WikiVet 50k Registration
WikiVet has registered its fifty thousandth user since its launch in 2007
The 50,000th registration was by Bristol University first year veterinary student Ella Briscoe from Godalming. “A friend recommended WikiVet to me to help with revision for histology exams” said Ella, “and I will certainly find it valuable support as I continue through the veterinary study course”. Ella’s current goal, once qualified, is to work overseas helping to provide advanced veterinary care where needed. Ella will also receive a gift of some more traditional hard print reference books from the WikiVet team in recognition of the event.
It is now 9 years since the WikiVet project originated from collaboration between the Royal Veterinary College, University of Cambridge Veterinary School, The Royal “Dick” Veterinary School, Edinburgh and later the University of Nottingham Veterinary School. Its aim remains that of embracing most aspects of the curriculum of the Veterinary Sciences as taught in the UK and enhancing veterinary education through the provision of free online resources to students and practitioners worldwide.
Incorporated into the WikiVet Educational Trust in 2014, WikiVet now has registered users from over 130 countries worldwide, with daily access from new veterinary students through to practicing veterinary surgeons from as far afield as India, South Africa and the USA as well as within the UK.
“When the project first launched, we did not anticipate how widespread the uptake would be,” says Dr Nick Short Head of the e-Media Unit at the Royal Veterinary College, one of the founders of the WikiVet project. “The fact that it is has now been used by many veterinary students, both in UK vet schools and around the world, as a key source of quality veterinary learning material, justifies all the efforts of those engaged in its production over the years” said Nick. “We share Ella’s aims in improving veterinary resources globally”.
Additional to the key role played by volunteers, a commercial wing of WikiVet was established in 2015 to help provide financial support for its maintenance and further expansion. Director of WikiVet Trading Co. Ltd, Graham Dick sees the 50,000th registrant as a milestone from which the future of WikiVet will continue to expand. “The goal of making quality veterinary educational materials readily available to all who study or practice veterinary science is a worthwhile challenge, for which funds as well as goodwill of contributors are critical to the Trust’s sustainability”, said Graham. “We hope that Ella and all other users of WikiVet will continue to find its content helpful in whatever aspect of veterinary study they may undertake.”