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The University of Central Lancashire has opened the UK’s eleventh school of veterinary medicine, aiming to diversify the profession and strengthen the regional workforce.
The new facility, a £40m investment, is the first veterinary school in Lancashire and the second in the North West.
It has been designed to offer immersive, hands-on training with a particular focus on the emotional wellbeing and professional development of students.
The university said the curriculum includes wellbeing strategies and support to help students handle the ethical, financial and communication pressures often cited as key stressors in the profession.
The school has a stated mission to improve diversity in veterinary education, noting that only about 4% of UK vets are Black or people of colour, compared with 18% of the UK population.
It also highlighted low levels of social mobility in the field, with many veterinary students coming from selective or fee-paying school backgrounds.
The facility includes simulated consultation rooms, operating theatres, diagnostic suites, dental rooms, a physiotherapy suite, and kennels.
It also houses x-ray, ultrasound and hydrotherapy equipment, alongside a microscopy laboratory.
An “immersive room” featuring interactive projections and scents is among the more distinctive features of the school.
The university contributes more than £300m in gross value added (GVA) annually to the local economy and has described the vet school as a significant addition to its role as an anchor institution in Lancashire.
Graham Baldwin, vice-chancellor, said: “This is another very special moment in our story and the start of an exciting new chapter. By establishing the first school of veterinary medicine in our county, the University of Central Lancashire is proud that its new £40m investment can start making a real difference to help such an important profession.”
Heather Bacon, dean of veterinary medicine, added: “We want to open the doors to a fulfilling career in veterinary medicine and allied animal health sciences.”
