Amidst the robust transformation of the livestock and veterinary industries towards high-tech and sustainable practices, educating students must go beyond theoretical knowledge and be closely integrated with professional practice. Embracing this trend, the Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, has launched the modules ‘Introduction to Animal Science’ and ‘Introduction to Veterinary Medicine’ for nearly 350 Cohort 59 students. This serves as a strategic first step in their career journey.
Faculty Meeting with Students Before the Hands-On Farm Experience
Beyond Academics: Grasping the Profession from Year One
Instructed by the highly experienced faculty of the Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Department, this coursework is tailored to help students “see their future” in the animal husbandry sector.
In these classes, students go beyond merely reviewing their degree plan; they are introduced to the full spectrum of the job market. They learn about various roles, required competencies, and the practical opportunities and hurdles ahead. Crucially, the course empowers students to cultivate a career-oriented mindset, establish academic objectives, and take charge of their professional growth.
Learning by Doing: Hands-On Exposure to the Real Industry
A major focal point of the program was the field trip to leading businesses and agricultural farms on March 29, 2026.
Students were taken directly to:
- State-of-the-art egg incubation plants (hatcheries)
- Operational-scale farms for poultry (chickens, ducks) and livestock (pigs, cattle, goats)
In these settings, rather than just passively listening, students could see the operations with their own eyes, pose direct questions, and hear from working professionals. Honest accounts of starting a business, managing operations, achieving success, and overcoming production difficulties offered a genuine, dynamic look into today’s livestock sector.
Students visiting the 3F Viet Poultry Hatchery
Enterprise Connectivity – Opening Doors to Employment
By interacting with farm owners and industry managers, students gain deeper insights into hiring needs, candidate selection criteria, and the hands-on competencies demanded by the corporate sector.
This establishes a crucial link between the university and businesses, ensuring students are no longer uncertain about their careers but are actively mapping out their future trajectories.
Education for Maturity: Mindset, Skills, and Responsibility
Upon completing the course, each student is required to submit a personal essay reflecting on their field trip. More than just an evaluation metric, this assignment allows students to:
- Consolidate theoretical knowledge
- Evaluate real-world production models
- Recognize specific employment roles
- Identify the essential toolkit needed for their profession
Consequently, students gradually cultivate independent reasoning, analytical skills, and a sense of professional duty—attributes that are fundamental to the new generation of Livestock Engineers.
Small Beginnings, Broad Horizons
The Introductory courses in Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine transcend typical coursework to become the gateway to the professional realm. Driven by an application-oriented educational philosophy, the program reinforces a bold statement:
Modern animal agriculture has evolved beyond traditional farming—it is now a technological field, a vital economic sector, and an industry of the future.
Some activities
