Dorogobuzh (a member of Acron Group) has announced the winners of its grant competition A step to success: how to build a career at Dorogobuzh. The Company has held the event regularly for secondary schools in Dorogobuzh district of Smolensk region for the past seven years.
The aims of this year’s competition were to recognise schools for their continuous efforts in organising career guidance, to promote scholarship and employer-sponsored education agreements and to encourage graduates to pursue employment opportunities at Dorogobuzh.
The first prize for career guidance initiatives among schools with 100 or more students was awarded to Verkhnedneprovsky School No. 1 (Headmaster Elena Martynova). Second prize went to Dorogobuzh School No. 1 (Headmaster Valentina Tanavskaya). Dorogobuzh School No. 2 (Headmaster Elena Brykova) and Verkhnedneprovsky School No. 2 (Headmaster Yuri Vasin) shared third place. Usviatskoye Secondary School (acting Headmaster Tatiana Pozdniakova) was recognised for the best career guidance project among schools with up to 100 students.
The winners received grants of RUB 300,000, while the first and second runners-up were awarded RUB 250,000 and RUB 200,000 respectively. Verkhnedneprovsky School No. 3 received a participation prize of RUB 50,000. The winning teachers will keep half of the prize money as an award for their teaching achievements and contribution to career guidance projects. These projects promote professions and jobs in demand at Dorogobuzh, encourage young people to seek employment with the Company and advertise corporate support programmes for young employees. The remaining amount will be used to fund career guidance activities and events at schools.
‘The career guidance projects establish a direct link between education and employment, contributing to the local talent pool and ensuring a steady supply of qualified employees’, said Dmitry Ivanov, Dorogobuzh’s deputy executive director for personnel and general matters.
The first grant competition was held in 2020, and since then, the best teachers in Dorogobuzh district have received over RUB 6 million from the Company.