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Yunlin County offers free training to boost pet industry workforce

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The Yunlin County government in Taiwan is offering free training for animal medical assistants to meet the growing demand in the pet industry.
  • The program aims to help participants obtain professional certifications and encourage them to work or start businesses within the county.
  • With the pet population surpassing that of young children, the initiative addresses the need for skilled professionals in animal healthcare and welfare.

Yunlin County in Taiwan is launching a free training program for animal medical assistants, recognizing the significant growth potential of the pet industry. The initiative aims to address the increasing demand for skilled professionals in animal healthcare and caregiving.

Pet owners have become important members of many families, but the number of veterinarians nationwide is only about 5,000, and professional manpower is still insufficient.

— Chang Li-shanYunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan explains the need for more trained professionals in the animal care sector.

County Magistrate Chang Li-shan highlighted that the pet market is booming, with the number of pet dogs and cats projected to exceed the human population aged 0-14 by 2025. To support this trend, the county government, in collaboration with veterinary associations and National Taiwan University's College of Veterinary Medicine, is offering the training. Participants who are registered residents of Yunlin County can enroll for free, a course that would typically cost NT$20,000 to NT$40,000 elsewhere. The program has seen immediate success, with enrollment slots filling up rapidly.

Chang Yentzen, an associate professor at NTU's College of Veterinary Medicine, emphasized that animal medical assistants are crucial for the industry's development, supporting both veterinary hospitals and farm animal healthcare systems. This industry-academia collaboration is expected to enhance animal care quality and boost the sector's capabilities. Last year's first training cohort saw a nearly 90% pass rate for the certification exam, with most graduates securing positions in animal hospitals, disease control units, or animal welfare organizations.

Animal medical assistants are already an important trend in industry development.

— Chang YentzenChang Yentzen, an associate professor at National Taiwan University's College of Veterinary Medicine, highlights the growing importance of veterinary assistants.

Yunlin County currently has 67 animal hospitals, and with an estimated need for one to two animal medical assistants per hospital, along with demand from disease control and animal protection agencies, the county requires approximately 150 to 200 such professionals. The program requires 216 hours of training, after which participants can obtain a certification, equipping them with a valuable skill set and enhancing their career prospects. The county government also offers startup subsidies for those looking to establish their own businesses, with grants of up to NT$500,000 for micro-enterprises and NT$3 million for specialized projects.

Last year's first training cohort had a first-time certification pass rate of nearly 90%.

— Liao PeizhiLiao Peizhi, Director of the County Animal Disease Control Office, reports on the success of the initial training program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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