Mentoring of master's students of the ONP "Agroengineering" at the production facilities of the Institute of Mechanics and Automation of Agro-Industrial Production of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine

Students who studied at the ONP "Agroengineering" and received the Master's degree – Beldiugin E.O., Bohdan P.I., Burlaka N.V., Vishkovskyi V.E., Halak M.V., Plakhotnyk M.O., Prokopenko E.A., Solomakha I.O., Gavryk V.S., Svitlak D.Y. – were students of the course "Renewable energy in agriculture", which was taught within the framework of the TREATY project "Development of deep technological talents for the transition to clean and sustainable energy". Nurturing deep tech talents for clean and sustainable energy transition" (No. 230047, Grant Agreement No. 101113035). Order for enrollment of students in courses No. 409 dated 19.04.2024 (https://nubip.edu.ua/sites/default/files/u329/nakaz_no_409_vid_19.04.20…)

On June 2, 2025, within the framework of the COPILOT project, these students commenced the internship program. Mentoring under the internship program, closely related to the topics of master's qualification works, with a focus on Deep Tech.

First, the scientific secretary of the institute, Candidate of Technical Sciences and Senior Researcher, Honored Worker of Agriculture of Ukraine, M. I. Hrytsyshyn, held a conversation with the students. During the meeting, he introduced students to the institute's role in the development of the agro-industrial complex and presented its organizational structure.

Later, students underwent an introductory briefing on labor protection, conducted by M. V. Kovbasyuk, and also received briefings directly at their workplaces, which were provided by the relevant department heads.

Head of the Department of Mechanical and Energy Problems of Machine and Tractor Units, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Senior Researcher S. P. Pogorilyi, introduced students to the department's promising scientific directions.

During the visit to the laboratories, students were shown an installation for determining the stability of tractors and cars.

Of particular interest was the experimental installation of a traction power vehicle, created based on a car.

In addition, S. P. Pogorilyi presented other experimental installations used in the research of the Department of Mechanical and Energy Problems of Machine and Tractor Units.

The guarantor of the ONP, Professor G.A. Golub, introduced the students to the institute's developments, which are showcased on the observation deck.

Students were introduced to world-class developments in grain cleaning machines, presented by Serhiy Stepanenko, Head of the Department of Mechanical and Technological Problems of Harvesting and Post-Harvesting of Grain and Oilseeds, Doctor of Technical Sciences, and Senior Researcher.

Serhii Stepanenko discussed the historical aspects of grain cleaning machine development. First of all, this concerned the developments of Doctor of Technical Sciences, Corresponding Member of the UAAS, Honored Inventor of Ukraine, E.S. Goncharov, who developed a series of centrifugal vibration grain cleaning machines. These machines can be used for grain cleaning purposes.

Now, the department, under the leadership of Doctor of Technical Sciences and Senior Researcher S.P. Stepanenko, is engaged in developing machines for cleaning sowing grain. Serhiy Petrovych introduced the students to the peculiarities of operating such machines, which involve cleaning without significant mechanical impact on the seeds.

Students were actively interested in the work of the experimental installation for cleaning sowing grain. They participated in one of the experiments under the guidance of the department head, S.P. Stepanenko.

Despite the summer period, students had the opportunity to become acquainted with the operation of the institute's heating system, which utilizes grain straw as fuel.

The students also became acquainted with the work of the Scientific and Production Industrial Enterprise "Dik", with the consent of its director, Ivan Vasilyevich Dubko. This enterprise manufactures a significant number of not only serial products of mechanical engineering, but also experimental samples of machines and equipment for further research and testing. Students were introduced to the work of the plant's procurement department, the operation of the laser machine for cutting metal, and the serial products manufactured by the plant.

As a result of the visit, an agreement was reached to provide students with employment opportunities and assign mentors to them at local enterprises. Managers from various departments and industries will accompany and advise on the practical aspects of master's research, particularly in conducting experiments, adjusting equipment, and operating it in specified modes.

Practice at real production facilities provided students with a deep understanding of modern trends in the development of technical means for agro-industrial production. They had the opportunity to directly familiarize themselves with scientific developments, experimental equipment, research methods, and technical solutions implemented in the agricultural sector. Well-established cooperation with scientific departments and industrial enterprises creates favorable conditions for the completion of master's theses, which are supplemented by practical tests, technical analysis, and the introduction of innovations in production.

Guarantor of the ONP "Agroengineering", Professor G.A. Golub