On April 20, 2024, the light industry cluster of Ƶ opened its doors to applicants within the framework of the Single Open Day of the federal project "Professionality". About 350 schoolchildren and their parents took part in the career guidance interactive events that took place in the laboratories and workshops of the cluster equipped with advanced equipment.
The laboratory of additive technologies organized professional tryouts for the participants of the Single Open Day using 3D printers, thanks to which prototypes of heels and lasts are produced in the footwear industry. In the design laboratory applicants got acquainted with 3D-scanning technologies and made digital measurements of a person using a domestic Texel height scanner. Another unique interactive event was a vocational test in the laboratory of scientific biomechanics of movement, where individual footwear is developed with the help of motion capture and modeling technology. Schoolchildren were able not only to see the work of modern equipment, but also to work with natural leather and accessories, as well as to create their first products. Ambassadors of "Professionality" who acted as the technical control department and evaluated the quality of the products created by the entrants also took part in this vocational test.
"Today I learned a lot about the technologies used to create shoes. I saw for the first time how a 3D printer prints and how a full-size person is scanned. I also really enjoyed working with leather. Studying in the cluster interested me", - shared one of the participants of professional trials in Ƶ.
Not only laboratories were visited by the guests of the Ƶ cluster. Within the framework of the Uniform Open Doors Day, a tour of its production sector took place. Representatives of footwear enterprises, which in the system of long-term partnership act as supporting employers: JSC "PTC "Moderam", factory of non-standard footwear "Mercury", leather goods factory "Alliance", LLC "Ortho-technologies" and LLC "Rassvet", LLC "Scientific and Production Technologies", JSC "Egorievsk-shoe" and CJSC "Torzhokskaya shoe factory" familiarized the children with advanced equipment for the production of footwear and leather goods, in particular with an automated cutting complex, a machine for tightening of the toe and groove part of footwear, a computerized machine for tightening of the heel and shoe part, a two-position machine for shaping the heel part, a programmable machine for lowering the edge, a machine for shaping the union and many others.
Sergey Shcherbakov, General Director of LLC "Factory of non-standard footwear "Mercury", cluster leader:
"This year we have a new module in the program of the Unified Open Day. Students-ambassadors of "Professionals" will present to the guests of our cluster shoes and bags designed and manufactured by them within the framework of their educational practices. The applicants and their parents can see what the students who entered the Professionals' specialties last year have learned, hold their designs in their hands and learn first-hand about the learning process, classes, practices, first difficulties and victories. I am sure that live communication between applicants and students will help to make a more informed choice of future profession".
Maria Korabelnikova, Director of the College of Technology, Modeling and Management of Ƶ, said:
"In the next academic year on September 1, the third stream of freshmen of "Professionality" will start studying at the College of Technology, Modeling and Management of Ƶ. In the conditions of import substitution the industry is rapidly developing, the need of enterprises in personnel is increasing. We are successfully training personnel for the leather and footwear industry. Initially the cluster included five enterprises, and now eight enterprises are active participants of the cluster. Modern equipment, with which the applicants were familiarized during the tour of the cluster, allows students of "Professional" to master the closed cycle of creating footwear and leather goods from the development of sketches, design, cutting to the assembly of the finished model. This direction is very multifaceted, students study both artistic disciplines, technology and design. Our students participate in professional competitions and take prizes. Today the applicants were presented some projects created by our students during their practical training".





