History of Establishment

“55 Years – A Journey…”

Under the severe conditions of the ongoing war, the Party and Government early recognized the necessity of educating a team of “both red and expert” scientific and technical cadres to guide farmers in boosting production, serving the war effort, and preparing forces for the reconstruction of the South after liberation. It was against this backdrop that Agricultural University No. 2 was established pursuant to Decision No. 124-CP dated August 14, 1967, issued by the Prime Minister. Its primary mandate was to train agricultural scientific and technical personnel at the university level, primarily serving the North Central region. The Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine was among the faculties founded during this period. At that time, the university and the faculty were located in Viet Yen District, Ha Bac Province (now Bac Giang Province), equipped with rudimentary facilities. Capturing the spirit of this era, Mr. Tran Dinh Mien composed the poem:

“Though thatch, bamboo, and leaves make up a humble school,

Building human potential remains a monumental task.”

THE HA BAC PERIOD (1967–1983)

In the early days following its establishment, the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine lacked dedicated school buildings, classrooms, and training facilities. As a result, students were evacuated to local villages including Son Quang, Dong Moi, Cha Ly, and Van Xa. During this period, the faculty relied entirely on the local community; even faculty meetings were held on villagers’ wooden beds, and classes took place in communal houses, temples, or cooperative headquarters. Later, the faculty relocated to Don Luong—the main campus of the university in Viet Yen District. Upon relocation, the university’s facilities remained sparse: lecture halls, laboratories, barns, and dormitories were built from mud walls, thatch, bamboo, and palm leaves. A poignant memory from that time illustrates the harsh conditions: student quarters occasionally lacked thatched roofs and had to be covered with thin woven bamboo matting. When it rained, students covered their beds and clothing with plastic sheets while bearing the downpour themselves. Despite these hardships, training activities proceeded steadily.

Academic Instruction

The inaugural academic term commenced in October 1967, offering two distinct majors: Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine. During the first week, the university and faculty conducted political orientation focusing on:

• Guidelines and policies for the anti-American national salvation movement

• Wartime agricultural development policies

• Central Committee resolutions regarding higher education and the faculty’s academic objectives for the year

Following political orientation, coursework began with foundational sciences (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology), followed by core and specialized subjects:

• Animal Science: Anatomy, Histology & Embryology, Physiology, Biochemistry, Genetics & Breeding, Biostatistics, Agro-pedology, Feeds & Processing, Grassland Management, Livestock Mechanization, Agricultural Climatology, and specialized courses on buffaloes, cattle, pigs, goats, horses, and poultry.

• Veterinary Medicine: Microbiology, Parasitology, Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Veterinary Hygiene, and Artificial Insemination.

By the third cohort (1969), practical demands led to the merger of these two fields into a single major: Animal Science–Veterinary Medicine. From then on, the faculty offered one undergraduate major, admitting approximately 100 students annually. During its peak popularity, applications for Animal Science–Veterinary Medicine accounted for nearly half of the university’s total applicant pool.

In the founding days, teaching staff were reassigned from various institutions, including Agricultural University I Hanoi, Hanoi University, pedagogical institutes, Hanoi Central Secondary Agricultural and Forestry School, Nghe An Secondary Agricultural and Forestry School, and returnees from overseas universities.

Overcoming initial hurdles, the teaching staff expanded and stabilized into a formal structure: the Dean’s Board, Department of Specialized Animal Science, Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology & Infectious Diseases, Department of Physiology & Anatomy, Department of Biochemistry & Feeds, Department of Genetics & Breeding, and the Central Laboratory.

Adhering to the principle “Learning goes hand in hand with practice, education combines with productive labor, and the school connects with society,” the faculty established:

• Curricula incorporating theoretical, practical, and experimental components, supplemented by field practice at university farms, local cooperatives, and state farms.

• Regular professional development for faculty and staff regarding ideology, conduct, and pedagogical methods.

• Course syllabi and textbooks developed directly by faculty members, which were self-printed and distributed by the university.

Educational Quality: Policies regarding teaching, learning management, examination regulations, academic progression, and practical skills assessment were thoroughly debated faculty-wide to establish comprehensive instructional guidelines.

The faculty emphasized developing the university farm as an essential center for teaching, practical instruction, and scientific research.

Efforts were also directed toward lesson planning, textbook drafting, and pedagogical innovation. Syllabi were reviewed directly in the classroom by joint inspection teams representing the Faculty, University, and Trade Union to assist faculty members—especially new instructors—in refining their teaching methods. Teaching excellence competitions were held regularly, steadily increasing the number of recognized exemplary lecturers. Initially reliant on textbooks from partner institutions, faculty members gradually authored, printed, and updated their own instructional materials.

Learning Activities

In alignment with the goal of training “both red and expert” engineers and combining theory with practice, the faculty implemented instruction across four training environments:

1. Lecture Halls (Area 1): Theoretical lectures, note-taking, and academic discussions led by faculty.

2. Laboratories (Area 2): Practical skills training using specialized equipment that was rare at the time, such as high-magnification microscopes, paper and starch gel electrophoresis, chromatography, and spectrophotometry. By 1978, the laboratory was modernly equipped through cooperation with the Netherlands Universities Foundation for International Cooperation (NUFFIC).

3. Training Farms (Area 3): Practical application of livestock management and veterinary procedures, including feeding, care, herd planning, sanitation, vaccinations, castrations, artificial insemination, diagnosis, and disease treatment. Students completed practical skills projects, such as cultivating forage crops (year 2), raising market pigs from weaning to slaughter (year 3), and incubating eggs and raising poultry to market size (year 4). Prior to graduation, students had to pass a Level 4 Skilled Worker trade test (out of 7 levels).

4. Cooperatives and State Farms (Area 4): Field internships lasting several weeks integrated productive labor with professional learning at local cooperatives, state farms, and research stations. This fostered partnerships with organizations such as Thanh Phuong Cooperative, Ruong Nguon Cooperative, Tan Cau Cooperative, Tam Dao State Farm, Ba Vi State Farm, Moc Chau State Farm, and the Veterinary Medicine Enterprise in Phung.

Scientific Research

From its inception, the faculty integrated teaching and learning with scientific research and productive labor. The Ministry of Agriculture assigned two major national research projects to the university:

• Intensive farming methods on degraded midland soils.

• Economic crossbreeding of pigs following an integrated rice-sweet potato-peanut-swine model to promote local agricultural production.

The pig crossbreeding project yielded significant practical applications, earning recognition from provincial authorities, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Technical Education, and a Commendation from the Prime Minister. In 2000, this initiative was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize as part of a collaborative national research program.

Additional research projects targeted indigenous livestock, including Yellow cattle, local water buffaloes, Murrah buffaloes, and poultry breeds, generating scientific literature that supported ongoing instruction and preservation efforts.

International Cooperation

The faculty was the first within the university to establish international cooperation, partnering with Wageningen Agricultural University in the Netherlands. In 1976, initial scientific aid arrived in the form of milk analysis equipment.

In 1979, the faculty joined the VH12 Project under the NUFFIC framework. This program enabled 18 faculty members to participate in long-term (Master’s and Ph.D.) and short-term training programs in the Netherlands. This foundational language and technical training subsequently allowed faculty members to pursue advanced degrees in Australia, Sweden, the United States, Japan, and Germany, while equipping seven faculty laboratories with modern research tools.

Organizational Leadership History

• 1967–1969: Veterinarian Dao Duy Dich served as Head of the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine Department at Hanoi Central Secondary Agricultural and Forestry School while concurrently acting as Dean of the Faculty at Agricultural University No. 2.

• 1969–1971: Mr. Tran Phuc Thanh served as the first official Dean, with Mr. Truong Hoai Chau as Vice Dean. In 1971, Mr. Truong Hoai Chau took charge of the faculty, accompanied by Vice Dean Do Xuan Tang.

• 1971–1975: Mr. Tran Dinh Mien served as Dean, supported by Vice Deans Truong Hoai Chau, Do Xuan Tang, and later Phan Duy Anh.

• 1975–1977: Mr. Phan Duy Anh served as Acting Dean, followed by Mr. Le Van Tho as Dean, alongside Vice Deans Phan Duy Anh, Do Xuan Tang, and Hoang Gian.

• 1977–1979: Mr. Le Van Tho continued as Dean, supported by Vice Deans Hoang Gian and Do Xuan Tang.

• 1980–1983: Mr. Le Viet Ly served as Dean, with Vice Deans Hoang Gian, Nguyen Van Bao, and Tran Dinh Tu managing administrative transitions prior to the university’s relocation to Hue.

Other Activities

In addition to academic and research responsibilities, the Faculty actively contributed to the university’s self-defense force. The entire faculty was organized into a battalion, with each class serving as a platoon—fully equipped with arms and ammunition for annual training, guard duty, and combat readiness. Numerous students from cohorts 1, 2, 3, and 4, alongside several faculty members, answered the call to enlist, with many heroically sacrificing their lives on the southern battlefields.

In 1971, severe erosion breached the left dike of the Red River, flooding the surrounding area and stranding the university for weeks. During the summer of 1972, rising waters along the Cau River posed a dual threat of dike failure and potential aerial bombardment. To mitigate the risk of a breach, faculty and students worked tirelessly day and night alongside local residents in Viet Yen District to fortify dikes and manage floodwaters. Additionally, the faculty mobilized to support flood relief efforts in the Central provinces.

In late 1972, U.S. aircraft dropped 14 delayed-action bombs on the university’s classroom area. Facing unexploded ordnance, the university and faculty maintained round-the-clock airspace surveillance for weeks until the site was safely cleared. During this period, students evacuated once again to Ruong Nguon and Quan Ranh. Tragically, Mr. Chinh, a lecturer in the Chemistry Department, lost his life during this time.

By late 1979, faculty and students joined efforts to address post-war challenges, improve environmental sanitation, and advance livestock production across northern provinces.

To foster well-rounded development, the Faculty actively engaged in annual performing arts movements, consistently leading the university in cultural activities. Numerous songs honoring the university and the faculty were composed by lecturers and guest artists. Among them, the song “Con lợn lai” (The Crossbred Pig) by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Lan gained widespread popularity, with its resonance enduring to this day:

“…The crossbred pig is tall and heavy, big and round—when was it born?

If you wish to know, come visit my school, Agricultural University No. 2…”

Many voices among the staff, faculty, and students—such as Nguyen Van Thuan, Doan Lien, Van Ha, Le Nga, and Minh Tam—became familiar to audiences across the university and nationwide through the “Khắp nơi ca hát” (Singing Everywhere) program broadcast on Voice of Vietnam radio.

Throughout more than 15 years of establishment and growth in Ha Bac Province—a period defined by hardships, falling bombs, and exploding shells during the war—the faculty maintained unwavering solidarity. Generous support from local residents and a shared determination among staff and students enabled the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine to fulfill its political mission, building a solid foundation for the next chapter of its history.

During this period, the Faculty trained 14 cohorts, producing approximately 1,350 engineers for the country. The generations of faculty and students of the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine during that era—1967 to 1983—are truly a source of pride.

HUE CITY PERIOD (1984–2022)

Following national reunification, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers issued Decision No. 213/CP on August 5, 1983, merging Agricultural University No. 2 Ha Bac with Hue College of Agriculture and Forestry to establish Hue Agricultural University No. 2, charged with training agricultural engineers for the Central and Central Highlands regions. Consequently, the university and the faculty relocated to Hue City, merging with the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine Division of Hue College of Agriculture and Forestry (established in 1979) to form the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Hue Agricultural University No. 2 (refer to History of Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry – 2007).

The relocation from Ha Bac to Hue was an extensive campaign lasting nearly a year—ranging from advance site preparation and packing laboratory equipment and household belongings to faculty members spending weeks onboard freight trains and trucks to ensure safe transport.

Academic Instruction

Due to logistics during the relocation, students of Cohorts 15 and 16 were temporarily transferred to complete their studies at Agricultural University No. 3 (Bac Thai) and Agricultural University No. 1 (Hanoi). Cohort 14 completed field practice in the Central region and took their graduation examinations at Dien Ban Agricultural High School (Quang Nam – Da Nang). Subsequently, the faculty temporarily suspended admissions for one year (omitting Cohort 18) to stabilize physical infrastructure.

During the initial phase following the merger, the faculty also completed the training of the final two associate-degree classes in animal husbandry (CC4 and CC5).

From 1984 to 1994, the faculty offered a single undergraduate major—Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine—with a 4.5-year curriculum and an annual enrollment of approximately 100 students.

In 1994, the faculty launched its Master’s program in Agricultural Animal Husbandry (later renamed Animal Husbandry, major code 62.62.50.01), admitting 6 to 10 graduate students annually.

In 1994, the Faculty expanded its undergraduate offerings by establishing two additional degree programs: Veterinary Medicine (a 5-year program) and Aquaculture (a 4-year program), admitting approximately 50 students annually per major. Following the inclusion of Aquaculture, the Faculty was renamed the Faculty of Animal Sciences.

In 1998, the Faculty initiated its Doctoral program in Animal Science (major code 62.62.50.01). To date, 19 Ph.D. candidates have successfully defended their dissertations, and 2 candidates are actively completing their research.

In 2002, the Faculty introduced a Master’s program in Veterinary Medicine (major code 60.62.50), enrolling 5 to 7 graduate students annually.

In 2005, the Department of Aquaculture was expanded into the independent Faculty of Fisheries. Consequently, the Faculty reverted to its traditional name: Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine.

In 2021, the Faculty launched an English-taught Master’s program in Animal Science.

Scientific Research and Production Support Services

Due to the institutional relocation, it took time for the Faculty to re-establish and resume its dedicated scientific research in service of production in the Central region. The Faculty was the first unit commissioned by the Ministry to formulate the regional livestock development strategy for Central Vietnam (from former Nghe An to Nghia Binh provinces). This strategy served as the cornerstone for regional livestock development, boosting herd sizes and enhancing animal productivity.

The Faculty was also the pioneering institution to implement the Mong Cai crossbreeding program for sow herds, train artificial insemination technicians, and introduce techniques for forage cultivation and dairy cattle farming—practices that have since been widely adopted and expanded by Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as Agricultural Extension Centers across the Central provinces.

Most notable were the large-scale surveys and studies conducted to evaluate the potential and identify constraints within regional livestock production. Subsequent research focused heavily on livestock nutrition (in collaboration with SAREC – Sweden and ACIAR – Australia), bovine parasitic diseases, swine fever, and smallholder farming systems. The results were directly applied to production, yielding high economic efficiency and earning high acclaim from regional authorities and local communities.

To support research activities, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Science and Technology invested over 11 billion VND (between 2004 and 2006) to construct a Key Laboratory equipped with modern analytical infrastructure. The facility possesses comprehensive capabilities for feed and livestock product analysis, as well as veterinary and aquatic disease diagnosis. This laboratory has become the most advanced analysis center in Central Vietnam, capable of conducting timely testing and analysis for virtually all types of regional samples and clinical specimens.

International Cooperation Activities

Building on the traditions established during the Ha Bac period, the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine continued to expand its lead in international cooperation within the university. Following the joint project with the Netherlands (VH12), numerous international programs were launched. Notably, the collaborative program with SAREC (Sweden) was initiated in 1990 through Prof. Le Viet Ly (then Deputy Director of the National Institute of Animal Science). This partnership contributed significantly to enhancing the faculty’s capacity in both training and research. Most importantly, 12 scientific personnel earned their Master’s and Ph.D. degrees through this program (between 1992 and 2007), while dozens of staff members attended short-term training courses.

Faculty members were also pioneers in proposing, establishing, and managing key research initiatives, including the Center for Rural Development (CRD), the Sloping Land Farming Project, and the Lagoon and Upland Resource Management Project—activities that continue to expand and thrive today.

Annually, 6 to 8 faculty research projects received funding from SAREC. The project also provided and upgraded essential hardware, including computers and laboratory equipment. Through the SAREC program, the Faculty became one of the first units in Hue—and Vietnam as a whole—to establish internet connectivity (linking with Oxford University in 1992). This network enabled faculty members to update lecture materials with newly acquired information and broaden international partnerships.

Transitioning from aid-focused international cooperation (centered on training and equipment supply), joint efforts evolved into high-level bilateral partnerships, such as protocols with Italy and China, as well as collaborative projects with ACIAR (Australia). Many faculty members served as principal investigators for international projects funded by IDRC (Canada), Belgium, Sweden, and other partners. Today, the Faculty maintains active cooperative ties with numerous international universities and organizations, including Wageningen University and Utrecht University (Netherlands), the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland (Australia), Obihiro University, Okayama University, and Nipon University (Japan), as well as the University of Tennessee (United States).

The Faculty has hosted and participated in numerous international conferences, publishing extensively in reputable international journals. Consequently, the Faculty’s role and reputation have grown steadily, earning high acclaim from domestic and international individuals and organizations for its academic growth and contributions to research and education.

Organizational Leadership History

When the university received the decision to relocate to Hue, a large portion of the faculty staff transferred to other work locations (estimated at 65%), particularly experienced lecturers and department heads. This initially posed significant challenges to the training activities of both the Faculty and the University in the Central region. However, with the recruitment and addition of teaching staff from Hue College of Agriculture and Forestry, the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine quickly consolidated its team, becoming the second-largest faculty within the university in terms of personnel.

1984–1992: Mr. Tran Dinh Tu served as Dean of the Faculty, with Vice Deans sequentially including Mr. Ho Quang Suu—former Head of the Animal Husbandry Division at Hue College of Agriculture and Forestry (1984–1985), Mr. Le Khac Huy (1986–1987), and Mr. Nguyen Kim Duong (1988–1992).

During this period, the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine comprised 5 academic departments and 1 experimental training farm: Department of Genetics & Breeding, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biochemistry & Nutrition, Department of Specialized Animal Husbandry, and Department of Physiology & Anatomy, with approximately 45 staff members, including only 4 Ph.D. holders.

1992–1996: In 1992, Mr. Tran Dinh Tu transferred to Central Veterinary Medicine Company 2 (Ho Chi Minh City). Mr. Nguyen Kim Duong took office as Dean, with Mr. Nguyen Van Due serving as Vice Dean. The number of departments remained unchanged, while the faculty staff grew to approximately 50 members, including one additional Ph.D. holder. In 1994, to meet practical production demands, the faculty introduced an additional major: Aquaculture. The Department of Aquaculture was formed with several existing faculty members (Nguyen Kim Duong, Ton That Chat, Le Van Phuoc) alongside newly recruited staff from the Thua Thien Hue Department of Fisheries and Hue University, with Mr. Nguyen Kim Duong concurrently serving as Department Head. As mentioned previously, the faculty was renamed the Faculty of Animal Sciences.

1996–2000: Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung, formerly Head of Academic and Student Affairs, was appointed Dean of the Faculty, with Mr. Nguyen Van Due as Vice Dean. In April 1998, following a reassignment by Hue University, Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung transferred to a new position (Head of the Academic Affairs Department, Hue University). Mr. Nguyen Van Due assumed the role of Dean (until June 2001), with Mr. Tran Sang Tao serving as Vice Dean. The Faculty of Animal Sciences maintained a staff of approximately 50 to 53 members, including 5 Ph.D. holders.

2001–2004: In June 2001, Mr. Le Duc Ngoan was elected Dean, with Mr. Tran Sang Tao and Mr. Nguyen Quang Linh serving as Vice Deans. The academic departments remained structural while department heads were updated. The experimental training farm (formerly located within the main campus) was relocated to Thuy An Commune and renamed the Thuy An Livestock Research Center (managed by Mr. Nguyen Van Phong). Facilities were upgraded to provide well-equipped conditions for conducting high-quality research projects.

2005–2007: Mr. Le Duc Ngoan continued as Dean, supported by Vice Deans Mr. Le Van Phuoc and Mr. Phung Thang Long. In February 2007, Mr. Phung Thang Long was appointed Head of the Department of Science, Technology and International Relations, and Mr. Nguyen Xuan Ba was appointed Vice Dean.

During this period, several organizational changes took place. In January 2005, the Department of Veterinary Medicine was split into two separate departments: the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (headed by Mr. Giang Thanh Nha) and the Department of Parasitology & Infectious Diseases (headed by Mr. Pham Hong Son). Additionally, the Central Laboratory—funded by the Ministry of Education and Training (as mentioned above)—was established, with Mr. Ho Trung Thong serving as Director. In March 2007, to meet the practical demand for hands-on student training, the Veterinary Clinic was established with Mr. Le Huu Nghi appointed as Team Leader.

By this time, the number of academic departments and units within the faculty reached 9:

• Department of Animal Genetics & Breeding

• Department of Animal Physiology & Anatomy

• Department of Animal Biochemistry & Nutrition

• Department of Specialized Animal Husbandry

• Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine

• Department of Parasitology & Infectious Diseases

• Central Laboratory

• Veterinary Clinic

• Thuy An Livestock Research Center

The faculty staff comprised 50 full-time members and 7 adjunct staff. Among them were 22 Ph.D. holders (accounting for 50% of the teaching staff), with over 80% holding Master’s degrees or higher.

2007–2009: Mr. Le Duc Ngoan was appointed Vice Rector of Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry for the 2005–2009 tenure. Mr. Dam Van Tien was nominated as Dean. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Ba, Vice Dean, oversaw international cooperation, scientific research, and the Thuy An Experimental Farm. Mr. Le Van Phuoc, Vice Dean, oversaw academic affairs and internal administration. The number of departments and operational units within the faculty remained at 9.

2009–2014: For the new university tenure, Mr. Dam Van Tien was reappointed as Dean. Mr. Pham Hong Son, Vice Dean, was in charge of scientific research and international cooperation; Mr. Ho Trung Thong, Vice Dean, was in charge of internal administration and academic affairs. In January 2013, Mr. Nguyen Minh Hoan, former Head of the Department of Testing and Educational Quality Assurance, was appointed Dean by the university, succeeding Mr. Dam Van Tien. During this period, the university established the Research and Development Institute, leading to the administrative detachment of the Thuy An Farm from the faculty as it merged with other university farms and centers. Consequently, the number of units under the faculty was reduced to 8 (6 academic departments and 2 directly affiliated units: the Veterinary Clinic and the Central Laboratory).