University of Pretoria Faculty of Veterinary Science
Since 1997, the university as a whole has produced more research outputs every year than any other institution of higher learning in South Africa, as measured by the Department of Education's accreditation benchmark.
Graduates of the Faculty enjoy national and international recognition and the BVSc degree of the University of Pretoria currently enjoys recognition for registration by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in the UK, the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) in Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania as well as by the relevant authorities in Malaysia.
Despite the unhealthiness of the site, and the very inadequate facilities consisting of wood-and iron buildings and stables, an enormous amount of valuable research work was produced at Daspoort.
[citation needed] A new site was selected on the farm De Onderstepoort, 11 km north of Church Square, because of its central position near the seat of government in Pretoria, its proximity to main railway lines, and satisfactory climate for human health.
[citation needed] During this time and in the years thereafter, the possibility of training veterinarians in South Africa was frequently raised but it was not until 1920 that Sir Arnold Theiler was appointed as Director of Veterinary Education and Research.
[citation needed] The initial intakes were small and the number of veterinarians graduating from the Faculty every year remained below 20 until 1956.
[citation needed] The Faculty of Veterinary Science is situated at Onderstepoort in the north of Pretoria which is a property of 65 hectares.
The buildings on the Onderstepoort campus cover a total of 55 000 m2 and consist of the following: The faculty has 5 academic departments responsible for teaching, research and service rendering.
These activities are further facilitated by well developed support services provided by an academic hospital, various departmental laboratories, general and student administrative sections, a teaching animal unit and a number of research centres.
The undergraduate teaching programme includes the Electron Microscope Unit canine anatomy presented to the BSc (VetBiol) III students and comparative anatomy of equine, ruminants, porcine, birds and fish presented to the BVSc I students.
The main focus of research in the department is on the anatomy of wild animals and the reproductive biology of birds and mammals.
[7] The Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies is responsible for teaching, service rendering and research in the disciplines of Anaesthesiology, Clinical Pathology, Dentistry, Diagnostic Imaging, Ophthalmology, Equine Medicine & Surgery, and Small Animal Medicine & Surgery.
The department comprises four sections representing the primary disciplines of Pathology, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Veterinary Public Health.
While each individual section is responsible for the maintenance and development of their respective disciplines, they function as a unit in pursuing the Departmental mission.
The academic activities of the Faculty of Veterinary Science usually commence early in January each year and end towards the second half of November.
Academic semesters are of equal length (approximately 14 weeks) with recesses during Easter, July and December.
The diploma programme requires two years of full-time study at the Onderstepoort campus of the University of Pretoria.
The first year is devoted to more basic courses in Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Ethology, Microbiology, Parasitology, Laboratory Technique and General Nursing.
It also includes a lecture-free semester of clinical training in the Academic Hospital and approved private veterinary facilities.
It was introduced in 2011 and is an internationally recognised and recommended approach and will continue to allow graduates to register and work as veterinarians in South Africa.
The latter will run throughout the programme and concentrate on the soft skills and ethical and professional aspects of the veterinary profession.
The remaining approximately 12 months will be devoted to experiential training in the core and elective components in the academic hospital as well as in satellite and other approved facilities.
The honours degree provides the student with a broad scientific background in the theoretical aspects of the modules offered.
The programme covers theoretical and practical training in the chosen specialty and requires the completion of a research project and submission of a dissertation.
