OREANDA-NEWS. June 06, 2007. A contest among Samara college students was completed on June first at Baltika-Samara branch of OJSC Baltika Breweries. Following the contest, six graduates of Samara State Agricultural Academy were hired. Artem Grigoryev, Sergey Kuznetsov, Ivan Shpagin and Tatyana Ruzaeva became technologists in the beer brewing section, and two more students, Nadezhda Gavrilova and Viktoria Galaktionova were hired as quality engineers in the production laboratory. The young graduates will work in their major area and grow as professionals under the guidance of experienced Baltika staff, reported the press-centre of  Baltika.

The project began in Samara in February of this year. The company invited graduating students of technical majors to take part in the contest to win a job at Baltika Breweries. The applicants were invited to be interviewed before March 20, and then complete a two-month internship at the enterprise. The contest was very popular among Samara students, and some 20 applicants came in.

"We had several selection criteria: good basic education, knowledge of equipment and beer technology, and, last but not least, the willingness to work in any position. Baltika is the largest Russian brewery, and one of the best in its sector, and it is capable of providing great opportunities for the applicants’ future careers. Working with us takes perseverance, energy, eagerness and firmness. These are the qualities that we see in our new staff members," says Yury Makaryev, Director of Baltika-Samara.

This is not the first time Baltika joins a project with Samara universities. In 2002-2003, as Baltika-Samara was being built, the company paid for training of ten Samara State Technical University students, who attended a special program entitled "Technology of Brewing in Wine-Making." Baltika-Samara has been a practicum site for students for many years now. Every year dozens of Samara State Technical University students and Samara State Agricultural Academy students attend their practice at the plant. Several of the interns stayed with Baltika after completing their internship. Working on such projects, the company helps students find their jobs, raises the prestige of a career in the real sector of economy and on a manufacturing facility. The project also facilitates emergence of the new class of technical intellectuals.

Baltika-Samara plant was opened in Kinelsky District of Samara Region in 2003. The enterprise was built from scratch, and investments into the project amounted to $55 mln. On September 11, 2006 President of OJSC Baltika Breweries Anton Artemiev officially announced the project of increasing the capacity of the plant from 2 to 6.5 mln hectoliters of beer a year. The company will invest over $125 mln into this project. At present the company employs over 700 people. Baltika-Samara is one of the largest and most modern enterprises of the region.