BD Vet. Med. Rec. (2016). 2(1): 29-36

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1 BD Vet. Med. Rec. (2016). 2(1): Comparison of Preference and Admission Status of Applicants in Different Under-graduate Programs with Special Emphasis to DVM Degree at Bangladesh Agricultural University M. A. Samad* Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh ABSTRACT The main objective of this report is to assess the comparative status of the under-graduate admission in the different faculties at the Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) with special emphasis to veterinary medical education based on option given by the applicants and admitted students on the academic session of and project the need for resources in the near future. The BAU utilizes the centralized system of admission in the under-graduate levels for the seven types of degrees which is usually completed in three phases which includes (a) first phase (application registration phase), (b) second phase (admission test phase) and (c) third phase (final selection of candidate for admission). A total of candidates applied for admission against 1199 seats (22 candidates / seat), of which candidates appeared in the admission test (14 candidates / seat) and finally 1199 candidates were selected and admitted in the six faculties at BAU. Analysis of the 1 st option to the degree of study given by the finally selected 1199 candidates for admission reveals that the overall highest percentage (39.37%) of selected applicants (n = 472) preferred DVM, followed by Ag. degree (38.62%, n = 463), Agril. (12.26%, n = 147) and B. Sc. Food (5.0%, n = 60) but a very low number and percentage of selected candidates given 1 st option to study Fisheries (3.17%, n = 38), AH (1.08%, n = 13) and Ag Econ. (0.5%, n = 6). It also appears that 399 finally selected candidates did not get chance to admit themselves on the basis of their 1 st option which is highly significant for admission in DVM (70%, n = 281), followed by Ag (15%, n = 61), Agril. (12%, n = 47) and Food (3.0%, n = 10). In addition, two foreign students have admitted to the DVM course and only one in Ag course at the BAU, whereas university world ranking requirements 5% foreign students. Therefore, the BAU authority needs to consider the infrastructural and academic development approached by the Faculty of Veterinary Science at least as per other five faculties of this university for the interest of the university to attract foreign students and the interest of the society and the nation. INTRODUCTION The basic educational system of Indo-Bangladesh sub-continent has been inherited from the British colonial time. In 1961, the East Pakistan Agricultural University (EPAU; now Bangladesh Agricultural University; BAU) was established and a bilateral program between EPAU and Texas A & M University under USAID program helped to develop the veterinary education at the EPAU (now BAU). However, the system of veterinary education including nomenclature of institution and degree are still remained different between the British and USA systems. In British system, a composite degree, BVSc was established in all the British colonial countries including India, and later on India has re-named as BVSc & AH that is currently offer from all the 41 veterinary colleges in India. 1,2 In USA system of veterinary medical education requires a pre-vet-med bachelor degree on animal science (previously known as animal husbandry) which is usually awarded under the domain of Department of Animal Science or Agricultural Science. 3,4 A composite BSc (Vet. Sci & AH) degree was awarded from the then College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (CVS & AH), Mymensingh before the establishment of EPAU. The EPAU was established based on CVS & AH *Corresponding vetmedbd@yahoo.com Website: Copyright Faculty of Veterinary Science All Right Reserved /0009/2016

2 BD Vet. Med. Rec. campus and two separate faculties, Faculty of Veterinary Science (FVS) and Faculty of Animal Husbandry (FAH) was introduced with two separate degrees (BSc AH, DVM) against the composite degree with the suggestion of inland and Texas A & M experts. It appears from the history of Texas A & M University that the School of Veterinary Medicine was renamed as College of Veterinary Medicine in 1963 and in 1970 it was again re-named as College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences 5 and this indicates that the two equivalent degree systems in a profession never exist at the Texas A & M University. Review of literature indicates that this two types of equivalent degree system in a profession does not exist either in British or USA system or even in any country in the world except Bangladesh. 3 Currently, 191 students are enrolled in each of the FVS and FAH every year as considered both are equivalent degree at BAU and in the session , approximately applicants applied for admission in seven types of degrees awarding from BAU. This paper describes the comparison of 1 st option given by the applicants and admission status of the selected candidates to the different under-graduate programs at BAU. MATERIALS AND METHODS The BAU offers seven bachelor degrees from six faculties and approximately applicants were registered for admission in 1199 seats for the seven degree program at BAU during the academic session The data of these applicants were analyzed on three phases: (a) First phase as valid registered applicants, (b) Second phase as appeared in admission test, and (c) Third phase as selected for admission and admitted status. The data are analyzed and presented in both tabular and bar diagram form. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The BAU under-graduate admission process is usually carried out at the last three months of the every year. The university utilizes the centralized application and admission test service operated by the BAU Central Admission Committee. There are six faculties at BAU, currently offers seven degree programs with a total number of 1199 seats (Table 1). Admission requirements for seven degrees offer by the six faculties of BAU are the same. 7 The eligibility of the applicant for the Level-1 and Semester-1 admission at the BAU for the academic session must have Secondary School Certificate (SSC) in 2012/2013 and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) passed in 2014/2015 with at least total GPA 8.0 without 4 th subject from science group. Candidate must have at least GPA 3.5 both in SSC / HSC and must have physics, chemistry, mathematics (General math for SSC), biology subjects in SSC and HSC. 7 The selection procedure for admission of the applicants was made in three phases: (a) First phase (registration of the valid applications), (b) Second phase (admission test phase) and finally (c) Third phase (admission registration phase). At the first phase, there are candidates applied for admission for the 1199 seats (22 / seat) of the under-graduate level at BAU for the session These findings of the faculty and degree-wise applicants with 1 st option and the number of applicant per available seat are presented in Table 1 and Fig.1. In the second phase, the results on the faculty and degree-wise number of applicants with 1 st option appeared in the admission test and the number of candidate appeared in admission test per seat are shown in Table 2 and Fig. 2. In the 3 rd phase (final phase), the finally selected candidates with 1 st option to the specific degree were first allowed to admit to the concerned faculty and detail statistics of admission of the finally selected candidates are presented in Table 3 and Fig. 3 & 4. It appears from the analysis of data of candidates applied and appeared in admission test with 1 st option to get admission at BAU that the highest number of applicant applied and appeared in admission test for Agril. (53.89 / seat; 33.67/seat), 30

3 No. of applicant/seat Admission Status in DVM Program at BAU Table 1. Faculty and degree-wise first option given by the applicants for under-graduate admission at BAU for the session SN Faculty Degree Total No. No. of applicants No. of applicant of seat per seat Male Female Total (%) FVS DVM (34.01) FA Ag (29.85) FAH A.H (00.88) FAE & RS Ag Econ (01.28) FAE & T Agril (22.92) Food (07.95) FF Fisheries (03.11) Total (%) (87.94) (62.71) (37.29) - Option not given 3226 (12.06) Grand Total FVS = Faculty of Veterinary Science FA = Faculty of Agriculture FAH = Faculty of Animal Husbandry FAE & RS = Faculty of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology FF = Faculty of Fisheries FAE & T = Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology DVM Ag. A.H. Ag. Ecno. Agril. Food Fisheries Fig. 1. Degree-wise first option given by the applicants for undergraduate admission at BAU for the session

4 No. appeared in admission test/seat test/seat BD Vet. Med. Rec Table 2. Faculty and degree-wise applicants with 1 st option appeared for admission test examination for the session SN Faculty Degree Total No. No. of applicants appeared No. appeared seat in admission Male Female Total (%) test /seat FVS DVM (33.87) FA Ag (29.94) FAH A.H (00.90) FAE & RS Ag Econ (01.30) FAE & T Agril (22.85) Food (08.05) FF Fisheries (03.08) Total (%) (86.93) (62.90) (37.10) Option not given 2215 (13.07) Grand Total FVS = Faculty of Veterinary Science FA = Faculty of Agriculture FAH = Faculty of Animal Husbandry FAE & RS = Faculty of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology FF = Faculty of Fisheries FAE & T = Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology DVM Ag A.H. Ag. Ecno. Agril. Food Fisheries Fig. 2. Degree-wise first option of applicants appeared for undergraduate admission test examination for the session

5 Selected with 1 st option Admission Status in DVM Program at BAU Table 3. Faculty and degree-wise finally selected candidates with their 1 st option for the admission in under-graduate program at BAU during SN Faculty Degree No. selected for admission Degree-wise Seat-wise 1 st Admitted with 1 st option option & 1 st option Male Female Total No. (%) balance No. (%) No. (%) FVS DVM (39.37) +281 (70.43) 191 (100) FA Ag (38.62) +061 (15.29) 402(100) FAH A.H (01.08) -178 (44.61) 013 (06.8) FAE & RS Ag Econ (00.50) -126 (31.58) 006 (04.5) FAE & T Agril (12.26) +047 (11.78) 100 (100) Food (05.00) +010 (02.51) 050 (100) FF Fisheries (03.17) -095 (23.81) 038(28.6) Total (%) (54.30) (45.70) /- = Selected for admission at BAU but not admitted as per 1 st option, however admitted in other degree FVS = Faculty of Veterinary Science FA = Faculty of Agriculture FAH = Faculty of Animal Husbandry FAE & RS = Faculty of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology FF = Faculty of Fisheries FAE & T = Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology % 38.62% % DVM Ag. 1.08% A.H Ag. Ecno. Agril. 5.00% 3.17% Food Fisheries Fig. 3. Overall degree-wise finally selected candidates with their 1 st option at BAU during the session

6 Admitted with 1 st option BD Vet. Med. Rec % 100% 100% 100% % % 4.5% 0 DVM Ag. A.H. Ag. Ecno. Agril. Food Fisheries Fig. 4. Overall degree-wise finally admitted candidates with their 1 st option at BAU during the session followed by DVM (41.87 / seat; / seat) and Food (37.40 / seat; 23.72/ seat) and then others degrees (Table 1 & 2 and Fig. 1 & 2). This trend of application and appeared for admission test with 1 st option have changed at the final selection list after the result of the admission test and it is observed that the highest number and percentage of candidates with 1 st option preferred DVM were selected (n = 472; 39.37%), followed by Ag. (n = 463; 38.62%), Agril. (n = 147; 12.26%), Food (n = 60; 5%) and other degrees (Table 3 & Fig. 3). These results indicate that the first preference of meritorious students to study DVM, followed by Ag (Hons.), Agril., Food, Fisheries, AH and then B. Sc. Ag. Econ.. On the other hand, 100% applicants with their 1 st option could able to get admission in DVM, Ag, Agril. and Food but not in other disciplines (Table 3 and Fig. 4) Foreign applicants have also encouraged to apply for admission in different bachelor degrees for the year 2016 at BAU through a webpage cited with the name of faculty, name of degree and duration (number of semester and year) of course with requirements and instructions, although equality for admission requirements have mentioned for all the faculty degrees except Faculty of Veterinary Science (FVS) for DVM degree where the existing DVM curriculum is of 10 semesters (5 years) but it has cited in the circulation as 12 semesters (6 years) courses. 8 However, a total of three foreign students admitted at the BAU, of which two in DVM and one in agriculture. The DVM course at BAU is five years including a semester internship training whereas the DVM in the USA is four years beyond the four years pre-vet-med (BS in Animal Sciences/Biomedical Sciences) under-graduate degree. 9,10 Veterinary Council of India conducts All India Pre-Veterinary Test (AIPVT) for admission to BVSc & AH course for filling up 15% of All India quota seats in the veterinary colleges in India and for State quota seats by the respective States. 1,2 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is the recognized authority to formulate all the academic activities of veterinary education and accreditation in USA. 11 However, these types of activities are not practiced 34

7 Admission Status in DVM Program at BAU in Bangladesh moreover the Veterinary medical education is associated with agriculture education and activities with krishibid association in Bangladesh. There s a pervasive myth that getting into Veterinary medical college is much more difficult than getting into human medical school in USA but that s not supported by the data. 11,12 The curriculum is similar to that a human medical program in topics and structure, though DVM students have course exposure to multiple species as comparative medicine. 11 Veterinary medicine is known as one of the most fulfilling, interesting and challenging professions and offers an exciting and broad spectrum of career choices to those aspiring to enter the profession. The veterinary medical education and the profession urgently need to respond this changing landscape to ensure that graduates can continue to meet societal needs. 13 There are major demographic, political, environmental, disease, technological and economic influences, all driving changes in society. These changes will have significant impacts on future veterinary medicine and veterinary medical education. The current number of veterinarians in food supply veterinary medicine, in biomedical research, in public health, in companion animal medicine, and in other anticipated needs is inadequate to address current and future societal needs and well-being. 14 Students who wish to enter a DVM degree course typically obtain bachelor s degree in science related areas like zoology, molecular biology, chemistry, animal science and biochemistry in USA. 4 A bachelor s degree in animal science can usually be completed in four years and the courses that prepare students for DVM course tend to include (a) Microbiology, (b) Animal management, (c) Anatomy and Physiology, (d) Animal nutrition and (e) Equine care, whereas BSc in Animal Husbandry (9 semesters) and DVM (10 semesters) is considered equivalent degree at Bangladesh. 3 In addition, more emphasis and importance are provided to the pre-vet-med graduates than DVM both in educational institution and field of government services in Bangladesh. Under this circumstance, the quality assurance program may not be able to contribute to improve the veterinary medical education at BAU to produce the skill workforce for national and international standards. Veterinarian s Oath [The newly admitted veterinary student should always keep in mind about the Veterinarian s Oath : Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the health and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence. 9,15 ] ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would like to thank Prof. Dr. Md. Taohidul Islam, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science (FVS), Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) for suggestions and correction of this article. Thanks are also to Dr. Syeda Hasina Akter, PhD, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy and Histology, and Dr. Muhammad Jasim Uddin, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, FVS, BAU, Mymensingh for review of this manuscript. 35

8 BD Vet. Med. Rec. REFERENCES 01. Anon. (2016). All India Pre-Veterinary tests (AIPVT). Veterinary Council of India. Aipvt.vci.nic.in/aipvt/Welcome.aspx 02. Anon. (2016). All India Pre-Veterinary Test (AIPVT) 2016 for BVSc& AH course admissions Samad MA (2015). Challenges and prospects of academic quality assurance for DVM degree program in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Veterinary Medical Record 1: Anon. (2016). Veterinarian education requirements and career info. Study.com/veterinarian_education.html 05. AAVMC (2016). Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Texas A & M University. Vetmed. tamuedu/about-us/history 06. Ashraf MA (2016).Statistics of the 1 st choice given by the applicants for studying in different faculties / degree (Table 1 & 2). Personal communication 07. BAU (2015). Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU). Admission Test Result Resultinbd.net/Bangladesh-agricultural-university-admission-test-notice-result-seat-plan/ 08. BAU (2016). Foreign applicants. BAU Anon. (2016). Steps to becoming a veterinarian. Vbs.psu.edu/majors/vbs/steps-to-becoming-a- veterinarian 10. Anon. (2016). Veterinary medical program admission requirements for direct entry AVMA (2016). The future of Veterinary Medicine. aavmc.org/media-faqs.aspx 12. Anon. (2016). Why is vet school harder to get into than medical school? Talk.collegeconfidential.com/prevet-veterinary-medicine/ why-is-vet-school-harder-to-get-into-than-medical-school 13. Osburn BI, Betts J, Granstrom DE, Green EM, Krehbiel JD, Lawrence J, McCrystle D, Reed WM and Thomas RM (2015). Roadmap for Veterinary Medical Education in the 21 st Century: Responsive, Collaborative, Flexible. North American Veterinary Medical Education Consortium.pp Wills NG (2006). Envisioning the future of Veterinary Medical Education. Vetfutures.org.uk/download/reports/AAVMCForesightFinalReport.pdf 15. AVMA (2016). Veterinarian s Oath. 36