A new competence center of the Belarusian truck maker BelAZ has opened at Belarusian National Technical University in Minsk. There is only one similar one, at St. Petersburg Mining University, BelTA has learned.
The BelAZ competence center features training laboratories covering the areas that are not part of the standard university curriculum but are in demand at enterprises.
Sergei Lesin, Director General at BelAZ, the Managing Company of the BelAZ Holding Company, noted that the enterprise fully understands that without the active participation of the real sector in the educational process, it is difficult for universities to build a quality pool of young engineers.
The head of BelAZ explained that the opening of the new classroom at the country’s leading technical university is an important stage of a long-term program. Earlier, the enterprise opened two technical classes in physics and chemistry at schools in Zhodino, and at the end of the year it plans to launch a center for children’s technical creativity at the plant.
“In this way, we plan to create our own ‘ecosystem’, involving schools, secondary specialized and higher education institutions (this will help ensure an influx of talented and motivated applicants), and the technical university that will train qualified engineers who will come to work at the plant already prepared. Neither we nor the state will waste precious time training people who will ultimately refuse to work in their specialty,” Sergei Lesin emphasized.
The director general noted that the classroom opened at BNTU is kitted out with the most modern equipment available today, which helps consolidate the theoretical knowledge gained and makes the learning process more visual. New technological solutions, including VR technologies, significantly expand the university’s capabilities and make learning as interesting as possible for the new generation of young people.
“The task we are tackling together with the university is to produce a specialist who, after receiving a diploma, will come to the enterprise and, without a lengthy adaptation period, be able to benefit the plant and the country,” Sergei Lesin added, expressing sincere gratitude to the BNTU staff for the fruitful partnership.
BNTU Rector Sergei Kharitonchik emphasized that BelAZ is not merely a legendary flagship of mechanical engineering, but a symbol of advanced technologies, digital design and innovation that are in demand today in mineral extraction around the world. The new laboratory will serve students not only as a base for practical training and a place of future employment, but also as a place where the plant’s cutting-edge developments are integrated into the educational process.
He recalled the long history of cooperation between the university and the enterprise, spanning decades, and the outstanding BNTU graduates who made an enormous contribution to the plant's development. “I am very pleased that such cooperation is taking shape, because these are the tasks set by the head of state, namely to strengthen interaction and promote practice-oriented learning. These are not empty words; they are today’s requirements and a global trend that we are following,” Sergei Kharitonchik emphasized, expressing confidence in further fruitful partnership.
He also explained which faculties of the university the center is intended for. Among them are the Automotive and Tractor Faculty, with specialties in automobile engineering, engine building and hydraulic-pneumatic drives and the Mechanical Engineering Faculty, which works in the areas of mechanical engineering technologies and the design of technological equipment.
The Mechanical Technology Faculty and the Faculty of Information Technology, which provides training in the field of programming, are also involved in this process.
“About 100 people go to BelAZ for practical training. Through job placement, around 40 of our graduates each year get their first workplace at the enterprise,” Sergei Kharitonchik said.
The significance of opening the modern laboratory was noted by fifth-year student of the Automotive and Tractor Faculty Arkhip Rotko, who is majoring in Hydraulic-Pneumatic Systems of Mobile and Technological Machines. According to him, the new equipment differs substantially from the samples of previous years in its technological sophistication. “Powerful computers have appeared that make it possible to engage in 3D modeling. It’s a bit of a pity that such an opportunity appeared only in my fifth year, because working in such conditions from the very start of one’s studies is a great stroke of luck. First-year students and future students are very fortunate to have access to this facility from the very beginning of their studies,” he emphasized.
Automotive and Tractor Faculty student Andrei Tupik said that future engineers study various hydraulic systems used in trucks and passenger cars, as well as in industrial machine tools, and learn to design and calculate them. According to him, the new competence center will significantly expand students’ learning opportunities and also help them prepare coursework and diploma theses to a high standard.
