In a significant move to transform veterinary education in India, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) unveiled its action framework for reimagining veterinary education during a two-day national conclave. The event, titled 'Reimagining Veterinary Education for Viksit Bharat@2047', was held at the university's Shalimar campus and brought together academicians, veterinary experts, policymakers, and institutional leaders from across the country.
Quadripartite Initiative
The conclave was organised as a collaborative effort involving SKUAST-K, Bihar Animal Sciences University (BASU), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), and the National Academy of Veterinary Sciences (NAVS). The gathering aimed to deliberate on the future direction of veterinary education in India and explore innovative approaches to meet emerging challenges.
Inaugural Session Highlights
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Dr Riaz Ahmad Shah, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Shuhama. He emphasised the importance of collaborative academic reform and innovation-driven learning in shaping the next generation of veterinary professionals. A special highlight of the programme was the felicitation of Dr Punniya Murthy, the 2026 Padma Shri awardee and a renowned expert in Ethno-Veterinary Medicine, for his distinguished contributions to indigenous veterinary knowledge systems and animal healthcare.
Call for Mindset Shift
Dr Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-K, called for a decisive shift in mindset and urged institutions to challenge conventional approaches to transform veterinary and agricultural education. He reflected on SKUAST-K's institutional transformation since 2018, noting that the university had expanded its intellectual property portfolio from just four or five patents before 2020 to over 123 IPRs today. Additionally, the university has nurtured more than 100 startups and established dedicated centres for emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
Dr Ganai further emphasised that the future of veterinary education would be shaped by skilled human resources, technological integration, and innovation-oriented learning ecosystems. He added that agriculture and animal husbandry would remain central to realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
Technical Session on Gaps and Vision
The technical session on 'Gaps in Veterinary Education & Vision 2047' featured expert talks by Dr Bhanu Pratap Chowdhary, Professor Emeritus at Texas A&M University, USA; Dr Punniya Murthy; and Major General (Dr) Pramod Batra of Tata Trusts, Mumbai. Each speaker offered critical insights into the evolving global landscape of veterinary education and practice, highlighting areas where Indian institutions need to focus to align with international standards.
The conclave concluded with a consensus on the need for a comprehensive overhaul of veterinary curricula, greater emphasis on research and innovation, and stronger industry-academia linkages. Participants agreed that reimagining veterinary education is essential not only for animal health but also for achieving broader national goals under the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision.
