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.

AGENDA

From January 13 to May 31, 2021, online master classes were held as part of the EU Erasmus + project "New and innovative courses in precision agriculture" NICOPA. Professors of European partner universities: Technical University of Berlin (Germany), EXOLAUNCH Spin-off Company of the Technical University of Berlin, Czech University of Life Sciences (Czech Republic), Agrarian University of Plovdiv (Bulgaria) delivered  different and very interesting lectures in the field of precision agriculture, which our educators can apply in piloting an educational program.

So, prof. Dimo Atanasov. Prof. Krum Hristov and prof. Juliet Arnaudova from Bulgaria gave lectures on modern agriculture and business, global navigation satellite systems (NAVSTAR, GLONASSm Galileo), the use of Landsat and Sentinel satellites for monitoring agricultural fields; Professors of the Czech University of Life Sciences: Franisek Kumhala, Jan Chyba and Zhitka Kumkhalova lectured on yield sensors for precision agriculture, the use of spectral information; Professors of the Technical University of Berlin and Spin-off EXOLAUNCH Elena Stepanova and Elena Eingorn delivered lectures on CubeSat technology and soft skills for engineers.

Online master classes were attended by lecturers, doctoral students and employers of partner universities of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan: S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University, Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University, M. Kozybaev North Kazakhstan University, M. Ulugbek National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent University of Information Technologies, Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, S. Niyazov Turkmen State University of Agriculture, Turkmen Agricultural Institute and Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Construction.

Upon completion of the master classes, students will receive international certificates.

During the period of July 25-29, 2022, the Summer School "Practical application of precision agriculture through research" was held at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague at the Faculty of Engineering, within the framework of the EU Erasmus+ project 597985-EPP-1-2018-1-KZ- EPPKA2-CBHE-JP NICoPA "New and Innovative Courses for Precision Agriculture".

The Summer School was attended by partner universities from the Agrarian University in Plovdiv (Bulgaria), EXOLAUNCH (Germany), S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University (Kazakhstan), the National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Melioration, Tashkent University of Information Technologies (Uzbekistan) as well as partner universities of the EU Erasmus + CUPAGIS project "New training programs on precision farming" from Algeria, Bulgaria, Estonia and Germany.

The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Jiří Mášek, Professor Frantisek Kuchala gave a welcoming speech at the Summer School and gave a tour of the university campus. During the Summer School, lectures and practical classes were held by lecturers from the Czech University of Life Sciences, the Estonian University of Technology: “Precision Agriculture as a tool for natural resource management” (Prof. Frantisek Kumhala), “Monitoring of crop production using satellite sensing” (Associate Professor Itka Kumhalova), “Recipes for cooking an appealing presentation” (Prof. Soomere), “Practical demonstration of robotic team results. State of the art and the potential of field robots use” (ass. prof. Kroulík).

In addition to lectures and practical classes, the participants of the Summer School visited the Steknik Experimental Farm in Zatec, the Zatec Hop Research Institute, where they practically demonstrated the use of a capacitive throughput sensor to control a hop picking machine, field surveys using UAVs, practical examples of visualization of other special crops in Orloje in Zatec, as well as a practical demonstration of the results of the robotic team. At the end of the Summer School, the participants visited the Center for Precision Farming in CZU in Prague and the farmstead Dolni Ujezd, Litomysl, where a tour of the livestock farm was held and the use of precision farming technologies in the practical work of agricultural holdings was demonstrated.

At the end of the Summer School, all participants received certificates and a Coordinating Meeting of the Project Management Team was held, where the activities of the completion of NICoPA project were discussed.

AGENDA

Annual International Scientific Conference "GIS in Central Asia- GISCA 2022 and Geoinformatics -GI 2022 within the Erasmus + project NICoPA "New and innovative courses for precision agriculture" which was hold on May 22-25, 2022 at Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers, Uzbekistan. The main objectives of this event was to bring together academics, professors, researchers and specialists in the field of GIS from Central Asia and other countries to orientate scientists working in the field of socio- ecological systems to interdisciplinary geospatial doctoral studies and research as well as expanding the involvement of professors and doctoral students working in the field of geoinformatics in the international community, strengthening the internationalization of universities and research institutes, encouraging international cooperation and knowledge exchange in GIS education. Participants of the project of partner universities of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany and Kazakhstan made presentations at the conference: S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University (Baitelennova A.A., Alipbeki O.A.), Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University (Kakabayev A.A., Kakabayev N.A., Auzhanova M.A., Suraganov M.) and M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University (Sartin S.A.).

INVITATION LETTER

AGENDA

In the period from December 23 to December 28, 2021, members of the quality group, participants of the EU Erasmus + NICoPA project Satybaldieva G.K., Kitaybekova S.O., Baitelenova A.A. conducted a monitoring of the academic part of the project, which is the main goal of developing educational programs and courses in the direction of "Precision Agriculture", in connection with the approaching deadline for the completion of the EU Erasmus + NICOPA project and that, due to the pandemic, the scheduled meetings of working groups conducted via online communication. In this connection, there is a need for offline meetings with course developers at partner universities. Also, when generating a report on the work done for 2 years on the project, specific problems were identified in the academic part of the work.

The members of the group met with the developers of educational programs within the framework of the project in Kokshetau (Kokshetau University named after Sh. Ualikhanov) and Petropavlovsk (North Kazakhstan University named after Manash Kozybaev), in order to prepare a final report.

As a result of the trip, the groups for the direction of the developed courses were determined, i.e. to unite the developers of different universities by direction groups, as a result of which courses of the same content should be obtained, convenient for using the same direction, developments, teaching aids, teaching materials, etc. To date, all developers work within the framework of their university and their field of study, i.e. as a result of the project, the unification of new courses will not be achieved, which is the goal of the project.

In the period from June 16 to 17, 2021, a regional meeting was held at the National University. M. Ulagbek, within the framework of the EU Erasmus + NICoPA project "with the participation of members of the working group of partner universities of Uzbekistan (National University of Uzbekistan named after M. Ulugbek, Tashkent University of Information Technologies, Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization), Kazakhstan (S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University, Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau University, M. Kozybaev North-Kazakhstan University).

During the regional meeting, the project participants discussed educational programs and new courses on precision agriculture, which are being implemented in partner universities. As a result of the meeting, groups for the direction of the developed courses were identified, i.e. unification of developers from different universities by direction groups, which should result in courses that are uniform in content, convenient for using the same direction, developments, textbooks, teaching materials, etc. To date, all developers work within the framework of their university and their field of study, i.e. as a result of the project, the unification of new courses will not be achieved, which is the goal of the project. New and innovative courses in precision agriculture.

During the meeting, in a solemn atmosphere, PASО Offices were opened in partner universities of Uzbekistan.

AGENDA

Office PASO (Precision Agriculture Service Office) is opened at S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University within the framework of the EU Erasmus + project No. 597885 EPP-1-2018-1-KZ-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP -NICOPA "New and innovative courses for precision agriculture".

The PASO office carries out activities related to the deep study of materials created within the framework of the project and updating the content of disciplines in the field of precision farming in accordance with the latest achievements in the target area.

The main task of the PASO Office is to use the PAL laboratory as part of the training of students, undergraduates, as well as engineering work: analysis of the company's requirements for doctoral students; analysis of possible services offered to partner companies using PASO; organization of newsletters within the university and joint organizations; organization of introductory seminars with groups of students with a presentation of the potential of the laboratory; organization of short-term advanced training courses for students/teachers; organization of monitoring of research projects of students and working groups potentially interested in using PASO; compiling and updating a list of possible target groups (enterprises, scientific and non-profit organizations) for disseminating information about the project and its results and identifying interested parties in obtaining information about the results of the project and participating in project activities, drawing up a cooperation agreement University - Enterprise.

As part of the project, equipment was purchased in the amount of 32,000 Euros

REGULATION SERVICE OFFICE PASO

PASO CONCEPT

The first coordination meeting on the Erasmus + project No. 597985 -EPP-1-2018-1-KZ-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP "New innovative courses in precision agriculture" (NICoPA) was held at Technical University in Berlin(Germany).

The partner institutions of the consortium of the NICOPA project from Germany, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan took part at the first kick-off meeting. On behalf of S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University O.A. Alipbeki, Professor of the Faculty of Land management, Architecture and Design Faculty, Academic Project Manager, S.M. Khamzina, the Head of Planning and Economic Department, Manager for Financial Issues and S.O. Kitbekova, the Head of International Cooperation Department, Project Contact Person were attended.

The aim of the NICOPA project is to upgrade existing curricula and modules in the field of precision agriculture using new GIS technologies (geographic information systems), accumulated a large database on agriculture, remote sensing of the earth, analysis and updating of existing educational programs in accordance with the needs of higher education and the implementation of the principles of the Bologna process.   Within the framework of the NICOPA project, the advanced training of lecturers of S. Seifullin KATU is foreseen to partner universities from Europe (Technical University in Berlin, Germany; Plovdiv Agrarian University, Bulgaria and the Czech University of Natural Sciences, Czech Republic. After testing educational trajectories on precise agriculture at three universities in Kazakhstan, which are experimental sites (S.Seifullin KATU, M. Kozybayev NKSU and Sh. Ualihanov KSU), the obtained results will be disseminated among universities of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. 

The first day of the coordination meeting was held on March 4, 2019 on the basis of Technical University in Berlin. Greetings were made by prof. Dr. Hans Ulrich Heiss and the Head of the International Relations Department Evelina Skursky. European partners (Plovdiv Agrarian University, Bulgaria; Czech University of Natural Sciences, Czech Republic, Berlin Technical University, Germany), as well as partner universities from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, made presentations about their universities. At the meeting, a report was presented on the analysis and review of existing curricula in the target area and a plan for updating existing and developing new curricula in the framework of the NICOPA project.

On behalf of S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University a presentation and a brief report on the achievements of the university and existing educational programs in the field of precision agriculture, the possibilities of updating courses and modules with directions in precision agriculture at the coordination meeting at the Technical University in Berlin was made by S. Kitaibekova and O.Alipbeki about the development of new curricula in the framework of the NICOPA project.

The project manager from TUB, Arnold Shterenhartz, and his assistant, Elena Eigorn, delivered a keynote presentation of the NICOPA project in the afternoons. They talked about managing work packages, discussing project activities, including a plan for modernizing existing ones and developing new curricula for the NICOPA project.

On the second day of the meeting, a visit was made to ECM Space Technologies GmbH, Germany, one of the leading engineering consulting companies for managing space technologies in the field of satellite launch services. Professor Arnold Shterenhartz and his team introduced the principles of the launch and the mechanism for controlled deployment of satellites. ECM space technology launch adapters provide maximum accuracy when deploying satellites. For proprietary technologies, companies can be applied when launching satellites for small and medium-sized farmers in areas of precision agriculture in the sowing and harvest stages of grain and vegetable crops. High technology can be intensively introduced into the practice of agricultural production. Its main trends are precision farming technologies, agrometeorological data and cloud services for managing an agricultural enterprise, rolling stock monitoring and consumables accounting systems. A special role is played by remote sensing of the earth (ERS), using space imagery and shooting using unmanned aerial vehicles. Such information is completely reliable and displays a real picture of the state of agricultural land and vegetation, soil and topography.

On the second day of the meeting, a visit to ECM Space took place. The NICOPA project involves updating and upgrading existing curricula and modules for undergraduate and graduate programs using new GIS technologies for precision agriculture in line with new achievements in agricultural science and labor market needs.

On the final day, in accordance with the program of the coordination meeting, plans for the implementation of the project and work packages were discussed: the schedule of master classes and trainings, the purchase and installation of equipment, and financial management of the project (budget and reporting period).

The meeting also discussed the approval of members of the project management board and the internal quality assurance council.

In the period from August 18 to August 31, 2019, a seminar was held at the Technical University of Berlin aimed at training specialists for implementation in the educational process "Precision Agriculture" (PA), as part of the EC Erasmus + NICOPA project "New and innovative courses in precision agriculture ". As a result of competitive selection, the lecturers of S.Seifullin KATU: Alipbeki O.A., Yermekov F.K., Valieva Sh.K., Bekbayeva A.M. Project participants from the partner universities of the EU, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan during  two weeks learned how to use space and geographic information technologies for conducting PA (precision farming, precision animal husbandry, information technology).

On October 11, 2019 it was organized Information Day “Erasmus + For All” at S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University as part of the global event “Erasmus Days-2019”. The purpose of this event is the opportunity to share experience in participating in Erasmus + projects, to talk about the changes that have occurred at the level of universities, the education system and society as a whole. The event was attended by students and faculty of the university.

The Information Day presented the results of the implementation of the Erasmus + “Capacity Building in Higher Education” projects, and students shared their experience in participating in the EU Erasmus + “International Credit Mobility” program, who were studied for 1-2 semesters at European universities.

At the end of the event, a quiz on knowledge of the history and education of Europe was held and souvenirs were presented.

October 29, 2019 S.Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University paid a working visit to the State Secretary of the Republic of Kazakhstan Krymbek Kusherbayev.

During the visit, State Secretary K. Kusherbayev and guests familiarized themselves with the university’s activities in transforming the educational institution into a world-class research university in the field of agriculture, visited the GIS Center, the Big Data Center, the tractor pavilion of the Kazakhstan-Belarus Center for the Training and Retraining of Engineering Personnel, Kazakhstan- German Center for Precision Farming. Rector of the University A. Kurishbayev in his welcoming speech spoke about the transformation of the university into a research agricultural university and about the university’s participation in the EU project Erasmus + “New and innovative courses on precision agriculture”, which is important in the preparation of highly qualified personnel for the agricultural sector.

On October 29, 2019, a coordination meeting was held within the framework of the EU Erasmus + project NICOPA 597985-EPP-1-2018-1-KZ-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP "New and innovative courses in precision agriculture" of universities-partners of Kazakhstan: M. Kozybaev North Kazakhstan State University, Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau State University and S.Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University with academic project manager Arnold Sterenharz from EXOLAUNCH, Germany.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the results of the first year of the project, a review of the work plan for the second and third years of the project. Participants of the coordination meeting made presentations on the work performed, exchanged views on the main issues of the project. Project activities are carried out in accordance with the plan. Responsible teachers have been appointed for updating existing ones and developing new training modules, quality groups have been created at universities.

As part of the implementation of EU Erasmus + "New innovative courses for precision agriculture" (NICOPA) project at S.Seifullin KATU from December 3 to December 30, 2019, the first stage of retraining of teachers for the introduction of the precision agriculture system (TLC) in the educational process was carried out. Theoretical and practical classes were held in four disciplines: Precision agriculture (O.Alipbeki), Global navigation satellite systems (F.Yermekov), Remote sensing of the Earth (Sh. Valieva), Spatial analysis (A. Bekbayeva) in the amount of 72 academic hours in University Advanced Training Institute. Upon completion of the courses, 76 students were issued certificates of a standard form.