New veterinary skills centre to open in Aberdeen
The new centre will contain a mock veterinary practice and animal disease diagnostics laboratories.
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has announced plans to open a state-of-the-art veterinary clinical skills teaching centre in Aberdeen.
The £850,000 investment will see the creation of a ten-room Veterinary Clinical Skills Centre at SRUC’s Craibstone campus, containing a clinical skills laboratory, mock veterinary practice and animal disease diagnostics laboratories.
Opening in September, it will also be kitted out with 360-degree cameras, video streaming and touchscreen displays to connect the centre to other SRUC campuses and remote learners.
Caroline Argo, dean of SRUC’s North Faculty said: “Our new Veterinary Clinical Skills Centre will offer one of the best experiences for students of veterinary nursing and other animal-related programmes across the country.
“Rural veterinary practices are vital for farming and rural life and they face challenges when it comes to finding veterinary nurses and support teams. By focussing on the development of talented new professionals for rural practices, our graduates will have the skills, knowledge and opportunities for long, successful and fulfilling careers.”
More than 100 students will be expected to study at the centre each year. There will also be short courses for veterinary professionals and paraprofessionals at weekends at evenings.
It follows the announcement of new equine facilities for Craibstone, also due for completion in September.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
