Veterinary education in the world--changing attitudes

Veterinary educators all over the world are concerned about the explosion in knowledge and about the way veterinary science is taught at present. How can we produce veterinarians who will provide the sort of care that will be expected in the year 2000 and beyond? In the recent past many schools have increased the information presented in their courses without removing any material. Student stress has increased, and under-graduates do not retain what they are taught. The type of assessment that is currently used often requires regurgitation of 'facts' rather than the solution of problems. This paper considers some of the issues that are pertinent to the future of veterinary education and suggests ways in which the situation may be improved. There is a need for increased activity by the Australian Veterinary Association to convince government that present funding is inadequate and that increased funding is urgently needed if we are to produce veterinarians of the quality the country will need in the next century.