Irkutsk State Agrarian University named after A.A. Ezhevsky History
Irkutsk State Agrarian University named after A.A. Ezhevsky was established in 1934 as Irkutsk Agricultural Institute. It was located in the old building in Timiryazev Street, 59 and consisted of four faculties: agronomy, zoo technology, veterinary and agricultural mechanization. At that time Irkutsk State Agrarian University was the only agrarian university on the territory of Eastern Siberia.
In 1957 the Institute began training the citizens of the Mongolian People's Republic for the highest qualifications, and in 1973 the personnel of the Ministry of Agriculture and scientific-pedagogical employees of the Mongolian People's Republic practiced at the Institute for the first time. The next development stage of the University was the construction of new academic buildings and dormitories, so the University gradually acquired a modern look.
In 1979 the University opened the Chita affiliation for part-time education and in 2000 it became Zabaikalsky Agrarian Institute. In 1996 Irkutsk Agricultural Institute got the status of the Academy. In 2002 the Academy became Irkutsk State Academy of Agriculture.
For 90 years the University trained about 50,000 professionals for agricultural and industrial complex in Siberia and other regions of Russia as well as for other countries. The graduates of the University work successfully in Russia and abroad.
For a great and effective educational work as well as for significant scientific activities the University was awarded the Order of Red Banner of Labor of the Mongolian People's Republic in 1984 and in 1985 it got the Order of Friendship of Peoples.
University trained more than 1000 highly-qualified specialists for foreign countries: Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, Afghanistan, Syria, Bulgaria, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, Uzbekistan etc. Among them there are the graduates who became leading specialists in the field of agriculture. Here are the examples:
B. Binie – Head of the department of politics and planning of food supply and agriculture, Mongolia;
Kh. Khurmetkhan – Deputy Minister of Finances, Mongolia;
S. Tuul – Main specialist of tax inspection, Mongolia;
E. Tegshee – Specialist of Ministry of Forestry and Game Management, Mongolia;
Ya.Oyunbileg – Main specialist for agricultural politics of Darkhan-Uul area, Mongolia;
I.Khanymkhan – Specialist of Ministry of Finances and others, Mongolia.
Nowdays
Now Irkutsk State Agricultural University named after A.A. Ezhevsky is a modern multidisciplinary university with strong human, scientific and educational potential. Irkutsk SAU consists of 5 institutions: Zabaikal Agrarian Institute, Institute of Economics, Management and Applied Informatics, Institute of natural resource management, Institute of additional professional education and Institute of physical culture, sport and healthy lifestyle. There are 4 faculties of: agronomy, biotechnology and veterinary medicine, engineering and energy; a college of motor transport and agricultural technologies.
The university has multi-level system of education: secondary vocational education, higher education (bachelor’s degree, specialist’s degree, master’s degree) and PhD. Irkutsk SAU trains specialists for 56 basic educational programs: 22 specialties of higher education including 18 directions of bachelor’s degree, 12 directions of master's degree and 12 specialties of vocational education, and also 12 scientific specialties. In addition, university trains specialists in the field of additional professional education (APE), provides training in professional retraining programs (over 500 class hours) and professional development.
Irkutsk SAU has a highly qualified teaching staff of which 87% have PhD and Doctors of science degrees. The number of students is about 9 300, including more than 850 international students from Central and South-East Asia, Africa. Every year, foreign students from China, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan undergo exchange internships at the university. The university has a famous museum, founded in 1950, which features hundreds of exceptional exhibits about wild animals and birds. The university has several places for outdoor activities, located in a protected area near Lake Baikal. The university campus guarantees comfortable and safe living conditions, as it is located outside the city, in an ecologically clean country. The university has 9 student dormitories, a good sports hall and stadium, gym and tennis court, swimming pool, ski center, student canteens.
Irkutsk State University is a member of a number of international societies and organizations, such as:
- Network University of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization;
- Russian-Chinese Association of Agricultural Universities;
- Silk Road Agricultural Education and Innovation Alliance;
- Russian-Chinese Innovation and Technical Union for the Development of the Wild Berries and Wild Plants Industry;
- Association of Asian Universities;