The Department of Agronomy received its current name in 2006. Previously, it was known as the Department of Crop Production and Biology, and before that — as the Department of Crop Production and Breeding, which was founded in 1971.
Today, the department has branches based at LLP “Zarechnoe Agricultural Experimental Station” and LLP “Karabalyk Agricultural Experimental Station”. These branches actively support the department in scientific research activities, the organization and implementation of academic and industrial internships, professional development courses for teaching staff, and the conduction of field-based training sessions.
The educational process at the department is carried out at three levels: bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies. Training is conducted in both Kazakh and Russian languages. All academic disciplines are provided with modern educational and methodological materials.
The curricula of educational programs include courses aimed at developing both professional and general cultural competencies of the 21st century. Students, master’s, and doctoral students acquire up-to-date knowledge in their field, develop analytical and research thinking, linguistic and communication skills, leadership qualities, innovative thinking, as well as the ability for continuous self-education and professional growth.
Industrial internships are conducted at the following partner enterprises of the department:
- LLP “Zarechnoe Agricultural Experimental Station”
- LLP “Olzha Agro”
- LLP “Eurasia Group Kazakhstan”
- LLP “Karabalyk Agricultural Experimental Station”
- LLP “Astana-Nan”
- LLP “Shandykol”
- LLP “Turar”
- LLP “Tukym”
The teaching staff of the department actively engages in scientific research, participating in national and international scientific projects, grants, and academic cooperation programs. The main directions of research include the development of sustainable agriculture, improvement of soil fertility, crop breeding, and the implementation of innovative agrotechnologies.
The most significant projects implemented by the department
International Projects:
- 2015–2018 – ECAR Project: “Development of the competencies of Central Asian universities in the field of agrarian policy, environmental protection, and land use” (Project Coordinator).
- 2015–2018 – SARUD Project: “Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development” (Project Coordinator).
- 2019–2021 – International project under the Erasmus+ program “Enhancing Postgraduate Research in Sustainable Agriculture and Future Farming Systems” (Project Leader and Working Group Member).
- 2025–2027 – MES RK Project: “Rational methods of cultivating legume-cereal crops to improve soil fertility under global climate change conditions” (Project Leader).
- 2025 – GreenAgro Pre-Project in cooperation with the University of Hohenheim (Stuttgart, Germany) (Project Coordinator).
National Projects:
- Participation in the international project 599371-EPP-1-2018-1-KZ-EPPJMO-MODULE “Transformation of the European Union’s agribusiness management experience into Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries.”
- Project “Services for field decoding of remote sensing data and ground-based field surveys.”
- MES RK Grant: “Development of highly specific and sensitive DNA marker-based express tests for the diagnosis of cereal crop fusarium disease.”
- Grant funding for young scientists under the program “Zhas Galym” (Young Scientist) AP19177533: “Adaptation of long-term poly-species agrophytocenoses on degraded pastures in the northern region of Kazakhstan” (2023–2025).
The department traditionally organizes meetings with employers to discuss current issues related to educational programs. Forms of cooperation include round tables, methodological seminars, professional development courses, and joint scientific publications.
The department has signed scientific and creative cooperation agreements with the following institutions:
- Northern Trans-Urals State Agrarian University (Russia, Tyumen)
- Novosibirsk State Agrarian University (Russia, Novosibirsk)
- Arctic State Agrotechnological University (Russia, Yakutsk)
- Northwest A&F University (NWAFU, China)
In collaboration with Northwest A&F University (NWAFU, China), a double-degree master’s program is being implemented.
Foreign scientists from both near and far abroad are regularly invited to deliver lectures, workshops, and consultations at the department.
Graduates of the department successfully work in the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its subordinate structures, in land relations departments, local administrations (akimats), leading agrochemical companies, research institutes, and crop quality laboratories. Some work as inspectors at customs posts, as well as lecturers in universities and colleges. Many of them are engaged in private entrepreneurship in the agricultural sector.
Department’s Instagram page: @agro_kru