On 14–16 February 2017, Novgorod Chemical Industrial College (NovHIT) and Acron hosted the second stage of the regional WorldSkills Russia competition for young professionals in laboratory chemical analysis.
Competitors had assignments in three separate fields: quality control for non-organic and organic compounds, pharmaceutical agents and food. Experts from Acron’s engineering and analysis department graded participant performance.
Acron upgraded the NovHIT chemical laboratory where the competition was held and built the new physical chemistry laboratory from the ground up. Both laboratories have modern equipment so students can learn in an environment that meets the standards of potential employers.
Acron and NovHIT also hosted a business programme following the competition, with a roundtable discussion entitled Education and Production Cluster focusing on the positive history of cooperation between Acron and NovHIT and a conference highlighting the joint research and development programmes at Acron and NovHIT’s fundamental research laboratory.
“Acron and NovHIT set an example of successful cooperation in professional training for employees. We are confident that the Novgorod region has very good prospects to prepare highly skilled employees”, said Alexander Shirin, Head of the Novgorod region Department of Education and Youth Policy.
Acron is involved in the education process at NovHIT on many levels: leading experts from the Company’s production units give lectures on the main disciplines included in special course; all students studying chemistry participate in internships at Acron’s production facility, where they are mentored by shop supervisors and other skilled professionals; and Acron employees sit on the college’s examination board. As of today, dozens of students have completed internships at Acron and received recommendations for further employment