College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at the UAE University, a new breakthrough in 2023

• Received AED 70 million for an external multidisciplinary research project in agriculture (Aspire Research Institute-Food Security)
• Received internal grants of AED 2,474,000 
• Accomplished International accreditation of three bachelor's programs in the Department of Integrative Agriculture
• Establishing eight new advanced educational laboratories for the Department of Veterinary Medicine, and a three-dimensional scientific platform for students
• A future plan to establish a teaching hospital for the Department of Veterinary Medicine

The College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine seeks to provide advanced and accredited educational programs in the agriculture, veterinary and nutrition fields to prepare qualified competencies that meet the needs of the labor market, and to provide applied research and distinguished advisory and training services to the local community. The college also contributes to agricultural development, food and environmental security applying the best standards and developing strategic partnerships with local and international companies and entities in line with the 2023 college's plan.

Prof. Bhanu Choudhary, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, explained, “The year 2023 marks a qualitative and new start for the college in updating and developing modern academic and scientific programs. The College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine is also one of the unique and leading colleges in the United Arab Emirates, and it is one of the beacons of science and scientific knowledge regarding plant and animal health and production.  The college is transferring this knowledge to young people who aspire to be future leaders and experts in these disciplines.

He also pointed out that "the college focuses on agriculture and veterinary medicine more than ever before to ensure food security, safety and sustainability. The college also welcomes fresh undergraduate students (Bachelor's) and graduates (Master's and PhD) to its various professional programs in agriculture, food science, and veterinary medicine.

Our research farms and laboratories are an integral part of our social and community responsibility and a key to our interaction with the industrial sectors and national authorities in the country.”

He added, “Food security is among the priorities of the great nations, because it represents a paramount importance in terms of food and human health. In addition, the college contributes to supplying the labor market with many graduates in the field of agriculture, whether plant or animal, as well as food industries and animal health.

The college conducted many agricultural and veterinary research during 2022 and attracted students in graduate programs, in horticulture and food industries. The college also published many research in the most prestigious international journals and periodicals.

The College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at the UAE University will continue to be one of the most prestigious and leading colleges in the country, providing the labor market with distinguished graduates. The College will also work to attract graduate students to work in the plant and animal health-related fields.

2022 Achievements and 2023 Vision 

Dr. Mohammed Abdul Muhsen Al-Yafei, Associate Professor at the Department of Integrative Agriculture, Vice Dean of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, said that "during the year 2022, three bachelor's programs were internationally accredited in the Department of Integrative Agriculture at the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, which are the Horticulture, the Marine Fisheries and Animal Production, and the Agricultural Resources Management, by CIWEM (The Chartered Institute of Water and Environment Management) in the United Kingdom for a period of 5 years (2021-2026). 

Moreover, eight advanced educational laboratories have been established in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, with a capacity of up to 30 students. These laboratories include anatomy, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, histology, clinical pathology, physiology, and pharmacology. In addition, a 3D digital platform has been created to teach students about anatomical structures.

Food security: a national strategy we seek to achieve

 After the Corona pandemic, food security has become one of the most important priorities at the national level, and there is a significant increase in the number of students wishing to enroll in the various college programs, as well as cooperation with the industrial sector by hosting specialized projects.

Dr. Mohammed Abdul Muhsen Al-Yafei, Vice Dean of the College, indicated that "progress has been made to strengthen the veterinary medicine program. The college three departments obtained internal funding (AED 2.474 million), including an external multidisciplinary research project (ARI) in agriculture (AED 70 million), and a genomics facility has been established as well. The faculty members actively participated in local and international conferences and scientific workshops. A group of specialists has been recruited and modern laboratories have been established for research areas of national priority, such as health, food security, and biodiversity conservation.

New research collaborations have also been established with well-known research universities such as Chalmers University, Wageningen University, National University of Singapore, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, University of Queensland, and University of Zurich. Some of the faculty members also obtained one American patent, published a book and several book chapters and received the Distinguished Researcher Award. His Excellency the Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University honored two faculty members who are included in the list of Stanford University for the top 2 % scientists.

There is an increase of (15%) in the number of graduate students in the various programs of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, and more than 180 high-quality research papers were published in prestigious scientific journals in various fields of agriculture and veterinary medicine. The average publication per faculty member for the year 2021-2022 was 3.20.

The college's future plan is to establish a teaching hospital for the Veterinary Department updating and upgrading the laboratories' infrastructure and providing them with the latest equipment. The college is looking forward to more cooperation with high-level educational institutions (the best 50 educational institutions), and fruitful and constructive cooperation will continue with the Ministry of Education agricultural academies nationwide to attract more students.