About the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Formation

The period 1969 - 1971 was an important landmark in the development of higher education in Malaysia. During this period four new universities were established in addition to the University of Malaya which before that had stood alone for more than 20 years. One of the new universities is the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM), whose Incorporation Order, signed by the DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong on 4th October, 1971 read, in part, as follows :

"...There shall be a higher educational institution having the status of a University, which shall be a body corporate, for the purpose of providing, promoting and developing, higher education in the fields of Agriculture, Forestry, Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, Natural Biological Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Technology, Social Sciences, Humanities and Education as well as to provide for research and the accumulation and advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of such knowledge in the aforesaid fields of study".

The stage was thus set for the establishment of the first veterinary school for Malaysia. Soon after the incorporation, the Interim Council of the University resolved that a veterinary faculty shall be one of the three foundation faculties of the new University, the other two being agriculture and forestry. The Foundation Dean was appointed in January, 1972 and together with three academic members of the Department of Animal Science of the former College of Agriculture, formed the nucleus of the new faculty which was officially called The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, combining under one organization the two major animal-based disciplines.

The task of planning a curriculum was undertaken in the initial stages with the help of two consultants - one from Australia and another from the United Kingdom. Curriculum planning in the final stages included inputs from Canadian Advisors as well as local faculty members and the Faculty Advisory Board. The planning for the physical facilities was made after a study of veterinary educational facilities in Australia, New Zealand, U.S.A. and Canada was undertaken by the Dean and another staff member.

A sum of RM 7.8 million was initially allocated under the Second Malaysia Plan for the establishment of physical facilities for the Faculty. Supplementary allocation was made to cater for various additional costs. Under the Third Malaysia Plan a further RM 400,000 was allocated for the project. The total allocation for capital development was RM 10.97 million.

The first group of students were enrolled in July, 1973, almost exactly 5 years to the month as recommended by Sir Williain Weipers in 1968. This, however, was more of a coincidence than actual planning. As a matter of fact the country, despite early interest in the establishment of a veterinary faculty, was ill-prepared, especially with respect to staff training, when the faculty was finally established. The initial nucleus of four was augmented by one secondment from the Veterinary Division, a few direct recruitment locally and one from abroad and the transfer of three faculty members from the Department of Animal Science of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Malaya. The number of faculty members in January 1995 stands at 65.

Aid was sought at the very beginning from various sources and eventually obtained from Australia through the Australian-Asian Universities Co-operation Scheme (AAUCS) and from Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The aid was in the form of secondment of advisers and professors, scholarships for advanced studies for local faculty members and a limited number of equipment.

In addition to the veterinary students, students were also enrolled for a diploma programme which trains semi-professionals to be knowledgeable in animal management and animal health. The first batch of veterinary students graduated in 1978 and the 23th in 2000 making the total 603. Whereas, the first batch of Diploma in Animal Health and Production students graduated in 1977 and the 24th in 2000 bringing the total to 916.