MINSK, 23 October (BelTA) – Following the meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and the leadership of the Council of Ministers, Belarus’ Education Minister Andrei Ivanets told journalists about the changes in the admission process for master's degree programs, BelTA has learned.
The minister stressed that Belarusian education enjoys a strong reputation both domestically and abroad. The high quality of national education is also confirmed by the significant number of foreign students studying at Belarusian universities. Master’s degree programs, he noted, are no exception. The total number of students enrolled is about 10,000, of whom 6,000 are foreigners.
The master’s degree program will certainly remain one of the stages of advanced higher education, Andrei Ivanets assured. Specialists trained there are in demand at many enterprises introducing new technologies and in scientific organizations.
At the meeting, however, the focus was on ensuring that master’s training is better aligned with the interests of the country, and above all, the economy. “The head of state emphasized that we must once again take a serious and balanced approach to training and programs. And most importantly, this must serve the interests of our country and society,” the minister explained.
According to him, all three educational tracks in master’s degree programs will remain: for Belarusian citizens, both state‑funded and tuition‑paying places will be available, while for foreign students the programs will continue to be tuition-based.
However, the admission quotas for master’s programs will be adjusted: they will be determined strictly in line with the state's demand, similar to the system currently in place for universities and colleges. Previously universities themselves set the number of state‑funded places and the list of specialties in master’s programs based on their own vision. The situation will now change: the number of state-funded places will depend on the demand for specific specialists. “Every applicant will have the opportunity to enter a state‑funded master’s degree program on a competitive basis,” the minister said.
As for tuition-paying places for master's degree programs for international students, universities will be able to accept as many students as necessary.
Another significant change adopted following the meeting relates to the mandatory requirement to complete a master’s program for those seeking to continue their studies at postgraduate programs or pursue a career in teaching at universities. “The president once again stressed that artificial barriers for gifted and talented young people should be removed. This refers to students interested in pursuing scientific and research activities. These students should have the opportunity to enter postgraduate studies without first completing a master’s program. To this end, each university and its academic councils should be able to identify such students and make the appropriate recommendations,” the minister noted.
“Those young people who wish to remain in teaching positions after graduating from university should have the opportunity to do so without having to complete a master's program,” Andrei Ivanets added.
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