Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially opened the Royal Veterinary College’s (RVC) Student Learning Centre, which has been specially designed to support its excellence in teaching, learning and research and will help shape the next generation of veterinary and biomedical science professionals.
The new three-story development is located at the RVC’s Hawkshead Campus in Hertfordshire and offers innovative, state-of-the-art amenities for students and staff.
During the visit, The Princess Royal enjoyed a tour of the new facilities. This included the new Research Laboratories, Student Laboratories, teaching rooms and 400-seat lecture theatre, as well as social learning areas.
Throughout the tour, Her Royal Highness met with academics and students, hearing more about the RVC’s world-leading research in a range of disciplines, from stem cell therapy for horses to vaccine developments for zoonotic diseases.
Commemorating the opening of the facilities, Her Royal Highness attended a reception to mark the occasion and unveiled a plaque. The Princess Royal also spent time speaking with current students, staff and guests.
The reception provided an opportunity to recognise those whose support helped make the new facilities a reality. Their commitment to the RVC has been instrumental in enhancing the university’s teaching, research and student experience, and in supporting the future leaders in the veterinary science and biosciences fields.
Also in attendance at the milestone event were Mr Robert Voss, Lord Lieutenant for Hertfordshire; Professor David Latchman, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of London; Nicholas Buxton, High Sheriff; Lord Ajay Kakkar, Chair of RVC Council; Baroness Young of Old Scone, Former Chair of RVC Council; and Professor Christianne Glossop, Chair of the RVC Animal Care Trust. Representatives from Hertfordshire County Council and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council also enjoyed the occasion.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal last visited the RVC in 2023 to re-open the Hobday Building, focused on teaching and learning spaces, at its Camden Campus.