Jinan Zhuocheng Bio-Tech Co., Ltd.

Recently, the 23rd Joint Conference of Deans of Veterinary Schools and the Seminar on High-Quality Development of Veterinary Education under the “15th Five-Year Plan” were held in Qingdao, Shandong Province. The event was jointly organized by the Teaching Steering Committee for Animal Medicine Programs of the Ministry of Education and the Joint Conference of Deans of Veterinary Schools.

More than 500 representatives from over 90 universities, research institutions and enterprises across China attended the event. Under the theme of “Categorized Development, Integrated Reform and Digital-Intelligence Driven Development,” participants discussed priorities and development strategies for veterinary education during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

Zhang Yuan, Director of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Medicine under the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education, said that veterinary education serves as an important link supporting the development of a strong education system, a strong agricultural sector and a healthy China. He called on universities to seize new opportunities, strengthen the cultivation of high-level veterinary professionals, and provide solid talent support for national biosecurity and the high-quality development of the livestock industry.

Shen Jianzhong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine of China Agricultural University, noted that in response to the growing demands of national biosecurity, public health and high-quality livestock development, veterinary education needs to move beyond traditional models and pursue categorized development and distinctive educational programs. He also emphasized the importance of embracing digital and intelligent transformation and reshaping talent-training models through the deeper integration of information technology with education.

Zhang Yong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Professor at Northwest A&F University, proposed strengthening the integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, technology chain and talent chain, so that veterinary education can more accurately meet the needs of industrial development and society.

During the conference, artificial intelligence, big data and smart education were frequently highlighted in expert presentations, reflecting a growing consensus that digital and intelligent technologies will become a key driver of veterinary education reform.

The decision to hold the conference in Qingdao was closely related to the city's long-standing development in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine. Qingdao has established five biosafety level-2 veterinary laboratories with negative-pressure facilities, completed the standardized upgrading of 52 grassroots animal health supervision stations, and developed a routine disease-prevention system featuring year-round early warning, coordinated prevention of five major diseases and interconnected grassroots monitoring stations.

Qingdao has also taken the lead in implementing synchronized urban and rural rabies vaccination for dogs across the province. Leveraging the scientific and research resources of institutions such as Qingdao Agricultural University, the city has promoted the integrated development of the innovation, industrial, technology and talent chains. It has established cattle-industry technical service teams, launched joint university-local talent training bases, and developed an industry-education integration model characterized by “government coordination, university support, industry-driven challenges and talent-led solutions.”

This model provides a valuable example of how veterinary education can be better aligned with local industrial needs.

During the conference, participating experts also conducted group discussions on topics including strategic planning for veterinary education under the 15th Five-Year Plan, integrated reform of education, science and technology, and talent development, as well as the use of digital and intelligent technologies to empower veterinary talent training.

Participants agreed that categorized development, integrated reform and digital-intelligence driven development will become major priorities for veterinary education over the next five years. At the same time, university-local government collaboration and deeper integration between education and industry will be essential to translating these reforms into practice.

As an important coastal city and a key node along the Belt and Road, Qingdao is using the opportunity to further strengthen technological innovation and talent development in veterinary medicine, providing new momentum for the modernization of agriculture and rural areas and the comprehensive revitalization of rural communities in China.