The competence center at the Vitebsk Industrial and Technological College helps to master modern technology and improve the skills of future seamstresses

If you analyze the situation on the labor market, you can see: from year to year, enterprises require qualified seamstresses. An important role in the training of such personnel is played by the competence center created on the basis of the Vitebsk State Industrial and Technological College.

Multifaceted activities “A seamstress is not only a very popular profession today, but also one that allows you to unleash your creative potential, develop your own style, and in the future, build a career in the fashion world,” says Irina Mironova, head of the competence center. – Without seamstresses it is impossible to create unique outfits that emphasize individuality. The center helps students of the industrial and technological college who receive both vocational and secondary specialized education to master the most modern technology and improve their acquired skills. In addition, network interaction has been organized with other colleges in the Vitebsk region: Lepel State Agrarian-Technical College, Orsha State Polytechnic College, Orsha State Textile Workers College named after. G. Semyonova. This academic year, the Dubroven State Agrarian and Technical College has recruited seamstresses again; in the second year, they must also come to practical classes at the competency center, explained Irina Mironova. Professional training for schoolchildren is also provided here: high school students from Vitebsk Secondary School No. 8 named after. A. Ispenkova upon completion of training become 2nd category seamstresses. The center also provides career guidance. Children are regularly brought here not only from Vitebsk, but also from the regions. Guests are told about the capabilities of the college, shown what equipment students use and what they create with their own hands. In particular, on the day when I visited the competence center, Beshenkovichi schoolchildren arrived there. And although the overwhelming majority were guys who were not particularly interested in sewing, even they were keenly interested in modern technology. They also retrain staff here. – For example, the enterprise employs thermal finishers, but they do not have the rank of seamstress. This complicates the situation when there is no heat finishing work and there is a need to put people at sewing machines, explains the head of the competence center. “Then retraining comes to the rescue, paid for by the personnel customers. To make adaptation easier The profession of a seamstress is promising not only in terms of employment. It opens up a wide range of career opportunities, says Irina Mironova. There is a chance in the future to become a fashion designer, stylist or open your own tailoring studio. Therefore, more than one college in the Vitebsk region offers to master sewing skills. Why is it that there are so many vacancies and it is impossible to satisfy all the requests of personnel customers? One of the reasons is problems with securing a first job. Enterprises want to get specialists who can immediately fulfill established standards. And for college graduates, the adaptation period is often difficult; experience has not been gained, which encourages young people to leave the profession. The educational institution is looking for ways to solve the problem together with the base organizations, which are precisely the main customers of personnel. Thus, in February, representatives of OJSC “Znamya Industrialization”, Unitary Enterprise “Vitebsk Fur Factory”, LLC “Milinda”, OJSC “Trud - Vitebsk” and State Enterprise “Vitebchanka” were invited to a meeting where they discussed the coordination of activities and the development of common approaches to retaining young specialists and career guidance. And a training seminar is planned for April with the participation of a psychologist and those people who will work with young people in production as mentors. “Representatives of enterprises themselves asked to organize such a seminar in order to better understand how to interact with our graduates during their adaptation period,” explains Irina Mironova. Requires patience and creative thinking It is equally important at the start, even when choosing a future specialty, to understand what qualities and character traits will be required to achieve success. For example, sewing requires patience and attention to detail. You need to be prepared to pay attention to every detail and strive for the perfect execution of every seam. It will also require creative thinking. Without the ability to think outside the box and look for new solutions, it will not be possible to create unique, original products. And the essential qualities of a real seamstress are responsibility, diligence and the ability to work in a team. “During practical training, certain difficulties may arise,” Irina Mironova did not hide. – For example, learning various sewing techniques or mastering the use of special equipment sometimes becomes a challenge for some students. But there is no need to be afraid: we provide all the necessary support and resources to help overcome these difficulties. Experienced industrial training specialists are always ready to explain unclear points and show how this or that operation is performed. We also encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing among students. Photo by Lilia IVCHENKO