The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Cutting edge skills centre for rural vets
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has announced plans to build an £850,000 veterinary clinical teaching skills centre at its Craibstone campus on the outskirts of Aberdeen.
SRUC said the 10-room centre, due to open in September, will have the latest technology to support teaching vet skills.
It will feature dedicated spaces for students to get hands-on experience with the latest equipment, a clinical skills lab, animal disease diagnostics labs and a mock practice including a consultation room and pharmacy.
“Our new veterinary clinical skills centre will offer one of the best experiences for students of veterinary nursing and other animal-related programmes across the country,” said Caroline Argo, dean of SRUC’S North Faculty, which includes Craibstone.
“Rural veterinary practices are vital for farming and rural life and they face challenges when it comes to finding veterinary nurses and support teams.
“By focusing on the development of talented new professionals for rural practices, our graduates will have the skills, knowledge and opportunities for long, successful and fulfilling careers.”
Ms Argo said the Craibstone centre will teach more than 100 students a year, including the first cohort working towards a new degree in veterinary nursing.
It will also deliver short courses to professionals during weekends, evenings and summer holidays.
SRUC’S investment in the centre follows recent investments in new equine facilities at Craibstone and student welfare facilities at nearby Tulloch Farm.
The £310,000 equine centre, which is due for completion in September, will include new stables for up to six horses, a manege, equipment storage and supporting facilities for students.
The £50,000 investment at Tulloch involved converting a threebedroom farm cottage into a dedicated space for students – complete with a small group teaching area, a kitchenette, male and female locker rooms and an accessible toilet.