Major Goals & Objectives

Teaching and Learning

Ensure the highest levels of excellence in teaching and learning are applied to the BVSc curriculum for the education of veterinary students.
Our learning environment will build a depth of knowledge to provide a foundation for the breadth of veterinary careers. It will

• provide a solid platform in scientific principles and foster critical inquiry
• encourage acquisition of independent learning skills and instill a desire for lifelong learning
• develop confidence and the initiative to adapt to new challenges and situations
• develop technical and professional skills to equip graduates with Day 1 skills

We believe we meet national and international teaching quality benchmarks with teaching quality backed by consistently high quality facilities. We have an ongoing aim to fine tune the BVSc curriculum in line with industry and national priorities and to respond to annual collection of outcomes data. Demand for places in the veterinary program remains strong and the completion rate of students entering the program remains high. The quality of the BVSc program is high, based on the opinions of recent graduates and of employers. Continuity of teaching quality is assured due to the skills and dedication of School staff. This quality has remained high during the relocation of the School, which brings great credit to all staff.

Clinical services

Enhance the provision of clinical and diagnostic services to optimize the number and quality of cases available for teaching within a financially self-sustaining model.
With new facilities, the School has the capacity to be a centre of excellence in clinical activities and to provide an exceptional level of service to clients and referring veterinarians. This will

• build and maintain a vibrant, strong caseload to enable our students to experience a wide variety of real life clinical situations
• allow students to develop their skills and integrate the knowledge required to practice as veterinarians
• provide ongoing training for graduate veterinarians and allied professionals through continuing professional development and formal internship or residency training programs

A key focus has been to build clinical caseload further, through construction of the UQ Veterinary Medical Centre at the Gatton Campus. This will complement the role of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Small Animal Clinic at St Lucia and the two UQ rural mixed practices at Dayboro and Goondiwindi. Greater case numbers enhance the quality of specialist training programs, broaden the undergraduate learning experience, expand opportunities for clinical research and enable financial sustainability for teaching hospitals.

The veterinary clinics and diagnostic units provide services to internal and external clients and enable students to learn the medical and surgical skills required to attain registration as a veterinarian. These veterinary service units rely on our valued clients who bring their animals into our clinics and hospitals where teaching is an integral component of the provision of high quality veterinary services.

Research and Discovery

Foster the development of creative, practical research ideas to improve global animal health, welfare and production as well as human health and well-being.

SVS is an influential contributor to the Australian bioeconomy - at the interface between biotech, biomedical, agribusiness and animal health. Excellence in research and scholarship will

• underpin teaching quality
• produce a vibrant research culture and successful research outcomes
• develop depth in our industry and community partnerships
• build critical mass of expertise with a focus on the quality of our research
• promote an understanding to students of the value of research outcomes for clinical practice

The impact of SVS research has grown over the past 5 years, as has our external profile, backed by new initiatives and delivery of research outcomes.

Engagement with Industry, the Profession and the Community

We have built strategic partnerships and relationships to ensure innovation and excellence in teaching, research as well as clinical and public health services. This is through active engagement with the veterinary profession, alumni, Government, the animal health industry and the community. Provision of broad opportunities in training for specialization, postgraduate studies and continuing veterinary education will enhance our interactions with the profession and develop standards of veterinary practice in Queensland.

Facility development

The acquisition of adequate and sustainable levels of resources for veterinary education is essential for long-term viability of the School. In order to maintain the best possible learning environment and to consolidate animal research groups, new facilities for teaching and clinical services were constructed on the University of Queensland Gatton Campus. The Gatton Campus is well known to staff and students as large animal teaching had been conducted at the Gatton Campus for over 10 years. The UQ Gatton Campus is 80 km (50 miles) west of the St Lucia Campus, where veterinary science has been located since 1961. The relocation was a resounding success and drew strong support from the UQ administration. It has enhanced our ability to engage strongly with the veterinary profession, Government, industry and all of our stakeholders.

Process for revision of School Objectives

The objectives of the School are determined by a consultative process involving a series of staff meetings to gather input. Revision of School objectives is through annual School planning days and follow up meetings.

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