Sharing approaches to curriculum design and other challenges in present-day veterinary education

The undergraduate veterinary curriculum at James Cook University (JCU) is currently undergoing a refresh as veterinary medical knowledge expands and student numbers increase. This interactive workshop aims to hear from educators at every veterinary school, Down Under and beyond, about their approach to curriculum design and the challenges faced in contemporary veterinary education. The workshop will begin with an overview of the proposed curriculum at JCU and the challenges faced. This will be followed by inviting spokespersons from each institution attending the workshop to spend five to ten minutes talking about the situation at their veterinary schools. Topics expected to be covered, but are not limited to, include: core content; overcrowding in the curriculum; alignment/assessment; integration throughout the course structure; research; clinical skills; staff recruitment and coping with increasing student cohorts to name but a few. We hope that by sharing and discussing this knowledge, all veterinary schools will benefit and grow together rather than remaining in our ‘silos’, possibly reinventing the wheel or even heading in the wrong direction.