On December 17, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. The Department of Parasitology and Invasive Animal Diseases of the Vitebsk Academy of Veterinary Medicine has been recognised as the winner of the competition for the best department of higher education institutions in Russia and the CIS countries, as reported to BELTA correspondent by the university. The competition was held in 2012 by the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences among various university departments. According to its results, the department of the Vitebsk Veterinary Academy was awarded the "Golden Department of Russia" diploma for its merits in the development of national education. The award ceremony will take place in February 2013 in Russia (Moscow or Sochi, the location is not yet precisely determined) at the annual solemn meeting of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. For over 20 years, the Department of Parasitology and Invasive Animal Diseases of the Vitebsk Academy of Veterinary Medicine has been headed by Anton Yatusevich. The team he leads actively trains agricultural and scientific personnel and participates in research work. Since 1944, 46 candidate and 7 doctoral dissertations have been defended at the department. In recent years, over 50 veterinary preparations have been developed and implemented into production at the department, some of which have no analogues in world practice. Of particular importance are the developed methods for the prevention of hypodermatosis and fascioliasis, which have made it possible to lift restrictions on the use of livestock products within three weeks after animal treatment. The economic effect from the implementation of these developments over the last three years has amounted to over Br15 billion. The Vitebsk Academy of Veterinary Medicine is a recognised centre of higher education and science in Belarus. It comprises 5 faculties, 28 departments, an agricultural college, branches in Rechitsa and Pinsk, a research institute of applied veterinary medicine and biotechnology, and the Republican Laboratory of Information Technologies. Currently, 177 candidates and 21 doctors of sciences work at the academy. Since 1998, the rector of the academy has been Anton Yatusevich, Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Petrovsky Academy of Sciences and Arts, Academician of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Academician of the International Academy of Information Technologies, and Honoured Scientist of the Republic of Belarus. -0-

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