Fit for purpose? Selection processes should consider aptitude in terms of skills, personal characteristicsandcontext

Student selection to a rural veterinary school. 1: applicant demographics and predictors of success within the application process

“…Selection processes have a substantial effect on the degree to which student demographics represent the population served and this in turn leads to different practice intentions for graduates . The results of this study support current selection practices for selecting students for the veterinary degree program with demographic characteristics and life experiences well suited to the degree program’s priorities of addressing veterinary needs in rural and regional Australia.…”

“…Interaction terms were included but none were significant and have not been reported. The goodness‐of‐fit for each model was reflected as the percentage of variance was explained by the model (R). Results for the single variables are presented as the median and 95% CI for continuous variables, and as the percentage of applicants (with 95% CI) for categorical variables.…”

“…In recognition that the skill set required to function effectively as a professional extends beyond cognitive ability, selection to veterinary and other professional degree programs now commonly includes criteria such as communication skills, professional attitudes, social accountability and background, in addition to academic aptitude . There is increasing recognition that selection practices must account for learner characteristics, and the contexts in which graduates are likely to be working, and that academic aptitude alone may not be the best criterion for selection. Selection processes must be valid, reliable, unbiased and as evidence‐based as possible .…”

Student selection to a rural veterinary school. 2: predictors of student performance and attrition

“…There is increasing recognition, particularly in health and professional education, that graduates should be representative of the communities in which they are likely to serve. 1,2 The veterinary degree program at Charles Sturt University (CSU) was founded in 2005 to address the perceived shortage of veterinarians in rural and regional centres. In addition to the School's location in regional New South Wales, Australia, selection processes were designed to preferentially recruit students from rural and remote backgrounds, with high academic ability, strong communication skills, and knowledge of and commitment to both animal welfare and the veterinary profession.…”

“…Given the strong, ongoing student demand for places in undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary degree programs, and the desire to ensure graduate veterinarians have the professional skill set required to function effectively within a diversity of vocational settings, selection criteria to veterinary degree programs in Australia should include non‐cognitive criteria. There is increasing recognition, particularly in health and professional education, that graduates should be representative of the communities in which they are likely to serve …”