On 18 February 2014 the first veterinary online open educational resources platform in Africa – the African Veterinary Information Portal (AfriVIP) was launched.    The event was attended by more than 100 invited guests, including 12 deans of faculties of veterinary medicine from East, Central and Southern Africa.  The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, Prof Cheryl De la Rey, said during the launch that AfriVIP will enhance UP’s profile regionally and will make a difference locally and internationally.

AfriVIP has been developed under an open licensing framework as an online portal of information, educational and research resources and continuing professional development opportunities for veterinary, paraveterinary professionals and students.  The portal has been developed by the following partners:  Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Afrivet, World Health Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Collaborating Centre for Training in Integrated Livestock and Wildlife Health and Management, OER Africa, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Neil Butcher & Associates.

The objective is to draw together the substantial intellectual capital, information and research and educational materials on uniquely African matters through a network of faculties of veterinary science and veterinary associations working in Africa and further afield.