The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) is focusing on practical education as well as research and development to equip students with the latest professional skills and knowledge, said UVAS Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Manzoor Ahmad.
He was giving a briefing on the two-year performance of UVAS to Punjab Livestock Secretary Iftikhar Ahmad at a reception by the Teaching Staff Association of the university.
The DG Extension, Punjab Livestock Department, Malik Sajjad Zaheer, was also present, according to a press release issued here on Monday.
Professor Manzoor said two years ago when the college was upgraded to become the University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, there was no conducive academic and research environment, adding the administrative structure then was in a shambles.
"Now the campus has an enabling academic and research environment, the state-of-the-art infrastructure is being developed, while exams and classes are held according to a specific schedule," he said.
He said a culture of research was being developed on the campus, as the university faculty had already won Rs 20 million research projects, which were currently in progress, adding an excellent faculty members had been employed through a merit-based selection process to ensure excellent education.
He said the university had got 811-acre land for its new campus near Pattoki and various projects of upgrading existing infrastructure and strengthening of facilities were in progress, both on the main and new campuses.
He said the university had five faculties, 21 departments and three directorates, besides, various veterinary clinics, while courses offered ranged from short courses to and DVM undergraduate programme and from MSc/MPhil to PhD.
The VC said the ultimate objective of the university was to serve the poorest of the poor, the small farmers, and to contribute to national development.
Iftikhar Ahmed appreciated the progress made by the university during the short span of two years, and assured his full support to the university's academic and research programmes, observing that excellent educational institutions were vital to national development.
He said the livestock department was developing collaboration between research institutions and field units/relevant industries to achieve better results.
He later took a round of the various UVAS departments, and lauded the new developments.