General information

The future of veterinary education and training

You can read all about the RCVS's Education Strategy Steering Group's recommendations on the future of veterinary education and training in the following documents:

RCVS consultation document (2001)

ESSG's Recommendations (2002)

All of ESSG's recommendations from 2002 were accepted by RCVS Council and are now in the process of being implemented through a variety of initiatives.  See in particular: 

PDP

Modular Certificates

Practice Standards

Gateways to the Profession

The veterinary profession was chosen as one of six professions to be the subject of a case study for the Gateways to the Profession Report prepared by Sir Alan Langlands, at the request of the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. 

The Langlands report was published by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (then the Department for Education and Skills) in November 2005.

You can find more information on the Gateways project by viewing our news articles - Research Phase of Gateways Project reports (20 June 2007), Gateways to the Profession - DfES Consultation Launched (6 January 2005) and Opening gateways to the profession (5 March 2006), or you can visit the Department for Business Innovation & Skills website. 

You can also view the summary report of the workshop (PDF 184Kb) held at the offices of RCVS on the 28 June 2007.

The RCVS, working with universities and DEFRA, received funding from DfES (now DIUS)  for a project which sought to improve the range of careers materials available for young people.  For more information regarding this funding, please see our latest news article Gateways to the veterinary profession funding secured (1 December 2006).

The launch of the new careers materials took place on the 8 May 2008 at the Rainforest Café in London.  The theme of 'Veterinary Science... for all Walks of Life' has been used to produce a DVD and brochure which is being sent round to all secondary schools and is available to the general public.

In addition there is also a dedicated website at http://www.walksoflife.org.uk/ which contains an electronic edition of the brochure and links to the videos. You can read more about the launch of these materials in our latest news article Drive to increase diversity of veterinary profession. 

Anyone wishing to obtain copies of these materials can contact the Education Department on 020 7202 0791 or education@rcvs.org.uk