Anglia Ruskin joins national veterinary network

Press release issued: 13 December 2007



Image of John Butcher (left) and Iain Brodie accepting the partnership certificate to acknowledge the university is part of the VETNET Lifelong Learning Network
Click on image for a larger version
Anglia Ruskin University has signed-up to a partnership agreement as part of a new national learning initiative which will see them sharing new funding.

Working alongside colleagues at Cambridge Veterinary School and with other Veterinary Schools in England, staff from Anglia Ruskin University's Faculty of Science and Technology will be devising ways to get a more diverse veterinary and animal science profession.

The VETNET LLN national project has been awarded £3.74 million by Government leaders to develop new links between colleges and universities - and targeted at learners interested in the veterinary and allied professions. Anglia Ruskin's share of the funds will be used to develop strong links with The College of West Anglia's campus at Milton.

Iain Brodie, currently Acting Dean of Science and Technology at Anglia Ruskin, feels this initiative fits well with the developing and growing University.

Iain said:

"This University has a tradition of accepting students onto its courses with a wide range of educational backgrounds. Being involved with VETNET LLN will allow us to look again at how we recruit students from colleges into our animal biology courses and prepare students for employment. We will work with our partners locally and nationally to ensure we offer the right courses that employers want and deliver them in the way the students want."

One of the first challenges facing the partnership in Cambridgeshire is to develop a Foundation Degree in Veterinary Nursing jointly with The College of West Anglia.
Iain Brodie continued:

"We want to give Veterinary Nurses the chance to take the next step in their learning and move up from their diplomas, initially to this exciting Foundation Degree, and then with the opportunity to progress to a full degree or even maybe to Masters level."

John Butcher, who is overseeing this project across the Eastern Region, said:

"One of the main aims of the project is to get greater numbers of people increasing their skill levels and getting recognition for their higher-levels of learning. We need to get more young people from colleges turning their specialist certificates and diplomas into degree-level qualifications - and we want more people already in the workforce to get involved with learning."

With only three years of funding, VETNET LLN is already gearing-up to move at a challenging pace. To find out more about the project go to www.vetnetlln.ac.uk or call Anglia Ruskin University on 0845 196 3333.
Bookmark this page with: