The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), India's leading distance learning institution, has opened admissions for its Post Graduate Diploma in Animal Welfare (PGDAW) for the July 2024 session. Launched in July 2020, the PGDAW program is now recognized as the ‘largest global animal welfare education programme,’ showcasing IGNOU’s dedication to advancing animal welfare education.

Program overview

The one-year PGDAW program is open to graduates from various academic backgrounds and covers four core areas: Animal Welfare Science and Ethics, Animal Welfare Issues, Animal Welfare Laws and Policies, and Animal Welfare Practices and Standards. The curriculum, comprising 85 modules, addresses the scientific, ethical, legal, and practical aspects of animal welfare across different domains, including farm, companion, working, performing, zoo, lab, and street animals.

Who should enrol?

• Individuals passionate about animal welfare
• Employees of animal welfare organizations/NGOs/Gaushalas
• Faculty, researchers, and students in universities and veterinary colleges
• Veterinarians and para-veterinarians in government and military services
• Members of animal welfare boards and committees
• Law enforcement professionals
• Civil servants, forest service officers and wildlife conservationists

PGDAW curriculum highlights
Animal Welfare Science and Ethics: Explores the scientific understanding of animal welfare, animal behaviour, ethical frameworks, and the role of veterinarians in promoting animal welfare.

Animal Welfare Issues: Examines welfare concerns across various animal categories, including farm animals, pets, working and performing animals, zoo and wild animals, and laboratory animals, along with welfare issues related to slaughter and disasters.

Animal Welfare Laws, Policies, and Organizations: Provides insights into pertinent legislation, enforcement mechanisms, and international conventions governing animal welfare, supplemented by discussions on organizational frameworks and ethical considerations.

Animal Welfare Practices, Economics, and Livelihood: Focuses on implementing welfare standards, sustainable practices, and measures for enhancing animal well-being in diverse settings, including agriculture, laboratories, pets, and entertainment industries.

Developed in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, UK, the PGDAW programme seeks to accomplish dual objectives – imparting science-based education in animal welfare through distance learning and fostering stakeholder capacity to make informed decisions concerning animal welfare.

The program is endorsed by the Animal Welfare Board of India.

Admissions now open
Admissions for the July 2024 session are now open. Interested candidates can apply via the official admission portal: https://ignouadmission.samarth.edu.in/

For more information, contact Programme Coordinator Prof P V K Sasidhar at pvksasidhar@ignou.ac.in or WhatsApp at 9910050413.