“Open Microphone with the President” at Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko visited the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics (BSUIR) in Minsk on 27 September. The event continued the head of state’s meetings with students as part of the Open Microphone with the President project.

The head of state was shown the scientific developments of BSUIR and other technical universities.

BSUIR presented scientific developments in various areas: standardization, improvement of defense capability, aviation, transport, road safety, medical and agricultural technologies and communications.

BSUIR cooperates with the defense sector of the Belarusian economy. Aleksandr Lukashenko asked whether they can make a highly accurate and jam-proof missile. Rector of BSUIR, Chairman of the National Council of Rectors of Higher Education Institutes Vadim Bogush said that they are working on this matter.

"If you accomplish this, you will prove that you are worth your salaries. Ask for anything you need. We will create all conditions for you. But we need this jam-proof missile," the head of state said.

When discussing another development of the university's scientists, Aleksandr Lukashenko urged to keep pace with innovations in unmanned transport.

The agenda also included social topics: availability of dormitories and improving stadium facilities.

Vadim Bogush informed the head of state about the state and prospects of the university's development.

"BSUIR trains specialists and conducts scientific research in three key areas: microelectronics, radio electronics and information technologies. We closely cooperate with country's enterprises. This year we have fully achieved the targets in terms of the admission campaign," the rector said. "We have launched three new majors: electronic engineering, which was worked out with domestic producers Planar and Integral, cyber-physical systems and digital marketing worked out together with the enterprises of the Belarusian Industry Ministry and Hi Tech Park."

According to him, currently about 9,000 full-time students are studying at the university. "We run the distant education programs and shortened courses for students after college. We pay special attention to on-the-job training. About 20% of our faculty is experts who work in some sectors of country’s economy," Vadim Bogush said. “Ideological and educational work has a place in the educational process too. It is built on the principles of labor and sports education, volunteer activities, close cooperation with local authorities and national government bodies."

"We are also engaged in extra-budgetary activities," the rector added. "Export of educational services is a key task for us. We closely cooperate with the CIS states, geographically distant countries, Africa, China. We also plan to increase the export by 5% by late September."

During the open mic session with students Aleksandr Lukashenko said that school leavers should have equal conditions for university admission.

“I am well informed about many processes in society. I am familiar with your academic programs. I monitor both entrance exam and graduate placement processes. I am also aware of what you write, talk and argue about,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He said that he is primarily concerned about the accessibility of higher education. “The main thing is that each of our school leaver should have an opportunity to enter a higher education institution on an equal footing,” the head of state said.

The President said that in his time it was very difficult to enter university. The competition was very high, and the corrupt education system was also a big problem. Now there is another problem – insufficient applications to certain universities. This issue needs to be resolved, the President said.

“I am doing my best to ensure equal conditions for everyone,” he said.

The head of state revealed the reason for his meetings with students.

"I want to have an open and honest discussion, without being afraid that you will ask some questions to which I will not know the answer. So let's talk frankly about the matters that concern you, because you are the future of our country, however banal it may sound. It has always been like this: young people are the future of our country. It is very important to know your mood, your thoughts about the future. If our points of view do not coincide, let's find a compromise, as it should be among reasonable people, especially among Slavic people, Belarusians," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The President stated that the information environment has made people very open, frank and, unfortunately, vulnerable. "As future specialists in information technologies and electronics, you are aware of the speed of spreading and retrieving data about any of us. If we trust these data to our devices, we should realize that we are putting ourselves at risk in the information space," the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that he often receives sociological studies that claim to capture a social portrait of today's youth. However, the President is confident that no such documents or reports on the pressing issues of youth policy will answer the main question: who will continue to build and develop Belarus?

“That is why I am here with you today. I think I will visit other universities in our country to answer this question. You came here to ask the President your questions. I came here to see you, understand and form my own opinion, and find an answer to the most important question for me today: who will continue our modern history, the history of sovereign Belarus? I am talking about it openly and honestly," the Belarusian leader emphasized.

The head of state pointed out that during such events it is important for him to understand whether young people feel their responsibility for the future of the country, how well they know the events and facts of the international and domestic information agenda.

"Adults always think about ways to explain things to you, but you see and understand a lot of things for yourselves and make very correct and wise conclusions. This is why I have come to you, expecting a frank conversation," the President said.