The development of information technology requires new approaches to student education, as the most sought-after specialists today are those who possess fundamental knowledge of the subject and are capable of creating something new. Recognizing this, faculty at Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov use the most advanced technologies, including innovative software, in their classes. For example, students majoring in Ecology at Faculty of Chemical, Biological and Geographical Sciences A unique opportunity has emerged to use software from Russia's largest developer, Nanosoft, for free. A corresponding certificate was sent to the Department of Ecology and Geography at Vitebsk State University, along with a diploma «For initiative in establishing professional educational cooperation between organizations of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus».

It all began last year when Nanosoft LLC announced an All-Russian competition for disciplines (modules), courses, and practical training using nanoCAD software for higher education institutions, aimed at supporting educational institutions and integrating modern technologies into the educational process. The Department of Ecology and Geography at Vitebsk State University submitted an application, and the Masherovites were the only representatives from the Republic of Belarus to pass the selection process and were given the opportunity to test Nanosoft software during their student teaching for an academic year. Upon completion of this period, the department's faculty prepared a report on the successful use of the software and assessed the students' retained knowledge based on the implementation of the developed work programs. All materials, including photos and videos, were submitted to the jury, chaired by Professor Oleg Egorychev, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Director of Programs for Developing Interaction with Educational and Scientific Organizations at Nanosoft Development LLC. The jury, having analyzed the reports of all higher education institutions participating in the competition, decided to provide VSU with several expensive licensed software packages for use in the computer lab.

«We have used and will continue to use Nanosoft software not only in the educational process, but also for scientific purposes in preparing scientific articles, reports, term papers, theses, master's theses»,- he said Head of the Department of Ecology and Geography Gennady Sushko, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor. –In addition, our department's faculty used this software to complete a project for the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, «Assessment of Quarry Developments for Compliance with Environmental Standards».

The resulting software was used in research on the topic «Development of a Geological Information Model of Cenozoic Deposits in the Vitebsk Region as a Basis for Rational and Environmentally Safe Subsoil Use (No. GR 20210711)» of subprogram 10.4 «Belarusian Subsoil» of the State Scientific Research Program «Natural Resources and the Environment» for 2021–2025. During its implementation, specialized modules of the Nanosoft software were used to create surface models of various Quaternary deposit horizons, enabling forecasting and assessing the natural resource potential of the region's subsoil.

As for educational purposes, the software from Nanosoft LLC was actively used by students in such classes as the Special Practical Workshop (module «Computer-aided design system in ecology»), while studying the course «Computer visualization of environmental information», and by graduate students - when studying the discipline «Computer-aided design system for scientific and innovative activities», etc. He supervised the work of the students Senior Lecturer of the Department of Ecology and Geography Andrey Torbenko.

«Computer-aided design is a modern and promising area that we teach students using advanced information technologies»,– Andrey Borisovich noted. – From this perspective, we are very interested in Nanosoft LLC's products, which can be applied in environmental engineering, land management, and geodesy. For example, the «nanoCAD Point Cloud» digital platform allows for processing point clouds obtained from laser scanning or remote sensing data, generating digital terrain models, and constructing topographic maps. Students highly praised these software products, as evidenced by their excellent results during the retention assessment.

All environmental science students successfully completed the assessment, with Polina Vorobyova, Anastasia Shapovalova, and Valeria Makhlova demonstrating the best results.

«Despite the apparent complexity, working with nanoCAD turned out to be quite accessible and successful thanks to the instructor’s clear and understandable explanations, as well as careful and consistent completion of all training stages» – Anastasia explained: «Proficiency in nanoCAD opens up a wide range of opportunities and significantly improves work efficiency, including for environmental specialists, as it allows them to visualize environmental projects, create territorial models, analyze spatial data, and develop environmental protection plans».