Professor Stephen May.

Working group members recognised for special contributions

Professor Stephen May, senior vice principal at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) was awarded for professional achievements at the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) Presidential Awards for Meritorious Services.

The AAVMC awarded Professor May and fellow members of the Competency Based Veterinary Education (CBVE) Working Group for their accomplishments in academic veterinary medicine at its March 2020 Annual Conference.

The CBVE Working Group has worked to develop a CBVE framework of competencies, professional activities and milestones over the past five years. This work has supported veterinary schools across the world.

Commenting on behalf of all members of the CBVE Working Group, Professor May said: “Content overload is a headache for those managing veterinary curricula. It drives superficial learning, paradoxically “deskilling” students and undermining their wellbeing.

“The only rational way to correct this is so-called backwards design: defining the required outcomes for graduates, verifying their achievement through valid assessment methods, and tailoring learning to supporting student success. This is key to the development of capable, confident and healthy professionals for the future.

“We were pleased to receive this recognition of our work, as it signals to all educational leaders the vital importance of radically reshaping veterinary curricula around learning outcomes, to ensure that veterinary professionals are well prepared to face the challenges of the 21st century.”

Image (c) RVC.