Education in fisheries: Dragging the nets?! Nope – driving the industry!

 

 

 

Ukraine is rich in water resources, and qualified specialists for the fisheries and aquaculture sector have always been in high demand. With over 120 years of history, Kyiv-based NUBiP, one of the country’s oldest universities, plays an important role in supplying the industry with a competent workforce.

 

 

The parents of applicants often ask me, says Mr Kononenko, what will my child do after graduation—drag a fishing net for the rest of their days?! I explain that our graduates will become leaders of the sector: they will become business managers, implement new technologies, promote innovations, expand production, work in exports and imports, influence the economy of their companies, and more broadly, the economy of their country. Those who do not see themselves in business, can continue their education, get a degree, become researchers, developers of new technologies, or discover new species to farm. Our graduates work in the national administration and other authorities; they have a perfect background to apply for a job abroad—many of our alumni work in Europe, America, and beyond.

 

The Faculty of Livestock Raising and Water Bioresources offers a Water Bioresources and Aquaculture Programme to students who decide to get a professional education in the area. The programme annually absorbs up to 75 students of which 50 get the education for free after passing admission tests, while the rest pay fees. Getting a bachelor’s degree takes four years for students who graduated from high school, and three years for college graduates. The faculty also offers both master’s and PhD degrees.

The Faculty operates 15 modern laboratories for research and education, an earthen pond, and a RAS system with six reservoirs of 16.6 cubic m each for different stages of the fish farming process, including one for broodstock and one for quarantine, for farming of 11 fish species in total. It also has 30 aquariums from 30 to 500 litres each and one of 1,000 litres; these contain ornamental fish, sturgeons, African catfish, tilapia, Macrobrachium shrimp, and Louisiana crawfish (Procambarus clarkii)). All these facilities combine to teach students of the Water Bioresources and Aquaculture Programme both theory and practice, and give them a professional grip on their chosen career.

 

 

Mr Kononenko himself graduated from NUBiP with a diploma with honours, has a master’s degree in veterinary sciences, became an associate professor, and three years ago was appointed as a dean of the faculty. Sharing his observations of the students now and then, he says that today’s students seem to be more motivated, their choice of future profession has become more conscious, and their confidence that they are making the right choice is growing.

 

All this would not be possible if NUBiP had been trying to keep the students in an ivory tower. Instead, the university works in close contact with the State Agency of Ukraine for the Development of Melioration, Fisheries and Food Programs, national institutions, and private businesses. Webinars, round tables, seminars, arranged by national institutions expose students to the real world and help them build networks. Internships provided by businesses give young people an in-depth understanding of what their future job might be. It happens, explains Mr Kononenko, when a potential employer puts four students in the car, drives them to the facility and two of them return—with job offers!

About 70% of the faculty’s alumni remain devoted to the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Even low-scorers, who often choose a different occupation after graduation, may sometimes return to their roots because the knowledge and skills planted by experienced and caring lecturers finally grows on them.

 

The university offers the students not only high-class lecturers—it offers modern laboratories and other professional settings designed to familiarise students with the working conditions they will encounter in their careers. Most importantly from a long-term perspective, the academic standards which the university upholds are the same as those currently required by the EU. These standards will not only ease Ukraine’s eventual entry as an EU member state, but also the students that the university now produces already meet EU standards of education and qualification, Mr Kononenko says.

 

However, without the physical presence of students, these qualifications are weakened. The COVID-19 pandemic was the first strike that badly affected student’s lives. Online lectures were in place, but eye-level contact with teachers and fellow students, as well as physical, educational, and social activities were put on hold. Such things are crucial for a young person who is not only studying the necessary discipline but also learning how to interact with peers and staff, socialise on different levels, and fit into society—both professionally and socially.

Another problem was with the applicants—the challenge and excitement of an in-person admission had been mitigated as everything became remote. The general fear was that the youngsters would become discouraged and postpone admission till better times. However, NUBiP developed special programmes for remote learning, which later, when things returned to normal, were followed by studies in practice. As a result, during the pandemic the university did not experienced a significant rate of dropouts, though the situation required additional efforts to ensure the smoothness of the educational process.

 

 

The war has added more challenges. For the first two months of the war part of the Kyiv region was under Russian occupation and the future of the country’s capital was uncertain. The learning process has been affected by shelling, disrupted logistics and transportation, a lack of food supplies, and simply by human fear. However, the students expressed the desire for in-person studies, the desire to be part of the group; and two months after hostilities began, they returned to their classrooms. For students in fisheries and aquaculture, this part of their education—on-site and in and around farming facilities—is particularly important, as it is here they learn to get their hands dirty.

 

Luckily, NUBiP has a shelter dating back to World War II and during the sirens, the lecturers and the students go there to hide. In the beginning, chuckles Mr Kononenko, some senior students would avoid going down to the shelter and go “for a cup of coffee”. But later, when the shelter was refurbished and made fit for studies, they had no excuse.

Getting new students during wartime is becoming harder: most potential applicants aged between 16-18 years old have fled abroad. Some colleges and high schools that were among the major suppliers of students to the university either stopped operating because of the hostilities or have low numbers of students. These days the students still come mainly from high schools, but the numbers are still low. Before the war, the number of people employed in fisheries was about 3,000, and now about 50% of them have been drafted. This created 1,500 workplaces, which have to be filled up, but without fresh blood it is a daunting task.

 

 

Mr Kononenko is convinced that the promotion of fisheries and aquaculture is crucial to attracting young people to the profession: Those employed in the sector have the chance to produce high-quality products, products that make the population healthier. We must make fish and seafood popular. People’s mentality must change, they need to care about a healthy lifestyle and healthy food—and it must be done at the national level.

 

Private businesses as potential employers shall be more involved in the educational process. This is not about coming and getting a ready-made employee, this is about coming to the classroom and telling young people about the business, the work, the salaries, and social benefits. Children are shown around the facilities and are informed about raising a fish from an egg to an adult, about work in fisheries and aquaculture, and its benefits.

 

 

One day the war will come to an end, a lot of young men and women will come back from the front, and many of them will need rehabilitation. None of the state institutions will be able to handle it alone, therefore every institution must do its share. NUBiP has a virtual reality laboratory that has developed new tactile programs, so even if a soldier comes back without both arms, it will be possible to study, using modern technology.

 

However, for now the war continues, and the students and their teachers are rushing to and from the shelters. But, explains Mr Kononenko, we try to perceive it as today’s life. We must come to terms with it, we have a job to do, and so we “ignore” the war. We perceive it, it is around us, we cannot get away from it. But we must work and do our jobs well—not just 100%, but 200%. Because the future of the country depends on it—you cannot let down your country, your university, and the students who came to learn from you.