Results of the first International Winter Online School "International Agribusiness"

On February 15, 2021 the International Relations Department of the Omsk State Agrarian University, launched the first International Winter Online School "International Agribusiness". The school was organized and held by two universities, Omsk SAU and Kostanay Engineering and Economics University named after M.Dulatov (Kazakhstan). The Russian Kazakh Business Council of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia became the main partner of the project, being the first one to support the idea of organizing such a school.

The International School was aimed primarily at teaching students to determine strategies for placing agri-food products on the modern international market, as well as increasing the level of intercultural communication in solving business problems presented by the business partners of the school, EFKO Group (Russia), Azimut LLP (Kazakhstan) and Astyk Elevator Equipment Plant LLP (Kazakhstan).

40 undergraduate and graduate students studying Economics, Management, Agronomy, Agricultural Machinery and Technology, Finance, Accounting and Audit, Food Products of Animal Origin, Standardization and Metrology, and Vehicles and Technological Systems Operation participated in the school.

On the first day, the participants were divided into 8 groups consisting of people of different age, culture and professional interest, and each of the groups was assigned a business case from one of the partner companies, and a university mentor accompanied and helped them in work with the case.

For the first two weeks, the participants attended online classes held by experts and teachers from both countries. Leading Russian and Kazakh experts and teachers of Omsk SAU and KEEU shared their unique experience and knowledge in the field of bringing agri-food products to the international market (all the experts and teachers are represented on the official Facebook page of the school www.facebook.com/groups/winterab).

Students of both universities also listened to lectures on management, marketing, international trade, standardization and certification of agricultural products.

After two week at school students faced even more intense weeks that were dedicated to working with real business cases. Highly qualified and experienced mentors from Omsk SAU helped students not to get lost in all the peculiarities of foreign market and business. They are Oksana Kozlova, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, Head of the International Relations Department; Ekaterina Astashova, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Head of the Department of Management and Marketing; and Elizaveta Sukhostav, Assistant at the Department of Management and Marketing.

March 15 became an important and exciting day for the participants of the international winter school. On this day, students had to present the results of their work on business cases to business representatives. Having overcome the excitement and anxiety, the students successfully coped with the task. Five participating groups presented projects of such a good quality that they were honored with the highest award by the business partners and experts. They all received money awards.

Twelve Omsk SAU students who are enrolled in Bachelor's studies became winners of the school. : Victoria Astanina (2nd year, Faculty of Zootechny, Commodity Science and Standardization); Vladislav Vinokhodov (3rd year, Faculty of Economics); Daria Vyatkina (3rd year, Agrotechnological Faculty); Anastasia Zagorenko (3rd year, Faculty of Economics); Alexander Zaitsev (3rd year, Faculty of Technical Service in Agriculture); Nikita Istomin (2nd year, Faculty of Economics); Alisa Kolmogorova (1st year, Faculty of Economics); Evgeniia Kramer (2nd year Faculty of Zootechny, Commodity Science and Standardization); Elizaveta Osipenko (1st year, Faculty of Economics); Liana Polonskaya (1st year, Faculty of Economics); Maxim Serebryakov (2nd year, Faculty of Economics); Ksenia Sichka (3rd year, Agrotechnological Faculty).

On March 25, the International Relations Department of Omsk State Agrarian University held a closing ceremony and the solemn awarding of the winter school prize-winners, teachers and mentors. Students and employees of the Omsk State Agrarian University who were present at that meeting indulged in nostalgia about the beginning of the school, challenges they had to face on different work stages. All the participants realized how their professional skills had grown over the last month.

Victoria Astanina: 

"From February 15 to March 15, we participated in the project called "International Agribusiness". Practical skills that we obtained during the school are a robust basis for working with business cases and developing projects. I appreciated an opportunity to work in a team consisting of students from different faculties, and picked up with some interesting people. What can I say to future participants? Organize your time reasonably, attend the lectures that are provided during the training, be a cohesive and responsible team, and make the project the sense of your life for a while, and then you will definitely enjoy the results."

Daria Vyatkina:

"I liked participating in the winter online school. I would advise everyone to take part in it, because it allows oneself to obtain new knowledge, and provides opportunities for developing your professional skills. I'm going to take part in similar international events in future".

Vladislav Vinikhodov:

"Analyzing and working with the business case turned out to be useful and interesting". In addition, studying at the international winter school gave me new and useful knowledge in the field of international relations. For me, it was the very first experience of working with real international business cases. Of course, it was very difficult. However, I would like to wish all students of Omsk State Agrarian University not to miss the opportunity to participate in such events, because it is exciting, useful and interesting".

Anastasiia Zagorenko:

"I'm grateful for this opportunity to participate in the winter school and work on real business cases. Due to such projects, you understand how to apply knowledge obtained at the University, and you feel a great responsibility for your research. Also, I must admit that it was very crucial that the invited experts presented us some very useful theory before we started working on our business cases. Indeed, that theory was very helpful and important for us, students. Of course, we leveled up our teamwork and speaking skills, as well as so-called soft skills. Special thanks to the organizers and mentors for their help and supervision of the entire process! We are looking forward for participating next year".

Alexander Zaitsev:

"Studying at the winter school let me know about things I never thought about before. It was especially interesting to work with the team to solve the problem. I'm going to take part in such international events in future, and I would advise others not to refuse to participate in them, as it gives a lot of new knowledge".

Elizaveta Osipenko:

"I have only good impressions after participating in the school. Throughout the training, we learned new and useful information that helped us work with business cases and became a literally invaluable experience. Training there allowed us to acquire new competencies and skills. It was also a stress resistance test, but I don't regret feeling that range of emotions! Before participating in the winter school, I have already participated in other international events and competitions, and I do not want to give up with it, because it is very interesting for me".