I wish to extend a warm welcome not only to Students, as a well-established practice by those who preceded me, but also to all the Staff, which works to ensure that our Department offers quality teaching and carries out quality research and that the services for the public and the internal users are up to expectations.

Since 2013, many things have changed. Who has lived for many years, before in via Nizza in Turin and then in via Leonardo da Vinci in Grugliasco, hardly manages not to mention the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, including myself. The perception that the old Faculty and Departments no longer exist and have been replaced and incorporated by the Department of Veterinary Science is not completely defined in us.

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Turin has been recognized in 2002 in accordance with the directives of the European Community by the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) and was then re-approved on 12^th April 2011 by the European Committee of Veterinary Education (ECOVE). Since 2009, the institution that controls the quality of veterinary education at the Community level on behalf of the European Commission, has made even requirements for the European acknowledgement more strict and stringent. Thanks to the commitment and dedication of all the Staff and the students, and with the help of the University, our Institution has maintained the goal and improved the performance required by the new SOPs. In July 2010, the Faculty has obtained the certification of the Quality Management System according to the UNI EN ISO 9001 for the planning and delivery of courses in higher education, lifelong learning and student services (Bachelor, Bachelor/Master and Continuing Medical Education Courses). The new Department of Veterinary Science has obtained the re- certification in 2013. This is only a first step, we hope, towards the construction of a quality process that leads us to deal with the process of European accreditation, a certification currently in possession of very few institutions in Europe, which would push us on the international market.

I want to remember that Special Veterinary Education Establishment derived as an offshoot of the Department of Veterinary Science, which guarantees the performance of practical activities in all aspects, as well as the provision of services to the public in accordance with the law on the university reform and the Statute of the University of Turin, thanks to the peculiarity and the particular characteristics of the requested educational requirements.

The Department of Veterinary Sciences also ensures post-graduate training courses that meet the needs of continuing education of all professional veterinary categories, both by means of the system of CME (Continuing Medical Education) accredited conventions and the Specialization Schools and Masters.

I thank the deans and directors who preceded me for their excellent work, the professors, technical and administrative staff and the students for their efforts in achieving the goals we fixed and I wish you all:

a very warm welcome and good luck.