Vitebsk region is experiencing a shortage of specialists with higher engineering and technical education. The issue of personnel training was raised at the regional executive committee.
Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, Nikolai Sherstnev: Universities should train qualified specialists for the current needs of the economy
– Industrial enterprises are the engines of economic development. Today, we have modern production facilities and equipment, but we often experience a shortage of qualified personnel or train them with delays. At the same time, new directions are developing, and it is necessary to respond promptly to changes in market conditions and the demands of investors ready to invest funds in new high-tech enterprises. Universities should train qualified specialists for the current needs of the economy, – emphasized Nikolai Nikolaevich.
The head of the region urged the participants of the working meeting to develop a common strategy for the development of the industry, to find opportunities for organizing closer and more effective cooperation between institutions providing higher education and enterprises of the real sector of the economy.
As of today, the Vitebsk region needs about 800 specialists with higher education, of which about 600 are in engineering and technical specialties.
– As of today, the region needs about 800 specialists with higher education. Of these, about 600 are in engineering and technical specialties. The regional economy is developing, mastering innovative types of products, the production and promotion of which requires modern knowledge, – noted the Chairman of the Committee for Economy of the Regional Executive Committee, Anzhelika Nikitina.
She drew attention to the quality of training specialists for the real sector of the economy, adding that in secondary specialized and vocational educational institutions of the Vitebsk region, training and practice are already integrated into a single process.
Chairperson of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Economy Committee, Anzhelika Nikitina: "It is necessary to assign industrial enterprises to universities, which would oversee the training of students for their production facilities, accompany them during internships, and subsequently employ them."
Rector of Vitebsk State Technological University, Andrey Kuznetsov, stated that VSTU is the only university that trains specialists for the textile and light industry enterprises.
In addition, the university is focused on meeting the region's needs for specialists in mechanical engineering, economics, trade, and metrology. The main emphasis is placed on engineering specialties, such as mechanical engineering technology and computer mechatronics.
Over the past three years, the number of graduates employed by the region's enterprises has increased.
"Over the past three years, the number of graduates employed by the region's enterprises has increased. If in 2016 it was about 20%, then in 2017, more than half of all graduates remained to work in the region," emphasized Andrey Alexandrovich. He also noted that in terms of practice-oriented training, the university closely cooperates with the industrial enterprises of the region.
Head of the Main Department for Education of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Dmitry Khoma, noted the positive aspects in the work of each university in the region. He is confident that regardless of their profile, their leadership faces common tasks: providing personnel, training qualified specialists for the current needs of the regional and national economy, and developing and improving the material and technical base of educational institutions.
Dmitry Leonidovich also outlined another direction of work – maximizing the retention of specialists in production. Both government bodies, enterprises, and universities are interested in this. Universities should become full partners in preparing resources for the economy.