Yesterday, April 1, the Union State International Tournament "Mudriki 2026" concluded at the BNTU Polytechnic Science and Technology Park. Over the course of two days, schoolchildren from Belarus and Russia competed in the engineering track "Mudriki - Engineers," solving complex problems, defending scientific ideas, and working as a team. This year, Minsk took up the baton, with the BNTU Polytechnic Science and Technology Park serving as the tournament's main venue.
FYI: The International Tournament "Mudriki" is held within the framework of the Union State and brings together talented schoolchildren from Russia and Belarus. The event alternates between the two countries: last year, Veliky Novgorod hosted the participants, while this year, the Belarusian capital welcomed the guests. The first day, March 31, began with a formal ceremony. After the official opening, the teams began their first challenges: business card presentations and a "Scientific Stand-Up," where participants creatively described their schools and scientific interests.
The second day proved decisive. Competitive rounds began early in the morning at stations located in the Faculty of Information Technology and Robotics and the Faculty of Instrumentation. Tournament participants faced practical tasks in mechanics, astronomy, electrical circuit assembly, and programming using artificial intelligence.
Marina Konovalova, accompanying the team from the Yaroslav the Wise Novgorod State University Lyceum of Exact and Natural Sciences, spoke about the tournament's significance:
– This format of interaction is important because students see each other not only in academic contexts. Through competition, they develop a sense of teamwork, understanding why these tasks are important to them personally and for the larger goals of our state." This year, the program added a space track and artificial intelligence. AI is becoming a part of our lives, and it's important to teach children that it's not just a toy or a tool that thinks for you, but a truly powerful technological tool for serious purposes.
Sonya, a student at Minsk Secondary School No. 191, shared her impressions of participating in the tournament:
– We went into the second day with a cool head, not knowing what to expect. It was very interesting to see how the other students worked: even at the business card stage, we noticed that the guests from Novgorod specialized more in physics and astronomy. The stations included assignments on logic, mechanics, and electrical circuits. We were very helped by the fact that our school's specialized classes emphasize physics and computer science—it made programming easier to master. It was great to see the inside of the BNTU department and laboratory, which we hadn't visited before.
Yegor, a student from Secondary School No. 55 in Petrozavodsk, spoke about the capital's hospitality:
I really liked Minsk: beautiful, spacious streets, impressive architecture. We toured various departments of BNTU, and I really liked everything. As for the competition itself, what I remember most was how welcoming the people were. Everyone felt the same on the stage: some were nervous, some were not, but despite this, we were all able to speak calmly and find common ground.
Alexander Malashko, a member of the tournament jury and chairman of the BNTU student council, noted the high level of preparation of the participants:
– For their age, all the students demonstrated a high level of understanding of engineering terminology and the specifics of the work. The scientific and technical aspects that schoolchildren are currently interested in are usually mastered by advanced scientists. The fact that they are trying to understand this now will benefit them in the future: at university, they will be able to demonstrate their best side and create new devices for the benefit of our country.
A roundtable discussion entitled "Union of Competencies: A Common Educational Space for Russia and Belarus" was held yesterday, April 1, as part of the business program. Representatives from universities, schools, and industrial partners from the two countries discussed how to build collaboration within the school-university-enterprise system and what is needed to prepare future engineers already in school. Representing BNTU, the discussion was attended by Georgy Vershina, General Director of the Polytechnic Technopark; Alexander Svistun, Dean of the Instrument-Making Faculty; and Elena Lyadinskaya, Deputy Director for Academic Affairs at the BNTU Lyceum.
The event culminated in a closing ceremony. Anastasia Novikova, Vice-Rector for External Relations and International Affairs at Novgorod State University, addressed the audience:
– You are leaving with different feelings, but the main thing is that you haven't just walked this path; you've seen it and participated in it. For us, the organizers, this is the most important thing." I sincerely hope that tournaments like these, which bring together the best schools and universities in our countries, will lead you to the best profession in the world.
Ksenia Yakushenko, Vice-Rector for Research at BNTU, expressed her deep gratitude:
– From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who helped these young talents get here today. A huge thank you to the parents and mentors who found the opportunity to involve the students in this project, supported their aspirations, and trusted us."
The parties exchanged souvenirs, expressing gratitude for the warm welcome and cooperation. The jury then announced the long-awaited results of the engineering track. The competition was so fierce this year that several teams were recognized in special categories. The students received prizes from Proektstroy CJSC, Splav Corporation JSC, and Sberbank PJSC.
Special diplomas were awarded in the following categories:
Winners of the "Mudriky-2026" Engineering Track:
Also during the ceremony, diplomas were awarded to the winners of the Biomedical Track, awarded to students from Minsk Gymnasium No. 12.
The team from Minsk Secondary School No. 191 was named the overall winner and Grand Prix recipient of the Mudriki-2026 international tournament.
We congratulate all participants, prize winners, and winners on successfully completing the tournament. Good luck in all your future endeavors, and see you again at the Polytechnic University!
