Higher Education in the Republic of Belarus

In Belarus, education has the goal of preparing free, creative, intellectually and physically mature individuals. There is a strong recognition within the Belarusian society of the importance of education and the role of educated people. The main strategic objective for education development is to improve quality and to contribute to creating a competitive economy based on high and advanced technologies.

Education policy is guided by a number of principles:

• Continuity and equal access;

• Compulsory basic education;

• Importance of scientific knowledge and the national and cultural tradition;

• Integrating education with moral upbringing and physical development;

• Partnership of the state and society in the management of education.

Belarusian education is ranked among the best ones, and the Belarusian specialists are much in demand in the world. Therefore both our citizens and foreign students wish to study in the higher educational establishments (Universities) of the Republic.

There are 340 students per 10,000 residents of Belarus. This ratio is among the highest in Europe. In the system of higher education of Belarus a broad network of educational establishments was shaped. Four major types can be distinguished:

● Classical University;

● Profile University or academy;

● Institute;

● Higher College.

Altogether there are 57 higher educational establishments, 43 are state owned, 13 are private and 2 are run by religious organizations. Every establishment occupies its particular niche in training of highly qualified staff for various branches of national economy.

Classical and profile universities as well as institutes are classified as higher educational establishments of university type and provide a two level system of higher education with academic degrees of Bachelor and Master.

Graduates both from state and private universities are granted state diplomas of higher education. But it is not that easy to become a student. High demand on higher education led to high entrance competition regardless of form of study or specialty. Therefore only the very best can study at budget cost. The entrants who passed their entrance exams successfully but did not win the competition (did not get the necessary entrance score) have the opportunity to study for their own account.

Three forms of learning are available at Belarusian higher educational establishments: full-time, evening and by correspondence. Full-time learning is the most widespread and in the greatest demand with 2/3 of the students. Less than 1% of students use evening form of learning and over 35% of students learn by correspondence.

Full-time students with positive grades receive a monthly allowance. Its size depends on a student’s academic success. Some groups of students are granted social allowances; the gifted students are awarded with nominal scholarships. Correspondence and evening forms of learning are a good opportunity for persons with financial, age, physical and other limitations.

External studies represent another form of receiving higher education. It is based on the independent study of subjects from the regular curriculum. Credits and examinations are taken without obligatory attendance of classes. This form of learning is available to persons with secondary education, who cannot study full-time or leave their workplace. Diplomas are granted to external students on a regular basis.

The efficiency of any form of learning is ensured by eminently qualified teaching staff including a large number of candidates and doctors of science, associate professors and professors.

But higher education in Belarus does not only mean lectures, seminars and exams. In addition Belarusian students participate in international scientific conferences and competitions, student exchange programs. Belarusian teams take first places at competitions in mathematics, economy and programming. However organization of the educational process is not the only concern of the Higher School. Much attention is paid to students’ living conditions, providing non-residents with a hostel accommodation. University administration renders assistance in conducting leisure activities of students. Let’s take for example Belarus State Economic University (BSEU), one of the largest higher educational establishments in the Republic. The BSEU Students’ Tutorial Board is the initiator of students’ festivals, sports and athletics meetings, tourist programs and the Bard’s club sessions, which became regular events in the life of the BSEU students. Such bodies function at many educational establishments of Belarus.

This is how the student years at Belarusian higher educational establishments are spent. After graduation the budget students are provided with their first workplaces. Finding a good job on specialty both in the republic and abroad is not a problem for paying students either. Belarus has bilateral agreements on mutual recognition of education certificates with dozens of the world countries.

Low cost of learning and scientific literature, accommodation, transport, high quality of academic education, good conditions of Belarusian diploma recognition abroad, stable political situation and low crime rate are just some of the reasons that attract foreign students. About 3,000 students from over 70 world countries (China, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Poland, Jordan, and India) study in the republic annually. Foreign students are offered a year’s preparatory Russian language course. There is a possibility of getting an inexpensive hostel accommodation. Universities place sports facilities and library funds at students’ free use, encourage their creative activities.

After university graduation young specialists have the possibility to get a postgraduate education. Here training of the scientific personnel with highest qualifications is conducted with granting scientific degrees of Candidate of Science (equivalent of PhD) and Doctor of Science. Establishments providing postgraduate education include higher educational establishments (regardless of pattern of ownership), scientific and other organizations entitled to engage in postgraduate education in accordance with established procedure.

Regardless of pattern of ownership and departmental affiliation all higher educational establishments are subordinate to the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus.

V. Answer the following questions:

1.What is the significance of higher education in Belarus?

2.Can education act as one of the conditions of bringing the country out of the economic crisis?

3.What opportunities for further education do the school-leavers have in Belarus?

4.Is higher education still free of charge in Belarus?

5.What higher educational establishments in Belarus can you name?

6.Which of higher educational establishments are the most popular with the school-leavers?

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