This has involved streamlining the old curriculum to avoid any repetition, merging of modules and introduction of some new methods of delivery.

Two new modules

We have merged four modules from the old year one curriculum, to make two systems-based modules: Neuromuscular System, and Circulation and Respiration Systems. This has enabled us to remove areas of repetition in teaching.

Consolidation week

We realise the new course has two long terms. We have therefore added one consolidation week to each term. These have timetabled activities to enable students to catch up on their studies, apply learning to clinical scenarios and enhance their practical and clinical skills.

Veterinary Professional Skills

This is an essential part of veterinary education. We have overhauled our professional skills teaching within a new Veterinary Professional Skills module. The content relates to clinical practice and brings together learning from other modules, as well as including clinical skill development, clinical decision making and communication skills. We realise university study can be challenging and have also included sessions on personal wellbeing.

Delivery is repeated to each 1/3 of the cohort in three two-week blocks. This enables small-group work and more hands-on practical experience. When students are not in teaching they can complete Animal Husbandry Extra Mural Studies (AHEMS) during this time.

New resources

We have produced a variety of online resources for Animal Health and Welfare to reduce lecture time, and maintain the practical teaching of animal handling.

The detailed planning for the year two curriculum is nearly complete and we are excited about the plans for years three to five.

Dr Kate Cobb – Teaching, Learning and Assessment Sub-Dean

The post Curriculum update – Veterinary Medicine and Surgery BVM BVS with BVMed Sci appeared first on School of Veterinary Medicine and Science.

We have a £7 million budget to improve the school’s teaching and learning spaces. Works to expand our teaching facilities are progressing well, with flexible group-teaching rooms installed over last summer to improve the options available for group study.

A number of extensions to the building are now underway. By April these will double the capacity of both our Clinical Skills teaching lab and housing for teaching dogs’, as well as increasing the cold storage capacity within our dissection and surgery facility.

Further plans are currently being developed for a new teaching building which, among other things, will house a new mock veterinary practice, new small-group teaching rooms and base rooms for students in their fifth year.

Simon Clifford – Project Lead (Estates)

The post More students, more space for teaching and learning appeared first on School of Veterinary Medicine and Science.

This April cohort is a first for the University. There is extensive input from staff in the school and across the University to ensure that the student experience and all supporting processes are in place for your start. There is an operational School Project Team, and a wider University Programme Board.

We truly value the input and views our students too, (in fact the first people our School Management Team asked about our dual intake idea was the student Learning Community Forum Reps), and there is much student representation on the Programme Board. Two important student reps are Olivia Bass and Cassie Ulrich.

“Hello, I’m Olivia. I’m working hard with two groups of students: the Guild (the students’ union branch on Sutton Bonington Campus) and VetSoc (the society made up solely of vet students who organise events for vet students) to make sure your student experience, as pioneers for the dual cohort, is equal to that of the September cohort.

Over the past few weeks we’ve been organising your Welcome Week, which will happen when you arrive in April. We want to ensure you have the best fresher’s experience possible. We have organised events that include both cohorts, to give you a chance to get to know the September cohort so you can ask any questions you may have. More details will be released soon – we don’t want to ruin some of the surprises yet!

We’ve also been working hard to make sure you have sports and societies functioning over the summer months, by appointing student ambassadors. Finally VetSoc are working on the new BigVet-LittleVet scheme and you will be introduced to your ‘big vets’ before you arrive. We are looking forward to seeing you in April at the best vet school in the country!”

Olivia Bass – Dual Intake Project Coordinator

“I’m Cassie, the current Education Officer for the University of Nottingham Students’ Union (SU). When you start your course in April, you’ll automatically become a member of the SU. We’re here to help you get involved, find support and make change. I’ve been supporting the dual-intake programme to ensure that the student voice and experience has been considered for the April cohort. Most of this has been through inputting into meetings with staff and students about things like accommodation, transportation, support services, and sports and activities. I’ll also be coordinating planning between the Guild and the SU with some of your Welcome Week events.

As the Education Officer, I’m primarily responsible for representing the academic interests of students to the University and campaigning for change to improve your experience. I couldn’t do this without the elected student reps within your school. If you’re interested, you’ll have the opportunity to become a course rep once your course begins! Your interests and experience will be represented by your school reps, the full-time elected SU officer team, and also by the student-led Guild. The Guild supports and gives a voice to all students studying at Sutton Bonington Campus, while also organising a great programme of events and activities, including Welcome Week.”

Cassie Ulrich – Education Officer, University of Nottingham Students’ Union

The post Preparing for April – student involvement appeared first on School of Veterinary Medicine and Science.

Students joining us in April will be able to purchase a UoN Sport membership from 1 March 2020 onwards. For an annual membership the early bird price will be £209 and will be available through to April 12th 2020 at which point the price will rise to £229.

This membership entitles students to access the sports facilities at Sutton Bonington, University Park and Jubilee Campuses which includes fitness suites, group exercise classes and a swimming pool. Students can also hire squash courts, badminton courts, basketball and volleyball courts at no extra cost. As a member you can also register for free to access the BUCS UNIversal membership which gives you access to 77 university sports facilities nationwide – great for when you are back home with family, travelling or on placement elsewhere.

Clubs and activities for April starters

To make sure we can provide an exciting programme of sport and physical activity support for the April intake, and the wider Sutton Bonington student community, we’re recruiting a Sports Development Officer. They will work collaboratively with the University’s Department of Sport, the Students’ Union and the veterinary school.

The Sports Development Officer will facilitate student sport, including coordinating social, intra-mural and external sport opportunities, working with the wider UoN sport team to ensure a pathway is provided for those students who wish to join UoN sports clubs. They will map the sporting experience both internally and across the campuses as well as forging relationships with local community clubs.

Samantha Bell-Minogue – Assistant Director of Sport

The post Sport membership, clubs and activities for students starting in April appeared first on School of Veterinary Medicine and Science.

Studying at Nottingham vet school has been a blast so far!

The course really has been hands-on right away – during our second week we were getting dogs out of the kennels and trying out palpation. Since then we’ve been practising all sorts, like epidurals and synoviocentesis.

We’ve finished our first animal-handling rotation, so have spent an afternoon each week practising our skills with all of the vet school animals which has been great fun.

While parts of the course are challenging at first there are so many great tutors, who are all approachable and willing to help, making the uni transition much easier – so don’t worry! There’s so much support here from both staff and peers.

Keep looking forward to starting vet school! You’ll love it.

Erin Burnett, Year 1 Veterinary Medicine and Surgery BVM BVS with BVMed Sci (September) – Learning Community Forum Rep

The post View from year one appeared first on School of Veterinary Medicine and Science.