Egerton University Veterinary Medicine

Rationale
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) is a professional degree programme designed to train veterinarians with adequate theoretical, practical, technological knowledge and skills in the treatment and control of animal diseases. Early part of the BVM&S programme will cover pre-clinical courses (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, parasitology, immunology and animal production sciences. The later part comprises clinical courses (medicine, theriogenology, therapeutics, surgery and public health). Since its inception in 1939, Egerton University has continuously trained competent diploma graduates in Animal Husbandry and Health from East and Central African region. The BVM&S programme is in response to the increasing demand of veterinarians to address animal health issues in the horn of Africa. Kenya‘s economy depends largely on agriculture. The rapid annual population growth of 3.4% (2009 population census), requires a 4.0% growth in food production. The country‘s average Gross Domestic Product from Agriculture is 42%., while contribution from the livestock sector to the total Gross Domestic Product is only 10% (Republic of Kenya, 2002). This puts a high demand on livestock production, which has resulted to major changes in animal production systems, tending towards intensification. These changes are posing new challenges in animal disease management requiring an understanding in veterinary medicine. In the last three decades the effectiveness of animal health services delivery has seriously declined in developing countries, especially in Africa. This could be attributed to high cost of inputs and veterinary services, emerging livestock diseases due to climate change and shortage of veterinarians to mitigate food security. The general trend in services delivery in Kenya is towards privatization of veterinary practice. There is therefore a need to train more veterinarians equipped to meet challenges in the detection and control of endemic and emerging animal diseases. Kenya‘s 2030 vision is anchored on three key pillars: economic, social and political governance. The university is strategizing to make direct contributions to the social pillar specifically the education sector vision which is to have globally competitive quality education, training and research for sustainable livestock through this veterinary programme. Egerton University is endowed with qualified academic staff and ample teaching facilities including a demonstration and commercial farm, modern abattoir, diagnostic and research
laboratories, as well as a community based ambulatory clinical service ideally suitable for veterinary training in the region.

Programme Objectives
i) The broad aim of the BVM&S programme is to produce qualified and practically competent veterinarians who will contribute to the development of the animal industry so as to provide more animal products to the people and significantly contribute to the national gross domestic product. The specific objectives are:
ii) To provide opportunities for training of veterinary professionals required to contribute to extension of animal health services, research, public health and development in the public and private sectors of the animal resource industry.
iii) To provide holders of Diploma in Animal Health and Production and other relevant qualification an opportunity for further training at undergraduate level in veterinary medicine and surgery.
iv) To contribute to additional training opportunities for veterinary medicine and surgery for communities in the East and Central Africa region.

Admission Requirements
All candidates must satisfy the following requirements:
i) Obtain minimum University admission requirement.
ii) In addition, they must have at least C+ grade in the following subjects drawn from the K.C.S.E (Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination) or its equivalent: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics/Physics and English.
iii) Be holders of A-level or its equivalent with two principals and one subsidiary pass, one of which must be in biology and others from chemistry, physics and mathematics.
iv) Diploma holders who have passed with a minimum of credit in Animal Health, Animal Husbandry, Wildlife Management, Range Management and related disciplines from recognized institutions subject to Senate approval.
v) Be holders of a degree in Biological Sciences from institutions recognized by Egerton University senate.

Course Structure and Duration
i) The degree is a five year program leading to the award of Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM & S). Each academic year consists of two (2) semesters.
ii) The programme is designed to take ten (10) semesters each of (17) seventeen weeks and two field attachments of eight weeks (8) each at the end of 3rd and 4th year. All courses in the programme are compulsory. Completion of all prescribed courses is mandatory before graduation. Egerton University Veterinary Medicine
iii) The maximum duration of the programme is 20 semesters.Credit transfer for non-VMED courses may be considered for up to 30% of the total C.F. of the programme
iv) Exemptions for Credit transfer must have attained a minimum grade of B (credit), or equivalent in the course units for which exemption is applied.
v) The minimum total credit factors for the BVM & S programme is 244.
vi) The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery courses are coded as follows;
vii) All courses shall be abbreviated VMED (Veterinary Medicine) where applicable followed by a code number.
The first digit refers to the year of study
The second digit indicates the field of the subject matter
The third digit indicates the serial number of courses in the field of the subject matter in the year.
Course coding for the second digit (i.e. different subject matter areas) in the BVM&S programme is as follows:
0 = Foundation courses subject areas e.g. Anatomy
1 = Basic subject areas e.g. Physiology, Biochemistry
2 = Pathology, Immunology, Microbiology, Parasitology
3 = Pharmacology, Toxicology
4 = Medicine, Theriogenology
5 = Diseases, Epidemiology, Biostatistics
6 = Public Health, Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Animal Industry, Field Attachment
7 = Surgery oriented disciplines
8 = Other Clinical Sciences e.g. Veterinary jurisprudence, herd health, clinical rotations, case presentation

Examination Requirements
i) All examinations for the BVM &S program will be conducted in accordance with examination regulations as stipulated in STATUTE XXVIII of Egerton University.
ii) In addition, the following examination rules shall apply:
iii) There shall be university examinations held at the end of year/semester.
iv) Examinations in the BVM&S programme will be conducted in all of the following modes depending on the year of study and examination schedule. Egerton University Veterinary Medicine
Written examination
v) The end of year/semester examinations shall include a theory paper comprising 60% and a continuous assessment test of 40%, except for the non-VMED courses where the 70% and 30% rule will apply.
vi) The pass mark for each course shall be 50%, except for the core and non VMED courses whose pass mark will depend on the faculty under which these courses fall.
vii) No candidate shall be permitted to proceed to the next year of study until he /she has satisfied the examiners in all the prescribed courses taught in that year.
Practical examination
Oral examination
Clinical examination

Grading system
i) The grading of examination for this programme shall be conducted in accordance with Egerton University XXVIII
ii) The performance in each course shall be translated into letter grades as follows:
75-100% A (Distinction)
65-74% B (Credit)
50-64% C (Pass)
49% and below F (Fail)

Graduation Requirement
To graduate, a student shall be required to take and pass ALL scheduled courses within the stipulated period.

Degree Classification
The Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree programme is not classified

See Also:

1 Egerton University Masters Programmes

2 Egerton University Online Courses

3 Egerton University Undergraduate Courses