On September 1, the Digital Kuzbass vocational education cluster opened in Kemerovo region. Its mission is to train IT specialists who will be in demand in the region's economy. The initiative was implemented under the "Professionalität" federal project, part of the national Youth and Children program, following a directive fr om Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The cluster is based at the Professional College named after T.A. Kucheryavenko in Novokuznetsk. Seven other educational institutions are also participating in the project: Leninsk‑Kuznetsky Polytechnic Training College, Belovsky Polytechnic Training College, Mezhdurechensk Mining and Construction Training College, Tom‑Usinsk Energy and Transport Training College, Kuznetsk Training College of Service and Design named after V.A. Volkov, Yurga Technological College named after G.A. Pavlyuchkov, and the Siberian Polytechnic Training College.
For students, 11 new workshops have been equipped with modern computer and interactive technology, demonstration stands, and innovative software. One of the workshops was created with financial support from JSC SGMK. The workshops house a training and production complex – an IT hub wh ere students learn to develop websites, administer networks, test software, configure 1C (a popular Russian enterprise management platform), and hone other practical skills.
Training is offered in high‑demand fields: computer systems and complexes, network and system administration, intelligent integrated systems, web development, software development and management, economics and accounting, and banking.
A key feature of the cluster is its close connection with employers. The project's industrial partners are JSC SGMK and PJSC Sberbank.
"Here, students are taught to solve real‑world problems. Employers come into the classrooms, and students go out into the workplace – gaining professional skills that Kuzbass needs right now. I believe every college student will find their own path and become a source of pride for Novokuznetsk," noted Denis Ilyin, Mayor of Novokuznetsk.
JSC SGMK is not only a partner in the project but also a future employer of its graduates. The company helps shape the curriculum, arranges internships for students at its production facilities, and plans to hire the best graduates.
"This approach allows students to acquire skills that are genuinely needed in the workplace, while the company can address its staffing needs in a timely manner," emphasized Marina Veklich, Deputy General Director for Human Resources at JSC SGMK.
The Digital Kuzbass cluster is the thirteenth educational cluster created in Kemerovo region under the national project.
JSC SGMK is actively contributing to the development of Kuzbass's human resources: investments in education help train specialists capable of solving complex production challenges and driving the region's technological growth.