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Training partnership with University of Adelaide
UK business training for 'Aussie' vets of tomorrow (Photo: Onswitch)
UK firm provides business acumen for Australian vets of tomorrow

Veterinary training and consultancy business, Onswitch, first established links with the University of Adelaide's School of Animal and Veterinary Science several years ago, with the launch of the company's customer experience training tool, ‘Footsteps – the board game’.

Directly inspired by the principles of ‘Footsteps’, Dr Adele Feakes, senior lecturer in veterinary practice management, altered the business curriculum for her students, to centre on the game's customer journey. Onswitch has since hosted two intakes of Adelaide students into its rolling business extra mural studies (BEMS) programme offered to UK veterinary students, with plans for a study group of 10 to 12 Australian students in 2020.

Dr Feakes explains how the VEBE-OBP programme has come about. “I’ve worked with Onswitch for several years now and have seen the enormous benefits my students have received from spending time exploring the commercial side of veterinary practice – a crucial area. Rather than two students flying to the UK each year, with this new programme we are able to offer more of our University of Adelaide veterinary science students exposure to this key aspect of practice life.”

In a novel development to the partnership, on Monday 9 September the University of Adelaide – ranked 43rd in the 2019 QS World University Rankings for veterinary science – launched a three-week Veterinary Entrepreneurship and Business elective incorporating the Onswitch Business Programme (VEBE-OBP) for the 2019 and 2020 academic years.

In 2020, the elective will be available in its Australian version as VEBE-OBP (Aus), and also in June as an overseas study tour. VEBE-OBP (UK) will incorporate the Cx Congress in Nottingham and the SCIVAC Congress in Cremona, as well as providing UK-based training content and support.

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Government releases latest bluetongue statistics

APHA has confirmed the number of bluetongue cases that have been logged in the UK since 1 July 2026.

The total number of BTV-3 cases, as of 6 August, is 187. This includes 183 cases in England and four cases in Wales.

There have been no recorded cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The location of premises in Great Britain where at least one animal has tested positive by PCR for BTV-3, BTV-8 or BTV-12 is available on the bluetongue case map. All livestock keepers in Great Britain are urged to familiarise themselves with nation-specific bluetongue control policies.

Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement that any suspicions, even if livestock has been vaccinated, are reported immediately.