MINSK, 18 October (BelTA) – The Academy of Public Administration under the aegis of the Belarus President should become Belarus' number one higher learning institution, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with undergraduate and postgraduate students, the teaching staff and other employees of the academy on 18 October, BelTA has learned.
“It is not only about the way we want it to be, but also the way it is perceived by our people. It is about its image in the eyes of the public,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he wants to build a new academy while he is still in office. This does not only mean new buildings, but also new teaching techniques and programs. “This should be a practice-oriented educational institution that would draw students not only from Belarus, but also abroad,” he said.
“These buildings [where the academy is housed now] will be given to Belarusian State University, Belarusian State Medical University and other institutions. However, this does not depend on me. This depends on you. As soon as I see that you have created the academy I am talking about and that you are ready for relocation, we will do it for sure. However, this will happen only after you together with the teaching staff and the administration of the academy complete the upgrade, improve working methods and undertake reforms. Once you do it, we will embark on implementing this idea,” the Belarusian leader said.
He noted that the academy has already done a lot to earn respect and popularity among students.
Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized the importance for the education-for-practice approach in training executives. He noted that the academy should not only be competitive, it should be beyond competition. “If you succeed in it, we will build a new academy. Everything should be down to earth, with no exorbitance. Great things are simple,” the head of state said.
