Press-centre

16 april 2025

14-15 April was the day BELAZ CHALLENGE championship celebrated its first jubilee in the most vivid and enthralling way. 10 teams from Russia, Uzbekistan and Belarus battled for the title of the winner in intellectual contests of the V International championship for settling mechanical engineering cases among students of the leading technical universities of CIS countries.

Traditionally, during the first day of the championship its participants got to know the glorious story and modern achievements of BELAZ, having visited the enterprise museum, production workshops and the demonstration area with prototypes of the products, making photos of the world’s famous steel giants. And, surely, it couldn’t have without some contest tests, such as brainstorm “Make BELAZ start!” which was successfully managed by the team from an affiliated branch of Murmansk Arctic university, Apatity, Russia; the team got the unique possibility to ride a 90-ton truck in the test area. It’s worth saying that Daria Marushkova, a student from branch of Murmansk Arctic University became a real top-liner in the brainstorm and certain battles, which proved that girls can tackle machinery sphere with success. For this purpose, specially for Daria, first in the history of BELAZ CHALLENGE there was organized a special nomination “The Queen of mining dump trucks systems”.

Participants of the V Championship demonstrated incredible qualification level, team work and craving for winning, and got invaluable experience and knowledge which shall be useful for their move forward success in the near future. This was highlighted by Deputies General Director - Aleksey Grachyov and Yuri Morozov during their public speaking in front of the students. The program of the main contest day turned out to be particularly busy and exciting with a great number of various intellectual contests.

A competition for team presentations was first. The «most creative videos» are those of the already mentioned teams from the branch of Murmansk Arctic University (Apatity, Russia), as well as the one from the branch of National University of Science and Technology «MISIS» (Almalyk, Uzbekistan), which participated in last year’s championship online, and this time has sent its authorized representatives to Belarus.

The teams presented themselves to the jury and contestants, after which they started practice-oriented cases. The best solution of case «Thermal state of internal combustion engine» was proposed by the trio of participants from Kuzbass State Technical University named after T.F. Gorbachyov (Kemerovo, Russia), the best constructive solution – by students of Ural State Mining University (Yekaterinburg, Russia), the best economic feasibility solution – by representatives of the National Research and Technological University «MISIS» (Moscow, Russia). The most unusual approach in the solution of this case is recognized by the Almalyk branch of National University of Science and Technology «MISIS» (Almalyk, Uzbekistan).

«Technical and economic optimization of the mining machinery park» case has found its favorites: Belarusian National Technical University (Minsk, Belarus) for the best solution, Saint Petersburg Empress Ekaterina II Mining University (Saint Petersburg, Russia) – for the most non-standard approach, Siberian Federal University (Krasnoyarsk, Russia) - for the best economic feasibility solution.

The contest program was finalized by the traditional mechanical engineering quiz «BELAZ, please!». In it, the students demonstrated remarkable, smart ideas and team play. The representatives of the Gubkinsky branch of National University of Science and Technology «MISIS» (Gubkin, Russia) distinguished themselves in it, winning the quiz and receiving the sonorous title «intellectual champions».

At the solemn ceremony of awards for the presentation of diplomas and commemorative prizes winners of special nominations were called on stage: «For active participation» - Gomel state technical university named after P.O. Sukhoy (Belarus), «Best team spirit» - Gubkinsky branch of National University of Science and Technology «MISIS», «Recognition of the students league» (participants’ choice award) - Almalyk branch of National Research and Technological University «MISIS». In addition, there was a photo contest «BELAZ in objective», won by the teams from three Russian universities - Saint Petersburg Empress Ekaterina II Mining University, Ural State Mining University (Yekaterinburg) and National Research and Technological University «MISIS» (Moscow), as well as Uzbekistan branch of National Research and Technological University «MISIS» (Almalyk).

Summarizing the results of all competitions, the winner of Grand Prix became the team of Saint Petersburg Empress Catherine II Mining University getting the title of the champion of BELAZ CHALLENGE 2025. This student team fully justified its informal name «Performance coefficient 101», showing more than 100 percent of the utility factor in its ideas and actions. The winners received a unique opportunity to undergo practice at «BELAZ» factory. The same beneficial opportunity was given to their colleagues from the champion team of Saint Petersburg Mining University last year.

BELAZ CHALLENGE 2025 has ended, but we can say that for the championship participants it’s just the beginning! In addition to prizes and gifts, students acquired invaluable knowledge and experience, made new acquaintances, received a lot of emotions and vivid impressions that would undoubtedly become the solid foundation of their successful future.

See you next year at BELAZ CHALLENGE 2026!