Scientific and pedagogical personnel agricultural universities in the USSR (1960–1980) (a brief historical sketch)

Abstract

Background. This work is one of the first studies of the activities aimed at improving the quality of scientific and pedagogical personnel of agricultural universities of the USSR in the period of the 1960s – 1980s of the 20th century. It outlines the main directions, trends and experience of agricultural universities in the most concise form. Special attention is paid to the characteristics of its forms and methods in the context of improving the organization of the educational and scientific process. The relevance of the study is determined by the lack of knowledge of the stated topic, the demand for experience in providing universities with highly qualified personnel of teachers and scientists, accumulated during the Soviet period of Russian history. This publication attempts to investigate the process of improving the quality of scientific and pedagogical personnel in agricultural universities by solving the following tasks: to study the activities of training highly qualified personnel; analyze the forms and methods of work to improve the level of educational and scientific activities of university teachers; identify the positive aspects and shortcomings of the work on improving the skills of teachers of higher education. Materials and methods. In the course of the study, we used documents and materials that contribute to the disclosure of the essence of the work of scientific and pedagogical personnel of agricultural universities of the USSR in the study period. The methodological basis of the study was based on the basic methods of historical science: historicism, objectivity, and consistency, which allowed us to highlight the material used and present the results of the study with maximum reliability. Results. The results of the study confirm its relevance and lack of knowledge in the modern literature. They showed the presence of a generally positive dynamics of improving the quality of scientific and pedagogical personnel of agricultural universities of the USSR in the period of the 1960s – 1980s of the 20th century. The connection between the scientific and pedagogical activities of teachers was strengthened, the practical orientation of the classes and the form of organization of professional development of the teaching staff were improved. Conclusions. In the course of the conducted work, an idea was obtained about the most general trends in the evolution of scientific and pedagogical personnel of agricultural universities at the final stage of Soviet history, about the experience and problems of improving their quality.

Keywords

• scientific and pedagogical personnel
• agricultural universities
• scientific work
• professional development