Belarus keen to step up cooperation with Russia in education

“Belarus is set to continue cooperating with our Russian colleagues in education and to hold a constructive dialogue to preserve the fundamental values of higher education and academic freedom,” Igor Karpenko said.

The Belarusian minister cited as an example of such cooperation the Forum of Engineering and Technology Universities of the Belarus-Russia Union State that has been hosted by Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) annually since 2012. “The nine editions of the forum have demonstrated that we share views on and approaches to achieving the strategic goals of the youth policy in integration in education, science, innovations, and business,” he noted. “The forum has become a respected and accessible platform, the largest of its kind in Eurasia, that offers university researchers and students a unique opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas, technologies, and solutions in various fields of science and technology and exchange opinions on a wide range of issues, including education,” Igor Karpenko added.

The forum helped Belarus establish close cooperation with leading Russian universities in education, internships, and advanced training for students and teachers in subjects and specializations that are not offered in Belarus, he stressed. Belarus and Russia boast a high level of academic exchange. The countries have created a databank of talented youth who excel in research, invention, innovations, business activity. Belarusian and Russian students take part in olympiads and spartakiads of the Union State in various fields.

During the 9th Forum of Engineering and Technology Universities of the Belarus-Russia Union State hosted by the BNTU on 26-30 October, its participants and representatives of the Union State Standing Committee discussed key issues of the forum's financing and the possibility to fund its organization from the Union State budget, Igor Karpenko pointed out.

The Belarusian delegation also visited the supplementary education center Children's Technopark Kvantorium in the city of Korolyov in Moscow Oblast and got familiar with its experience in supplementary education in engineering sciences for children.