Opinions & Interviews

Belarus’ education minister: Holding WorldSkills Belarus in Great Stone is symbolic

MINSK, 17 September (BelTA) – It is very symbolic that the fourth national contest of professional mastery in line with international standards WorldSkills Belarus 2020 is hosted by the China-Belarus industrial park Great Stone, Belarus Education Minister Igor Karpenko said as he visited the venue for the contest on 17 September, BelTA has learned.

“The contest has already become a tradition. The fact that it is running in the territory of the China-Belarus industrial park Great Stone is very important. The park is a home to many modern innovative enterprises. The contest demonstrates that education should be closer to innovations,” Igor Karpenko said.

None super modern enterprises can do without professional specialists, the minister noted. “Holding WorldSkills Belarus here is the first step to creating an educational infrastructure in the park for training specialists for these innovative enterprises. We are in talks with the Chinese Ministry of Education and other stakeholders over setting up here a branch of one of Chinese universities that would also admit Belarusian students,” he said.

According to Igor Karpenko, the contest of professional mastery featuring young professionals and students of higher education and vocational education institutions demonstrated that Belarus has a huge human potential and a well-developed system of training specialists and interacting with employers. “We see prospects for development in this area and the demand for such specialists in the labor market. This year, around 330 contestants will demonstrate their mastery in 47 competencies. The first edition of the contest featured only 150 people, and have grown ever since. In addition, this year’s event features a contest for 10-17-year-old participants,” he stressed.

The fourth national contest of professional mastery in line with international standards WorldSkills Belarus 2020 will wrap up on 18 September. Elimination rounds at the level of individual educational institutions and regional championships took place in anticipation of the contest. Teams representing every oblast have been formed as a result. Contestants demonstrate their skills in the area of civil engineering technologies, manufacturing technologies, engineering, information and communications technologies, transport and logistics, social and personal services, creative occupations, and fashion. The Junior Skills contest for school students is held on the sidelines of the event.

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