The expected announcement of two new vet schools by government today (Wednesday, September 18), is “not good news” for the veterinary profession and its clients, the Veterinary Working Group has said.
Sources have indicated to Agriland that two new veterinary schools will be established at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) and South East Technological University (SETU).
The Higher Education Authority (HEA) last year identified capacity for a new programme in veterinary medicine at ATU, SETU, and the University of Limerick (UL), as well as increased capacity at University College Dublin (UCD).
However, last week UL confirmed that it has officially withdrawn from the competition to host a new vet school due to the “significant estimated capital cost” of its proposed programme and a “current pause on capital expenditure”.
SETU proposes a distributed model of clinical teaching, where students will complete their clinical rotations in private practices, in collaboration with its partner site located at Teagasc Kildalton Agricultural College, Co. Kilkenny.
ATU plans to deliver a full-time, undergraduate programme in veterinary medicine which will have a dual campus delivery model between ATU Donegal and ATU Mountbellew, building on existing expertise and facilities within the university.
Vet schools
Commenting on the expected announcement, the group said “the prospect of two small-scale, low-ranking vet schools in Ireland and the duplication of staff, facilities and a curriculum represents a major overspend of scarce resources”.
The Veterinary Working Group was formed in early 2022 in response to difficulties in the recruitment and retention of veterinary staff being experienced in Irish veterinary practices.
Co. Clare-based large-animal vet, Dr. Jimmy Quinn of the working group, which supported UL in its bid to host a new programme in veterinary medicine, previously raised concerns about ATU and SETU’s ability to attract specialist teaching staff.
SETU previously told Agriland that there has been “great interest” in opportunities to teach on SETU’s proposed veterinary programme from veterinary surgeons and veterinary academics locally and internationally.
ATU said its bid to establish a veterinary medicine programme “has already attracted expressions of interest from academics globally”, and it is “confident” that it will succeed in securing a “world-class team” to deliver the programme.
UL withdrawal
Reacting to UL’s decision to withdraw its bid to host a new vet school, the working group expressed its disappointment and said the withdrawal represents a “lost opportunity at this pivotal moment for veterinary services”.
The group had identified UL as the “best location and the ideal candidate” for a new vet school, as the university already has a medical school and therefore offers the opportunity of co-locating medical and veterinary facilities.
“Over 60% of human diseases originate from animal sources and veterinary services play a critical role as public health protectors,” according to the working group.
Following UL’s withdrawal, the group is now calling for a pause in the process to establish a new vet school. The group believes this will allow the HEA to “involve independent international veterinary education experts”.
UL was the “only candidate site” for a new vet school that ranks in the top 150 universities in Europe and the top 500 universities in the world, according to Dr. Quinn. Calling for a pause in the process, the group said:
“Independent international veterinary education experts, even at this late stage in the process, can advise the government and avoid the issues that will inevitably follow if an unsustainable site is selected.”
“In the same week that UL withdrew from the process, we hear that 83 Irish students will be starting their first year in Warsaw University Veterinary Medicine School at the start of this coming October,” the group added.