Baikal School of BRICS Master's Student Nikita Vashchuk Wins ‘My Career’ Regional Contest

Nikita Vashchuk, a BS BRICS master's student, won the regional personnel contest ‘My Career.’ The INRTU student suggested new ways of increasing the efficiency of work with the Irkutsk Region's socially active youth.

Nikita Vashchuk combines his master's studies at INRTU with organizational work in the Student Trade Union Committee. INRTU student successfully passed the qualifying rounds in the testing format, demonstrated soft skills, and finally solved a case aimed at improving the effectiveness of work with socially active youth. In the author's opinion, this population group is especially important to develop in the interests of socio-economic, socio-political, and cultural development of the region. The case consists of three directions.

The first section envisages the introduction of new forms of work with young people. The author suggested creating a unified digital platform where volunteers and students would exchange information to find partners for joint projects. Another idea concerns the development of an open database of useful courses for free learning. Trends and requests of the target audience can be identified through online surveys. Nikita Vashchuk also considers it important to organize master classes by well-known experts and partnerships with major employers.

The second section of the case is aimed at strengthening cooperation between the youth and local authorities and local self-government bodies. In the author's opinion, young people should be actively involved in preparing and implementing public programs, working in advisory groups in regional ministries.

In the third section, Nikita drew attention to ways of retaining activists in the region. Creating jobs in promising industries and supporting start-up entrepreneurs through grants and business incubators could help retain young people. Special attention should be paid to infrastructure development in small towns and villages.

Nikita believes that being part of such competitions helps to develop self-presentation skills and learn how to present ideas and projects effectively. The ‘My Career’ project gives an opportunity to realize one's potential.

‘As a winner, I received the right to be included in the personnel reserve of the youth government of the Irkutsk Region. This expands career prospects,’ said Nikita.

In 2023, two INRTU students won the contest. Alisa Filippova was the leader in the Creation and Creative Industries’ nomination. Tatiana Alekseeva was recognized as the best in the nomination ‘Business and Production.’.