Abstract

A study was carried out on 180 respondents of the final year students of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy and the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, to assess their job ambitions in the changing scenario. The student’s profile and the role of veterinary curriculum on the development of their personality were also assessed. The study was carried out using a structured questionnaire and the data were collected by personal interview technique.  The data were then analysed using non-parametric statistical tests. Majority of the students (69%) wanted to become veterinary surgeon in the state Animal Husbandry Department followed by academic jobs (41%) and public sector undertakings (36%). A new trend of opting for jobs in IT companies handling foreign veterinary claim evaluation was also observed. More female students (57.57%) wanted to join university service, bank and appear for civil service/MBA examinations in contrast to male counterparts (43.28%) who preferred to do private practice and wanted to go abroad for jobs/higher education. Unlike other professions, government institutions are the key to provide job opportunities to veterinary students in Kerala. Emphasise on livestock entrepreneurship has to be given to make them job providers rather than job seekers and they should be supported by all means, adequately to venture into these new avenues.

Keywords : Job ambition, Attitude, Job opportunity, Veterinary education