 |
Russian State Agrarian University – MTAA is the oldest agricultural higher educational institution in Russia. It was founded on December 3, 1865 on the governmental order to establish the Petrovskaya academy of agriculture and forestry. |
- The year 1917 is marked as the beginning of a new period in the history of the Academy. That year the former name – Petrovskaya Agricultural Academy was restored, the Charter and the structure of the academy were revised and updated, and new curricula and study programs were developed.
- On February 20, 1940 on the Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR the Lenin Order was conferred on the Academy for its great contribution to the development of agriculture. The same year the Soviet of People’s Commissars of the USSR declared that the territory of the Academy was protected by law.
- During the first days of the Great Patriotic War more than 500 faculty members, research scientists and students jointed the war front as the members of emergency volunteer corps, exterminal corps and other military forms that later were integrated into the Red Army troops. About 1300 students and faculty members took part in the anti-craft-defense of Moscow. More than 1000 students went to state and collective farms to substitute mechanics and tractor-drivers, which went to the front.
- The teaching process had never stopped during the war years, though the Academy was temporarily moved to the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The studies resumed in Moscow in 1943. At that difficult war time the Academy graduated more that 1250 agronomists, zoo engineers, economists, about 200 teachers in agriculture, as well as prepared 150 scientists. Ten new crop varieties were developed at that time.
- During the post-war period scientists of the Academy took active part in the development of virgin and long-fallow lands. Over nine million hectares of land were inspected, and 232 soil maps and cartograms were drawn up and passed to the agricultural agencies.
- The active work of students and scientists of the Academy was highly appreciated. In 1979 the Medal “In commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the development of virgin and long-fallow lands” was conferred on the Academy. The Medal “For the development of virgin lands” was conferred on eleven students of the Timiryazev Academy. The first Prize named after the academician V.R. Williams was conferred on fifteen scientists for their research work on the virgin lands.
- In December 3, 1965 on the occasion of its 100th anniversary the Academy was awarded with the Order of the Red Labor Banner for its successful work in the training of highly qualified agricultural specialists and in the developing of agricultural science.
- Per Order 454 of the Federal agency of agriculture and higher professional education in June 20, 2005 Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A.Timiryazev was renamed into the Federal State Educational Establishment “Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A.Timiryazev (Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy)” (RSAU-MTAA).
Today, the University comprises eleven Faculties:
- Agronomy;
- Animal Science;
- Soil Science, Agro-chemistry and Ecology;
- Technologies;
- Humanities and Pedagogics;
- Accounting and Finances;
- Economics;
- Horticulture;
- Extra-mural and distance education;
- Pre-university training;
- Military training.
The University also has its affiliate in Kaluga city with three Faculties: Agronomy, Animal Science, and Economics.
For the last 30 years 35000 agronomists, economists, specialists in soil science, agrochemists, specialists in fruit and vegetable growing, and specialists in animal science, as well as over 7000 teachers for junior colleges and colleges graduated from the Academy. Over 2700 Doctoral dissertations (for degrees of Doctor of Science and Candidate of Science) have been defended successfully. Thousands of foreign students from European countries, Asia, Africa and America have graduated the Academy.