The Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Prof GE Swan

Prof Swan (right) with his award together with Dr Vinny Naidoo (left) of the Faculty and Ms Kerri Wolter of the Vulture Unit at the De Wildt Cheetah & Wildlife Trust. Both were members of Prof Swan's research team.

Prof Gerry Swan was appointed as Dean in October 2005. He graduated in 1973 and went on to complete his BVSc (Hons), MMedVet and PhD. In 2001 he became Head of the newly established Department of Paraclinical Sciences. He is very dedicated to the veterinary profession and looks back at his involvement in research and the development of programmes in the Faculty as a highlight. In 2006 Prof Swan received the prestigious Sasol Vulture Conservationist of the Year Award for 2005.

Message from the Dean

Everyone dreams about a career and making a difference in the world. I am convinced that you are no exception.

At the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort we try to provide you with as many opportunities as possible to fulfill that dream. Our Faculty is a leader with regard to training and service delivery and produces veterinarians and vet nurses of international standard. Similarly, we are proud of the fact that we also focus on the development of the student as a human being to enable him or her to eventually start a career as a balanced person and professional in all respects.

The Faculty has a campus, which compares most favourably with the best in the world. It has five academic departments, an Equine Research Centre and a Veterinary Wildlife Unit. The Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital provides state of the art facilities for the clinical departments and is the focus of the Faculty's clinical service-rendering activities to the immediate community as well as for the provision of a national referral service. Student life at the farm-like campus is vibrant and varies from cultural evenings to a wide range of sport events and organised rag-activities. The campus has its own residence for students who are studying there.

A degree in veterinary science (BVSc) provides challenging, rewarding and exciting career opportunities for anyone interested in animals, their care and welfare. The faculty also offers an undergraduate diploma programme in veterinary nursing and a wide variety of postgraduate degree programmes.

Graduates from the Faculty enjoy wide national and international recognition and the BVSc degree currently enjoys reciprocity with the veterinary degrees of the United Kingdom and of Massey University in New Zealand. The Australasian Veterinary Boards Council and the Malaysian authorities also recognise the degree for registration purposes.

The Faculty is positioning itself in such a way that within ten years this Faculty will still be an internationally accredited seat of veterinary excellence, and even more globally competitive, regionally pre-eminent and locally relevant.

The Faculty strives to be an institution with a healthy organisational culture and a staff component that is proud to work here. Our staff members are the most important resource of this Faculty. Through a team effort by its people, this Faculty is trying to shape the future. Welcome to our world.

Prof Gerry Swan

DEAN