SRUC hosts first vet camp for young Scots

_{Nearly 50 teenagers were given hands-on experience at Oatridge}

SRUC’s Oatridge campus played host to nearly 50 teenagers from around the country at the first ever veterinary camp for Scottish young people.

The youngsters were given three days of hands-on experience and support from every veterinary school admissions team in the country, including staff from SRUC’s new School of Veterinary Medicine.

Event organisers Future Vets Scotland devised the camp as part of a strategy to help address the severe shortage of vets in the country. 

Launching Future Vets Scotland, Jim Fairlie, Scottish Government Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, said: “Events like this are vital to help address challenges the veterinary medicine is facing and it opens up the possibility for so many more young people from more communities across Scotland. I am sure all the attendees will find the camp fascinating and I wish them all the best in whatever career they decide to pursue. I would also like to thank Dr Gardiner and all the other organisers for their hard work to showcase the positive role veterinary surgeons have for not just animal care, but across society.”

Dr Karen Gardiner, Founder of Future Vets Scotland, said: “Future Vets was established to address the shortage of vets in Scotland. A lack of vets will impact everyone who consumes Scottish farm produce or owns a pet. 

“This camp has been uniquely designed to give young people practical insight and experience of life as a vet, and to give them tools to help them navigate the challenges they will face.

“It also gives them a network of peers with similar aspirations, which will be enormously helpful since they are likely to be the only one in their school who is choosing this career path.”

Professor Caroline Argo, Head of SRUC’s School of Veterinary Medicine, said: “We were delighted to host the inaugural Future Vets Scotland camp at our Oatridge campus. The event was a great success and gave us another excellent opportunity to showcase our new School of Veterinary Medicine, which will use innovative teaching methods and curriculum design to ensure that students are fully prepared to work in a variety of high-demand sectors.”

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Posted by SRUC on 05/08/2024