More vets needed to support Northern Ireland's growing agri-food industry
Representatives from the University of Ulster have justified proposals to build a new veterinary school.
The university was invited to give a presentation to the Northern Ireland Assembly's Committee for Employment and Learning on April 9, 2014.
Vice-chancellor Richard Barnett said the new vet school would focus on the health and welfare of large animals, to support the growing agri-food industry in Northern Ireland.
Ulster also aims to improve CPD opportunities for vets and make the veterinary degree more accessible for people of all socio-economic backgrounds.
It was announced back in October last year that a new veterinary school could be on the cards for the University of Ulster. A spokesperson at the time said: "Due to demand from industry we're considering a proposal".
The topic of new veterinary schools is one that has sparked much controversy among the profession, with many fearing there will be more graduates than jobs.
The University of Surrey will accept its first veterinary students from September 2014, while the University of Aberystwyth said last year that it was exploring the possibility of a new vet school.
Speaking to the Committee for Employment and Learning, Professor Barnett explained that the agri-food industry is a "key component" of the economy in Northern Ireland, and the largest industry in the province.
It is also set for future growth, through the Agri-Food Strategy Board's "Going for Growth" initiative, which aims to increase the size of the industry by 40 per cent by 2020, bringing its value to £7billion.
John Callan, Norbrook's chair of pharmaceutical science for the university said a 65 per cent growth in livestock animals is expected to tie in with this.
"With such a planned increase in livestock numbers, it is obvious that there will also be a requirement for an increased number of vets to help support that," he added.
Conservative estimates from the university project that a 25 per cent increase will be required in the number of vets in Northern Ireland per annum. It is estimated that 60-65 vets will be needed each year in the region.
The starting point for the new vet school will be 50, a number which may be increased if there is a greater requirement.
Prof Callan said more than 60 per cent of vets working in Northern Ireland work in the agri-food sector, compared to 20 per cent in Great Britain. Therefore, he said, it is "no surprise that the quality of training in livestock husbandry in colleges in GB has been seen as lacking."
Despite the importance of the industry in Northern Ireland, Prof Barnett pointed out the region has no veterinary school and prospective students must travel to England, Scotland, Dublin or the EU, driving up the cost of their studies.
Competition in these areas is fierce, with 740 applicants vying for 45 places at the University of Surrey. Similarly the University of Edinburgh's vet school has received 1,000 applications for just 70 funded places.
The University of Ulster plans to make its veterinary course accessible to people from all sections of society. According to Prof Callan, a recent Higher Education Statistics Agency report found 98 per cent of veterinary graduates from the last three years were from affluent socio-economic groups.
It is expected that the new vet school will admit students based on a competency test as well as A levels. This will assess whether the candidate has an interest and competency in the sector.
Another issue the university aims to address is the lack of CPD available to Northern Ireland vets.
"The majority of vets who practice in Northern Ireland must leave the province for their continuing professional development (CPD)," said Prof Callan. He said the new vet school will help to drive up standards in the profession through an increase in CPD.
Clinical teaching will be distributed through partner practices and associates throughout Northern Ireland. The university has chosen this approach rather than having an on site referral hospital to keep down costs and avoid competing with private vet practices.
"We are keen to work with the profession and not alienate it when delivering this new programme," Prof Callan explained.
The university said its proposals have won the support of the agriculture minister, chief veterinary officer, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise.
Commenting at the end of the university's presentation, committee chairperson Robin Swann said: "I think you can gather from the committee's response that there is support here for your endeavours."
The university has submitted a full green book economic appraisal to the Department for Employment and Learning and is awaiting its response.
Image attribution: Wikimedia Creative Commons 3.0/Ardfern
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