Cooperation between the Vitebsk region and Russian regions in the field of education is developing systematically and dynamically
Science is in the hands of the young
Since 2002, the scientific society of students "Altair" has been operating at Gymnasium No. 4 in Vitebsk. For 18 years, the gymnasium students have been actively participating in scientific and practical conferences of various levels.
As noted by the director of the educational institution, Irina Sirvutis, the geography of cooperation and social partnership is constantly expanding. For more than 10 years, the educational institution has been actively interacting with partner gymnasiums from the Russian Federation.
Every year, Gymnasium No. 4 brings together students from Belarus and Russia for the open scientific and practical conference of the scientific society of students "Altair" – "Science in the hands of the young".
According to the deputy director for academic affairs, Tatyana Dargel, 110 abstracts were submitted to the conference, which was held remotely this year. They were divided into 6 sections: philology, foreign languages (English, German, French), mathematics and computer science, physics and astronomy, chemistry and biology, geography and ecology, history and social studies. 130 students from Belarus and Russia took part in the event.
– Research papers were presented from St. Petersburg, Saransk, Smolensk. The students from Vitebsk, Shumilino, Mogilev, Oshmyany, Dzerzhinsk, Molodechno, Vileyka, Shchuchin defended the honor of our country, – summed up Irina Sirvutis. – It is gratifying to note that the quantitative and qualitative composition of participants is expanding every year.
Interaction is the key to success
The union between the two states is a single educational space that allows Russians to receive education in Belarusian educational institutions on an equal footing with citizens of our country. This is the conviction of the director of the Gorodok State Agrarian and Technical College, Vladimir Shitko.
– Undoubtedly, integration with our neighbors has been developing and we will continue to work on it, – emphasized Vladimir Shitko. – Our college has everything necessary to train competent specialists who are in demand both in Belarus and Russia.
Today, at the Gorodok State Agrarian-Technical College, 21 students from the Nevelsky district are mastering professions alongside Belarusians.
– We cooperate quite closely with the Pskov Agrarian-Technical College, – noted Vladimir Vladimirovich. – We hold joint events, including cultural and sports events, and participate in the regional vocational skills competition WorldSkills. We have also established friendly and working relationships with the Yaroslavl Agrarian-Technical College. Just recently, an interregional distance Olympiad in professional disciplines was held, where our students showed good results and took second and third places.
According to Vladimir Shitko, five of the college's best students are planned to be sent for an internship at a private peasant farm in the Yaroslavl region. Good conditions for living and working have been created there. Third-year students will learn the basics of the profession as part of an experience exchange project.
With an International Accent
The international activities of the state institution of additional adult education "Vitebsk Regional Institute for the Development of Education" (VOIRO) include a number of events aimed at mutually beneficial cooperation with educational institutions of the Russian Federation, organizations in the field of adult further education, dissemination of promising pedagogical experience, and strengthening of educational and intercultural ties.
As noted by Olga Volkova, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Methodological Work of VOIRO, the main focus of such interaction is the organization of methodological support for seminars, conferences, consultations, courses, trainings, round tables, and other institute events with the participation of pedagogical staff from educational institutions of foreign countries.
– The foundation of the institute's international cooperation consists of agreements with other educational institutions and organizations on joint activities, – emphasized Olga Valeryevna. – As of the beginning of this year, such agreements have been concluded with the Bryansk Institute for Professional Development of Education Workers, the State Educational Institution of Additional Professional Education "Komi Republican Institute for Education Development", Moscow State Regional University, Smolensk Regional Institute for Education Development, Pskov Regional Institute for Professional Development of Education Workers, and others.
For example, joint events have already been held this year with the Beloyarsk Methodological Center for Information and Technical Support of the Municipal Education System and the Institute for Education Development of the Omsk Region.
Institute staff participated in an event organized online by the Beloyarsk District of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Yugra, dedicated to the Year of Knowledge. Together with the Pskov Institute for Education Development, Vitebsk residents are conducting a scientific and methodological study on the topic "Personalized System of Child Rearing". VOIRO staff are participants in events of the Moscow City Pedagogical University. The most interesting common topics include: "Safety of the Educational Environment. A Mediative Approach in the Work of Managers", "Health and Longevity", "Development of Digital Competencies and Functional Literacy of Schoolchildren: Best Practices in Distance Education in Russian".
Undoubtedly, VOIRO's international cooperation contributes to the establishment and expansion of professional and business partnerships between Belarus and Russia.