The Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria is excited and proud to announce the approval by the Council for Higher Education (CHE) of a three-year Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing (BVN) degree. The new degree will eventually replace the current two-year DVN (Diploma in Veterinary Nursing).

Following a long and intricate process the new degree was approved at the end of June by the CHE, the highest body in South Africa for the accreditation of proposals relating to new courses within the framework of higher education, as well as the institutionalisation of quality assurance.

The process of upgrading the diploma to a degree was initiated several years ago. Among the reasons for the decision was the fact that the two-year diploma does not allow any postgraduate study, and therefore results in an academic dead end for diplomats.

The new degree offers more opportunities at postgraduate level and will open the door for the development of future specialist fields in veterinary nursing. This will also improve the global reputation of the Faculty.

The degree will be phased in through a thorough planning and curriculum-development process with a view to having new students begin the course within the next two to three years.

According to Prof Dietmar Holm, Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, the approval is a positive development for the Faculty and for the veterinary nursing profession. 'The approval of the BVN programme is the result of hard work and collaboration by the Faculty, the University and the veterinary professions,' Prof Holm said.