Final conference and Autumn School within EU Erasmus + NICoPA project

During the period of October 10 till 15, 2022 S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University (hereinafter KATU) hosted the Autumn School and the Final Conference, within the framework of the EU Erasmus + NICoPA project "New and Innovative Courses for Precision Agriculture", where KATU is a grant holder. The events were attended by the representatives of partner universities of the Agrarian University Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Czech University of Life Sciences (Czech Republic), M. Ulugbek National University of Uzbekistan, Muhammad al-Khwarizmi Tashkent University of Information Technologies, SRU "Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization" (TIIAME) (Uzbekistan), S.A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University, Turkmen Agricultural Institute, Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Construction (Turkmenistan), M. Kozybaev North Kazakhstan University, Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University and S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University.

At the Final Conference, welcoming speeches were made by Kurishbayev A.K., project coordinator, Tokbergenov I.T., acting Chairman of the Board of S. Seifullin KATU, Rustamov R.M., the Head of the Department for Attestation of Educational Institutions of the State Inspectorate for Supervision of the Quality of Education under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mamedov E., Chief Specialist of the International Department of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Turkmenistan, Abdurakhmanova A., Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office in Uzbekistan, Ivanova B, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Certification of the Agrarian University of Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Sultanov T., Vice-Rector for Scientific and Innovation Activities of the SRU “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization”, Kumkhala F., the Head of the Department of Mechanization of the Czech University of Life Sciences, Jacek S., project manager of EXOLAUNCH (Germany) and Yeshonkulov F., general director of Unitek Standart LLC (Uzbekistan).

During the Autumn School, lectures, practical classes and master classes were held by lecturers of S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University. Examples of the application of precision agriculture technologies were demonstrated on the basis of A.I. Barayev Research and Production Center for Grain Farming, A. Bokeikhan KazSRIA and GIS Center of S. Seifullin KATU.

In conclusion, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Agrarian University of Plovdiv (Bulgaria) and the SRU "Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization"; Abdurakhmanov I., coordinator of the TIIAME project, was elected as the head of the PASO Network of Precision Agriculture Service Offices, which were established at partner universities of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan; further steps of cooperation in the field of science and education between universities were discussed.

The EU Erasmus+ project No. 597985-EPP-1-2018-1-KZ-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP "New and innovative courses on precision agriculture" has been implemented at partner universities in Germany, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan since 2018. The aim of the project is to modernize courses in the field of precision agriculture using new technologies: Geographic Information System/GIS, big data, remote sensing, by analyzing and updating existing curricula in accordance with the needs in the field of education; development of new innovative courses in accordance with new developments, labor market requirements and the Bologna process.