New Level of Partnership between ASU & Regional Farmers

A trilateral agreement between Astrakhan State University, the Ministry of Agriculture & Fishery of Astrakhan Region, and local farmers has been signed at our University. Mr. Alexey Galkin, Regional Minister of Agriculture & Fishery, agrarians, and heads of regional municipalities came to the meeting. Our professors told them about our research activities in the field of agriculture, while our students presented their agricultural R&D.

Our University has been in close cooperation with local agrarians for a long time; now this partnership is official. In his welcoming speech, Dr. Konstantin Markelov, our Acting Rector, remarked that our strategy to train specialists to meet the needs of our region was declared at the federal level. Agriculture is one of the industries that really need specialists in various fields. He also pointed out that ASU is interested in partnership with other universities that train specialists in agriculture; that partnership could result in joint research projects and educational activities. “That’s the main development strategy for us, and you’re our main customers”, he said. Dr. Markelov also told that thanks to its cooperation with the Regional Ministry and the local farmers, our University would have the right idea what specialists Astrakhan Region’s agricultural sector needs and train specialists demanded at the labor market.

In his turn, Mr. Galkin remarked that highly qualified specialists are of very high demand for the regional agriculture. Agricultural activities are performed considering with a number of factors – from weather to the technical progress. It is impossible to make a single algorithm of actions in this industry; that is why skilled specialists are required.

Our Department of Agribusiness, Technologies, & Veterinary Medicine is ready to provide such specialists. Its Dean Dr. Ravil Arykbaev told our guests about that. Over the 17 years of its operation, this Department has been changing with the time. Now our students study at modern labs and lecture halls. Hands-on work is of high priority: we have experimental fields to implement our R&D; we have our own agricultural machinery. Besides, the Department cooperates with foreign universities actively. Over the last two years, 39 students of ASU have covered a practical training program outside Russia.

In their turn, reps of the regional agricultural sector who came to the meeting emphasized a real need for qualified specialists in Astrakhan Region. Our graduates are welcome in any district and at any farm of our region. According to Mr. Pavel Androsov, who directs a large farm, “Astrakhan Region has an outstanding potential; it is developing rapidly. New prospects and new victories await us; we indeed need highly qualified people”.