-year World Organisation for Animal Health Veterinary Twinning Program between Massey University, New Zealand, and the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, was initiated in 2014. The key aims of the project were renewal of the curriculum, rejuvenation of teaching methodology, and creation of a platform for sustainable clinical and extension livestock services within the teaching program. The project succeeded in facilitating the development of a new veterinary undergraduate curriculum that was based upon student-centered and problem-based approaches to teaching and learning. Key reasons for the success of the project were (a) perceptions for the necessity of changes at the University of Peradeniya; (b) the management of expectations of both partners in the program along with their key stakeholders; (c) allowing sufficient time (i.e., 5 years) for agreement, establishment, and implementation of the changes; and (d) the development of the relationships of trust between faculty of the partner institutions at both decision-making and grassroots levels. From a project management perspective, the project required bringing about significant change in another organization, in a foreign country, and with a distinctly different culture. Moreover, notwithstanding the value of a long project, project managers should be prepared for significant political, organizational, and personnel change over the duration of such a project.