Expanding international cooperation, opening new educational opportunities and deepening scientific research – these were the goals of the delegation of Sumy National Agrarian University that visited the Royal Agricultural University (UK). The delegation included Yurii DANKO, Vice-Rector for Research and International Activities, and Olena MELNYK, Head of the Research and Development Office.
During the visit, productive meetings were held with representatives of the Royal Agricultural University, during which prospects for further cooperation between our institutions were outlined. In particular, special attention was paid to the expansion of joint research projects that are already underway between the universities. One of the key areas of discussion was cooperation in the field of soil research and soil conservation in the context of post-war recovery of the regions of Ukraine affected by the enemy invasion.
The representatives of SNAU visited the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to discuss the possibilities of implementing joint research initiatives and exchanging experts. It is worth reminding that the universities have previously successfully implemented several joint projects aimed at analysing soil quality and training specialists in this area.
A significant achievement of the visit was the signing of a memorandum of strategic cooperation between SNAU and the Royal Agricultural University. This important document, which was signed by the Vice-Rector of the SNAU, Yurii DANKO, and the Vice-Chancellor of the Royal Agricultural University, Professor Peter Mccaffery, secures further development of academic partnership and promotes the expansion of opportunities for students and teachers. In particular, the memorandum is part of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security double degree programme, which has been successfully operating for two years. It is one of only ten such programmes operating in Ukraine and gives students a unique chance to study at two leading agricultural universities.
The official visit to the Royal Agricultural University once again confirmed SNAU’s commitment to integration into the international educational space and the development of innovative approaches in the field of agricultural science. Further expansion of cooperation between the universities will allow students to get even more opportunities for study, internships and implementation of research initiatives at the international level.
