Within the framework of the AgroDev project, for three months, professors from the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies (Latvia), Krakow Agricultural University (Poland) and Linneus University (Sweden) held guest lectures, seminars and master classes for students and staff of the KNAU, this knowledge and teaching skills helped the university to improve the quality of education and increased the attractiveness of the modernized curricula.

On March 16-17, 2023, Professor Heiko Fritz held 2 guest lectures for 3rd year students of the direction “Animal science”, “Standardization”, “Management” and “Accounting, analysis and audit” on the modernization of the discipline “Sustainable management of agribusiness” on the topic: “Geo-indication: A case study and business case”. He revealed theoretical issues on marketing, value chain, monopoly prices for agricultural products, using clearly practical examples from international experience. 41 students participated in the lectures.

Professor Heiko Fritz conducted a training for teachers on the use of case studies in teaching. The key role of the case, the benefits of teaching with case studies, the goals and outcomes of learning, the development of effective skills for self-directed learning, as well as the possibility of assessing the participation and contribution of each of the students when working with cases was discussed.

Professor Heiko together with the teacher Ibraeva N.M. held a master class for teachers, representatives of agribusiness, graduate students and researchers on the topic: “Geo-indication: Concept, international experience and opportunities in Kyrgyzstan”, where certain key issues, such as Geo-Indicator (GI), was outlined to improve the marketing of the Kyrgyz agricultural products for export. Analytical approaches and socio-economic perspectives on the application of geographical indications, as well as perspectives from a legal point of view, were considered using concrete examples that already exist in Central Asia. Representatives of agribusiness were interested in following questions: how to create a GI association, what are its main characteristics in the economic, social and environmental spheres. For graduate students and doctoral students, the issues of geo-indication aroused particular interest, due to the novelty, relevance and possibility of conducting promising research.

From March 22 to March 25, 2023 guest lectures and master classes were held for students and teachers of 2 faculties: “Technology and Bioresources” and “Veterinary Medicine” in the disciplines: Animals breeding, Cattle and Yak breeding, Sheep breeding by teachers Daina Kairiša, Indra Eihvalde, Dace Barzdina (LBTU).

From March 27 to March 29, 2023 Dr. Elita Aplociņa gave lectures and a master class on the discipline “Feeding Animals” for students of the Faculty of Technology and Bioresources. During the class, she talked about the importance of feeding ruminants, new methods of formulating diets, nutritional supplements, and the impact of micronutrients on animal health and productivity.

On March 29, 2023 Professor Anita Blija gave a lecture on the discipline “Quality Management” for students of the Faculty of Technology and Bioresources, Economics and Management and Agronomy. She clearly presented the main postulates of quality management, the students got acquainted with the features of certification of agricultural and food products, with the Quality Policy at the enterprise, what it should be, what it should include, etc. The circle of quality and its constituent elements were clearly shown, which aroused great interest among the audience.

From March 27 to March 31,2023 Professors Anita Blija and Sanita Sazonova held guest lectures for 3-year students of the direction 610600 “Technology of production and processing of agricultural products” and teachers of the department “Technology of processing of agricultural products named after prof. B. Sydykov” on modernization of 6 academic disciplines of the professional cycle: “Technology of meat and meat products”, Technology of milk and dairy products”, Technology of processing poultry meat”, “Technology of fish and fish products”, “Biological safety of food products” and “Food legislation”. Students and teachers listened with interest to the lectures of Professors Anita Blija and Sanita Sazonova, who combined modern scientific developments and innovative teaching methods when presenting the features of the organoleptic evaluation of meat products, inspection and sorting of poultry meat, technology of fermented milk products and contamination of food raw materials and food products with chemical and biological xenobiotics origin. 19-20 students participated in the lectures.

Senior lecturers of the department “Technology of processing of agricultural products” Kaparova E.B. and Tarasova S.P. together with Professor Anita Blija conducted laboratory classes with 3-year students of the direction 610600 “Technology of production and processing of agricultural products”, where students studied individual differences in the perception of substances using caffeine as an example and carried out practical production of cottage cheese and tasting. With the help of the Lactoscan Combo analyzer purchased within the AgroDev project Senior Lecturer G. Zarlykova demonstrated a method for determining somatic cells and physical and chemical parameters of raw milk. Thanks to the device, an assessment of the quality of the raw materials used is quick and accurate.

On April 1, 2023 Professor Anita Blija held a master class on the topic “Risk Assessment Methods”, which was attended by representatives of food enterprises, teachers and undergraduates of the Department of Technology of Agricultural Products Processing. The actual topic and format of the master class allowed the participants to fill in the existing gaps in knowledge and gain useful skills for further practical work on risk assessment methods and improving safety management in the food industry and student education.

May 2 – May 4, 2023 a group of visiting professors Martin Niemit, Dagmara Zuzek and Piot Koszaczyk from the Krakow Agricultural University (Poland) held guest lectures and master classes.

On May 2, 2023 Professor M. Niemit, together with teachers N.M. Ibraeva and V.A. Sultanbaeva held guest lectures on the topics: “GLOBAL G.A.P. as an example of quality management in agricultural production”, “Production of fruits and vegetables”, “Feed value” for students of the 2nd and 3rd courses in the direction 610200 “Agronomy”. Students listened with interest to lectures that combine modern scientific developments and innovative teaching methods in the development of recommendations and requirements for Good Agricultural Practices, ensuring the safety and quality of agricultural products. 36 students attended the lectures.

On May 3, 2023 Professors M. Niemit and D. Zuzek, content manager of the AgroDev project N.M. Ibraeva and associate professor V.A. Sultanbayeva with 2nd and 3rd year students of the Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry visited CJSC “Atalyk Group” and KSFH “Seed Farm Tomat.kg” conducted practical classes on the GFS integrated agricultural production management system. The students themselves asked questions regarding seeds, feed, agricultural machinery and conducted an internal audit in these companies for their further international certification and obtaining the agricultural standard Global G.A.P. 26 students attended the practical classes.

On May 4, 2023 Professor P. Kosazhik delivered lectures on “Methods for eliminating Sosnowski’s hogweed”, “Reconstruction of the football field “Suchi Stavy”, “New generation multilayer film for the production of silage”, “Development of innovative protective non-woven materials with the addition of feathers” for students of 2-3 courses of faculties Agronomy and Forestry and Technology and Bioresources. 40 students attended the lectures.

On May 4, 2023 Professor M. Niemit held a master class “GLOBAL G.A.P as an example of quality management in agricultural production” for teachers, graduate students, undergraduates and representatives of government agencies, the Department of Organic Agriculture, the Department of Chemicalisation, Plant Protection and Quarantine, as well as Agribusiness enterprises: KAFS “Tomat.kg”, CJSC “Atalyk Group”, where key issues were discussed on risk analysis, on laboratory analysis of pesticide residues, whether there are opportunities to create a national agricultural standard Global G.A.P., what are the pros and cons of the standard, how the analysis of water is carried out.

On May 10 – 11, 2023 Ilga Shematovicha (LBTU) held 2 guest lectures for students of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine on the topics: Animal Disease Surveillance System, Veterinary Service, Teaching about Disease, Fundamentals of Clinical Diagnostics. Lectures were given as part of the modernization of the training module “Fundamentals of Veterinary Medicine”. During the guest lectures, Ilga Shematovicha noted the importance of the animal disease surveillance system, the veterinary service and the necessary knowledge, skills and a minimum of medicines, materials and tools on the farm and the requirement for their storage. The lecturer explained in an interesting and accessible way the applicability of special knowledge and innovations in the field of animal biosecurity, using practical examples from international experience.

On May 12, 2023 Ilga Shematovicha held a master class for teachers, graduate students and researchers and undergraduates on the topic: “Assisted reproduction technologies (ART) in farm animals. Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), ovum pick up (OPU/IVF) and in vitro fertilization in farm animals”. During the master class, modern achievements and problems in the field of vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation in farm animals were discussed. The participants of the master class received answers to their questions and discussed further cooperation.

On May 11-12, 2023, Professor Chris High held 2 guest lectures for students of the Economics, Management, and Accounting, Analysis and Audit majors and the Agronomy, Forestry majors on the topics: Rural Development, Agricultural Knowledge and information systems as part of the modernization of the training module “Organization of sustainable agribusiness”. Professor High revealed the theoretical issues of sustainable development in an interesting and accessible way, the importance and applicability of special knowledge and innovations in the field of agriculture for the development of rural areas, using clearly practical examples from international experience. 80 students participated in the lectures on May 11, 76 students participated on May 12.

On May 12, 2023 Professor High, together with teachers Ibraeva N.M. and Derkenbayeva S.S. held a master class for teachers, graduate students and researchers and undergraduates (15 people) on the topic: Student field projects: Teaching and practical experience. During the training several aspects of student field projects were tackled: the key role of teacher mentoring in organizing student research projects, the objectives and learning outcomes for developing students’ communication skills for conducting interviews, identifying problems in social groups, strengthening analytical skills for analyzing identified problems, presenting them in the form of presentations to local municipalities, writing articles for publication in newspapers, as well as writing a final report. Professor High especially emphasized the role of student collaboration and the distribution of responsibility among project team members, as well as the importance of assessing the participation and contribution of each of the students.

Professor High gave examples from international research practice how such issues were related to the development of rural regions, as well as issues of state support for small and medium-sized farms. Graduate students and doctoral students of particular interest were interested how issues can be used in student research to solve the problems of development.