On September 28, 2020, the 3rd online meeting with the developers of module 4 was held, where important issues on the structure of the module, on the choice and use of transdisciplinary methods and system approaches were discussed, and tasks were set for the working groups of various universities for further joint fruitful work on the module 4. The organizers of the online meeting and the coordinators of the module familiarized the developers with the content of articles and scientific publications of leading scientists about transdisciplinary methods and methodologies, their areas of use and their relevance for sustainable agriculture.
The working group of WKATU named after Zhangir Khan on module 4 of the SAGRIS program: “Transdisciplinary research methods for sustainable agriculture”, consisting of: Bogdashkina I.V., Zakirova F.B., Montaeva N.S., is engaged in the development and research of the most effective and acceptable transdisciplinary methods, methodologies, systems approaches and joint educational programs for the postgraduate stage of education (doctoral studies).
Transdisciplinary research is aimed at solving real world problems and increasing the sustainability of socio-ecological systems.
The main problem in these studies is their complex, interrelated, indefinite, not fully studied by scientists, an urgent issue today, therefore, the task facing transdisciplinary research is to go beyond the fragmented creation of disciplinary knowledge and integrate the knowledge of people from various academic disciplines and other professional groups. The integration of knowledge and the creation of joint educational programs, being an integral part of transdisciplinary research processes, contribute to the sustainability of socio-ecological systems.
In transdisciplinary research, agricultural and food systems are presented and analyzed as socio-ecological systems and systems of activity, based on the approaches of the social sciences. Farmers and other professionals working within these systems play an active role in creating, maintaining, changing and operating these systems.
Module 4 “Transdisciplinary Research Methods for Sustainable Agriculture” is divided into three parts:
1. Introduction to the concepts of sustainability in agriculture and food systems;
2. Systematic approaches: theoretical foundations of systems of socio-ecological and human activity;
3. Methods of transdisciplinary research: participatory approaches, qualitative methods of conducting transdisciplinary research in the field of social sciences.
Leading scientists from the German Institute of Agriculture in the Tropics and Subtropics (Witzenhausen), Stavropol State Agrarian University, Novosibirsk State Agrarian University, Buryat State Agricultural Academy, Yakutsk State Agricultural Academy, Kazakh Agrotechnical University named after S. Seifullin, Kazakh National Agrarian University, Kostanay State University named after A. Baitursynov, West Kazakhstan Agrarian-Technical University named after Zhangir Khan. The project coordinator is the University of Nürtingen-Geislingen.
