LocationsPath to a Profession | Danila: How Programming Became a Space Without Barriers
October 9, 2026
In Belarus, vocational colleges are becoming places where young people with different abilities can develop their talents and gain in-demand skills.
Danila Prusov is a graduate from the Mogilev State College of Economics and Industrial Technologies where he learnt to become a computer technician, developed his digital skills and prepared for a career in IT. Danila studied in an integrated group, where every student has the opportunity to develop their potential. His achievement — a gold medal in Web Development at the ProfSkills Belarus competition — is recognition of his professional skills.
A Deliberate Choice: Taking Steps Towards a Career in Programming
Danila’s interest in technology began at school. Computer science was one of the subjects he found easy, and becoming a software engineer seemed like a natural choice for his future.
“I saw potential in it — a stable, well-paid job and an opportunity to develop in a modern field,” says Danila.
On the advice of friends who were already studying at the college, he enrolled at the Mogilev State College of Economics and Industrial Technologies. He initially chose to train as a computer operator, taking a first step that would give him a foundation in digital skills and prepare him for further studies.
Danila studied programming languages, web development, and the creation of websites and applications. He was particularly interested in an area that combines technical logic with creativity: game development.
“I’m interested in creating games. I’ve already tried making a simple 2D platformer. It’s difficult, but when you see your code start working, you get a real sense that you have created something,” he says.
“Interest Is the Main Driving Force”: The Road to a Championship
Taking part in ProfSkills Belarus gave Danila an opportunity to test his knowledge and go beyond the college curriculum. The competition was supported through the project "Development of Youth Innovation Potential for Accelerated Sustainable Development of Belarus,” implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus with financial support from the Russian Federation.
“I wanted to understand the subject more deeply than we study it in class and see what I could do under real competition conditions,” he recalls.
Preparation took around 3 months. The task required participants not only to design the appearance of a web page, but also to develop its server-side functionality, including user authentication — an area Danila had only partially explored before.
“The server side was the most difficult part. I had to do a lot of research, analyze the problem and find solutions on my own,” he says.
Danila’s mentor, college teacher Angela Yuntsevich, says his success was the result not only of preparation but also of his approach to solving problems.
“Danik completed the programming module flawlessly. Perhaps it is because he is a software engineer with a strong logical mindset rather than a designer. His solution was clean, efficient and followed the task precisely — perfect code,” she says.
Danila at the competition venue of the 6th National Professional Skills Competition “ProfSkills Belarus”
When the competition results were announced, Danila was surprised to learn that he had won both the national and international categories.
“I was completely shocked. I didn’t expect to take first place. I always considered my skills to be fairly average,” he says with a smile.
Yet this may be at the heart of his approach to professional development: never stop learning.
“Everything starts with interest. If you want to understand something, study the details and look for answers, and you can achieve results,” Danila says.
A Digital Space Where Limitations Do Not Define You
Inclusive vocational education gives young people the opportunity to learn and find their place in the world of work regardless of their circumstances or individual needs.
Danila has lived with limited mobility in one hand since childhood. At college, he did not see this as an obstacle and studied alongside other students in an integrated group.
Digital world has become a field where his physical condition does not define what he can achieve.
“Physical work would be more difficult for me. Here, I feel free. Nothing limits me,” Danila explains.
A Future Without Rigid Boundaries
Danila does not try to map out his entire career years in advance. His approach remains as practical as his choice of profession: keep developing, gain experience and move forward.
“I believe you should focus on doing well whatever you are doing now. Then new opportunities will appear. The main thing is not to stop developing,” he says.
Danila believes that his ProfSkills Belarus medal will become an important part of his professional journey.
“A medal like this shows an employer that a person knows how to deliver results, handle tasks and perform under competitive conditions,” he says.
In 2025, Danila successfully graduated from college and is now working in his chosen field.
Danila’s story shows how inclusive education and a modern digital profession can help young people discover opportunities and build their own professional path. In IT, where logic, attention to detail and problem-solving are highly valued, Danila has found a field where he can build on his strengths and focus on what he does best.