12 November, 2024
The Higher Education Authority meets South East Technological University (SETU) for update on new Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy Programmes
By Maura O'Shea
Posted: 15 November, 2024
Following the recent announcement by Government of new capacity building programmes in the areas of Veterinary Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Dentistry, the Higher Education Authority met with senior management at South East Technological University (SETU) on Thursday 14th to discuss progress on programme delivery.
SETU’s plans to introduce new programmes in Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy are significant both for the south east region and nationally. The programmes will help to meet the skills demands of the veterinary and healthcare sectors and contribute to the retention and development of the vibrant agricultural and pharma industry base in the region.
The University published its first strategic plan, titled “Connecting for Impact”, in May 2023 where it set out it’s ambition to be the anchor institution for the ongoing development of the south east and is already delivering on that ambition.
The HEA delegation, led by Dr Alan Wall, CEO of the HEA, heard about SETU’s capacity building in Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy and their rapid advances in designing programmes collaboratively with veterinary practices, clinical, industrial and practice based pharmacists and national and international experts.
SETU recently hosted a stakeholder meeting, to provide a platform for veterinary surgeons and their practices, from across the south east and beyond, to actively engage and collaborate with SETU on the continuing development of the University’s veterinary offering which builds on its existing strengths in science and land sciences together with 50 years of collaboration with Teagasc, Kildalton Agricultural College.
The President of SETU, Professor Veronica Campbell, and her team, outlined how the realisation of the veterinary medicine and pharmacy programmes are aligned with the University’s strategic plan and will see SETU continue to perform at the forefront of higher education and research, as the only University in the south east region.
The new SETU programmes are being designed to meet accreditation requirements of professional bodies but will also have a focus on developing research skills to support evidence based practice and business skills and including well-being support and training.
Dr Mary-Kate Burke, Veterinary Medicine Programme Development Lead, accompanied by Professor Peter McLoughlin, Head of the School of Science and Computing and Eleanor Kent, Head of the Department of Land Sciences described how SETU is leveraging its existing strengths and wide network of contacts in veterinary and agricultural science to develop a veterinary medicine programme highly attuned to the region and sectors’ needs.
Dr Wall welcomed the progress being made by SETU across both veterinary medicine and pharmacy provision:
“The HEA made its recommendations to Government in 2022 on the advice of an Expert Advisory Panel which brought together the highest level of Government and regulatory and professional expertise in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary to review opportunities in the higher education sector to contribute to addressing skills needs. The SETU programme offers were highly regarded by the Panel and it is very positive to see that the University is making the most of the opportunity it now has to respond regionally and nationally, both in terms of meeting the needs of students, but also in supporting those in working in veterinary and pharmacy across practice, clinical and industrial settings.”
Contact:
Press Queries should be directed to Maura O’Shea, Communications, Higher Education Authority (moshea@hea.ie).
Pictured at South East Technological University’s (SETU) meeting with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on veterinary medicine and pharmacy were from (L to R): Professor Peter McLoughlin, Head of the School of Science and Computing, Dr Victoria Brownlee, HEA System Development, Tim Conlon, HEA Policy & Planning, Eleanor Kent, Head of the Department of Land Sciences, Dr Alan Wall, HEA CEO, Professor Veronica Campbell, President of SETU, Dr Mary-Kate Burke, Veterinary Medicine Programme Development Lead, Elaine Sheridan, Vice President Governance/University Secretary, Paul Quirke, Capital Projects Manager (Waterford) and Teresa Gallagher, HEA System Development. Photo by George Goulding.
