Tatarstan President: “Agricultural universities should train students who are ready to work in the country”

On October 12 at a weekly video conference meeting at Tatarstan Government House Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that Tatarstan agricultural universities and colleges should focus on training specialists which are in demand in the regional agricultural industry.

In his report Tatarstan Vice-Premier – Minister of Agriculture and Food Marat Akhmetov told about training specialists for the agricultural industry. He reported that the industry is lack of some categories of skilled workers in some regions. At the same time, the potential of regional agricultural educational complex can meet the needs of the industry for all qualification levels, the Minister pointed out.

“Every year 1200-1400 students graduate from universities and 500-600 people finish colleges. But only every fifth graduate works in the country. In 2012-2013 only 358 graduates stayed in the country,” Marat Akhmetov complained.

Rustam Minnikhanov is sure that the youth will go back to the country only if they see any prospects.

At the same time he stressed the role of the educational institutions. “Our universities should concentrate on those students who will really go back to the country. We need people at sites, and universities should train those students who are ready to work in the country,” Tatarstan President said.

Rustam Minnikhanov offered to include the share of graduates who found work according to their background into evaluation criteria of universities. According to Tatarstan President, this is one the most important factors for educational institutions who train specialists for economic sectors.