This year, the Vitebsk State Agrarian-Technical College (VSATC) has enrolled students for the first time in vocational trades for the gas service. The head of the educational institution, Alexander Yakubov, told a BELTA correspondent about the progress in training future fitters, the guarantees provided by the employer, and the prospects of this field at the college.
The group, where students are training to be fitters for the maintenance and repair of both gas-using equipment and external gas pipelines, was established on the initiative of UP "Vitebskoblgaz". Together with the main department for education of the regional executive committee, it was decided that VSATC would serve as a good educational base for the new specialities. "The enterprise provided us with the necessary equipment for the educational laboratories, and the main department for education helped with the renovation of the production workshops. This year, we enrolled 26 students, and all of them will be provided with jobs within the structure of 'Vitebskoblgaz'. Currently, the students are mastering the secondary education program, and from next year they will begin studying specialised disciplines. Gas service specialists will conduct practical training sessions with the students at the training centre in Novka, where a training ground has been set up with all the modern equipment currently used by gas workers in their daily work. In addition to the two specialisations for fitters, the graduates of this group will also obtain category C driving licenses," informed the college director.
Since the beginning of the year, "Vitebskoblgaz" has already invited students for excursions, creative competitions, and professional skill contests, and the enterprise will continue to closely cooperate with the college in personnel training.
The training for the new speciality takes 2 years and 10 months. Students will study fitting according to the standard program for this profession, and then they will be trained in the specifics of working with gas equipment. "The mandatory work placement will be one year. It is already noticeable that many will remain in the profession because the students made their choice consciously, understanding that they were opting for a new speciality. They all studied in advance where they would be applying, and here they were told about the work they would be doing after receiving their diplomas, and they have high motivation in their studies," explained Alexander Yakubov.
Among the students studying the new specialty, there is also a young woman. Anastasia Tunkel is from Vitebsk. She chose an unusual profession for the female gender herself. "I like working with machines and programming. When I was looking for a place to enroll, I saw an announcement on the website that a new specialty was being recruited at VSATC, and I decided to try. I think after college I will go on to study at a university, but it may be necessary to obtain a secondary vocational education as well. So far, I like my studies, I think I will cope with all the tasks on par with the guys, I don't expect any concessions for myself, I want to master this interesting profession," she shared.
Anastasia added that her parents, upon learning of her intention to enroll in this college, asked only one question: "Can you handle it?". And the young woman assured them that she would do everything possible to be among the best.
Kirill Vasilevsky, a native of Senno, also took a chance to enroll in the new specialty. He lives in a dormitory and, like all non-resident students, receives three free meals a day. The young man is very pleased with the conditions created in the college and dormitory, and plans to connect his life with his chosen profession. "None of my relatives work in the gas industry, so I will be the first. This is a promising field with a stable salary, so I think I will establish myself firmly in it. I would like to return to Senno and work there in the regional department of "Vitebskoblgaz" to be closer to home," he noted.
Alexander Yakubov stated that the customer's plans include training workers for five consecutive graduating classes. "We have become known in other regions, and inquiries are already coming from Mogilev and Gomel, but we will primarily be providing personnel for our region. I believe that 'Vitebskoblgaz' is an example of an enterprise that makes a correct contribution to personnel replenishment and cooperation with educational institutions, and such a system of specialist training will provide them with a good reserve of workers, as over five graduating classes they will receive about 150 people who are guaranteed to work within the system," emphasized the college director.
Photo by Alexander Khitrov