Revitalizing veterinary and animal science education for the future in India -- issues and approaches

摘要

In the veterinary science and animal husbandry education system, India has two deemed universities, three veterinary universities, several research stations and 34 veterinary colleges with an annual intake of 2000 students. Veterinary graduates haveto play a very crucial role in extending the health coverage and enhancing the production of over 1000 million livestock and poultry. This paper presents a critical analysis of observations on existing scenario and future strategies to be adopted for the betterment of veterinary and animal science education in India. Emphasis was placed on the applicability of new technologies to keep pace with the changing trends in animal health and veterinary medicine at the global level. A description is given of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of veterinary science education with due attention to relevance and quality as guiding principles. New developments in animal husbandry with an increasing emphasis on a business oriented approach necessitate that institutions of veterinary education should reorient their academic programmes to meet the emerging challenges. Measures relating to clientele, curricula content, manpower, information technology, privatization of veterinary education, continuingeducation, institution-industry linkages, gender issues, management of veterinary education institutions and the need for the establishment of an Indian council of veterinary research and veterinary universities are suggested.