Elmwood Animal Care Update

As part of our ongoing assessment of the sustainability of Elmwood, and having listened carefully to students, staff and the local community, we wanted to share our proposals for next steps and to make it clear that we intend to maintain Animal Care at the campus.

We are committed to maintaining Elmwood and ensuring it is on a stable footing. But in common with other educational institutions throughout the country, SRUC is facing significant financial pressures.

We have not, however, focused only on savings. We have listened carefully to the range of views expressed and sought to ensure that Elmwood has a vital role in the future of SRUC, as well as its contribution to the community in which it is based and which it serves.

We will be exiting the main building at the end of this academic year as planned, but we will be retaining NC and HNC Animal Care courses at the campus. We will also be supporting the HND course via distance and blended learning.

This will deliver a number of benefits:

• Sustaining place-based learning for our Animal Care courses – a core component of our purpose and mission.
• Providing a potential learning pathway for Animal Care students through to our School of Veterinary Medicine - the first new vet school in Scotland for more than 150 years. By giving SRUC Animal Care students the opportunity to progress, we are reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that students are at the centre of innovation and learning across our tertiary system.

We know that Elmwood holds a special place in the hearts of students, staff, and the wider community in Fife and it will continue to play a vital role in SRUC's future.

Posted by Professor Wayne Powell on 06/03/2024