RCVS shares new EMS Policy plans
"We are aiming for quality and equality over quantity" - Kate Richards.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is planning to launch a new Extra Mural Studies (EMS) Policy to improve flexibility and opportunity.
Expected to come into force from Autumn 2024 onwards, the new EMS policy framework will address four key areas identified by EMS stakeholders, new graduates, and veterinary organisations.
These are:
• An enhanced approach to EMS achieved through additional quality assurance measures, enabling the number of weeks of EMS required by students to be reduced.
• Greater flexibility and more outcomes-based approach, allowing students to identify their own learning outcomes for EMS in areas most relevant and of interest to them, and achieve the experience in different ways.
• Clear information for students on what specific EMS placements can offer, in terms of experience and support.
• Measures to increase the accessibility and availability of EMS placements across the profession, through improved guidance, promotion and recognition of the benefits to all parties and incentives for providers.
Kate Richards, Chair of the RCVS Education Committee and senior vice-president of the RCVS, explained: “It is clear that change is needed in order to make EMS sustainable in the longer term and fulfil its potential to be a valuable addition to the professional development of the next generation of vets.
“However, this needs to be done in such a way as to minimise the risk of unintended consequences that could have an impact on our future graduates and new members of the profession.”
The new policy includes changes such as reducing the financial burden of EMS placements on students by reducing the number of weeks spent on placement, and allowing students to take placements more flexibly around work, family and caring commitments.
In allowing for this reduction, the policy will improve the consistency of quality placements, and to provide a more valuable experience.
In September, the RCVS Education Committee agreed to the new EMS Proposals, and the RCVS is creating a national database of EMS placements to support veterinary schools, students and providers, and to ease the administrative load.
Dr Linda Prescott-Clements, RCVS director of education, said: “The new EMS policy will be student-led with a more outcomes focus based on the individual learning needs of students. It will encourage early conversations between students and the EMS provider in order to plan the experience and manage expectations on both sides.
“In order to support students in doing EMS in areas they feel will benefit them the most, the new policy will not impose any specific placement requirements for species and type.
“It is important that students feel motivated and engaged with the working environment when on EMS.
“The new approach will place greater emphasis on feedback and reflection to give students more autonomy to develop their own interests, reflect on their achievements, and consider what further experience they might benefit from in the future.”
The EMS policy plans are available to view in full on the RCVS website.
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