DAAD Summer School GoEast 2021
International Summer School 2021
"Agricultural Production for Sustainable Development"
(Tambov and Belgorod Regions)
We are glad to invite international students to take part in our international summer school “Agricultural Production for Sustainable Development” organized by two educational institutions of higher professional training in Tambov and Belgorod Regions (Central Black Earth – Chernozem – Zone). Presently Michurinsk State Agrarian University (Tambov Region) and Belgorod State Agrarian University cooperate within the Association of Agrarian Education in the Central Part of Russia, which will give summer school students a chance to get acquainted with the agricultural expert training and the ways the universities collaborate in the association.
Part I Michurinsk State Agrarian University
Being famous for its horticultural traditions Michurinsk State Agrarian University suggests dedicating two training days to horticultural issues providing the information about the main achievements in horticultural development and apple rootstock breeding as well organizing a practical class in the experimental orchard of the National Association of Fruit Growers, which is situated in Michurinsk unites the fruit producers from all over the country.
During the first programme day the students will get an overview of the university, its educational and scientific programmes. Whereas later on we will provide the information on vegetable production, soil science and food security aspects. Besides the ecological issues will be concerned, in particular sustainable crop production on the black (chernozem) soils, as well as the fertilizers application for growing healthy agricultural produce. Theoretical presentations will be supported by practical master class in soils science and a study trip to the vegetable production enterprise “Teplichnoye”.
The programme day dedicated to the horticultural aspects will include the presentation about the main horticultural development programmes adopted in Tambov Region recently. They are aimed to intensify horticultural production in the region and to satisfy the needs of Russia and neighboring countries. Due to the traditions of the famous Russian horticulturist I.V. Michurin and outstanding rootstock breeder V. I. Budagovskiy Michurinsk and its university play an important role in the horticultural science development.
Besides, a day dedicated to the postharvest aspects and research carried out in the area of fruit and vegetable storage and functional food production is scheduled to cover these important issues. The programme of the day will include the visit to the university laboratories of progressive storage technologies and functional food production, where innovative food production recipes are developed. The students will be presented the information about new healthy products from regional fruit and vegetables and will participate in the master class on apple chips production.
One of the most important challenges faced by contemporary Russian agriculture is breeding and production of healthy seeds and other planting material. Therefore the role of science could hardly be overestimated within this context. The programme will also enable the students to learn in detail how plant biotechnologies and molecular genetic analysis enhance production of healthy planting material. The students will visit the university research laboratories and participate in a master-class in the laboratory of biotechnologies doing some practical work. In the second part of the day a visit to the seed-production enterprise KWS -RUS will be organized in order to give the students an opportunity to see the way a joint German-Russian seed production company works in Russia, and what kind of experiments in the sphere of seed production they carry out at their experimental station.
Sunday, the last summer school day, will be scheduled for the cultural programme involving the visit to the countryside estate - the house-museum of the well-known Russian composer Sergey Rakhmaninov. Apart from it during the week days some cultural program is also planned in the evenings for the students to learn more about the city, the region and Russian culture on the whole.
Part II Belgorod State Agricultural University
The second part will be carried out in Belgorod State Agricultural University.
Belgorod State Agricultural University is one of the largest scientific educational centers of Central Chernozem Region. In order to hold great exhibitions of modern agricultural machinery, to house international meetings and conferences, to carry out practical applications and hands-on experiments scientific and practical training center “Agrotekhnopark” was established in the university. Students will get an overview of the university`s educational and scientific capacities.
Special attention is paid to the development of dairy farming in all types of farms: large agricultural holdings, mini dairy farms and small holdings. Livestock sector development is closely linked to the program of eco-production and environmental activities carried out in the region.
Belgorod region is a highly developed agriculturally, it ranks first in Russia in meat and dairy production. It has experience in creation of agricultural holdings with full cycle “from field to fork” and the organization of its sales through its own sales network. At the same time great importance is attached to environmental safety and recycling of waste into organic fertilizers.
Ice-cream factory “Bodraya Korova” – is famous for its products not only in Belgorod regions, but also countrywide. It has own production lines for different segments. Students will see how ice-cream is done from raw material to ready product and take part in degustation of new products.
The key point is paid to environment friendly waste utilization. In framework it is planned a visit to biogas plant LLC "AltEnergo". It is the first biogas plant of such scale in Russia, which could process animal and crop wastes. This station is automated and even only one engineer could manage the whole process.
Special attention at Belgorod SAU is paid to seed selection. In the local laboratories specialist have been working out new crops sorts and developing existing one. Students will have masterclass in field work.
Beekeeping and fishfarming centers are new significant projects at the university`s basis. Participants will take part in masterclasses and professional activity.
Poultry farming is also highly developed in this region. One of the poultry company “Razvitije” is involved in turkey meat production. It is young fast growing company with own production sites, slaughter house and trade outlets in Belgorod region.
Besides production capacities Belgorod region is rich in cultural areas.
Folk art museums, natural monuments, recreational compound and many other interesting places can be seen in Belgorod region during the first part of the International Summer “Agricultural Production for Sustainable Development”. The professors of Belgorod State Agricultural University will share with the participants their knowledge and experience. They will show strengths of Russia and its incredible volumes.
Working language: English
Interpretation in English, Russian, German will be provided when necessary
Language course (optional): Short course of Russian vocabulary related to agriculture
ECTS points available: 4 credits
Integrated cultural programme:
The other important goal is to show how interesting life and study abroad can be, helping to discover cultural differences. Thus the programme also includes cultural excursions to the famous places in Tambov and Belgorod Regions, participation in the cultural events and some Russian language classes, which are supposed to be optional, as the main aim of the school is not language studies.
Discovering cultural differences, coping with the language challenge and being inspired by the cooperation in the international group will help to see and learn a lot and at the same time enjoy the combination of serious study and great pleasure from intercultural communication.
Cultural programme in both Regions involves visits to the museums (Rakhmaninov’ s house museum, Gerasimov’s exhibition, Michurin’s house-museum, Cheese House museum, Open Space Museums “Klyuchi” and “Prokhorovka”) as well as Russian cathedrals and a monastery (Kostroma village in Belgorod region, Kholky Monastery).
Class hours per week: Summer school programme on the whole will last for 15 days and the students will receive 4 credits for 44 academic hours of lectures/presentations combined with participating in professional excursions to agricultural and food production enterprises.
Participation fee in €: 550 Euro
Application deadline for international students:
June 1, 2021
The application package includes:
- Filled in application form with passport scan for visa support
- CV
- short Cover Letter (not longer than1 page) presenting the participant and his/her school
- academic transcript with results
Certificates:
Certificates will be provided by both universities and awarded to the participants at Belgorod State Agricultural University.
Selection criteria:
- doing a course in agriculture, food production or related sciences at home university;
- a good knowledge of English (knowledge of Russian is preferable, but not obligatory);
- good academic results;
- motivation to travel much and get a lot of new information;
- ability to be optimistic and to put up with non-luxurious living conditions of a students’ dormitory.
Dr. Elena Yashina (Michurinsk State Agrarian University)
393760 Michurinsk, Internationalnaya Str., 101
+7 (47545)38815 (527)
Dr. Tatyana Litvinenko (Belgorod State Agricultural University)
308503 Belgorod Region, Mayskiy, Vavilova Str., 1
bsaa-inter@mail.ru +7 (4722) 39-11-74
