Professional skills contests at the higher educational institution of the state fire service of the Russian Ministry for Civil Defence, emergencies and elimination of consequences of natural disasters: the organization methodology and experience

Introduction. Traditional form of learning is not sufficient to provide high quality training. Improvement of the quality of training graduates at departmental higher educational institutions of the State Fire Service of the Russian Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters requires the introduction of new forms of training and extracurricular activities aimed at the formation of professional orientation and motivation of cadets for mastering professional knowledge and skills. The Ivanovo Fire and Rescue Academy of the State Fire Service of the Russian Ministry for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters focuses on extracurricular activities, which include Olympiads and professional skills contests. Materials, Results and Discussion. The article presents the methodology of organization, experience and results of the professional skills contest «Practical Fire Test» which enables the cadets while competing to demonstrate their professional knowledge, practical skills in fire fighting and rescue operations. What distinguishes a practical fire test from the traditional training system, providing for the implementation of certain professional and practical exercises or standards for fire-fighting and special tactics training, is a comprehensive and consistent performance of practical exercises modeling the order and the conditions of work when extinguishing the real fire. The results of the professional skill contest «Practical Fire Test» showed the cadets’ considerable interest in this type of professional training. Conclusions. A practical fire test comprising elements of contextual and reflexive learning in the form of a game has an obvious professional orientation and builds the cadets’ motivation for professional activity.