DMYTRO MOTORNYI TAVRIA STATE AGROTECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
THE CRADLE OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN THE ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION
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n 2022, Dmytro Motornyi Tavria State Agrotechnological University (TSATU) celebrated its 90th anniversary.
Every anniversary is a celebration for the many people whose lives are intertwined with the institution: scholars, lecturers, and staff members who have enhanced its reputation through their achievements; students of whom the University has always been proud; and tens of thousands of graduates who have shaped the modern image of our university. They work in various fields and are an integral part of both the history of TSATU and the history of the country.
Time passes quickly, yet history preserves the uniqueness of every day, decade, and era. The formation of the University was a challenging journey. Its origins date back to the establishment of the Melitopol Real School in 1874. Later, the institution evolved through various stages as a vocational school, a polytechnic school, and a technical college.
The independent operation of the Melitopol Institute of Agricultural Mechanization Engineers (MIAME) began in 1932. In 1941, the Institute was awarded a First Degree Diploma and was entered into the Book of Honor of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. During World War II, the Institute was evacuated to Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) and returned to Melitopol in 1944. That same year, it was renamed the Melitopol Institute of Agricultural Mechanization (MIAM).
In the following years, the institution continued to flourish: new departments, faculties, and academic programs were established; the student body grew, as did the number of PhDs and Doctors of Sciences among the academic staff. In 1981, MIAM was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour for its achievements in training highly qualified specialists.
In 1994, MIAM became the Tavria State Agrotechnical Academy (TSAA). In 2007, a landmark event took place: TSAA was reorganized into Tavria State Agrotechnological University (TSATU). With this change of status, the University achieved the highest (IV) level of accreditation. International cooperation expanded through participation in international projects, conferences, and exchange programs.
By Order No. 149 of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine dated February 7, 2019, the University was named after Dmytro Motornyi, twice Hero of Socialist Labour, Hero of Ukraine, and a distinguished graduate of the institution.
The history of the University is, above all, the story of the people who built and developed it. Throughout its history, the institution has been led by seven prominent leaders:
- Yurii Hrinchak (1932–1937)
- Heorhii Huliver (1937–1951)
- Dmytro Abramchev (1951–1962)
- Mykhailo Yemelianov (1962–1971)
- Ihor Siryi (1971–1987)
- Mykola Kryzhachkivskyi (1987–2006)
- Volodymyr Kiurchev (2006–2021)
Since December 2021, the University has been headed by Rector Serhii Kiurchev, Doctor of Technical Sciences and Professor, Graduate of TSATU.
The year 2022 was a jubilee year for the university. TSATU turned 90 years old.. However, February 24, 2022, drew a “bloody red line,” dividing lives into “before” and “after.” Russia’s full-scale invasion and the occupation of Melitopol disrupted peaceful life and forced the University to adapt.
According to Order No. 387 of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine dated April 26, 2022, TSATU and its structural subdivisions were temporarily relocated to Zaporizhzhia (Nova Kakhovka College moved to Kropyvnytskyi). Currently, the University operates at the facilities of Zaporizhzhia National University, continuing its mission in a blended (online/offline) format.