RCVS to host international postgraduate education symposium
"An increased focus on PGVE could have immense benefits for the veterinary profession." - Linda Prescott-Clements.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is to host its inaugural international postgraduate veterinary education (PGVE) symposium this November.
The College says the event will create an international community of practice, sharing opportunities for postgraduate scholarship, research and innovation.
Hosted on 18 and 19 November, at Ironmongers’ Hall in London, the event is open to all those with an interest in postgraduate education and training. This includes researchers, educators, professionals, practice leaders and manager.
RCVS says the event is needed to develop a collaborative approach to understand ‘best practice’ using an international community.
It follows the publishing of a new research paper, The Veterinary Education and Training Landscape Beyond Graduation: Where Is The Evidence?. The paper suggests there is little evidence relating to education and training beyond graduation.
It covers four overarching topics it believes address the opportunities and advantages of an increased focus of postgraduate veterinary education:
• Graduate transition into the profession
• Advanced education and training (postgraduate qualifications, internships, and residencies)
• Continuing education and professional development
• Licensure and revalidation.
The events will feature talks from educational leaders from veterinary and health backgrounds, including Prof John Norcini, Prof Olle ten Cate and Wendy Preston.
There will also be presentations from delegates, sharing new, innovative ideas with peers and experts. This will include debates on the proposed international community of practice and a discussion into the next steps of the initiative.
Dr Linda Prescott-Clements, who wrote the research paper, said: “An increased focus on PGVE 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 CPD.
“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.”
The full study can be found here.
Image © RCVS
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
