The 33rd World Veterinary Congress offered a comprehensive scientific program spanning five days at Songdo ConvensiA, Incheon. Below is a high-level overview of the daily schedule structure and key events that shaped the congress.
Congress Schedule Overview
| Date | Day | Key Sessions & Events |
|---|---|---|
| August 27, 2017 | Sunday | Registration opens; welcome reception; opening ceremony |
| August 28, 2017 | Monday | Plenary lectures; invited speaker sessions; scientific parallel sessions begin |
| August 29, 2017 | Tuesday | Scientific sessions continue; poster presentations; Asian Veterinary Dental Forum |
| August 30, 2017 | Wednesday | Scientific sessions; VET VISION 2050 special program; Beer Party with Experts |
| August 31, 2017 | Thursday | Closing sessions; Best Poster Award ceremony; farewell |
Program Highlights
- Plenary Lectures — Leading international speakers addressed major themes in veterinary science across the main auditorium each morning.
- Invited Speaker Sessions — Specialized tracks featuring experts from over 79 countries, covering companion animal medicine, food safety, epidemiology, and more.
- VET VISION 2050 — A dedicated forward-looking program exploring the future of the veterinary profession through panel discussions and survey findings.
- Asian Veterinary Dental Forum — A joint meeting with live demonstrations and focused sessions on veterinary dentistry.
- Best Poster Award & E-Posters — Researchers presented findings in digital and traditional poster formats, with awards for outstanding contributions.
Note: The detailed day-by-day breakdown with specific times and session topics is available on the Daily Program page. The full invited speaker roster and plenary lecturer schedule can be found under the Scientific Program section.
Social & Networking Events
- Welcome Reception — Held on the opening evening, offering attendees a chance to connect informally.
- Beer Party with Experts — A relaxed networking event where participants could engage with invited speakers in an informal setting. Online reservations opened on May 17, 2017.
Related Resources
- Scientific Program — Full program details, plenary lecturers, and invited speakers
- Daily Program — Day-by-day session schedule with times and topics
- VET VISION 2050 — Special program on the future of veterinary medicine
The 33rd World Veterinary Congress brought together veterinary professionals from across the globe for five days of scientific exchange and professional development. Held at the Songdo ConvensiA in Incheon, the congress served as a vital platform for sharing advances in animal health and welfare. The program featured plenary lectures from distinguished invited speakers alongside numerous parallel sessions covering the full spectrum of veterinary medicine. This gathering reinforced the importance of international collaboration in addressing both companion animal and livestock health challenges, while highlighting the role of veterinary science in promoting public health and food safety worldwide.
The scientific program encompassed a remarkable breadth of veterinary disciplines, from clinical specialties such as internal medicine, dermatology, ophthalmology, and dentistry to population-level concerns including nutrition, infectious disease control, and welfare science. Sessions dedicated to avian, porcine, bovine, and equine medicine underscored the congress's commitment to production animal health, while forums on emergency care, anesthesia, surgery, and diagnostic imaging addressed the needs of small animal practitioners. This comprehensive programming ensured that veterinarians from every field of practice could find relevant continuing education opportunities throughout the event.
International participation was a defining feature of the congress, with veterinarians, researchers, and educators traveling from countries across Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. This global representation fostered rich cross-cultural exchanges of knowledge and experience. Delegates from veterinary associations, academic institutions, and research centres shared their perspectives on regional disease challenges and treatment approaches. Such gatherings strengthen the worldwide veterinary community, enabling professionals to build networks that extend far beyond the congress itself and contribute to improved animal health outcomes on every continent.
The choice of Incheon as the host city reflected the growing prominence of Asian veterinary science on the world stage. Songdo ConvensiA provided an excellent setting for the congress, with modern facilities that accommodated the many parallel sessions, poster presentations, and social events. The venue's location also allowed participants to experience Korean culture and hospitality. Beyond the lecture halls, the congress offered valuable opportunities for informal discussion and relationship building among colleagues who might otherwise never meet, reinforcing the sense of a truly global veterinary profession working toward shared goals.
At its core, the 33rd World Veterinary Congress advanced the mission of the World Veterinary Association to promote animal health, welfare, and veterinary education worldwide. The congress addressed pressing contemporary issues while celebrating the enduring values of the veterinary profession. From the opening ceremony to the final sessions, the event emphasised the interconnectedness of animal and human health through the One Health approach. The knowledge shared in Incheon continues to influence veterinary practice and policy, demonstrating the lasting value of such international congresses in shaping the future of veterinary medicine.