Harper Adams and Keele join forces to create new Veterinary School

The school, to be open in 2020, hopes to support the UK’s agricultural sector as it faces a period of major change (Photo: Harper Adams)
The school, to be open in 2020, hopes to support the UK’s agricultural sector as it faces a period of major change (Photo: Harper Adams)

A joint Veterinary School will be created by Keele and Harper Adams universities following nearly a year of planning.

Keele University Council and Harper Adams University Board has confirmed plans to establish the new joint Veterinary School, due to take its first cohort of students in 2020.

The new Vet School will provide a five-year programme leading to a degree in Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, with training to be delivered on both university campuses in partnership with local clinical providers and industry.

Accreditation will be sought from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, enabling graduates to register and practice as vets upon the award of their degree.

The new school will aim to widen access in the subject area, and is hoped will further support the UK’s agricultural sector as it faces a period of major change when the UK leaves the European Union.

As well as being a new provider in the region, the school will reach out to those who may not have traditionally considered a career as a vet.

The institutions’ joint commitment to social mobility and the school’s dual location within the rural communities of Staffordshire and Shropshire, and on the edge of the urban Stoke-on-Trent conurbation, makes it ideally placed to offer opportunities not currently available in the area.

Vice-Chancellor of Keele University, Professor Trevor McMillan said the news is a major step forward.

“Our two universities share a common philosophy of providing an outstanding learning and teaching experience, reflected in both having recently received a gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework, as well as ranking consistently highly in UK student satisfaction surveys, showing the natural affinity between us,” Prof McMillan said.

Vice-Chancellor of Harper Adams University, Dr David Llewellyn, added: “After nearly a year of joint planning, both University governing bodies have strongly endorsed the proposal to create a joint Veterinary School.”