Life-Long Training

Working environment

For the most part, VKG employees belong to the regular labour force that was prepared at the time of the former Soviet republic of Estonia. At this stage, they have begun to leave the labour market. The average age of VKG staff is now 44.1 years, and this index is not high for an industrial enterprise. At the same time, the concern is constantly working to provide itself with young engineering staff.

To obtain this goal, VKG favours the promotion of engineering education in the oil shale field on both a national and local level through student grants and providing opportunities for practical training. In 2003, VKG founded its nominal grant in the Tallinn University of Technology. The grant is intended to support successful bachelor degree students. It can also be applied for by students of the Tallinn University of Technology from the faculty of chemistry and material technology, who are future specialists in chemistry and environment protection.

There are two grants distributed each year, with each being to the value of 20,000 Estonian kroons. In 2008, VKG was named the “Golden Sponsor” of Tallinn University of Technology. From the 2005/2006 academic year, VKG began its cooperation with Virumaa College of Tallinn University of Technology (the college is located in Kohtla-Järve). Students specialising in production engineering, industrial enterprise, automation systems and fuel technology can apply for the VKG one-year grant first-year students  – 5 grants, 5,000 kroons each;
second-year students – 5 grants, 10,000 kroons each;
third-year students – 5 grants, 15,000 kroons each;
fourth-year students – 5 grants, 15,000 kroons each.

Altogether, in the years from 2005 to 2008, VKG paid scholarships and grants in the amount of 275,000 Estonian kroons. This programme will be continued throughout 2009 and 2010.

On 21 September 2006, VKG put its name to a protocol of intention that foresees VKG participation in a doctoral grant in honour of Paul Kogerman at Tallinn University of Technology.