At the beginning of September a social project called ‘Gazprom Classes’ started for the first time in two schools of Novy Urengoy. The project is a joint initiative of Gazprom Dobycha Urengoy, Gazprom Dobycha Yamburg and Novy Urengoy’s Department of Education.

The tenth graders who had successfully passed a rather complicated competitive selection procedure became the first pupils of Gazprom Classes. Priority was given to those whose yearly grade point average was no lower than four (B grade) as well as to the participants of academic competitions and conferences of high intellectual potential.

Taking part in the opening of Gazprom Classes were Sergey Mazanov, Director General of Gazprom Dobycha Urengoy, Oleg Andreev, Director General of Gazprom Dobycha Yamburg and Ivan Kostogriz, Head of the Novy Urengoy Administration.

Addressing the schoolchildren, Sergey Mazanov stressed: “In Gazprom Classes you will get acquainted with the specific features of engineering and technical professions, visit industrial facilities of major gas production companies, and further on you will be involved in the crucial process of maintaining Russian energy security.”

For Gazprom Group such career guidance classes are another form of personnel training. “We should work in a new fashion. It is the only way to guarantee a stable future to the companies. We will support and develop this project,” Oleg Andreev, Director General of Gazprom Dobycha Yamburg commented upon the education initiative.

After the opening of Gazprom Classes the event participants laid flowers at the monument to Sabit Orudzhev.

Later on, Ivan Kostogriz, Sergey Mazanov and Oleg Andreev signed a Protocol of Intent at the Novy Urengoy Administration premises regarding the terms and conditions of the cooperation between the local authorities and gas production companies as part of the Gazprom Classes educational project.

The project is mainly aimed at training the future candidate pool for Gazprom’s subsidiary companies. Special attention in Gazprom’s profession-oriented classes will be given to training pupils in Math, Physics, Chemistry and Information Science. After graduation the school leavers will be able to receive professional education in vocational and higher education institutions, specializing in professions that comply with the activities of Gazprom’s subsidiaries in Novy Urengoy, undertake pre-graduation internships and, what’s most important, get employed at Gazprom’s companies.