RCVS to host inaugural international postgraduate education symposium

THE Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons will be hosting an inaugural international postgraduate veterinary education symposium later this year.

The event will kick start the development of an international community of practice to lead, engage in, report and share high quality veterinary educational scholarship, research and innovation.

It will take place at Ironmongers’ Hall, London, on Tuesday, November 18 and Wednesday, November 19, and will bring together those with an interest in advancing postgraduate veterinary education and training.

This will include researchers, educators, veterinary professionals, practice leaders and managers, and those from other relevant fields.

The need for increased focus on this important area of veterinary education - and the development of a collaborative approach to understand international ‘best practice’ - stems from the fact that there is very little published evidence relating to education and training ‘beyond graduation’ in the veterinary field, unlike in other professions such as medicine or dentistry.

This position has been set out in a recent paper published in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education entitled ‘The Veterinary Education and Training Landscape Beyond Graduation: Where Is the Evidence?’ authored by Dr Linda Prescott-Clements, director of education at the RCVS, (UK), and international collaborators Professor Kent G. Hecker (Canada), Professor Harold G. J. Bok (Netherlands), and Professor Martin Cake (Australia).

The paper highlights the potential opportunities and advantages of an increased focus on postgraduate veterinary education and development across four overarching topics, each representing the stages within a professional’s career where education and training may play an important role.

They are graduate transition into the profession; advanced education and training (post graduate qualifications, internships, and residencies); continuing education and professional development, and licensure and revalidation.

The event will centre around these four topics, with several educational leaders from both the veterinary and health professions delivering presentations. These include Professor John Norcini (USA), Professor Olle ten Cate (Netherlands), Professor Lambert Schuwirth (Australia), Professor Suzanne Chamberlain (UK), Professor Martin Cake (Australia) and Ms Wendy Preston (UK). More information on the speakers can be found on the RCVS website.

There will also be presentations from delegates and an invitation to share new, innovative ideas with peers and experts, with next steps agreed which will  lead to collaborative research, support, innovation and periodic symposia to share collective advances and best practice.

Dr Linda Prescott-Clements

It is hoped that the symposium will help accelerate progress, bringing together all those involved in PGVE to work collaboratively to improve the vet and vet nurse experience after graduation.

Dr Linda Prescott-Clements said: "An increased focus on post graduate veterinary education could have immense benefits for the veterinary professions, whether it is how best to support new graduates in the workplace, ensure high quality, accessible postgraduate qualifications and training programmes, or identify how vets and vet nurses get the best value from their continuing professional development.“

There have been multiple reports of low retention rates in the veterinary professions and although the causes of this worrying trend are known to be multifactorial, aspects such as poor graduate support, low job satisfaction, disengagement and lack of career progression and opportunities for personal development have been reported as contributing factors.

“Through enhanced postgraduate training and support mechanisms, built on best practice evidence, such issues can begin to be addressed.”

Professor Harold Bok added: “We are delighted to be launching this vital initiative on a global stage with the first symposium of its kind. While the event is open to all, we particularly welcome those who are actively involved in the support and training of vets and vet nurses from graduation onwards, and those interested in pursuing research either themselves or by commissioning targeted studies.”

Places at the event will be limited to 100 delegates and will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Tickets cost £100 per person for both days. A pre-conference workshop and networking day on November 17 will also be available to delegates interested in leading and contributing to the development of the international community of practice.

For more information and to book a place, visit the RCVS’s dedicated international postgraduate veterinary education symposium page.