The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has won European funding to develop its innovative system for the online recording of veterinary nurse training.

The College has been granted Leonardo da Vinci funding to the tune of €245,000 to investigate how its Nursing Progress Log (NPL), used as part of the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in the UK, can be adapted for use on the continent.

Dubbed 'Veterinary European Clinical Training and Assessment Record' (VECTAR), the project will explore how best the recording tool, and the training of practice-based mentors for veterinary nurse students, can be developed in the six partner veterinary nursing schools - based in Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal and Italy.

The project will be overseen by the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA), which means that European veterinary employers will have a direct link to the project throughout.

This is the latest of several similar projects in which UK best practice in veterinary nursing has led EU developments, and it is timely that the funding was secured during the 50^th anniversary of veterinary nurse training in the UK (www.rcvs.org.uk/VNat50).

Libby Earle, RCVS Head of Veterinary Nursing said: "We were delighted that the project has been granted funding, as it reinforces the position of UK veterinary nurse training as the gold standard in Europe. But there are still lots we can learn: the project will be a two-way process and we hope to gain from the experience of our European colleagues in developing and improving the NPL, and accessible training and support for those involved in coaching student VNs in practice."

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