Siarhei Viatohin: We got favourable forecast regarding changes in the system of higher education

For now there is no progress with the inclusion of Belarus into the Bologna process; but it is likely to happen shortly.

Such opinion during the round table discussion “Does Belarus need Bologna process?” voiced Siarhei Viatohin, the associate professor and an expert of the Public Bologna Committee.

- As to the visible progress with Belarus’ participation in Bologna progress, there is none. However, I expect that it happens on a legislative level. Thus, at the parliamentary hearings dedicated to the Code of Education the most important question mentioned was, I believe, higher education. The Code of Education used now contradicts our time and urgently needs to be revised. Siarhei Ablameika, chancellor of the Belarusan State University, talked about the need for autonomous position of universities. The words that were considered to be seditious now were voiced from a rostrum.

Siarhei Viatohin believes that the changes are connected with certain persons.

- Besides, let me note that the Standing Commission on education, culture and science in the House of Representatives has renewed its governing body. Now it is headed by Gennadz Palchyk, the former head of the National institute of education, who is rather progressive in comparison with his predecessors, especially when it comes to changes, which have to be introduced to the system of higher education. I have already met him several times, and I can say that he is open for criticism; he examines documents, including those which concern Bologna committee. And I hope something can be changed if the situation is favourable. It is impossible to implement all the changes; but our country has potential for changes.

Let us recall that earlier, at the conference “Modernization of education: challenges and perspectives”, organized with the assistance of the International Consortium EuroBelarus, Uladzimir Dunaeu, the member of the Public Bologna Committee, claimed that considering availability, quality and cost to be the main measures of education’s efficiency, while in Belarus availability of education is enhancing, its funding and quality are steadily descending. Public Bologna Committee also suggested introducing changes to the legislation at all points of autonomy of the universities.

In the beginning of 2013 Public Bologna Committee through “Center for Development of Students’ Initiatives” and the “Salidarnasc” Committee carried out Monitoring of Academic Freedoms Violations in Belarusan Higher Education Institutions. According to the results of the research, 2012 was noted for the unprecedented growth of students’ involvement to the forced labor.

Belarusan government has more than once voiced the desire to reach the European quality of higher education and to enter the Bologna process. Thus, in summer of 2010 Aliaksandr Lukashenka stood for inclusion of Belarus in the Bologna process; however, application from Belarus to enter the common European area of higher education was rejected because of failure to implement a number of recommendations. Independent experts and leaders of the civil society in Belarus insist on the necessity for the Belarusan higher education to join Bologna process and carry out all necessary reforms.