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Cambridge’s beekeeping societies pg.15
Snow White is rotten right to the core
In conversation with BBC boss Tim Davie
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No.929 Friday 29th November 2024 varsity.co.uk The Independent Student Newspaper since 1947
Vet students could C4P: ‘We’re back’ be sent packing Pro-Palestine activist group pledge more disruption after encampments return
Sophie Denny and Felix Armstrong Senior News Editor and Associate Editor Veterinary medicine students could be transferred to other universities to complete their clinical studies amid concerns that the course may be stripped of its accreditation. In a letter sent from Academic Secretary Dr Michael Glover to Professor Mark Holmes, Head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine on November 14, it was revealed that “the current business plan for the delivery of clinical services was not viable and that the recurrent deficit of more than £1M could not be sustained”. An interim report from the review group convened in 2023 suggested a “major investment in clinical and teaching facilities” would be needed from the University to develop a sustainable model for veterinary education, but that “the University cannot make that commitment at this time”. Due to this, the report suggested that the clinical elements of the VetMB course could be delivered via external partnerships. This would mean that students might be transferred to a different university for the final three years of their defree after receiving their BA from Cambridge as part of “an articulation agreement with another Veterinary School”. Another suggestion included estab-
lishing “partnerships with private sector external clinical service providers” to enable students to complete their clinical training years. However, the General Board has not yet been able to assess the viability of these other delivery options for clinical experience.
50 The number of standards that the course failed to meet, out of 77
£1,000,000 The current deficit faced by the department The letter also stated that “the General Board has given consideration to the possibility of closing the VetMB course to new entrants from 2026,” with a separate email sent to admissions tutors on Monday (25/11) informing them that “a decision has been taken that no deferred offers should be made for entry in 2026”. The proposed changes would still “require an extended period of teaching out current students,” during which time the University would remain committed to providing clinical training. Continued on page 3 ▶
6% BME pay gap
Ending the spiking silence
The pay has now increased for the third consecutive year News Page 4 ▶
Varsity investigates how Cambridge is tackling the crisis Features Page 14 ▶
Inside ● Drinking socs will never be inclusive for women pg. 12 ● Confessions of a Cambridge influencer pg.23 ● Hooked on knitting pg. 24 ●