Recommendation 6

Veterinary education in the UK is of critical national importance, underpinning animal health and welfare, public health, food safety and biosecurity. UK veterinary schools are internationally revered and play a vital role in delivering a highly skilled workforce. Despite this, the current funding model is not sustainable; the high cost of delivering veterinary training is not matched by available funding. This imbalance has placed veterinary education in a precarious position at a time when wider pressures on the higher education sector are acute. We are concerned that, without intervention, there is a real risk of course contraction or closures, which could have significant societal impacts, including for public health, animal welfare and food security. (Conclusion, Paragraph 25) 24