UCLan's vet school signs up Medivet to help 'widen participation'

A European veterinary care provider has entered a multi-year deal with Preston's university over its new vet school.

The University of Central Lancashire has signed up Medivet as they look to widen participation and improve the inclusion of under-represented groups in vet education.

Peter Holland, Associate Dean for Partnerships and Enterprise in UCLan’s School of Veterinary Medicine, said: “The University has a keen focus on improving access to, and inclusion of, under-represented communities in higher education, and the new School of Veterinary Medicine holds this ethos very much at its core. We took a different approach to selecting students for our BVMS course as we wanted to widen participation in veterinary education by addressing some of the demographic or circumstantial barriers that have denied people the chances of learning and becoming the next generation of vets.”

He added: “As a ‘widening participation’ sponsor, Medivet is investing significantly in UCLan’s students to enable the School to realise many of its ambitions to broaden the entry pool into veterinary higher education, and is actively supporting their development across the five years for a successful future in the profession.”

Chris Cools, CEO of Medivet, said: “Our profession needs great clinical talent for a long term, healthy and sustainable future, and we are proud to support UCLan in its ambition to attract, teach and train a new generation of veterinary students from all backgrounds.”

This year's cohort of 78 vet school students are the first to be taught at the university and will receive support as part of this deal.

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