Development and Training
The RVC supports and actively promotes the professional development of all categories of staff.
This investment provides staff with a means to grow with the organisation whilst developing and improving personal and professional skills.
The aim of Staff Training and Development is to provide professional and administrative support to managers and staff on a wide range of training queries, including the provision of advice and guidance on:
Training Programme
The courses and workshops within our programme are designed to meet the needs of all groups of staff within the College and offer a wide variety of opportunities to improve knowledge and skills and engage in developmental activities increasing their effectiveness as a member of staff.
Note, the training programme is only available to RVC employees - please visit the intranet page: .
How to Book onto an RVC Training Course
Internal Delegates
The instructions for how to book onto a training course as an internal delegate is only available to RVC employees. Please visit the intranet page: for more information.
External Delegates
Our priority at the RVC is to train our own staff and we tailor our Staff Training & Development Programme to suit their needs. However, we also welcome applications from external institutions whose staff may attend courses not deemed ‘internal only’.
Whilst we will aim to provide places to external applicants on all relevant programmes, priority will be given to the needs of internal staff.
To make a booking you will need to complete a Training Application Form - External Delegates. Submission of an application form does not guarantee a place on a course. Your request will be held on the wait list as we allocate places to external applicants two weeks prior to the course date. At this time you will receive a booking confirmation and Joining Instructions.
In the event that the course you have requested is fully subscribed or cancelled you will be notified in advance.
Staff Appraisals
The RVC recognises that an annual appraisal system is an important mechanism for ensuring that RVC objectives are communicated to all staff and progress against them can be measured. As a result, an annual appraisal will be required of all members of staff in the RVC. The appraisal year runs from October to September with SMART objectives being set to cover this period.
Appraisals are completed online using the Appraisals at RVC system. Access to the system is only available to RVC employees – for further information and details on how to login, please visit the intranet page: .
Staff Mentoring
Mentoring is a development technique where a more experienced staff member provides the opportunity for reflection and discussion, advice and feedback to an individual with less experience - in a safe environment. It has proved to have a beneficial impact on effectiveness, confidence and career advancement. Through the mentoring relationship the mentee is supported in coping with the challenges and opportunities that he or she is experiencing in their work.
For more information, please visit the intranet page: .
PG Cert and HEA
PG Cert
The RVC has developed a unique MSc in Veterinary Education programme utilising the extensive expertise and experience of educators at the LIVE Centre. The course consists of three levels – the Postgraduate Certificate, the Postgraduate Diploma and the MSc Research project.
New members of academic staff, with the recommendation of their Head of Department, should enroll on the PGCert as part of their probation. The PGCert, which takes 10 months to complete, consists of two compulsory core modules of 30 credits each: Principles and Practice in Veterinary Education and Current Perspectives in Veterinary Education. The course will develop individuals as professional veterinary and para-veterinary educators and reflective practitioners and will help them to offer an enhanced learning experience to anyone they teach or train.
Enrolment details and application forms will be sent to eligible staff members in the month of March. For further details on the course see the Graduate School's MSc Veterinary Education page.
Higher Education Academic (HEA)
The aim of the HEA (Higher Education Academy) is to support the enhancement of learning and teaching in higher education, their mission is to help institutions, and staff to provide the best possible learning experience for their students.
On successful completion of the PG Cert in Veterinary Education members of staff are encouraged to apply for Professional Recognition from the Academy. Note, successful completion of the PGCert is an important part of the Academic Probation.
For more information on how to apply for Professional Recognition from the Academy please visit the . A Frequently Asked Questions document has also been created for information.