Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 12 January (BelTA) – European expects praise the organization of student self-administration at the universities of Belarus, Deputy Education Minister Viktor Yakzhik told a press conference on 12 January, BelTA informs.

Viktor Yakzhik noted that student self-administration is one of the conditions necessary for the functioning of the Bologna education system. “In 2014-2015 we welcomed different delegations from the European Higher Education Area, who looked into the issues of organizing and developing student self-administration at Belarusian universities. The meetings resulted in no recommendations contradicting the present national documents in the area. Moreover, the delegations stressed that student self-administration has been actively working on the improvement of the quality of education as well,” said the deputy minister.

The creation of the national public student council at the Education Ministry in 2015 testifies to the fact that student self-administration works well in Belarus. The council comprises representatives of all 54 universities of the country. The main objective of the council is to assist specialists in searching for constructive solutions to the problems the education system has today through the creation of necessary conditions for a wide public dialogue and involvement of the youth in it.

Any student may freely show his or her point on any issue to the university leadership. A student may address the trade union student committee which is a representative of students’ interests. The self-administration system also has other organizations, for example the Student Union.

Belarus joined the Bologna Process following the decision of the European education ministers in May 2015. In 2016 Belarus plans to hold a number of seminars on the Bologna Process. Meetings will be attended by university heads and the corresponding experts.