General Assembly at Saratov State Agrarian University

17/04/12 09:41:32

On October 17-18, 2011 Saratov State Agrarian University named after N.I. Vavilov (Russia) held an international educational and methodological conference “Current problems of educational process: modernization of agrarian education” within the framework of the project Tempus IV ENAGRA.
Conference was opened on October 17, 2011 by Kuznetsov Nikolay I. – Rector of Saratov State Agrarian University. The welcoming speech was delivered by Gorbunov Segey I. – Deputy Head of the Government of Saratov region (initial speaker was supposed to be Igonkin Oleksander V. – Minister of Agriculture of Saratov region).
The main speech on “Impact of international associations of agrarian universities on the changes in agrarian education and science” was given by Simon B. Heath – Secretary General, Association for European Life Science Universities.

Representatives of European, Ukrainian and Russian universities of the consortium gathered in order to discuss execution of the project work plan.

The coordinator stressed the need to take into account opinions of enterprises and organizations (employers) while working on new and modernized educational programs. On October 18, 2011 the round table took place within the international educational and methodological conference "Problems and prospects of modernization of agricultural education."
The round table of the conference was opened by Larionov Sergei Vasilyevich - Deputy Rector for Education of the Saratov State Agrarian University named after. N.I. Vavilov with a presentation on "Role of international cooperation of the university in modernization of agricultural education."

University of Lleida, 4 -11.06.2011

17/04/12 09:36:53

Within the framework of project, from 4 to June 11, 2011 University of Lleida (Spain) welcomed the representatives of the partner universities.

Ttraining program participants were acquainted with the work of Soil laboratory, visited research and teaching facilities on waste products utilization in agriculture, research and teaching facilities on horticulture and fruit trees and research and teaching facilities on integrated pest management.

EDUTER, 6 - 12.03.2011

17/04/12 09:31:17

The participants got acquainted with the activities of EDUTER, the structure that performs a broad range of activities covering education, publishing and outreach. AGRO_SUP is one of the first public institutions "Grands ETABLISSEMENTS" established by French Ministry of agriculture, food, fishery and French Ministry of education and research to train agricultural engineers.

Professors  C.Constant, J-P.Lemiere, S.Granger, P.Merat, F.Cointault shared their experience on training bachelors in ecology, agronomy, engineering and water management. Participants visited experimental fields, laboratories and equipment situated not far from the Institute, the fact being important in the training process.

Director of  Eduter Jean Chevaldonne introduced the participants to the organizational structure of the institute, its objectives and methods.

Eduter, as a part of AgroSup-Dijon is the institution that supports education. It’s main activity is to support vocational training of the young and adult population to meet their professional needs and personal interests to upgrade their knowledge.

The specialists of Institute’s department introduced to participants such services as  e-learning and Eduagri-edition, EduagriNet, WebTV and Formagri plarform.

Ghent University 20 - 26.02.2011

11/05/11 14:28:14

In the framework of the TEMPUS TACIS "Environmental curriculum in the agrarian universities" teachers of the chair of agroecology of the Buryat State Academy of Agriculture participated in the study tour to Ghent University in Belgium. The participants were Prof. Tatiana Korsunova , senior lecture of the chair of ecology Elena Konovalova, head of the department of ecological expertise of Ministry of natural resources of the republic of Buryatia Svetlana Trofimova. During the study the participants got acquainted with environmental education curricula of BSc, MSc and PhD levels. They visited laboratories, plants, libraries. The participated in lectures and seminars to see different teaching methods. Training seminars in Ghent University were arranged at Faculty of Bioscience Engineering and Environmental Sanitation by Prof. dr.ir. Roland Verhe. BSc curricula "Land and Forest Management" , "Chemistry and Food Technology", "Environmental Technology" were of special interests as these were the programs to be introduced in our academy. The program included visits to green houses where we watched students work there. We were involved in the process and learnt how to care for exotic plants. The experience of the University in arranging the study rooms of decorative floristics was of great importance as the BSAA intends to establish the center of landscape design. We have got acquainted with laboratory classes and equipment used in students seminars and practical classes on environmental protection. We found very useful experience of offering MSc program Master of Bioscience Engineering with the focus on Agricultural Science, Soil and Water Management , Environmental Technology. We participated at the Master thesis presentation devoted to polluted soils remediation through rape, corn production for the biomass as a fuel. The thesis on biological water purification of eutrophicated water bodies from green algae, the use of plant residues such as nutshells, tree bark etc. We have visited the companies dealing with energy supply "Electrawinds" by using renewable energy of wind, sun and burning organic and mineral wastes.

BOKU, Austria 23 - 29.01.2011

11/05/11 14:26:23

In the framework of the TEMPUS TACIS "Environmental curriculum in the agrarian universities" teachers of the chair of agroecology of the Buryat State Academy of Agriculture participated in the study tour to BOKU. The study tour included training seminars and field visits during which associate professors Erzhena Imeskenova, Margarita Kotlyar and chief specialists of the department of higher and post graduate training of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Buryatia Tamara Nemchinova got acquainted with their consortium partners from Saratov Agricultural University (Russia), National university of nature use and biological resources, Lviv national agrarian university (Ukraine). European colleagues from Institute of water resources hydrology and hydro engineering of University of natural resources and applied sciences shared their experience on Bologna process implementation, environmental curriculum development based on Dublin descriptors and European project "Tuning".
Training seminar covered such issues as ecological control, monitoring and expertise. The participants visited classrooms, laboratories and scientific libraries. The importance of staff mobility has been unanimously agreed as a vital activity in the project and it will result in modernization of the curricula, syllabi and teaching methods.