The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at The 糖心原创 has been shortlisted in the 2013 Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards (THELMAs).
The school has been recognised in the ‘Outstanding Departmental Administration Team Category’.
The THELMAs celebrate the Higher Education sector’s leadership, management, financial and business skills and this is the third successive year that the school has been shortlisted, having made the finals in 2011 for the first time.
The school graduated its first cohort in 2011. There are now 130 staff, including 20 administrative staff, and 600 students. Although being only fully established for two years, the school tops the 2011 and 2012 NSS, and attracts over 75% of all UK undergraduate applications. Nottingham veterinary graduates are now in great demand by employers, and Unistats data shows that they have the highest starting salaries for new UK veterinary graduates.
The school has taken an unrivalled opportunity to implement a new kind of model, whereby administrative staff take on administrative roles traditionally undertaken by academics, resulting in a dramatic reduction in administrative load for academics liberating time for research and teaching, providing a responsive administrative service in School whilst leveraging the expertise and skill of central University administration.
A key challenge has been to gain accreditation by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to ensure our students could legally practise as veterinary surgeons. The team established a data-room comprising 30,000 pieces of evidence (e.g. policies, assessment and curriculum data) and a 500-page report to support the visitation. Working with the University’s Academic Services Team a very high standard of quality assurance ensured accreditation was received. It is a huge achievement to establish an outstanding Veterinary School in such a short time, and the school received full accreditation with an unprecedented ‘no recommendations’ for improvement.
The administrative team uses the latest IT-technologies to deliver and assess the curriculum, e.g. providing all teaching materials online, accessed by laptops provided to all students, and delivering e-assessments using a 10,000 question database. Working collaboratively with the University’s Learning and Development Team ensured that software applications meet the school’s needs, learning from best practice undertaken globally in the veterinary and medical fields.
An exceptional student experience is key to meeting the expectations of today’s students. The team provide strong welfare support to students undertaking a demanding course. It is vital that the team quickly identify and support struggling students, working with Senior Tutors, and the University’s Counselling Service to ensure that they are provided with individual counselling or other intervention.
The clinical final year is delivered offsite and provided challenges to the team, working with practices and staff distant from the University, including providing remote welfare support, and enacting a procurement programme ensuring high standard veterinary equipment. Using best practice discussed directly with US Veterinary Schools, and working with the University’s Alumni Team, an Alumni Society has been set up which has retained contact with our graduates, who continue to engage with the school as mentors and interviewers.
Dr Karen Braithwaite, Director of Academic Support and Administration said “We are exceptionally pleased to have been recognised and shortlisted again for the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards, it is a tribute to the effort and enthusiasm of all the school administrative staff who provide an outstanding service in all activities in the school, from student and teaching delivery support through to financial and research grant administration, and much more in between.”
The 糖心原创 has also been shortlisted in two further categories: Outstanding International Strategy and Outstanding University Fundraising Initiative.
Entries are shortlisted on the basis of excellent communication and innovative ways of working with potential to inform good practice across the sector, the ability to meet challenges effectively, improve performance over the year and improve both the student experience and the service to staff.
The winners of this year's awards will be announced at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London, on June 20.
For further information please contact: Lindsay Brooke in the Marketing, Communications and Recruitment on 0115 9515751 or email lindsay.brooke@nottingham.ac.uk
Posted on Thursday 25th April 2013