Belarusian and Russian education systems are noticeably converging, including at the legislative level. And this trend is gaining momentum: the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia arrived in Belarus to discuss new steps toward creating a “unified scientific and educational space of the Union State”.
The visit resulted in numerous agreements, such as the joint training of engineering and technical specialists. Another outcome was the introduction of new academic programs at a Belarusian university, including drone design. More details can be found in ISANS’ special report.
Following the events of 2020 in Belarus and the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Belarusian education system has gradually fallen under the influence of the Russian Federation. Russia’s presence and influence are gradually increasing at all levels of the Belarusian education system, including higher education and science. The two education systems are converging, including at the legislative level. The number of places for free education for Belarusians in Russia is increasing, programs for trips and exchanges with the Russian side are being organized, and pro-Russian organizations have become significantly more active in Belarus, focusing mainly on Belarusian schoolchildren and students. The number of contacts at the level of the heads of the education systems of Belarus and Russia has also increased significantly.
The visit of Russian Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov to Belarus was timed to the 25th anniversary of the Union State and the 30th anniversary of the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation. During the visit, a series of meetings and events were held with Belarusian officials of various levels, as well as with the diplomatic corps of the Russian Federation in Belarus.
Meeting with Boris Gryzlov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Belarus
At the meeting with the ambassador, issues related to the development of Russian-Belarusian cooperation in the field of education were discussed. Separate attention was paid to issues of cooperation with relevant ministries and organizations of the Republic of Belarus in the field of inter-university cooperation, the organization of school and student exchanges, as well as study tours for Belarusian schoolchildren to the Russian Federation.
Boris Gryzlov and Valery Falkov paid particular attention to issues related to the formation of a unified scientific and educational space for the Union State, youth policy, and patriotic education.
For reference: In addition to representatives of the ministry and the diplomatic corps, Yury Makushin, the head of the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in Belarus, also attended the meeting. Rossotrudnichestvo and its branches (Russian Houses) are the main implementers and facilitators of many programs aimed at convergence of the two countries in the field of education. Rossotrudnichestvo also manages and coordinates federal quotas for Belarusian applicants to universities of the Russian Federation.
Meeting with Belarusian Prime Minister Aliaksandr Turchyn and Minister of Education Andrei Ivanets
The main outcome of this meeting is the updating of several areas of work for the relevant ministries of the two countries in the near future:
- Starting from the 2026-2027 academic year, joint educational programs will be organized between three Belarusian universities and one Russian university: BSU, BSUIR, and BNTU from Belarus, and Bauman Moscow State Technical University from Russia.
2. Even greater “harmonization” of the process of admission to Belarusian universities for Russian applicants, including the possibility of admission based on the results of the Unified State Examination (Russian Federation, equivalent to our Centralized Testing) directly and remote submission of documents. A list of Belarusian universities offering this opportunity (more than 30 universities) has already been determined. 1,000 such quotas will be allocated at this stage. - Emphasis on academic mobility. Focus on the exchange of teachers under the Visiting Professor program within the framework of the Union State programs. Under this program, professors and teachers from Russia will be able to lecture at Belarusian universities, and Belarusian teachers – at Russian universities. Currently, the first 50 scientists from both sides are being considered for academic exchange.
Valery Falkov’s participation in a joint meeting of the collegiums of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Education of Belarus
On July 1, Valery Falkov took part in a meeting of the collegiums of two relevant ministries at Belarusian-Russian University in Mahiliou.
The main topics of the meeting were:
- strategies and main directions of development in the educational and scientific spheres;
- issues of supporting gifted young people;
- issues of strengthening Belarusian-Russian inter-university cooperation;
- promising areas for joint training of engineering personnel;
- directions for the development of the activities of Network University of High Technology of the Union State.
Separately note that following the meeting, both parties agreed to strengthen the work on joint training of engineering and technical personnel. At the same time, Andrei Ivanets announced the launch of new specialties in Belarusian universities: “Starting this year, we will begin enrolling in two new specialties, which were not previously available in Belarus. These are the design of unmanned aerial vehicles and creation of energy-rich materials on the basis of Belarusian State Technological University. And Kazan Federal University has been designated as a partner from the Russian side.”
The final agreements of this visit indicate the following trends.
The implementation of the track on the rapprochement of the two education systems continues. There is a gradual “harmonization” of the admission process, gradual reduction of barriers for those entering from both sides. Academic cooperation within the framework of the Union State programs is expanding, especially for Belarusian scientists because of the actual isolation and significant reduction of contacts with scientific institutions of Western European countries. And the potential arrival of a large number of visiting teachers and professors from the Russian Federation to Belarus provides additional opportunities for Russian influence on the educational environment of Belarus. Focus will be placed on cooperation in technology and technical education in general.
Материал доступен на русском языке: «Единое научное-образовательное пространство Союзного государства»: итоги визита министра науки и высшего образования России в Беларусь
