In the period 25-26 March of this year, the National Competition “Best Young Welder of VET 2022” is held. The ranked 19 students from 10 vocational high schools from all over the country took part in the competition. They were added in a real competitive environment and demonstrate their acquired knowledge and practical skills.
The competition is held for the third consecutive year under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science and with the assistance of the Bulgarian Welding Society. Co-organizer and host of the competition for 2022 was Neksas Ltd.: http://neksas-bg.com/.
The event is a good example of cooperation between the professional organization, the state Athority, VET schools and the live industry.
The following vocational high schools took part in it:
1. VET “Ivan Hadjienov”, town of Kazanlak
2.VET “St. Dimitar Thessalonica”, town of Beloslav
3. VET, Burgas
4. VET “Stefan Karadzha”, town of Elhovo
5. VET, town of Pirdop
6. VET “Hristo Smirnenski”, town of Knezha
7. VET “Ivan Raynov”, town of Yambol
8. VET”N. J. Vaptsarov”, town of Vratsa
9. VET, Sliven
10. VET “Vasil Levski”, town Gorna Oryahovitsa
The competition was held in a total of 2 categories:
I. Welding Skills Competition
II. Presentation of a welded artistic composition on pre-announced theme:
The jury, which evaluated the abilities of young welders in Bulgaria, was composed of highly qualified welding experts and inspectors:
Eng. Pavel Popgeorgiev, IWE, IWI-C
Eng. Boyko Yordanov, IWI-C
Eng. Dimitar Kolev, VT-II
At the first stage, the overall performance of the students was evaluated according to a 100 point system, pre-defined and approved criteria, among which: Observance of safety at work, maintenance of the workplace, correct welding of welding samples, welding technique and quality.
Awarded according to the respective methods were:
Process 135
Katrin Eftimova, Kazanlak: Award for 1st place
Marin Panayotov, Elhovo: Incentive award
Process 111
Eliakim Stefanov, Elhovo: Award for 1st place
Anatoli Ivanov, Kazanlak: Award for 2nd place
Kristiyan Nikolov, Gorna Oryahovitsa: Award for the 3rd place
At the second stage of the competition, the students presented to the jury and their peers their works on the topic:
“Green Technologies of the Future”
The compositions were evaluated according to criteria such as: Compatibility with the announced theme, strength and functionality, presentation.
To see a short presentation click HERE.
In this discipline, the awards were presented to the vocational high schools:
PGMEE, Burgas: Award for 1st place
PTG N.Y. Vaptsarov, city of Vratsa: Award for 2nd place
PG Stefan Karadzha, Elhovo: Prize for the 3rd place
Cups and medals for the competition were provided by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the coordinator of the PG event in mechatronics N.Y. Vapatsrov, Sofia.
Prizes and participation awards were provided by BWS partner companies:
Neksas EOOD, Euromarket Group AD, Kammarton EOOD, Böhler Trading EOOD, Greiko EOOD.
At the ceremony of closing and presenting the awards, the chairman of BWS, Dr. Eng. Marin Beloev, made a speech. He expressed his admiration for the overall organization and the worthy performance of the young talents in the competition. Dr. Beloev held a conversation with the teachers from the vocational high schools, getting acquainted with the difficulties they face and overcome in their work with young people, he expressed assurance of support from the BSZ in their activities.
Organizers of the series of events related to motivation and raising the prestige of the welder’s profession are: Bulgarian Welding Society (BWS) and Bulgarian Organization of Welding Coordinators /BOWS/.
The main objectives of the competitions for young welders are:
Comparing the professional level of welding learners
Exchange of useful experience between students
Making contacts with experts and companies from the industrial branch useful for the future realization and development of the students;
Effective increase of personal professional motivation, as well as the level of welding training and practical skills;
Increasing the prestige of the “welder” profession in Bulgaria.
