The Challenges and Issues of Undergraduate Student Retention and Attainment in UK Veterinary Medical Education

Abstract

Student retention and attainment has recently been identified as a key area for development in veterinary medical education enquiry. Woodfield's research on retention and attainment across the UK disciplines has yielded some unique information about the challenges and issues of students who study veterinary medicine and related subjects. The present literature review aims to expand on Woodfield's findings and explain important issues about retention and attainment across veterinary medicine. Overall, the subject of retention and attainment in undergraduate veterinary medical education needs a great deal more empirical attention, such as data on the retention and attainment of mature and widening access students, and the effects of students being placed at remote locations during their studies. Our findings also cover some unsurprising issues: the dominance of women in a profession that is principally lead by men, the underrepresentation of black and minority ethnic (BME) students in veterinary medicine, and the effects of content overload in the veterinary medical curriculum. Based on data gathered by Woodfield and our investigation of the scholarly and gray literatures, we offer an overview of gaps in current knowledge and recommendations for further research.

The future of cattle veterinary practice: insights from a qualitative study

“…Despite the results suggesting that as the cattle vet begins to deliver more advisory services lay staff will take on the routine practical work, it is important that cattle vets remain competent with such skills to be effective team managers and teachers. This presents a challenge to veterinary educators, 22 23 trying to retain current skills teaching while increasing teaching in new areas.…”

Attitudes of UK veterinary students towards careers in the production animal sector: A mixed methods approach

“…12 Despite these changes to the profession, university places remain competitive, and retention within undergraduate courses is high. 13 In the UK, all veterinary schools follow omnipotential curricula 14 resulting in all graduates having the skills to pursue a career in any sector. While it is clear that retention postgraduation is an issue, to the authors' knowledge, data on veterinary undergraduate attitudes towards farm animal careers are currently limited.…”

“…Despite these changes to the profession, university places remain competitive, and retention within undergraduate courses is high 13 . In the UK, all veterinary schools follow omnipotential curricula 14 resulting in all graduates having the skills to pursue a career in any sector.…”