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PostgraduateProspectusprogress through learning

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We are dedicated to developing careers, improving practice performance and driving veterinary education forwards. progress through learning.

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Improve works with veterinary professionals who seek leading-edge training through a lifelong training partnership. Through the application of learnt techniques you will become more productive in practice – taking on more complex cases with confidence. This prospectus outlines our modular postgraduate programmes leading to higher qualifications.

why choose improve?

• 16 year track record of delivering quality Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

• Now operating in 17 countries worldwide

• Originators of modular CPD for vets, and still a company which is run by vets for vets

• Alumni includes 1,000s of vets who have benefitted from participating in structured modular programmes

• Postgraduate programmes accredited by The European School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ESVPS) and validated by Harper Adams University (HAU)

• State-of-the-art practical facilities

• World-class speakers, delivering the academic syllabus whilst ensuring content is relevant to practice

• Experienced subject mentors who add support throughout the programme

• 80% exam pass rate – an achievable qualification and unsurpassed success rates

our partners

harper adams universityFounded in 1901, Harper Adams has a long, proud tradition of the highest educational standards, and is widely recognised for the quality of its education. Named University College of the Year six years in a row, HAU was placed within the UK’s top 10 higher education institutions, gaining full university status in 2012.

european school of veterinary postgraduate studies ESVPS is a not-for-profit organisation established in 2003 with the remit of accrediting veterinary CPD, running examinations and awarding a range of certificates across the veterinary profession on a pan-European basis.

Harper Adams

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• Increase practice revenues

• Improve productivity

• Reduce external referrals and increase practice capabilities

• Transfer knowledge and skills within practice

• Demonstrate your commitment to enhancing practice standards

• Improve animal care

• Accelerate diagnosis

• Increase treatment options

• Reassure them their pet is in safe hands

For your practice: For your client:

• Achieve not only a PgC but also a GPCert and academic recognition

• Transform your professional life and approach to clinical cases

• Increase your skills, knowledge and confidence in dealing with complex cases

• Progress your career – take the first steps to achieving a Postgraduate Diploma (PgD) and Masters Degree in Advanced Veterinary Practice Sciences (MSc)

• Qualify towards attaining the RCVS Advanced Practitioner Status

• Access a like-minded peer network

• Fit learning around the workings of a busy practice

For you:

postgraduate programmes that help you to transform your practice life

Our programmes allow you to dive deeper into particular subject areas, to truly challenge yourself, and to gain the extra knowledge that puts you at the forefront of your field.

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At the beginning of each course you will receive a syllabus and specific learning objectives for all of the taught sessions.

each pgc comprises:

• Taught sessions with accompanying notes

• Practical sessions where subject relevant

• Preparation for – and then reflection on – the taught sessions. This includes pre- and post-course online evaluation and self-assessment

• Independent study, including online components

• Preparation for end-of-programme assessment

how does the pgc work? supporting your learning

As well as the structured taught programme, you will receive support tools to accompany your chosen programme.

All delegates will receive a subscription to an online e-library providing access to 1,000s of scientific articles and abstracts.

With our Learning Management System, you can access an online forum for group discussion, a notes library, other valuable study resources and share cases with your peers.

our postgraduate certificate (pgc) programme

The PgC is a recognised university-level qualification demonstrating that you have achieved the required standard within a designated subject. The qualification represents Master’s Level 7 within the Quality Assurance Agency’s framework for higher and further education. It provides 60 transferable academic credits towards the 180 required for a master’s degree.

By continuing your learning journey with us, your PgC may also be used to qualify towards a PgD and then a master’s degree.

These qualifications will enable you to deepen your knowledge and further demonstrate your skills, while obtaining academic recognition.

postgraduate Diploma (pgD) and masters Degree in advanced veterinary practice sciences (msc)

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The most comprehensive postgraduate modular medicine programme, enabling you to achieve a pgc and a gpcert.

Our Small Animal Medicine programme has been designed to be spread over two years culminating in an exam at the end, ensuring you are well positioned to pass. We understand you have busy working lives and may want to spread your learning.

The PgC enables you to have this flexibility with the Small Animal Medicine PgC comprising 20 taught modules plus a practical based day, at timings to fit around you and practice life. You can also choose to spread the programme over two or three years.

pgc small animal medicine programme

content areas typically include:

• Clinical pathology and laboratory medicine

• Cytology

• Immunology

• Respiratory disease

• Cardiovascular medicine

• Clinical pharmacology

• Gastroenterology

• Emergency medicine and critical care

• Endocrinology

• Medical neurology

• Medical oncology

• Infectious diseases

• Urology

• Clinical nutrition

• Dermatology

• Case-based discussions incorporating course review

• Cardiac diagnostics

locations

To offer delegates greater choice our programmes are run at a number of convenient venues around the UK.

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pgc small animal surgery programme

practical modules include: locations

The most in-depth and hands-on postgraduate modular surgery programme, enabling you to achieve a pgc and a gpcert.

• Reconstructive surgery

• Gastrointestinal and urinary tract surgery

• Head and neck surgery

• Thoracic surgery

• Joint and fracture surgery in the forelimb and hindlimb

• Bone grafting and external skeletal fixation

• Spinal surgery

For this year’s locations please refer to the separate Small Animal Surgery insert. All practical modules take place in Swindon at our purpose-converted wet-lab facility.

Our Small Animal Surgery programme has been designed to be spread over two years culminating in an exam at the end, ensuring you are well positioned to pass. We understand you have busy working lives and may want to spread your learning.

The PgC enables you to have this flexibility with the Small Animal Surgery PgC comprising 14 taught modules and eight practical modules, at timings to fit around you and practice life. You can also choose to spread the programme over two or three years.

content areas typically include:

• Surgical asepsis and basic operative techniques: wounds and wound healing

• Gastrointestinal surgery

• Liver, spleen and pancreas surgery

• Urinary and reproductive tract surgery

• Oral and pharyngeal surgery: the ear

• Surgery of the upper airways: laryngeal and tracheal surgery

• Thoracic surgery

• Surgical oncology

• Forelimb and hindlimb orthopaedics

• Decision making and complications in fracture repair

• Spinal surgery

how will i be assessed for the sam and sas pgc?

You will be required to submit a 2,500 word case report, along with 10x 500-1,000 word case studies during year two of the programme.

The final written multiple choice examination will take place at the end of year two. Success will lead to the award of a GPCert awarded by ESVPS as well as a PgC awarded by Harper Adams University.

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Our clinical taught PgC programmes take place in Swindon.

locationclinical programmes

• Small Animal Cardiology Studies

• Small Animal Diagnostic Imaging

• Small Animal Emergency Medicine and Surgery

• Feline Veterinary Studies

• Small Animal Ophthalmology

• Exotic Animal Studies

• Veterinary Acupuncture and Chronic Pain Management

clinical pgc programmes

A comprehensive range of structured, modular programmes across all key subject areas enabling you to achieve a pgc and a gpcert.

You can attend the structured taught clinical programme of your choice and, following successful assessment at the end of year two, achieve a PgC and a GPCert.

You will spend the first year undertaking the taught programme and the second year completing the course work for the advanced practitioner module and the final exam.

You can take up to three years to complete the taught programme.

You will be required to supply a case diary documenting the type and volume of your case load between January to April of your first year which is submitted with your registration for the PgC award.

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Your final written exam for the PgC will comprise of multiple choice questions covering the course syllabus

Option to extend the PgC and PgD over 3 years

Your course work is embedded and subject mentors are assigned to both medicine and surgery groups

All practical days are based in our state of the art facilities at Swindon

Graduation ceremonies held at Harper Adams University for PgC, PgD and MSc

Progress through learning

0 –

2 ye

ars

2 –

4 ye

ars

4 –

5 ye

ars

Key:

Self assessment

Practical components

Notational study

Independent study

120 credits

180 credits

120 credits

Complete another

SAM or SAS programme

Small Animal Medicine

Programme

21 clinical programme modules

20 taught modules 1 practical module

Small Animal Surgery

Programme

22 clinical programme modules

14 taught modules 8 practical modules

Complete a Clinical

Programme

Research Project

Clinical Programmes

PgC Small Animal Cardiology Studies

PgC Small Animal Diagnostic Imaging

PgC Small Animal Emergency Medicine and Surgery

PgC Feline Veterinary Studies

PgC Small Animal Ophthalmology

PgC Exotic Animal Studies

PgC Veterinary Acupuncture and Chronic Pain Management

14-16 taught modules dependent on subject

Advanced Practitioner module is made up of case reports

MSc

ExamPgD

ExamPgD

Apply for RCVS – Advanced

Practitioner status

The PgC may also be used to qualify

towards attaining the RCVS Advanced

Practitioner Status

Research information skills and advanced research methods

PgD Award

MSc Award

PgD Award

Research information skills and advanced research methods

Masters Degree in Advanced Veterinary

Practice Sciences (MSc)

60 credits

ExamGP Cert & PgC

PgC Award

60 credits

ExamGP Cert & PgC

PgC Award

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ready to progress through learning?

Our cutting-edge postgraduate training programmes are a proven way to change your professional life for the better. They offer the perfect balance of structure and flexibility to make them accessible to even the busiest vets. As well as boosting your skills and your confidence, they’re also a valuable stepping stone towards a future master’s degree.

Don’t just take our word for it

how to register

marni miller Bvetmed gpcert(sas) mrcvs

Small Animal Surgery delegate

The theory backed up by the amazing practical sessions really consolidate your knowledge base. In my case, this gave me the boost I needed to read the notes, the textbook, watch the DVDs and go ahead and book in the perineal hernia repair or the salivary gland removal instead of referring it on to someone else’s practice. I now eagerly anticipate the next surgery case walking through that consulting room door. There is no doubt that attending the Improve course in Small Animal Surgery has given me the confidence to say “well, actually, I can do that”.

Jennifer hamilton-ible Bvsc gpcert(sam) mrcvs

Small Animal Medicine delegate

The Small Animal Medicine programme provides a very structured way of completing a certificate that’s really easy to fit in around full-time work. The programme has given me a huge amount of confidence in dealing with complex medical cases, and has allowed, in most cases, a full work up to be completed in house, without the need for referral. I was so impressed with the Small Animal Medicine programme that I’ve just signed up for my next certificate in Forensics and Law.

Registration is by completion of an application form which can be obtained by contacting us or registering your interest.

• Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis

• Where all available places are full, applicants will be offered first refusal for the next available date

• Improve International reserves the right to close the intake early if the number of applications received exceeds the number of available places

• In order to secure a place you can pay a deposit – details of which can be found on the insert sheets for the programmes, along with further pricing information

Confirmation and enrolment details will then be sent to applicants once we have received a completed application and payment.

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registration is easy

Visit www.improveinternational.com, email PgC@improveinternational.com or call 01793 759159

alexandra housewhittingham Drivewroughtonswindon sn4 0QJ

tel: 01793 759159email: pgc@improveinternational.comwww.improveinternational.com

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