Philosophy Pathways – Issue 215 – 4th September 2017 https://philosophypathways.com/newsletter/ 1 KUBAN STATE AGRARIAN UNIVERSITY by G.M. Nikitin Kuban State Agrarian University is the largest center of science, education and innovation in the South Federal District, and is rated by the Ministry of Education as the best agrarian university in Russia. It is headed by the Kuban State Agrarian Scientific and Educational Association, which includes 29 agrarian organizations, 12 scientific research institutes of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and 12 colleges and technical schools of the province. A Member of the European Association of Agrarian Universities, "Natura", and of the consortium IAMONET-RU Erasmus Mundus Partnerships funded by the European Union, it was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, is ranked by "Rospatent", the Federal Service for Intellectual Property among the top three largest patent holders in Russia, and has a quality management system complying with international standard ISO 9001:2008. From 1970 to 2007 the institution was headed by I.T. Trubilin – Hero of Socialist Labor, Hero of Labor of the Kuban, honorary citizen of Krasnodar, Honoured Scientist of Russia, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Economics, Professor – whose name is inseparable from its formation and traditions. Thanks to his outstanding leadership, and improved socioeconomic conditions in the 1990s which allowed expansion, the Agricultural Institute achieved university status in 1991. During his years at the helm, more than 70,000 students graduated, including some 9000 from countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, and 240 foreign students defended doctoral dissertations. In 2005, Trubilin hosted a visit by the President of the Russian Federation, V.V. Putin. The university made a strong impression on the President. Arriving by helicopter, he saw for himself its city-scale size, and commented that "Those Philosophy Pathways – Issue 215 – 4th September 2017 https://philosophypathways.com/newsletter/ 2 who were lucky to learn here made the right choice. Work on the land is one of the most noble and interesting professions. Without agriculture, humanity cannot exist. Agriculture is key to the future of our country." Among the many state awards to Trubilin is the gold medal "For Contribution to the Development of the Agroindustrial Complex of Russia" handed to him in 2010 by President Putin. Currently, 25 faculties teach over 19,000 fulland parttime students. The Kuban State Agrarian University website http://kubsau.ru/en/ (English version) has all the facts and figures about the university and its many departments and faculties. The university has produced over 130,000 graduates in all, currently more than 3000 annually: a galaxy of modern thinking, competent and responsible professionals. Among the specialists and managers working in the agrarian and industrial complex of the region, more than 80% are graduates of the university. Many graduates became famous scientists: breeders with a world-wide reputation include P.P. Lukyanenko, V.S. Pustovoit, V.A. Kovda, G.S. Galeev, V.M. Shevtsov. Graduates also include prominent public figures – the Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation A.N. Tkachev, the Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnodar Territory, V.A. Beketov, the VicePresident of the Russian Academy of Sciences, G.A. Romanenko, the first President of the Republic of Adygea A.A. Jarimov. And graduates include 46 Heroes of Socialist Labor, six of whom have received this award twice. The Kuban State Agrarian University has become one of the largest universities in Russia. Tradition and innovation combine to yield effective research and teaching in scientific schools under the guidance of outstanding scientists: Academicians, Doctors of Sciences, Professors, Honored Scientists of the Russian Federation A.Kh. Sheudzhen, V.P. Vasilko, E.A. Aleksandrova, N.S. Kotlyarov, A.A. Shevchenko, V.A. Antipov, V.G. Ryadchikov, A.E. Chikov, A.A. Soldatov, G.G. Maslov, V.D. Zelensky, I.C. Beliuchenko and others. In conclusion, Kuban State Agrarian University has a rich past, dynamic present and rosy future. Philosophy Pathways – Issue 215 – 4th September 2017 https://philosophypathways.com/newsletter/ 3 Grigoriy Nikitin Candidate of Philosophy and Associate Professor Department of Philosophy Kuban State Agrarian University © Grigoriy Nikitin 2017 Email: p20347@yandex.ru