Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:
The Doctor of Philosophy Program in Animal Science is fundamentally aligned with the principles of sustainable development, with a primary and profound impact on SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). By training researchers and academics to develop innovative, efficient, and sustainable animal production systems, the program directly contributes to enhancing food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. Its focus on optimizing animal nutrition, breeding, and production management addresses the core challenge of feeding a growing global population sustainably.
As an advanced research-based program, it is a cornerstone of SDG 4 (Quality Education), fostering the creation of new knowledge and providing graduates with specialized skills for high-level academic and research careers. The curriculum's emphasis on efficient resource use, animal product processing, and waste reduction creates a strong link to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Furthermore, research into animal health and genetics contributes to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through food safety, while the development of new technologies in animal science supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). The collaborative nature of doctoral research inherently promotes the global partnerships essential for SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
SDG 2: Zero HungerAlignment Summary: This program directly addresses the challenge of ending hunger by focusing on research to improve the productivity and sustainability of animal agriculture. Courses cover genetics, nutrition, and reproduction to enhance the efficiency of food production from animal sources, ensuring resilient agricultural practices and contributing to global food security.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 169 711 | Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology | Directly supports Target 2.4 by teaching sustainable feed technologies, which are crucial for ensuring resilient agricultural practices and improving food production systems. |
| AG 169 721 | Animal Breeding and Genetics | Contributes to Target 2.3 by focusing on genetic improvement to double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. |
| AG 169 731 | Animal Reproduction and Management | Enhances sustainable food production systems by improving reproductive efficiency, a key factor in increasing livestock productivity (Target 2.4). |
| AG 169 751/752 | Ruminant/Monogastric Animal Production | These courses focus on sustainable production practices for key livestock groups, directly contributing to increased food production and resilient agricultural practices. |
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-beingAlignment Summary: The curriculum contributes to good health and well-being by advancing knowledge on the quality and safety of animal-derived food products. Research in animal physiology and product processing helps ensure that food is safe for consumption and can contribute to a healthy, nutritious diet, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 169 741 | Animal Products and Processing | Contributes to food safety and public health by developing knowledge on processing animal products, reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses (Target 3.9). |
| AG 169 831 | Advanced Animal Physiology | Provides fundamental knowledge of animal health, which is crucial for preventing diseases that could impact the human food chain and public health. |
SDG 4: Quality EducationAlignment Summary: As a doctoral program, this curriculum is the epitome of quality education, designed to create experts and researchers who can generate new knowledge. It provides inclusive and equitable advanced education, equipping graduates with specialized technical and research skills for high-level employment and lifelong learning in the field of sustainable animal science.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 169 811/821/831/841 | Advanced Courses | These advanced research courses provide doctoral-level training, enhancing lifelong learning opportunities (Target 4.3) by fostering the creation of new scientific knowledge. |
| AG 169 998/999 | Dissertation | Represents a capstone lifelong learning opportunity (Target 4.3), where students conduct original research, thereby acquiring superior technical and vocational skills for employment and innovation (Target 4.4). |
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureAlignment Summary: This research-intensive program drives innovation in the animal science industry. Through advanced courses in genetics, nutrition, and physiology, it fosters the development of new technologies and sustainable practices that enhance the industry's productivity and reduce its environmental impact, thereby upgrading its technological capabilities.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 169 821 | Advanced Animal Breeding | Supports Target 9.5 by enhancing scientific research and upgrading the technological capabilities of the livestock industry through advanced genetic and breeding techniques. |
| AG 169 998/999 | Dissertation | Promotes innovation by requiring students to conduct original research, which often leads to new technologies and practices that can be adopted by the animal production industry (Target 9.5). |
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and ProductionAlignment Summary: The curriculum strongly promotes responsible production patterns by focusing on the efficient use of resources and the reduction of waste in the animal production sector. It includes courses on feed technology and advanced processing, all aimed at creating a more sustainable and circular agricultural industry.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 169 711 | Animal Nutrition and Feed Technology | Promotes the efficient use of natural resources (Target 12.2) by developing sustainable feed technologies that minimize waste in the production chain. |
| AG 169 741 | Animal Products and Processing | Aligns with Target 12.3 by focusing on advanced processing and quality control, which helps to halve per capita food waste and reduce food losses along production and supply chains. |
| AG 169 841 | Advanced Meat Science | Encourages companies to adopt sustainable practices (Target 12.6) by researching methods to improve efficiency and reduce post-production losses in the meat industry. |
SDG 17: Partnerships for the GoalsAlignment Summary: The program inherently fosters partnerships for sustainable development through its advanced research focus. Doctoral research, seminars, and dissertations require engagement with the global scientific community, promoting the knowledge-sharing and multi-stakeholder collaborations that are essential for addressing the complex challenges of sustainable agriculture.
| Course Code | Course Title | Alignment Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| AG 169 891/892 | Seminar in Animal Science I & II | Promotes partnerships (Target 17.16) by requiring students to engage with and present on the latest global research, fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and collaboration. |
| AG 169 998/999 | Dissertation | Represents a significant contribution to global partnerships (Target 17.17) by creating new, publishable knowledge that is shared internationally to help solve critical sustainability challenges in animal science. |