The end of another year and, for the most part, our campuses are noticeably quieter than the buzz and bustle of a normal working week. Still, there will be some of our number in over the holidays, attending to clients and their animals, or ensuring our estates are safe and secure, or coping with the unforeseen. Thank you to you all.

The last 12 months have seen us make huge progress – new buildings, a string of accreditations, challenges overcome and new plans hatched. A new Chair, in Lord Kakkar, and new colleagues in just about every part of the University. It has been quite the year and 2026 doesn’t look too different. But perhaps one shouldn’t be surprised – change is about evolution and, as we continue on our journey, the only thing that changes is the rate of change. Exciting times.

In this season of giving, I remember a Christmas Eve when I was a student seeing practice (EMS) in a market town in the Scottish Borders. For once, although we were not headed for a white Christmas Day, there had been recent snowfall, and it was cold enough that the trees were heavy with a frost that didn’t thaw from one night to the next. The town was nestled amongst the hills and, as one drove over the pass leading to the outskirts, in the late afternoon, you could still just see plumes of smoke from the chimney stacks and the twinkle of the street lamps bolstered, of course, with the sparkle of Christmas trees bedecked in the windows of just about every home.

The practice premises were on the main street next door to the owner’s house and things were winding down as everyone prepared to head off to do their last-minute chores. Predictably, there was as knock at the door and a farmer presented with his sheepdog which, unfortunately, had gorged itself, not on chocolate or Christmas cake, but on rat poison. As many of you know, I am long out of clinical work and I have no idea what would be done nowadays but, 30 plus years ago, one of the options was for the afflicted to receive a blood transfusion. Given the absence of a blood bank, the usual routine at this practice was for the owner’s labrador, Magpie, so named for a single white patch amongst her black hair, to step forward and donate – a phenomenon well known to the practice clientele and to this farmer, for whom this was not the first visit for a warfarin poisoning. 

And so it was on this occasion. In fact, so used was Magpie to the routine that, coming into the consulting room, she sat down and raised her front leg ready to assist.

Now, what the farmer did not know was that since his last visit that required a transfusion, Magpie had wandered out on to the street outside the surgery some months previously and had been hit by a car. It was touch and go at the time, but the good news is that she survived the accident but sadly lost her right eye. Nevertheless, she continued to provide blood when called upon.

So, there we were – vet, student, donor, patient - but just as we were about to start, the farmer looked up truly horrified having just noticed Magpie’s missing eye. Now farmers are not usually the squeamish type and as I said this was not his first visit. However, with a face that had drained of colour and a voice as timid as a church mouse, he turned to the vet and, in all seriousness, asked “Crikey, ye dinnae use her for organ transplants as well, do ye?” 

I won’t use this as a segue to “Last Christmas I gave you my Heart” but on that Christmas Eve, Magpie gave just enough to see her Border Collie dog friend make a full recovery and, for the avoidance of doubt, that’s where the donation stopped.

With that, and on this Christmas Eve, whatever your culture and traditions, and whatever it is you are giving to others over this holiday - time, service, gifts, love – I wish you the very best of times and thank you for all you have given to the RVC during the year gone.

As ever,

Stuart

The start of another academic year is always exciting as the arrival of the majority of our students brings life and energy to our campuses – a very warm welcome to all those joining us for the first time… and welcome back to those returning. Our sense of community is strongest when we come together as a university and when we look forward to learning, researching, working, caring, treating, teaching or whatever brings each of us to the table.

This first blog of the year comes, as previously, with news, reports, and opinion, usually in no particular order, and always with the caveat that some of what you might read are my own personal views. Usually, I look for the positive and the uplifting, but in these troubled times we have to acknowledge that many are less fortunate than us and we have to face the fact that the continuing violence and discrimination in our modern world, home and abroad, give serious reason to reflect, restating our values and commitment as a community. Shaped by professionalism, respect, inclusivity, freedom of expression, caring and compassion, we condemn intolerance and strive to ensure our university is a safe place for all.

I will share key information in the coming weeks, so please keep an eye on your inbox and the usual message forums, including Message of the Day. Recent posts include details on Black History Month, Menopause Awareness Month, and Dyslexia Awareness Week - please do take a look. But, for this blog, and keeping it brief:

Our Chair 

• I am delighted to welcome Lord Kakkar as our new Chair of Council.  Responsible for oversight of our governance (and my boss!) Lord Kakkar is an emeritus of (human) surgery and has had an outstanding professional, academic, and political career. I look forward to working with him as we chart the seas ahead.
• In welcoming our new Chair, we must, of course, say farewell to Barbara, Baroness Young of Old Scone who served in the role for the last six years. Absolutely emphatic that there should be no fuss, as was her wont, I simply extend our grateful thanks to her for all the wisdom and support she provided during some of the most testing times in our history.

Thanks

• Thank you to everyone who has made Welcome Week such a success. With so much information it can be overwhelming and I suggest that amongst the most important is “5 Ways to be Well”… as relevant in your 1000th day as in your first! 
• Thank you, too, to those hosting our September Showcase which was run alongside Open House for prospective students and an alumni gathering seeing almost 700 people on the Hawkshead Campus.  The event offered members of the local community the opportunity to understand more about what we do and engage with a range of talks, demonstrations and scientific exhibits.
• And great news that the RVC has performed so well in the Knowledge Exchange Framework – an  important measure of the relevance of our research to commerce, industry and broader society. My thanks to all involved in delivering this outcome.

Accreditations

• As some will already have seen, following the EAEVE/ESEVT visit in May, the European Committee of Veterinary Education has renewed our accreditation - really good news in what is a busy year with our accreditors and regulators.
• And hot off the press – and see the separate announcement on Message of the Day – the Council on Education of the AVMA has awarded full accreditation to the RVC. I realise this has been a source of stress and uncertainty for many and I, too, am both delighted and relieved. Again, to all who were involved, thank you and congratulations.

More Hellos and goodbyes

• I am very pleased to welcome Professor Jodi Lindsay to the RVC as our new Head of the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences (CBS). Jodi brings a wealth of experience in microbial pathogenesis, having built an exceptional career at St George’s, University of London. She will be primarily based at our Camden campus.
• I take this opportunity to thank Professor Caroline Wheeler-Jones for her leadership and dedication over the past nine years. Although not retiring, her contributions as Head of Department have been instrumental in shaping the direction and success of CBS, and we greatly appreciate her commitment.
• Welcome, too, to Sam Horne, our new CFO. Sam joined us a few months ago and has, after an extended handover period, taken on the position from Julie Waterfield who has now retired from the RVC after an outstanding career. Sam joins us with experience from several different sectors and will be dividing her time between Camden and Hawkshead.

And finally, for this blog

• Today we celebrate our Autumn Graduation in the Student Learning Centre at Hawkshead. Always a happy event, be sure to share in the joy as we wish our most recent graduates well as they take the next steps in their careers.  And to our graduands, many congratulations!

More anon...

Wishing you all a great start to the term and looking forward to seeing you around the campuses.

As ever,

Stuart

QS Rankings

As you may have seen earlier this week on our social media and in some of the academic press, we have, once again, topped the QS World University Rankings by Subject which is fantastic news. With our veterinary science 2025 result, this means that for the last 5 years straight (and 6 of the last 7) we have been ranked #1. I am grateful to you all, staff and students, for all your contributions in making this happen.

Those of you who have heard me speak on the importance of the QS system to us will know that perhaps the most valuable of the metrics is the opinion of our peers with respect to our academic reputation – and to be ranked first amongst equals is a real honour and a privilege. Of course, our research metrics and, increasingly, the satisfaction of those who employ our graduates are also absolutely key but above all it’s the consistent performance, year after year for which I am so grateful. Thank you.

Colin Whitaker HonDVetMed HonFRCVS

Last week saw the death of one of RVC’s alums, Colin J Whitaker. In his eighties, many will be unaware of Colin’s many contributions to animal health but by far the most significant was his identification of a case of BSE (Mad Cow Disease) on a farm he attended as a practitioner in the mid-1980s. He knew he was looking at something new and his persistence saw the disease investigated, described and ultimately controlled.  One Health is a relatively new term, but there is no doubt Colin’s clinical acumen and commitment resulted in one of the greatest contributions to human health in a generation.  Colin was a proud RVC graduate – it is on legacies such as Colin’s that we have built and continue to build our reputation. He would have been very pleased with Wednesday’s news.

US Federal Funding

I realise that many are watching the developments that are taking place in the USA very closely. I do want to reassure those who may be concerned that, whilst changes might take place with the Department of Education, there is no sign individual support will be affected. Of course, one never knows, but please be assured we are considering and updating mitigation strategies to ensure we are in a position to address issues should they arise.

SU Awards

We had a terrific evening in our new atrium at Hawkshead on Wednesday  for the SU awards. Being able to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our student clubs and societies, as well as outstanding individuals, in an “Oscar” style ceremony made for a thoroughly enjoyable event in a whole new format. The final act of the evening was the announcement of the election results and the shape of the new SU team.  Many congratulations to all who took part – nominees and winners – and a thank you for transforming our new space into a proper venue! If you missed it this year, book early for next. 

Hoping for a return to the beautiful spring weather of last week…

Have a great weekend.

Stuart

Here we are already in the second month of our Gregorian Calendar, in a world that seems more unsettled than ever in recent times. As parts of the planet celebrate religious or lunar festivals others are engulfed in grief and tragedy, facing the harsh realities of war, economic turmoil and social disruption, to the extent that makes life near intolerable. Yet we go on.

Recently returned from a visit to the USA, and notwithstanding the dreadful events in California and the awful recent air disasters, one might be tempted to focus on the change in mood following the new administration. Truth be told, there is a deep sense of anxiety in some quarters as the apparent threat to at least some aspects of free speech increases and a reprioritisation of funding bites. And this in a sector so long champions of academic freedom, social challenge and equality. Closer to home, the financial outlook for many universities here looks bleak as the new government here wrestles with the many calls on limited resources.

Yet, however inexorable the pull of the negative, we must persevere and remain focused on the good and on what tomorrow can be like…as my old mentor would say in times of strife, “These things pass…”. The RVC has a long history that goes back to 1791 and the time of the French Revolution. A review of world events over the centuries shows we have weathered several major conflicts, at least three pandemics, and countless highs and lows of the economic cycle, including five major recessions. Despite this, we find ourselves in the privileged position of enjoying a period of unprecedented success.

How can this be? Personally, I have no doubt… it’s all about the people. It’s about those who have gone before us. It’s about those here now. It’s about you, and the values we hold.

So, what are these values?

If you go and have a look at our strategic plan which maps our ambition and direction, you will see them set out:

1. Compassionate… as we strive for happy, healthy and resilient individuals and communities.
2. Professional … as we aspire to the highest standards of behaviour and conduct in all our work and study.
3. Respectful … of one another, with tolerance and understanding at the heart of our desire to create a diverse, inclusive and open culture.
4. Committed … to our work and study, to our research and innovation, to our teaching and our learning, to the student experience, to the prevention and cure of disease, to the care of animals, and to our people.
5. Curious … in all our endeavours as we improve, evolve and innovate, being the best we can be.

Easy to say and, for sure, more difficult to live, especially in an uncertain world, but I have no doubt that if we stick with these, embed them in our every day and require them of those with whom we work, we will be just fine.

***

So, aiming for the stars ... those of you who have followed these blogs over the years will know that from my house in Hatfield I have spoken about the night skies above Hertfordshire and the path of the International Space Station as it shoots by overhead. Well, beside the unusually close juxtaposition of the Moon and Venus in January, this month will see seven of the planets in our solar system all visible at the same time. Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are currently visible but, on the night of 28th February, for one night only, they will be joined by Mercury. The “stars” may not be in perfect alignment but it is a rare seven-planet spectacle in our night sky that will not happen again until 2040.

***

Finally, as we mark World Cancer Day, thank you to all those who attended the funeral of our colleague, John Barr, last week. A huge turn-out at a very large and desperately sad gathering, your presence and support for him and those close to him were RVC at its best. For one of our best. For one of our stars.

As ever,

Stuart