To the Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine
Oksen Lysovyi
Dear Oksen Vasylovych,
The public organization "Ukrainian International Institute of Agro-Industrial Engineering" (UIIAIE, miapi.com.ua) addresses you regarding the intentions of the Ministry of Education and Science, published on August 8, 2023, in the draft Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine “On approval of the list of fields of knowledge and specialties for higher education training,” which specifically foresees the exclusion of specialty 208 "Agroengineering" from the list of higher education specialties.
As stated in the published materials, the draft resolution aims at further harmonization of domestic and international classification systems of fields and specialties.
According to the members of the Academic Council of UIIAIE, such “harmonization” by excluding specialty 208 "Agroengineering" threatens the staffing of the agro-industrial complex (AIC) and consequently the development of this sector of the State economy.
In this regard, we would like to remind the following.
Agroengineering is a field of science and activity within multifactor agricultural production that combines the fundamentals of mechanical engineering, machinery use and technical service of complex agricultural equipment; technologies of crop and livestock production; energy, water, and gas supply; renewable energy and bioenergy; environmental engineering protection and much more.
Agroengineering emerged as an interdisciplinary field and develops at the intersection of many sectors, emphasizing its necessity, scientific and educational importance, and prospects.
It is precisely on the shoulders of agroengineering that extremely important tasks will fall in the expected future (especially in the post-war years): remediation and cleansing of militarized lands; development and implementation of mechatronics (robotized machinery) and digital technologies; energy resource saving; sharp increase in the production of renewable energy sources and bioenergy development; comprehensive, economically efficient, energy- and environmentally sustainable projects aimed at solving the food and environmental problems of our State.
It is also important to note that agroengineering is recognized and developed as a priority sector in most countries worldwide. Leading experts in the field unite into scientific associations and clubs to accelerate solving the global food and environmental challenges.
Considering the above, and the fact that specialists in the field of "Agroengineering" have been and remain highly demanded in the labor market of Ukraine's agro-industrial complex, we believe that the announced intentions of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine to exclude specialty 208 "Agroengineering" do not take into account the current needs and challenges of the Ukrainian agricultural and scientific community. Should such a decision be implemented, the State will suffer damage in providing the agro-industrial complex with intellectual engineer personnel, which will significantly reduce the efficiency of developing this sector of Ukraine’s economy.
On behalf of the Academic Council of UIIAIE
Director, Chair of the Academic Council of UIIAIE
Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Academician of NAAS of Ukraine
Two-time Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology
People’s Deputy of Ukraine (2nd convocation)
V. Kravchuk
