Home | Contact us | Help

Vet schools

£750 Student Travel Award – Student Essay Competitions

As part of the activities planned for the EU veterinary week in the UK, Defra with the support of the UK Veterinary schools and the Veterinary Public health Association launched a student essay competition last month (October 2008).

Five finalists/winners have been chosen: 

Joy AgarJames McLeodMartin SmithHannah SmithRichard Page

Prizes include a Defra £500 travel award to attend  a conference or undertake a period of planned study in the EU in 2009, VPHA £250 award, CVO award and individual awards from Cambridge and Liverpool universities.

Winners will be announced at a luncheon with the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) and President for the Veterinary Public Health Association in London on Wednesday 19 December.

More universities accredited for the RCVS certificate

The RCVS has accredited four more universities to assess modules for its Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (CertAVP). This means that there are now 78 modules for candidates to choose from, with many modules available through more than one university, giving veterinary surgeons a real choice as to how they work towards postgraduate qualifications.

The RCVS CertAVP Subcommittee has approved applications from the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and the West of England (in partnership with Hartpury College). 

A very broad range of modules is now available, covering most species and many disciplines. They include some firsts for the CertAVP – equine modules will be available through both Edinburgh and Liverpool universities, and Edinburgh will also be assessing modules in equine dentistry, laboratory animal science and cattle and sheep medicine, amongst others.  Glasgow’s range includes modules in veterinary public health, as well as emergency critical care, while the University of the West of England’s offering includes the key skills modules, and ‘B’ modules in small animal, equine and production animal practice.

These universities now join the Royal Veterinary College and the Universities of Cambridge and Middlesex in being accredited to assess modules. While all of the accredited universities provide courses to support candidates working towards modules, including distance-learning options and online support, they must also offer an assessment-only route for those who prefer self-study, or who want to attend courses elsewhere. 

The modular CertAVP was launched during 2007 and gives candidates the benefit of a mix and match style of learning. This aims to meet the needs of those who are committed to planned continuing professional development (CPD) but who need to balance this with busy practice life.  The new Certificate also better meets the needs of those whose practice interests change over the enrolment period, or who want to combine study across different species and disciplines to suit their practice caseload.  Previously there was little flexibility built into the examination system.

“We are delighted that the list of modules available has nearly tripled this month,” says Freda Andrews, RCVS Head of Education. “Interest in the new certificate is growing, and there are already around 200 people enrolled with RCVS for various modules.  So it’s great news that these universities are now backing the Certificate and enabling much greater choice for veterinary surgeons studying for the qualification.”
Full details of the new modules are available on RCVSonline at www.rcvs.org.uk/modcerts

The GVS contributes directly to support veterinary undergraduates by

  • working with academic colleagues and the RCVS to support development of the veterinary public health, state veterinary medicine and preventive medicine curriculum.
  • delivering lectures, teaching sessions, providing expertise to the schools and acting as examiners
  • providing opportunities for extra-mural studies (EMS) placements or internships in government departments and agencies.

Through Defra funding the GVS has also been able to support cross-schools initiatives to improve access to veterinary education through the Gateways Project and to fund specific post-graduate training in infectious disease control through the Veterinary Training and Research Initiative.

Through the GVS-UVS Liaison group, staff in both the UK vet schools and in government aim to keep teaching in the growing area of veterinary public health relevant and up-to-date.

A series of teaching days provided by the GVS are delivered to veterinary schools in January each year. The purpose of the sessions is to provide up to date information on government policy and legislation, to increase awareness of the role of vets in public health and to highlight their statutory responsibilities. THe sessions also provide students with skills which are commonly used in policy decision making.

 

 

Page last modified 20 November, 2008