Future needs overhaul of Vet Education, SKUAST-K in driver's seat

Srinagar,  Dec 14: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir is driving the country-wide movement to advance the Veterinary Education in India, a change that will be a harbringer of better global education and career opportunities for scholars here.

The University has been bringing together Senior faculty, policy experts, overseas alumni, university administrators, and stakeholders including animal and sheep husbandry departments, industry and media. The recent deliberations have focused on transforming the existing Veterinary Education curriculum into a future-ready, globally aligned model that will meet the emerging demands of India’s livestock and animal health ecosystem.

A key highlight of the discussions held recently was the proposal to remodel the current Veterinary degree into two complementary Animal Science Track and Veterinary Medicine Track, with built-in integration to one health, Wildlife sciences, data sciences, artifical intelligence and reproductive biotechnology for strong cross-disciplinary competence. Expert Dr. Bhanu P. Chowdhary, Director of Molecular Cytogenetics at Texas A&M University, USA presented veterinary education models from North America, Europe, Australia, and East Asia. He emphasized that restructuring India’s veterinary education system by drawing upon the best elements of these global models would promote specialization, enhance professional competencies, and align academic outcomes with international standards

He also underscored the importance of pursuing international accreditation for veterinary degrees through globally recognized accreditation bodies while building facilities and competence required for the accreditation. He pointed that such accreditation would enhance the global mobility and employability of graduates, improve academic benchmarking, and elevate the overall quality of veterinary education in India.

Another major point of deliberation was the possibility of establishing a new Veterinary Campus in South Kashmir and Chenab Valley with creation of infrastructure and human resource. Speakers highlighted that a dedicated campus in the region would significantly enhance equity, access, institutional capacity, and economic growth, while also supporting local youth aspirations and strengthening livestock-based livelihoods in the region.

It was also noted that SKUAST-K currently enrolls students from all states across the country, reflecting the university’s national reputation and diverse academic environment. Experts stressed that the proposed reforms and expansion would further consolidate SKUAST-K’s position as a premier institution shaping the future of veterinary research and education in India.

A draft document on Re-imagining Indian Veterinary Education prepared by Aijaz Ahmad Dar, Pervaiz Ahmad Dar and Vice-Chancellor Nazir Ahmad Ganai was throughly discussed and released for inputs.

The brainstorming concluded with a shared commitment to developing a forward-looking roadmap that aligns veterinary education with national priorities under Viksit Bharat @2047, ensuring a stronger, resilient, and innovation-driven veterinary education.