BVA approves Hughes Education Report
Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Simon Hughes has released an access to education report recommending courses such as veterinary science should get additional support to help gain a diverse range of applicants.
Hughes made around 30 specific recommendations on how to get more students from deprived backgrounds to apply for University. He stressed the importance of 'widening access' for longer courses so students did not feel deterred from entering professions such as veterinary practice.
Most significantly, Hughes is pushing for scholarships to be awarded to bright students from predominantly low-income backgrounds. Consequently, this reassures students they have financial support when taking on such a long period of study and training, which veterinary science requires.
The BVA warmly welcomed such proposals, as they have previously voiced their anxieties over high tuition fees creating less prospective veterinary students. Locke emphasised how potential veterinary students are guaranteed one of the most expensive degree courses, and that the BVA and Government should indeed work together so students from all backgrounds are not discouraged from entering the profession.
Although Locke expressed his approval for Hughes' suggested 'additional support' in attracting the brightest students from all backgrounds, he did reveal that:
"We know that some veterinary schools already have programmes aimed at attracting students from poorer backgrounds into the profession and we would hope to see this rolled out across all of the UK’s seven veterinary schools."
Despite the drastically high rise in tuition fees, (with veterinary courses ranging from the astronomical £7,500 to £9,000,) it seems there is hope for future veterinary students from underprivileged backgrounds. If ability and not financial background are truly considered in the distribution of these scholarships, the BVA's previous concerns over a prospective decline in veterinary training can be put to rest.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
