In today's globalised world of rapidly developing technologies, partnerships between businesses and educational institutions are becoming an important component in training future professionals whose qualifications meet European educational standards. Such cooperation ensures the effective adaptation of educational programmes to current market needs and opens up new opportunities for students to develop the practical skills necessary to work with the latest technologies. As part of its active involvement in training new specialists and contributing to the reform of educational programmes, DroneUA took part in the SEB-2024 forum - Cooperation of Science, Education, and Business for the Victory and Reconstruction of Ukraine - which took place from October 1 to 10 at the leading agricultural university, NULES.
As part of its long-term partnership with NULES, DroneUA is implementing several educational initiatives. In particular, the university has opened the XAG Innovation Academy, a modern laboratory for unmanned solutions that trains highly qualified precision farming specialists with the skills to work with advanced robotic technologies for agribusiness. Additionally, DroneUA's technical specialists conduct training lectures for NULES students across various faculties. Graduates and students of the university undertake internships at the company, learning from the experience of leading industry specialists. This year, DroneUA and NULES have established a research facility at the educational institution, allowing students to apply their knowledge in the field using the latest technologies.
Therefore, DroneUA participated in SEB-2024, where Anatolii Bezoliuk, Head of Agricultural Business at DroneUA and XAG Ukraine, joined the panel discussion titled “The Importance of Cooperation Between Science, Education, and Business for the Post-War Reconstruction of Ukraine.” During the discussion, he shared his experience in using agrodrones and implementing educational processes in the training of UAV operators.
Experts discussed the role of business and education in designing curricula that meet industry needs. In total, approximately 295 educators, scientists, and businesspeople - including foreign guests, industrialists, representatives from agriculture, energy, forestry, economists, lawyers, and land surveyors - attended the forum to develop a common vision and new educational approaches. Additionally, more than 200 participants joined remotely, including representatives from universities in Japan, Sweden, Denmark, the IAEA, and Greenpeace.
By significantly contributing to the development of both existing and new training programs, DroneUA is a leader in training specialists across Ukraine to master modern unmanned technologies in the agricultural sector, as well as in the fields of geodesy and topography.
“To further develop the latest technologies, we recognize the need for close cooperation between business, science, and education. Currently, as part of our educational and practical project, DroneUA has established 13 XAG Innovation Rooms in Ukrainian agricultural universities and is assisting with student training programs. This initiative will create a strong foundation for training certified specialists who are capable of working with the most advanced technologies and are in high demand even in the international labor market.
Additionally, recognizing the acute need for qualified personnel, we have initiated fruitful cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, providing comprehensive assistance in developing a new specialty under occupational classification 8990: “Pilot of Remotely Piloted Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” in vocational education institutions. To date, we have supplied the necessary XAG equipment to four such institutions under the Ministry of Education and Science and continue to work closely together”, - said Anatolii Bezoliuk, Head of DroneUA, XAG Ukraine.
With the move towards European integration, domestic educational programs need to be adapted to European requirements. In particular, study programs that train specialists for the agricultural sector must comply with European standards, ensuring the competitiveness of graduates in the international market. This process has already been launched in Ukraine, so that in accordance with European standards, specialists with knowledge and skills in precision agriculture, biotechnology, and ecological production will be trained.
Currently, European trends in agriculture are focused on sustainable production, the nitrate phase-out - which aims to reduce the use of pesticides in agricultural products by 2030 - and the traceability of crop production technologies. That's why training programs in Ukraine are already moving in this direction.
DroneUA would like to thank the organizers of the forum, the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, as well as all the participants of the event, for the high-quality discussions and collaborative developments that will contribute to the modernization of educational programs, strengthen the domestic labor market, and support the future reconstruction of the country.
