Plus-Hex CLINICAL
Veterinary teaching styles are not designed for diverse groups of students . For example , mental health , financial and educational support are all lacking . Claridge et al . ( 2018 ) identified that students felt they had to speak a certain way in exams to combat stereotypes , which led to mistakes . Additionally , examiners were cited as being less able to recognise student anxiety through flushed cheeks than on white students ’ complexions . These factors are especially important in veterinary nursing ( VN ) education , where qualification relies on practical assessments .
Students and staff need to be aware of and trained in cultural humility and unconscious bias ( Mills et al ., 2011 ). This is both to help with client interactions in professional life and also to combat stereotyping and bias related to the perception of the struggles and academic achievements of individual students . Although there is a known academic gap , this should not mean staff should be content with or expect BAME students to achieve lower grades . Alexander et al . ( 2015 ) use the example of a science teacher openly declaring in a survey that the genes affecting skin colour also affect IQ , so black boys are not suited to academic work . These shockingly false attitudes could easily be rectified with the correct education where multiculturalism is not a taboo subject . Having an inclusive , multicultural pedagogy can create a space where staff better understand students ’ stresses , making them more approachable if students need to raise concerns about academic work or mental health , and making it easier for staff to recognise signs of struggle in BAME students .
Conclusion
There is also evidence that veterinary students are not made aware of the financial help they are entitled to , which would help cover course expenses ( AVS & BVA , 2020 ). Financial difficulties can be a major contributing factor to a decline in mental health , but the stigma around mental health and differences in how students present their emotions can mean signs of deterioration may be missed or ignored , especially in BAME students . When all these factors are at play , they can present a major barrier to attaining a veterinary qualification .
Students having to sacrifice university education due to financial difficulties is not acceptable , and it should be in the resources of universities to provide full information about the financial aid available to each student ( Boliver et al ., 2017 ). This could support the 50 % of veterinary students currently needing to do a part-time job while studying , in order to contribute to course expenses ( AVS & BVA , 2020 ).
In conclusion , the findings of the literature review identified exposure , pathways , isolation and marginalisation , learning environment and teaching styles as barriers to access and attainment in veterinary education for BAME students . Lifting these barriers relies heavily on universities , veterinary professionals and the RCVS to recognise and acknowledge problems so actions can be taken . This requires changes in staff recruitment and training , teaching styles , university admission processes , early outreach to students and parents , as well as improving support networks . The limitations on implementing these strategies include , primarily , the lack of basic research specific to racial issues within VN and veterinary medicine . Other difficulties include obtaining long-term funding and resources , delivering information effectively , developing trust and a sense of belonging for BAME students , and maintaining staffing levels .
The veterinary sector , especially VN , is currently failing to recruit and provide a diverse workforce , meaning it cannot fulfil the needs of the role . This gap in diversity needs rectifying to reduce the high levels of racism currently present in the sector . Doing so would also improve practice and university experiences more generally , by driving innovation , encouraging a range of perspectives , and enhancing skills such as problemsolving , active thinking and motivation .
It is important to tackle racial discrimination and address the complexities around finding effective solutions on an ongoing basis , as circumstances evolve . This continuous evolution is an essential part of reflective practice and of a truly inclusive industry .
VOL 37 • May 2022
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