The Veterinary Schools Council (VSC) has today published its Strategic Plan, setting out the direction that the organisation will take until 2020.
Developed jointly by the heads of veterinary schools and the committees which comprise VSC, the Strategic Plan outlines priorities along key themes: leadership; curriculum and assessment; sustainability and efficiency; recruitment; research; and position in Europe.
The committees, made of leaders in the core areas of veterinary education and research, will use their expertise to address these themes. The heads of schools will guide progress while directing joint policy on current and emerging issues affecting veterinary education and research as a whole. These include sharing best practice in combating anti-microbial resistance and ensuring that the UK maintains its role within European veterinary medicine. Key to this will be continuing to work closely with associate member veterinary schools in Ireland and the Netherlands, which already feed into VSC at every level.
Veterinary schools look forward to working with partners across the sector as the Strategic Plan is implemented.
Professor Ewan Cameron, Chair of VSC, said:
‘This Strategic Plan is the foundation for making UK veterinary schools more collaborative and impactful than they have ever been. This will be essential if we are to navigate the changing landscape and seize the opportunities that will arise.
‘Student experience and widening participation will be key areas for development, and taking forward the vital recommendations of Vet Futures will require coordination across the veterinary schools. Thanks to the excellent work of the committees within VSC we now have a comprehensive platform for progressing these matters, as well as veterinary education and research as a whole.’
Link: Veterinary Schools Council Strategic Plan 2016–2020
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Notes to editors:
- The Veterinary Schools Council is made of the heads of seven UK veterinary schools offering degrees accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and has two associate members outside of the UK. It provides a source of informed opinion on matters concerning veterinary education, from the welfare of its students and academic researchers to its links with government and industry. The Council engages in representative and policy work to ensure that the voice of UK veterinary schools is recognised for its experience and will to innovate. For more on the work of the Veterinary Schools Council, see www.vetschoolscouncil.ac.uk and @ukvetschools
- Vet Futures, referenced in Professor Cameron’s comment, is a project set up by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association to analyse the state of the veterinary profession and plan for its future. More can be found at www.vetfutures.org.uk.
- For queries on this press release or the work of the Veterinary Schools Council, please contact Edward Knight, Senior Communications Officer, on 020 7419 5427, or edward.knight@vetschoolscouncil.ac.uk.
