RCVS Academy update - December 2024

As we reach the end of another productive year at the RCVS Academy, it is an excellent opportunity to reflect on our achievements and plan for the future. This year marked the Academy’s second anniversary, which we celebrated in the summer. We are delighted to see the platform continue to grow as we introduce new courses to support our professions.

This year we collaborated with subject matter experts from both within the College and externally, adding nine new courses to the Academy. Additionally, we re-launched our enhanced 'RVN Starting out' course. We are committed to listening to learner feedback and tailoring our courses to meet the needs of the professions. We understand the value of practical knowledge checks and scenarios that reflect real-life situations in professional roles.

This year’s new courses include:

• Civility fundamentals: Helping veterinary teams understand the importance of civility in the workplace.
• Unconscious bias: Supporting veterinary teams to recognise unconscious bias and its impact.
• Mentorship: A course designed for mentors or those interested in mentoring, suitable for professionals in any veterinary role.
• SVN: RCVS & me: Launched in September, this course has received very positive feedback, with many veterinary nursing lecturers incorporating it into their teaching.
• Concerns process: Supporting the professions to understand the stages, timelines and available support when going through the concerns process.

Additionally, we expanded our assessors and examiners category by introducing four new courses tailored to support professionals assessing others. These include:

• Fellowship Credentials Panel Member
• VetGDP Peer Reviewer
• VN External Examiner
• VN accreditations and quality monitoring

Throughout the year, the Academy team has attended various events and congresses to raise awareness of the Academy among our professions. At these events, we shared our learning needs analysis survey to gather valuable insights into the topics our learners would like to see featured on the platform. This feedback will guide us as we plan and develop even more exceptional courses for 2025 and beyond.

Our focus remains on creating relevant, accessible learning opportunities that fit into busy schedules, helping you to integrate CPD into your professional life. As you reflect on your learning achievements from the past year, we encourage you to explore the RCVS Academy to plan your future development. You can access the Academy via academy.rcvs.org.uk and log in using your MyAccount details.

If you have any questions or feedback, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected].

We’d like to wish all our learners a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!