The University of Limerick (UL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with a network of independently-owned veterinary practices.
The agreement is part of UL’s efforts to launch a new veterinary programme, and the university is one of those being considered by the government to deliver a new veterinary course.
The government is yet to formally announce which third-level institution or institutions will host a new vet school. However, the university is moving ahead with its plans, and recently signed an agreement with Salesian Agricultural College to co-operate in the delivery of a new undergraduate course.
Now, UL has announced that it has partnered with XLVets with the aim of “providing a practical solution to the need for a comprehensive veterinary education programme for Irish students”.
XLVets is a business network for independently-owned veterinary practices in Ireland. The network hosts 27 independent businesses, 47 veterinary clinics, 250 support staff, and 190 veterinarians.
The memorandum of understanding comes after a visit to UL by XLVets’ CEO Mike Curran and chairperson Sean Coffey, where they met UL president Prof. Kerstin Mey and the veterinary school project team.
The university is proposing to deliver a “hybrid distributed model” of veterinary clinical education, using its partnership with XLVets, as well as regional placement hubs and the development of a contemporary veterinary teaching hospital on campus.
UL is planning an annual intake of 90 students for its new course when it hits full capacity, 12 of whom will be from Northern Ireland.
UL and XLVets discussed clinical general practice teaching, as well as the university’s plans for “novel student selection proposals” and planned veterinary clinical placements in year five of its programme.
Prof. Sean Arkins, UL chair of Equine Science, said that the university “is confident that its distributed model for veterinary clinical placements, with students living and working in rural practices, will positively influence graduates towards clinical practice and rural career choices”.
The UL School of Veterinary Medicine has also discussed collaboration with XLVets on the development of a mentoring programme to optimise the transition to clinical practice.
Commenting after the meeting, UL president Prof. Kerstin Mey said: “UL looks forward to introducing a novel and innovative programme of veterinary education whose graduates are multi-competent, resilient and industry-ready.”