LocationsBuilding the Future: Belarusian VET Students Master Digital Skills in Construction
April 22, 2025
Polina Selitskaya and Kseniya Sopelyeva, third-year students at the Industrial-Pedagogical College, are charting new territory in the construction industry. While training as building technicians, they are also mastering one of the sector’s most in-demand skills: BIM technologies. Their decision to focus on this cutting-edge yet lesser-known field is already paying off. At 18, the students are already succeeding at professional skill competitions, performing alongside seasoned specialists.
BIM Technologies: More Than a Passing Trend
BIM (Building Information Modeling) is represents a comprehensive approach to managing construction projects. At its core, it offers a digital model of a building, capturing every stage of its life cycle – from concept and design to operation and demolition.
By streamlining business processes, optimizing resource management, and improving data flow, BIM technologies significantly enhance quality while reducing costs. As a result, they have become an indispensable tool in modern construction and a highly sought-after professional skill.
A recent UNDP study ranks a BIM coordinator among the top five professions of the future in the construction sector. The demand for this expertise is expected to grow significantly over the next decade.
"It’s Like Playing Sims, But in Real Life"
For many young people, securing a promising career is the ultimate goal. For Polina and Kseniya, however, the professional path wasn’t always clear. They enrolled in a newly launched program, uncertain of what their choice would entail.
Polina Silitskaya is a third-year student at the Industrial-Pedagogical College, a branch of the Republican Institute for Vocational Education.
"At school, I was always drawn to the exact sciences. When I learned about the new program, I thought, ‘Why not try construction?’ The field is lucrative, and being one of the first to gain this new profession felt like an exciting opportunity,” Polina recalls.
Kseniya, on the other hand, never envisioned a technical career in a technical field. A creative soul from a young age, she had always been more interested in the arts. However, when choosing a college, the opportunity to move from her hometown of Vitebsk to the capital proved to be a decisive factor.
Kseniya Sopelyeva is a third-year student at the Industrial-Pedagogical College, a branch of the Republican Institute for Vocational Education.
“I used to spend hours playing Sims, designing homes and creating interiors,” Kseniya explains with a smile. “The new program seemed like a real-world version of the game, so I decided to give it a try.”
Professional skills competitions: Embracing BIM
In their first years of study, Polina and Kseniya learned the basics of construction and didn’t see themselves in this field. That all changed when they were introduced to BIM technologies.
“After our first lesson, we realized we had found exactly what we were looking for,” Kseniya shares. “Although BIM is still relatively new in Belarus, there are signs of rapid change. When the opportunity to participate in professional skill competitions came by, we eagerly joined in. We formed a team, with one of us focusing on structural solutions and the other on architecture.
The girls dedicated most of their free time to training. After winning their college’s internal selection, they triumphed at the city level, and are now gearing up for the national ProfSkills Belarus 2025 competition. They will face off against not only peers but also university students and seasoned professionals.
“The competition is tough, but we’re not intimidated,” Kseniya says confidently. “I can already picture myself presenting my first-place diploma to a future employer.”
Both students believe that this experience will lay a solid foundation for their future careers.
“Winning the competition opens many doors,” Polina explains. “You can enter university without exams and have more options for job placement after graduation. Overall, you gain a certain status and reputation that signals your professionalism.”
Polina and Kseniya are both determined to build careers in design, and their knowledge of BIM technologies will provide a strong starting point.
“I’ve become passionate about design and don’t plan to stop,” says Kseniya. “In 10 years, I see myself with a successful career, perhaps even running my own business.”
Polina shares a similar vision. “I’ve always believed in aiming higher and being ambitious. Today, I’ll win the republican competition. Tomorrow, I might start my own construction business.”
Educators as guides to the digital age
Kristina Kislyuk, a teacher at the Industrial-Pedagogical College and an expert in BIM technologies, was the one to introduce Polina and Kseniya to this emerging field and then train them for competition.
Kristina Kislyuk, VET instructor at the Industrial-Pedagogical College and expert in BIM
“BIM technologies is what's trending in today’s construction sector,” says Kristina. “Nevertheless, there is a shortage of skilled professionals, with only a few colleges in Belarus offering courses in this field. One of the main challenges is the reluctance of some teachers to embrace new technologies.”
Training educators is key to accelerating digitalization in the construction industry. Teachers are not just passing on knowledge; they are also inspiring students to to acquire the skills that will help them stay relevant. That is why UNDP has recently supported two training sessions for 30 teachers and VET administrators from across Belarus, focusing on BIM technologies.
BIM training: A Competitive advantage for colleges
Alexander Kolonovich, head of the BIM department at ENEKA
“The integration of BIM technologies into curricula will help colleges produce graduates who are highly sought after in the labour market,” says Alexander Kolonovich, head of the BIM department at ENEKA. “By offering students relevant, up-to-date skills, vocational institutions can gain a competitive edge and attract the best applicants.”
Polina and Kseniya's experience serves as a testament to the value of modern vocational education that emphasizes digital skills. Such programs not only help young people adapt to the rapid economic transformation but also enable them to realize their full potential.
Over the course of 2024-2025, more than 500 educators and professionals in mechanical engineering, construction, and agriculture have participated in training, carried out with UNDP's support.
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