Veterinary Business Management (PgCert (VBM))

Program Overview

The Postgraduate Certificate in Veterinary Business Management from the University of Liverpool equips professionals in the veterinary industry with essential business management skills. Delivered fully online over two years, the program covers finance, marketing, human resources, and strategy, enabling graduates to enhance operational efficiency, strategic planning, and overall business acumen.

Program Outline

Veterinary Business Management (PgCert (VBM)) Program Details:

Degree Overview:

The Veterinary Business Management (PgCert (VBM)) program is offered by the University of Liverpool's Veterinary Postgraduate Unit. It is designed for individuals currently engaged in veterinary business management, including practice/office managers and veterinary staff.

Objectives:

• To develop a comprehensive understanding of core areas in veterinary business management, including finance and accounting, human resources, marketing, business strategy, and entrepreneurship.
• To cultivate the ability to critically reflect on the subject matter and apply it to real-world veterinary business settings in a systematic manner.
• To produce graduates who meet the requirements of potential employers in the veterinary industry by equipping them with the ability to handle complex issues systematically and creatively, demonstrating self-direction and originality in problem-solving.

Outline:

Program Content:

The program covers a wide range of topics related to veterinary business management, including:

• Finance and Accounting: Understanding financial accounting, management accounting, and resource management.
• Human Resources: Exploring current human resource management theories and different management structures.
• Marketing: Learning about marketing techniques and strategies relevant to veterinary businesses.
• Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship: Developing a critical awareness of the value of a business plan and its distribution within an organization.
Understanding the challenges and advantages of entrepreneurial enterprises in real-world settings.

Program Structure:

• VETS734: Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship: This module delves into strategic planning, entrepreneurial thinking, and the development of effective business strategies.
• VETS732: Human Resources: This module explores human resource management practices, including recruitment, training, and employee relations.
• VETS731: Finance, Accounting and Resource Management: This module provides a comprehensive understanding of financial accounting, management accounting, and resource management principles.
• VETS736: Work Based Learning: This module allows students to apply their learning to real-world projects and challenges within their own veterinary business settings.

Course Schedule:

• All modules must be completed in a specific prescribed order.
• All modules should be completed within two years of starting the first module.
• The program commences only once per year in September.
• Variety of assignments: Assignments take various forms, including essays, short answer questions, and assessed discussion boards.
• Reflection on business experience: Assignments encourage students to apply the learned material to their own business experiences.

Criteria:

• Critical awareness: Demonstrating a critical understanding of the importance of vision and mission statements, current business strategies, financial accounting, management accounting, marketing techniques, human resource management theories, and the value of a business plan.
• Systematic understanding: Demonstrating a systematic understanding of the challenges and advantages of entrepreneurial enterprises.
• Application to real-world settings: Applying the learned concepts to real-world veterinary business settings.

Teaching:

Method:

• 100% online delivery: The program is delivered entirely online, allowing students to study from home.
• Structured modules: Modules are structured with clear topics and assessment deadlines, enabling students to plan their studies around work and home commitments.
• Full library access: Students have access to the University of Liverpool's extensive library resources.
• Peer-to-peer interaction: Discussion boards encourage interaction and collaboration among students, fostering a virtual learning community.
• Weekly learning materials: Learning materials and assessments are provided on a weekly basis, allowing students to progress at a steady pace.
• Weekly time commitment: Students are expected to dedicate approximately 8 hours per week to the program.

Faculty:

Tuition fees for the programme are as follows: Year 1 - £1650 Year 2 - £2310