Last week, on September 24-25, 2026, the VI International Scientific and Practical Conference "Construction of high-quality and safe roads using cement concrete and mineral binders" was held in Minsk. The event, which took place at the Victoria Hotel, brought together more than 100 representatives from science, government agencies, design and road‑construction organizations, as well as material manufacturers from Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, China and other countries.
The conference was moderated by Viktor Ushakov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, President of the Concrete Roads Association, Head of the Department of Road Construction and Operation at the Moscow Automobile and Road Construction State Technical University.
Students specializing in “Highways” from the Faculty of Transport Communications (FTC) of BNTU, together with senior lecturer Elena Khodan, and a postgraduate student from the Department of “Highways” at the FTC of BNTU, Alexey Koronchik, actively participated in the international conference. The postgraduate student delivered a report on the topic: “Assessment of the effect of a mineral additive from water treatment waste on the properties of cement and the kinetics of cement concrete strength development,” which aroused keen interest among colleagues from other countries.
The event was opened by Vitaly Pilatov, director of the state enterprise “BeldorNII”. In his welcoming speech, he noted the importance of the platform for professional dialogue and the exchange of experience in the field of creating durable road pavements.
Also addressing the participants were Yevgeny Tatarinov, head of the Main Directorate of Industry of the Ministry of Architecture and Construction of the Republic of Belarus; Sergei Leonchik, deputy head of the Main Directorate of Highways of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Belarus; and Alexander Dovgalo, general director of the Management Company of the Belarusian Cement Company holding.
In their speeches, the speakers focused on the prospects for the development of cement concrete road construction, the introduction of innovative materials, and the critical importance of strengthening ties between science, business, and production.
The speakers’ presentations were devoted to improving the regulatory framework, protecting cement concrete pavements from aggressive environments, using rubber concrete and ultra‑high‑strength fiber concrete, as well as modern methods of road inspection and reconstruction.
After the event, Elena Khodan emphasized the importance of such events for developing students’ practical competencies:
— Participation in a conference of this level allows students to see the current problems and trends in the road industry firsthand, to communicate with potential employers, and to understand which technologies will be in demand in the labor market as early as tomorrow.
For students studying road engineering at BNTU, attending the conference was a unique opportunity to go beyond the boundaries of the classroom.
