Cambridge student fears 'huge loss' for industry if vet school closes
Another rally against the move is set to take place today
A student at Cambridge University believes the closure of its veterinary training course would be "a huge loss" for the vet industry.
The University's General Board is expected to make a decision on the future of its vet school today (Monday) after a recommendation to stop veterinary education there by 2032 was made by its School of the Biological Sciences.
In a statement, the University has said its General Board "asked the School Council to consider various options for the sustainable delivery of clinical services.
"After careful consideration, it was concluded that there was no viable long-term solution."
Last week, hundreds of students gathered outside Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge city centre alongside union officials to rally against the plans.
Vet school closure 'warning for public health'
Another rally is due to take place at the same place today.
"It's a fantastic opportunity to study here and I really hope future generations won't be deprived of that," Jack Pyman, a fourth year student at Cambridge University's vet school, said.
"It would be a huge loss to the profession as a whole (if vet school closes); it's an issue that affects the entire University.
"It would mean no more vets would be able to come and study in Cambridge; it would be a danger for national and international disease surveillance and a warning for global public health."
The Cambridge University and College Union - which represents students in the city - warned that "at least 150 jobs" would be at risk if the vet school was to close.
While bodies such as the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the National Farmers' Union have thrown their weight behind campaigners to keep the school open.
"I don't believe from my understanding they have looked hard enough or explored how they could go about maintaining the school; there's no reason to do this," Rob Williams, president of the BVA, said.
"It says you don't have to value veterinary education or research as part of the University's offering, and other universities could look at this decision and say 'we're going to close our vet school because Cambridge have'."
'Much wider implications' if school closes
Last December, a statement from Cambridge University's Department of Veterinary Medicine said it would ask University authorities to reconsider the plans, warning of "much wider implications" if the vet school closed.
"We know already that there is a shortage of vets in the UK; the majority of students who qualify as vets at Cambridge University are from the UK and go on to work here as practising vets or scientific experts," the Department said.
In its own statement, the University's School of the Biological Sciences said the vet school was "losing over £1 million a year for some time.
"We sincerely regret that it has not been possible to identify a viable alternative solution to the profound challenges facing the Vet School."