“Transdisciplinary research methods” bring scientists closer together

Within the framework of international project 610383-EPP-1-2019-1-DE-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP (2019-2086) "Improvement of postgraduate education in sustainable agriculture and agro-systems of the future" (SAGRIS) staff of SSAU participated in a block seminar at the Arctic State Agrotechnological University (Yakutsk, Republic of Sakha, Yakutia).

The Republic of Sakha is located in the north-east of Siberia and is the largest administrative-territorial unit in the world in terms of area. The land is characterised by a severe cold climate, and an abundance of natural resources. But the greatest treasure of the republic is the kind, talented and hospitable people. These are the kind of professionals who work at the Arctic State Technical University, which hosted the participants in the international Erasmus+ project.

From October 26-29, 2021 there was a block seminar "Transdisciplinary Research Methods for Sustainable Agriculture" in the framework of SAGRIS project, which is being developed by international teams of professors and scientists from universities in Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and Kazakhstan. The project aims to improve postgraduate, doctoral studies in Russia and Kazakhstan through the implementation of educational modules. The participants included 21 PhD students and 15 developers of the SAGRIS module, including those from Kazakhstan and Russian regions. In addition, colleagues from the University of Economics and Environment Nürtingen-Gaislingen, Germany participated online.

Teams of universities from Kazakhstan met on the hospitable land of Yakutia:

Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian and Technical University;

Kostanai Regional University named after A. Baitursynov;

Kazakh National Agrarian Research University;

Kazakh Agrotechnical University named after Saken Seyfullin/.

Russian scientists represented the following universities:

Arctic State Agrotechnological University;

Buryat State Agricultural Academy named after V.R. Filippov;

Novosibirsk State Agrarian University;

Stavropol State Agrarian University.

Stavropol State Agrarian University presented:

Bezgina Yulia Associate Professor of the Department of Chemistry and Plant Protection;

Valentina Ivashova, Head of the Consumer Expectations Monitoring Department, Associate Professor;

Aleksey Matvienko - post-graduate student of the Department of Agrochemistry and Plant Physiology;

Muradova Alina - assistant of the Department of Ecology and Landscape Construction.

During the week scientists and postgraduate students from 8 agrarian universities discussed the concept of sustainable development in agriculture, studied systematic approaches of socio-economic systems and human activities, as well as methods covering several scientific disciplines, their understanding and application in world science. The programme for the seminar block was very rich. It included lectures and seminars, master classes, lectures by European scientists, an excursion to progressive agribusinesses and a round table with stakeholders, representatives of ministries, research institutes and the Cultural Institute.

In addition to workshops, business games, lectures and seminars, the participants visited agricultural enterprises. Through a snowy snowstorm and ice in the village of Taastaakh, Namsky ulus, to the Yakutsk Cattle State Enterprise of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) to see for themselves how the endangered Yakut herd is being revived. The Il Darkhan of Yakutia A.S. Nikolayev has taken the care of the ancestral gift under state protection. The results are visible: the herd has increased to 2,400. The new well-appointed khoton erected in Taastaha is fully filled with Yakut cattle.

A round table was held as part of the block workshop, where a systematic approach to the research and management of sustainable agricultural development processes was discussed. Mikhail Prisyazhny, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic, made a presentation. The participants asked him what digital skills the younger generation will need to stay in rural areas and meet the challenges of the times. Mikhail Prysyazhny said that digital competencies are needed in all areas. "The country's Ministry of Digital Development has launched a new programme, Digital Professions for Children. Yakutia has been chosen as one of the pilot regions. By June 2022, 600 children will receive free training in various programming languages. And it is possible that from 2023, similar programmes will be incorporated in all schools in Russia's regions," said the republic's First Deputy Minister of Education and Science.

In addition, a foresight session entitled "Sustainable Agricultural Development under Transdisciplinary Research Methods" was held. The moderator was Ivan Stepanov, who briefed the participants on the project for the development of rural areas, developed by the ANO "Industry of the Future". The project envisages the emergence of new-format settlements by 2035, which represent an authentic autonomous self-sufficient settlement with an urban way of life. Further, the young scientists have prepared a number of proposals for the development of rural areas. The proposals relate to smart agriculture, crop production, animal husbandry and sustainable development in general.

All the activities of the block seminar have been realised, postgraduate and doctoral students have gained new knowledge and mastered new competencies, and the goals set by the organisers have been achieved. But the most important thing is friendship, the ties of which tied the guys in the fertile land of Yakutia. Communication in Kazakh, Yakut, Buryat, English, German and Russian made the soul light. Bright feelings and emotions of young scientists know no state borders, have no nationality and are not subject to negative moods.

We express our gratitude to the organizers of Erasmus+ project and the hospitable hosts of the event, the Arctic State Agrotechnological University, for the conditions created and the opportunity to communicate to implement the programme in the field of training of scientific-pedagogical personnel according to international quality standards.  

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