LUDHIANA: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Gadvasu) has been ranked first among the veterinary universities of India and seventh among 67 universities in 2019, according to the ranking of agricultural universities and research institutes conducted by the education division of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.
The ICAR initiated ranking of universities and research institutions under its purview with a larger objective to improve the standard of animal sciences and agricultural education in tune with the global scenario. Ranking was based on several parameters, including student and faculty profile, student placements, research publications and citations, patents, technologies generated and transferred to farmers, resource generated and linkages.
Dr Inderjeet Singh, vice-chancellor of Gadvadu said, “This time, they had a new score card system, which include the shifting of online details like international publications. We have improved from position eight to seven, but we have the potential to bag top three position and coming years we will try for that. We have scope in increasing number of faculty and patenting in research.”
“Everything in veterinary sciences may not be patentable but we do have scope in diary sciences, fisheries and biotechnology. Lastly, our extension infrastructure is minimal as compared with other institutes and still we try to strengthen the extension services,” he adds
He dedicated this achievement to every individual of the institute. He said, “Gavasu has grown rapidly and has made significant contributions in livestock research, teaching and extension. The university has strong international linkages with universities. The university has signed bilateral memoranda of understanding (MoU) with reputed national and international agencies to promote and strengthen research programme in veterinary, dairy and fisheries sector. The university is regularly providing training to scientists from various parts of the country under Centre of Advanced Faculty Training (CAFT) in the field of veterinary surgery, veterinary gynaecology and in the discipline of veterinary pathology.”
To meet the target of improving the income of farmers, the university is working for skill development and capacity building of farmers, youth and farm women for enhancing the productivity as well as demand driven value added livestock products (milk, meat and eggs). Different technologies being developed by the university are transferred in large extent to livestock farmers, industries and entrepreneurs and the state is developing as an important state of the country for livestock.