UCLan and Myerscough team upto train vets

Two Lancashire institutions will work together to help train future veterinary professionals.

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and Myerscough College and University Centre have signed a partnership to allow UCLan’s new veterinary medicine students to access academic expertise and OFSTED approved animal facilities.

UCLan’s undergraduate and postgraduate students will travel to Myerscough to undertake practical, hands-on animal handling skills across a range of species, including farm, equine and exotic animals. They will also have access to the quality-assured Myerscough farms. 

The two education providers will also collaborate on wider animal-based teaching, with veterinary nursing, farriery, and animal behaviour and welfare courses being delivered by the college.

Academics from UCLan and Myerscough will also work together to undertake a number of research projects.

Students in the first cohort of BVMS Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, BSc (Hons) Bioveterinary Sciences and MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy & Clinical Rehabilitation courses will have timetabled sessions at the Bilsborrow Campus.

Dr Heather Bacon, head of UCLan’s School of Veterinary Medicine, said: "Our relationship with Myerscough College is integral to supporting the development of our new Vet School and this partnership is a key step forward in establishing our distributed teaching network.

“I’m really pleased the partnership will also ensure our BVMS, undergraduate and postgraduate students will benefit from excellent ‘real-world’ teaching facilities at Myerscough’s fantastic campus.” 

Alison Robinson, chief executive and principal of Myerscough College and University Centre Myerscough, added: “Myerscough has a proud 129-year heritage of training the next generation to work with animals.

“We are therefore delighted to further strengthen our relationship with the University of Central Lancashire through supporting the delivery of veterinary education, training and research.

“The university will be able to take full advantage of Myerscough’s two commercial farms, specialist veterinary nursing training facilities, International Equine Arena and associated facilities and our Animal Studies centre. The outstanding facilities and staff at Myerscough will provide UCLan’s veterinary medicine students with the latest training and skills.”

Planning permission has been granted to build a School of Veterinary Medicine on UCLan’s Preston Campus, and work will start later in summer.