What will it take to turn the University of the Free State’s plans for a School of Veterinary Science into a programme that works in the real world? That was the focus when veterinarians, para-veterinary professionals, government veterinary representatives, and industry stakeholders recently gathered on the University’s South Campus.
The engagement marked another step in a project that has already made significant progress. Plans are advancing for a six-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) degree, a Veterinary Academic Hospital, and clinical training facilities. The UFS used the session to share progress and test its thinking with people who understand veterinary practice from the inside, while strengthening relationships with stakeholders crucial to the school’s development.
“Veterinary education cannot be developed in isolation,” said
Dr Claudia Cordel, Project Manager in the
Department of Sustainable Food Systems. “It requires close engagement with the profession, government, industry, and the communities that veterinary professionals ultimately serve.”
She explained that the implementation of the School of Veterinary Science aligns with the UFS’ aspiration to be an innovative research-led, student-centred, and regionally engaged university, committed to advancing knowledge, challenging the status quo, and contributing to responsible societal futures.
“This is a strategic response to national needs and an opportunity for the UFS to strengthen its contribution to animal health, agriculture, food security, environmental sustainability, and economic development,” Prof Rhoda added.
This vision has the full backing of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. The Dean,
Prof Paul Oberholster, underscored his support, noting that the School of Veterinary Science represents one of the most significant academic developments the faculty has undertaken in recent years.
“It builds directly on our existing strengths in the agricultural and biomedical sciences,” he said. Prof Oberholser also provided his full support for the university’s commitment to preparing graduates who are capable of addressing the practical realities of animal health, advancing food security, and responding to environmental challenges facing the region and the country.
Learning in the real world
Dr Cordel pointed out that the curriculum is designed to equip graduates for the full scope of modern veterinary practice, moving from foundational biological sciences through para-clinical to clinical learning, with exposure to companion animal medicine, production animal health, equine and wildlife health. Preventive medicine, food security, and One Health – the relationships between animal, human, and environmental health – will run through the proposed curriculum.
According to her, practical experience will be an important part of this education. The South Campus is next to the Paradys Experimental Farm, giving students access to livestock and real production environments. To further broaden students' clinical and field-based learning opportunities, plans also include a Veterinary Academic Hospital, ambulatory services and partnerships with veterinary practices, government services, and other organisations. These mechanisms will help reach rural and peri-urban communities and expose students to the realities of veterinary practice across different settings.
The Free State’s agricultural setting also offers a particular advantage. Students will learn close to major livestock production systems, farming communities, and the real-world animal-health challenges that come with these environments.
She added that, besides the advantage of location, the UFS also has established strengths in agricultural and biomedical sciences and research, including expertise and infrastructure in animal science, microbiology, pathology, zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, microscopy and molecular research. “These existing capabilities provide a strong interdisciplinary foundation for veterinary education,” Dr Cordel stated.
She emphasised that the intention is not simply to train veterinarians to treat individual animals, but to prepare professionals who understand the relationship between animal health, human health, agricultural productivity, livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and national economies. “Ultimately, the aim is to develop graduates who are professionally competent, adaptable, and prepared to serve a wide diversity of communities and veterinary sectors,” she said.
The proposed School of Veterinary Science is designed to contribute well beyond student training. For farmers and the agricultural sector, veterinary expertise can support herd and flock health, disease prevention, reproductive health, biosecurity, food safety, and improved productivity. For pet owners and local communities, the Veterinary Academic Hospital and related clinical platforms are intended to provide access to veterinary services while giving students supervised, real-world learning experiences.
Building the school step by step
Dr Cordel remarked that there is still work to be done before the first students can enrol. The UFS has obtained endorsement confirming that the proposed qualification aligns with the scope and standards recognised by the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) for training in the relevant discipline. PQM approval from the Department of Higher Education and Training is underway. Accreditation by the Council on Higher Education and registration with SAQA will follow the required processes.
As she explained, infrastructure planning is progressing in parallel with the academic and professional approval processes. Existing South Campus lecture halls and laboratories are being upgraded and remodelled for undergraduate veterinary education. Additionally, clinical facilities – including the Veterinary Training Hospital – are being developed for undergraduate clinical training, subject to the necessary approvals.
Once the professional and higher-education processes have been completed, the UFS will announce application dates, admission requirements, and the proposed commencement date.
For now, the work continues through planning, construction, consultation, and conversation. As Prof Rhoda put it, the school aims to prepare veterinarians who are scientifically rigorous and technologically capable, while remaining ‘ethically grounded’ and responsive to the realities of the communities they serve.
Echoing this vision and building on the shared commitment expressed during the session, the Vice-Dean: Agriculture in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences,
Prof Johan van Niekerk, emphasised the broader impact of the initiative: “The establishment of Veterinary Science at the University of the Free State is about much more than creating a new academic programme. It is about strengthening animal health and food security, starting here in the Free State, and ultimately contributing to the well-being and resilience of rural communities across South Africa. Our farmers are at the heart of this initiative, and we are deeply grateful for the support, engagement, and confidence they have shown in the UFS. Their knowledge and experience will help us ensure that we develop veterinarians who understand the realities of farming and who can make a meaningful contribution to animal health, sustainable agriculture, and food security across the country.”
This may ultimately be the most important part of building a veterinary school: preparing people to care for animals while understanding the much bigger web of people, livelihoods, food systems, and environments connected to their health.