“Young specialists in demand in all forestry farms in Belarus”: how to train workers for an important industry

Not only colleges, but also universities pay special attention to practice-oriented learning. When a student from the very beginning immerses himself in the future specialty, he not only strengthens in his choice, but also consciously masters special skills, moving faster along the professional path. Belarusian State Technological University provides extensive opportunities for mastering professional competencies. For example, students who study forestry go to the Negorelsk educational and experienced forestry farm for practical training.

Andrei Sakovich. “When graduating more than 80 people this year, the university received about 300 applications from employers,” said Vice-Rector of BSTU Andrei Sakovich. Young specialists are in demand in all forest farms of the country, national parks, forestry organizations of the Presidential Affairs Administration, as well as in specialized enterprises. Among them - "Belgosokhota", "Belgosles", "Belgiproles", the Republican forest breeding and seed center.

Three specialties are presented at the forestry faculty.

- This year, 100 people received the budget for forestry, taking into account target persons, Nikolai Yushkevich, Dean of the Forestry Faculty of BSTU, cited statistics. 30 students were enrolled in “tourism and nature management”, as well as “landscape design and construction” according to the results of the last introductory campaign.

One option to connect your life with forestry is to study at the Faculty of Forest Engineering, Materials Science and Design.

- Recently, the number of applicants has been equalized. For example, 35-48 people and ten payers come to us annually for the specialty “forest engineering”, and a total of 30 for “service and engineering”, said Vladimir Loy, Dean of the Faculty of Forest Engineering, Materials Science and Design. — It used to be a little more, but in the mid-2000s interest in engineering specialties fell. However, now there are competitions for admission.

The Negorelian educational and experienced forest farm is a platform where BSTU students can not only come into contact with nature, but also undergo professional training. Comfortable conditions have been created for this.

- From March to November, students study here, said Ekaterina Khristina, Deputy Director for Academic and Experienced Work. About 100 children live in forestry dormitories today. Microwaves, stoves, refrigerators - everything is for our students.

She stressed that the rules have changed since this year: freshmen stay in Minsk, and 3rd year students come here.

One of the objects that is used for teaching is the House of Nature Museum. Thanks to him, students get acquainted not only with forestry, but also hunting.

“The guys who are trained in the specialty “tourism and nature management” should know the fauna very well,” Nikolai Yushkevich emphasized. What kind of specialists will they be who will not be able to tell about the animal world or, for example, confuse moose with deer? We are the only ones in the country who train specialists with higher education in hunting.

Students study the museum exhibits “Nature Houses”, and at night they go with thermal imaging cameras to the fields and record what animals appear in the dark. In addition, the guys are working on the infrastructure of the hunting farm, for example, construct feeding grounds and forage fields.

Maxim Yaroshuk. Special attention is paid to work with flora. According to the head of the nursery of the Negorelsky educational and experienced forestry farm Maxim Yaroshuk, students during practice study the technique, methods of its use, methods of growing plants. Here they master sowing, transplantation, planting and care.

In total, in the nursery, whose area is 32.1 hectares, there are about 115-120 species of plants. Among them there is a unique flora, which is valued in all forest farms.

- Here you can see the pine of the ordinary variety “Negorelskaya”, – cited an interesting fact Maxim Viktorovich. It bears great fruit and gives a rich harvest of cones. In addition, this type of pine has good heredity and quality wood.

In the nursery there is a greenhouse where flora is grown in closed ground. The fact is that some breeds are difficult to work on, so this method is used to grow a number of plants.

- Usually we do sowing in the ground in April or early May, Maxim Yaroshuk shared details. It all depends on the beginning of the growing season and weather conditions. Everything starts earlier in the greenhouse.

The Department of Forest Machines, Roads and Technologies of Forestry Production in the forestry farm has its own technopark. Here, students can also hone their skills in practice.

- The program lasts 36 hours. At the base, guys from all courses work, Vladimir Loy noted. They get acquainted with the design, maintenance and repair of machines, as well as services. There is a platform where you can learn the basics of logging technology.

Thus, the Negorelian educational and experienced forestry farm provides an opportunity for students to try their hand at practice and become real professionals.

valuev@sb.by