Adapting to Change Challenges Facing Veterinary Education

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Adapting to Change Challenges Facing Veterinary
Education
Kendall Oration - 2001

• Professor Reuben Rose
• Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Science
• University of Sydney

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Foot and Mouth in the UK - 2001
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Investing in Veterinary Expertise
There has been a steady decline over perhaps two
or three governments in the amount of resources
available for veterinary surveillance in dealing
with crises of this sort. Therefore this was, in
some senses, an epidemic waiting to happen. If we
don't put enough public resources into
surveillance, both in the veterinary context and
the human context, then we must be prepared to
pay the consequences when we do have a crisis
Professor Roy Anderson, consultant to UK
Government
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The Land April 19, 2001
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Outline of the Oration

• Kendall and his contribution
• Analysis of current university environment
• Personal reflections and lessons learnt
• Implications for the veterinary profession

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Kendall Orations

• WAN Robertson 1930 Kendall his life and work
• HR Seddon 1933 Development of vet science in
  last 50 years
• EA Kendall 1936 Role of the vet in the future
• LB Bull 1939 Some modern trends in
  host-parasite relations
• I Clunies Ross 1954 Impact of scientific
  advances in production animal industries
• DC Blood 1964 Problems in veterinary
  preventive medicine
• J Francis 1967 Zoonoses and Public Health
• KS McIntosh 1971 Animal Quarantine in
  Australia
• GI Alexander 1985 Changing scene of vet
  administration
• LJ Fulton 1988 Training for veterinary
  practice
• AK Sutherland 1994 Recent achievements in vet
  science

Sutherland, 1994
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Outline of the Oration

• Kendall and his contribution
• Analysis of current university environment
• Personal reflections and lessons learnt
• Implications for the veterinary profession

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Who Was William Tyson Kendall?

• Commitment to veterinary science from age of 12
  years
• Saved money to train as a veterinarian and
  graduated in 1873 - RVC
• Decided to emigrate to NZ in 1880 but the ship
  went to Melbourne and the wait there resulted in
  contact with the 4 veterinarians in Victoria
• Advised that success more likely in Victoria than
  NZ
• Kendall helped start the Aust Vet J - 1882
• Published in 1884 Diseases of Australian Horses
• Veterinary Surgeons Act prior to establishment of
  the Melbourne Vet College course of 4 years
  in 1888
• By time of closure in 1908, 60 graduates had
  completed the course
• Four of Kendalls sons became vets

From WAN Robertson, 1931, Vet Rec 204
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Dr W T Kendall Links to Today

• Community support - extension activities
  stockowners, stock inspectors
• Challenges of obtaining government support
• Kendalls Veterinary College
• Private enterprise vs government
• From 1888 to 2001 challenges today in
  continuing established veterinary schools

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Outline of the Oration

• Kendall and his contribution
• Analysis of current university environment
• Personal reflections and lessons learnt
• Implications for the veterinary profession

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Veterinary Education in Australia Past, Present
Future

• 1908 - Closure of Kendalls school in Melbourne
• 1911 - Establishment of Faculty at Sydney
  University
• Low numbers near closure during War
• 1950s, 60s, 70s time of relative prosperity
  opening of new Faculties Queensland, Melbourne
  and Murdoch
• 1972 Whitlam era free education
• 1987 Dawkins era heralds huge change in higher
  education 1995 - Howard government blunt
  instrument
• 2001 Veterinary schools on the precipice
• A problem for the profession?

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Government Funding 1991-2000
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Comparative Funding of Veterinary Schools
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University of SydneyFaculty of Veterinary
ScienceFunding Comparisons 1991-2001
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Reflections on Change

• Funding reductions commenced in 1988 our
  failure to recognise change in government policy
  and impact on our future
• We expected the community to care about the
  impact they didnt!
• Universities had been brought up on a welfare
  mentality hand out by government
• It is time for Plan B!

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Outline of the Oration

• Kendall and his contribution
• Analysis of current university environment
• Personal reflections and lessons learnt
• Implications for the veterinary profession

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Adapting to Change Personal Reflections
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Important Learning Points

• 1972-4 Small animal mixed practice Sydney
  and New Zealand
• 1975-9 Research methods - PhD
• 1980 1986 Sabbatical in UK USA
• 1980 2000 Postgraduate students
• 1995- 2001 - RIRDC Research Manager
• 1998 2001 Acting Dean then Dean

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Role as Research Manager RIRDC

• New RD program commenced Feb 1995
• Mental model that the horse industry valued
  research and international reputation of
  scientists
• Discovered that the horse industry didnt care
  about research and that as academics we hadnt
  sold or communicated results
• Recognition that we had to create value with
  stakeholders of what we were proposing

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Learning as RD Manager

• Personal contact and development of relationships
  is important for success
• Importance of external advice and strategic use
  of consultants
• Critical role of planning - setting milestones
  and performance measures
• Importance of workshops getting key players
  together for 2-3 days to plan and work on
  solutions to key issues
• Need for training in effective communication

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Translating Learning to the University Environment

• Major issues on appointment in May 1998
• Progressively decreasing budget
• Low morale lack of any clear direction for the
  Faculty
• Sense of isolation of academic staff and general
  staff
• A culture of departmental isolation
• Poor relations with the Post Graduate Foundation
• Lack of any links with the veterinary profession
• No marketing tools for attraction of fee paying
  students
• A sense that our Facultys financial difficulties
  were not our problem and that someone should fix
  it!

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Strategic Planning Process
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Vision

• Innovation and Leadership in Animal Health and
  Care

• A world leader in veterinary education and
  knowledge creation, focused on the health, wealth
  and welfare of Australians and their animals

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Processes to Implement Change

• Workshops
• Financial planning Faculty Forum research,
  teaching and finance production animals
  strategic plan development teaching assessment
  extra-mural practical work research success new
  curriculum
• Working parties
• Student selection, IT, curriculum resources,
  impact of increased students, clinic review,
  dairying, animal accommodation, Camden campus,
  dogs in teaching

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Development of Leadership Skills

• 12 month leadership program for Faculty Executive
  to develop leadership skills
• The Executive Connection CEOs
• Leadership program CSIRO/BHERT
• Ongoing planning and re-examination working on
  the organisation not just in it

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Pfizer Veterinary Leadership Program

• The program was developed by the Faculty with
  the aim of enabling selected 4th and 5th year
  Veterinary Science students to develop the
  leadership and management skills necessary to
  achieve their career and life goals upon
  graduation.

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Pfizer Veterinary Leadership Program

• Learning state of the art practical leadership
  and management skills.
• Contact with potential employers, leading vets
  and veterinary researchers
• The chance to be inspired and learn from young,
  successful leaders in a range of fields
• An opportunity to review and set career and life
  goals and understand the importance of service
• Individual support and career planning

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Pfizer Veterinary Leadership ProgramProgram
outline

• An initial 3 day Retreat
• 5 half-day follow-up Professional Development
  seminars
• Completion of a personal or group project with
  mentors from the Faculty and profession
• Development of Vet Vision 2010

Projects available from Pfizer stand
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Strategic Action Areas 1999-2001 Faculty Plan

• Understanding the market for veterinary
  qualifications
• Financial Viability Faculty Renewal
• Student Selection, Retention Development
• Teaching Learning
• Research Postgraduate Training
• Veterinary Clinical Centres
• Alumni, Professional Community Relations
• Faculty Structure

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Alumni, Professional Community Relations

• External funding of gt2 million achieved
• Veterinary Science Foundation (VSF) fundraising
  for the Faculty
• External funds - full-time Director of VSF
• Strong relationship with Post Grad Foundation
• Workshops held and feedback sought from the
  profession
• Launch of new web site, international marketing
  of degree and VEIN

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The Need for Networks

• Networks
• National and International Linkages
• Strategic Partnerships

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Outcomes Teaching Learning

• Focus on improving teaching teaching showcase,
  new approaches to study, introduction of
  assessment protocols and teaching quality forums
• Introduction of learning objectives for all units
  of study on our web site.
• Review all units of study by the Faculty each
  semester
• Introduction of a radically revised curriculum
  lecture free final year, new units of study
  professional practice
• Grand Rounds for students to increase exposure to
  cases earlier in the veterinary course

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Redesigned Curriculum

• Shifted emphasis in Years 1 2 away from study
  of physics, chemistry and biology as discrete
  units
• Integrate the basic sciences into relevant areas
  throughout the course
• Integrated approach to learning
• Topics not studied in isolation
• Relevance of information to a range of related
  disciplines

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Some Other Key Initiatives in the Faculty
2000/2001

• Expansion of student base and internationalisation
  
• Roundhouse magazine to communicate with alumni
• New research centres established Reprogen
• Ralston Purina Fellow
• Pfizer student leadership program
• External support for new Chairs - Chair in Dairy
  Science and Chair in Farm Animal Health (MLA
  support)
• Epidemiology Lectureship
• General Manager of Clinics and new Director,
  Sydney Clinic
• A restructured cohesive Faculty no Departments

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Strategic Areas For Our Future
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An Internationally Recognised FacultyInnovation
and Leadership in Animal Health and Care
Outstanding Research Creating New Information for
the Benefit of Animals
Innovative Teaching Student-centred learning
producing the next generation of veterinary
leaders
Partnering the Production Animal
Industries Meeting the future needs for
sustainable and cost-effective production
Quality and Leadership in Clinical Care of
Companion and Native Animals Its Not Only How
Much We Know... Its How Much We Care
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Reflections on Change Process

• Difficult to move from a handout culture to one
  of entrepreneurship vet science too important
  to leave just in the hands of govt
• Universities need an investment in new skills
  leadership, change management, communication,
  collaboration
• Leaadership and a clear vision is needed and a
  belief that barriers can be overcome

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Outline of the Oration

• Kendall and his contribution
• Analysis of current university environment
• Personal reflections and lessons learnt
• Implications for the veterinary profession

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Changes in the VeterinaryProfessional Environment
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Gender Balance Change
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Contemporary Veterinary Developments - Social
Changes

• Changes in gender balance
• Increased interest in wildlife and conservation
• Changes in urban and rural practice
• Generic skills - career mobility
• Human-animal bond
• Animal welfare issues
• Increased desire for PG training
• Life long learning

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Summary of Key Womanpower Issues

• We have 4 veterinary schools producing 300-350
  veterinarians per year
• There is great demand for places (UAI gt98)
• Many students are paying around 24,000 for their
  places and HECS students around 6,000 per annum
• Soon most of the the profession will be female
• Few with background in the production animal
  industries or who see a future in these
  industries
• The profession has invested little in strategic
  thinking or planning about these issues

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Veterinary Skills Needed for Future Needs of
Production Animals
Workshop with RLPB Veterinarians

• Holistic view of agriculture
• Management of potential exotic disease
• Epidemiological skills
• Information systems ability with IT
• Sourcing information of relevance
• Communication, extension of information
• Preventative medicine service
• Diagnostic skills
• Interpersonal skills conflict resolution,
  communication
• Knowledge of environmental issues
• Business skills and trade knowledge

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Future Needs Veterinary Training and the Rural
Industries

• There needs to be clear evidence of demand
• Increasing relevance to livestock industry
• Rural Lands Protection Boards partnerships
• Collaboration with veterinarians in the livestock
  industry
• Specialised rural internships
• Establishment of University rural practice units
• Understanding of the whole farming system
• Need for postgraduate training encompassing
  systems theory - economics, international trade,
  agronomy, change management and understanding of
  animal disease/epidemiology

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Insights and Implications for the Profession

• There is a need to invest in leadership
  development
• Crucial role of a clear vision for the future
• Need to build community links influencing and
  relationship management skills
• Need to invest in new skills change management,
  communication, team skills
• Need for persistence
• Importance of being a servant

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Understanding the System
Veterinary Profession
Productionindustries
Government
Animals
Pet Owners
CommercialCompanies
VeterinarySchools
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What do we need to do?

• Create a powerful vision for the future of the
  profession
• Invest in a major review of veterinary manpower
  training requirements for the future
• International benchmarking study to evaluate
  optimal level of investment by the government in
  veterinary education
• Ongoing study into aspirations, career
  development and support for veterinary students
  and young veterinarians

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Looking to the Future
Never before has the veterinary profession been
in such a position to show its utility as
now. Better trained and better equipped, with all
the latest scientific knowledge gained by
systematic research it has in its power the means
of preventing, suppressing and eradicating animal
diseases and assisting in ameliorating the
sufferings of man Dr W.T. Kendall, 1931 (aged
80)
Robertson, 1931