MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Novopolotsk, 2 September. Belarusian first ever educational laboratory of digital twins was officially opened at the Euphrosyne of Polotsk State University. It is an advanced educational project within the framework of the implementation of the action plan of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Power of Belarus.
This is the first educational space in the country built entirely on domestic digital technologies similar to those used at real gas industry facilities. The creation of the laboratory was an important step towards the implementation of the Concept for the Development of Engineering Education until 2035 and a striking example of successful interaction between higher education and industry.
The idea of the project was developed in April 2025 during a working meeting at the Sukhoi State Technical University of Gomel dedicated to the personnel training for the power industry. The event was attended by heads of relevant ministries, rectors of leading universities in the country and representatives of industrial enterprises in the power industry.
Following the meeting, an action plan was signed between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Power to integrate educational programs with production tasks. The laboratory in Novopolotsk is the first major result of this initiative.
The new laboratory is a multifunctional digital complex with five key zones:
Digital twin of the gas distribution system of Belarus – an exact virtual model of the infrastructure, allowing to simulate processes in real time;
Mobile digital assistant – an intelligent system for supporting the educational process;
Interactive zone “Hello, Alena” – a platform for dialogue with a digital assistant, developed on the basis of domestic solutions;
Simulation class – imitation of standard and emergency situations for practicing management decisions;
3D cluster – a space for visualization and analysis of large volumes of data.
A special feature of the laboratory is the use of domestic software and hardware complex, which provides students with access to up-to-date technological tools and real industrial data. Future engineers are trained in scenarios that are as close as possible to work at an operating enterprise.
The laboratory is a bridge between science, education and production, forming a new generation of specialists ready for the challenges of the digital economy. Here, students master key competencies in the field of automation, digitalization and power system management. Those skills are necessary for the technological sovereignty of the country.
The opening of the laboratory in Novopolotsk is another step towards a new standard of training engineering personnel in Belarus, demonstrating how universities and industry can work together to build a sustainable and technologically independent future.