Faculty of Agronomy

Despite the emergence of numerous new agricultural specialties in recent decades, agronomy remains the cornerstone of the industry. For instance, without feed production, livestock farming would not exist. Therefore, agronomic specialties remain highly relevant today, both nationally and regionally. Furthermore, they possess a distinctly creative dimension, as even the most modern technologies, including those from abroad, must be adapted to local soil and climatic conditions—not just at a zonal level, but for specific landscapes.

For nearly 60 years, the Agronomy Faculty has been training qualified agronomists who continue to actively contribute to agricultural production in Buryatia and the neighboring Zabaykalsky Krai. In addition to the "Agronomy" specialization, you can become a specialist in Agroecology or earn a Bachelor's degree in Agrochemistry and Soil Science. In recent years, the faculty has also launched training in Forest Engineering, representing the first higher education program in forestry within the Transbaikal region.

Academic Excellence and Expertise
The modern Agronomy Faculty team comprises 11 professors and doctors of science, with an average age of 49 and 78% holding advanced degrees. The faculty pioneered the two-tier (Bachelor's/Master's) education system among Siberian agricultural universities and possesses extensive experience in international educational collaboration.

We welcome graduates from both rural and urban schools in the Transbaikal region and Irkutsk Oblast to enroll in our programs: "Agronomy," "Agrochemistry and Soil Science," "Horticulture," and "Forestry," as well as our 10 Master's programs including "Organic Agriculture," "General Agriculture," "Agrobiochemistry," "Soil and Landscape Mapping," "Plant Science," "Vegetable Growing," "Horticulture," "Meadow Management," "Landscape Architecture," and "Environmental Monitoring."

The Agronomy Faculty offers:

High employability of graduates
State-funded education (academic and social scholarships, incentive payments, financial support)
Practical training at leading enterprises and institutions across Russia and internationally
Engaging research activities
Opportunities in social, sports, and cultural-creative pursuits

The faculty's academic staff historically included 49 members, with 39 (77.8%) holding doctoral or candidate of science degrees. Postgraduate programs were established across multiple departments, and a specialized dissertation council operated in Agricultural Soil Science.

A significant reorganization occurred in 2005 when the Institute of Land Management, Cadastre, and Melioration was established from the faculty. Simultaneously, the new Department of Forestry and Forest Management was created, launching the Forest Engineering program. In 2011, the faculty introduced the "Horticulture" program, training specialists in ornamental landscaping and landscape design.

Currently, the faculty enrolls 100-150 first-year students annually across bachelor's and master's programs in both full-time and part-time formats. As of April 2021, total enrollment stood at 680 students. The faculty maintains postgraduate programs in two fields and successfully renewed all program accreditations for 6 years in 2019.

Faculty members conduct active scientific research through two established schools:

Agricultural Soil Science (founded by Professor I.A. Ishigenov)
General Agriculture (founded by Professor V.B. Bokhiev, led by Professor A.P. Batudaev)
Research focuses on developing soil-protective landscape-biological farming systems in the Baikal basin, resulting in the publication "System of Agriculture in the Republic of Buryatia" (edited by Professor Batudaev), which earned a silver medal at the 2020 "Golden Autumn" agricultural exhibition in Moscow.

The faculty has supported 18 candidate of science dissertations and 2 doctoral dissertations in recent years. Current research follows the comprehensive program "Systems of Agricultural Land Use and Forestry in the Baikal Region" (2018-2023), addressing five key areas of sustainable agricultural and forest management.

Scientific Infrastructure and Collaboration
The faculty regularly organizes scientific-practical conferences and production seminars while actively participating in republican-level events. Through extrabudgetary funding, the faculty collaborates with agricultural enterprises, participates in international projects, and competes for internal grants. Modern equipment and comprehensive methodological support ensure the high quality of both education and research activities.

Student Activities Plan 2025-2026: Key Highlights

1. Organizational Activities

• First-year orientation: Group meetings, faculty introductions, and Student Council elections (September)
  
• Student initiation ceremony "Dedication to Students" and Freshmen Sports Competition (October)
  
• Regular academic performance reviews and disciplinary meetings (Monthly/Quarterly)
  
• Parent communication regarding academic progress (Semesterly)
• Career networking events with employers (Spring semester)

2. Academic Activities

• Subject Olympiads and student scientific-practical conferences
  
• Individual consultations for thesis and practical training
  
• Participation in regional and national academic competitions
  
• Conference on industrial practice results (November)

3. Cultural Activities

• Showcase of creative ensembles ("Altan Bulag," "Razdolie," "Amvitey," "Salgal")
  
• First-year talent competition "Debut" (October)
  
• Starfall pop song contest (November)
  
• Inter-faculty KVN comedy competition (February)
  
• Readers' competition and "Student Spring" festival (March-April)

4. Sports Activities

• Freshmen Spartakiad (September)
  
• Annual university sports competition
  
• Faculty "Health Day" for students and staff (April)
  

5. Legal Education & Prevention

• Monitoring of at-risk students
  
• Regular discussions of disciplinary cases
  
• Preventive talks with law enforcement representatives

6. Labor Education

• Agricultural assistance at university farm (September-October)
  
• Campus beautification and green space maintenance
  
• Classroom maintenance and preparation