Delegation of the Pan-African Parliament in BNTU

Today, January 27, the Belarusian National Technical University was visited by international observers from the Pan-African Parliament headed by the chairman Fortune Zephaniah Charumbira.

For reference: this visit is seen as an important step in building relations with the countries of the African region in the field of education. In fulfillment of the instructions of the Government of the Republic of Belarus to expand the presence of Belarusian education in the countries of the far arc, BNTU is carrying out a number of activities to promote educational services in the African region. Currently, more than 220 citizens from African countries are studying at the university.

The African delegation was also represented:

• Mzweni Tzipane Refilwe, Chairman of the National Council of Provinces of the Republic of South Africa;
• Boutbig Fateh, Member of the Pan-African Parliament, Deputy of the National People's Assembly of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Chairman of the Algerian political party “Front for the Future”;
• Member of the Pan-African Parliament, deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Cape Verde, Fortes Lima Carla;
• Passaris Esther Muthoni, Member of the Pan-African Parliament, Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Kenya;
• Chief Protocol Officer of the Pan African Parliament Gorogodo Evans;
• Ndi Essissima, Protocol Officer of the Pan African Parliament;
• Modiga Josiah, Special National Advisor to the Council of Provincial Chairpersons of the Parliament of South Africa;
• Youth Affairs Advisor to the Speaker of the Pan African Parliament, Musawengana Apfiya Nyasha;
• Melaceo Tchupu Leoni, Private Secretary to the President of the Pan African Parliament.

The guests were solemnly welcomed by the folk song ensemble “Kahanachka” and representatives of the Belarusian side in the Scientific and Technological Park of BNTU “Polytechnik”:

• Alexander Bakhanovich, First Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus;
• Chairman of the Standing Committee of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on Budget and Finance, Head of the Working Group of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on Cooperation with the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Vasily Panasiuk;
• Anatoly Bulavko, member of the Standing Committee of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on National Security, Deputy Head of the Working Group of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on Cooperation with Parliaments of Selected African States;
• Vyacheslav Kudymov, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Secretariat of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus;
• Marina Tikhonovich, Counselor of the International Cooperation Department of the Secretariat of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus.
• Rector of BNTU Sergei Kharitonchik;
• Vice-rector for academic work of BNTU Yuri Nikolaychik;
• Pavel Shirvel, Dean of the Faculty of International Cooperation of BNTU.

After the African delegation organized an excursion, during which they got acquainted with the history and the main activities of the technopark. In addition, Maksym Zhurkevich, manager of innovative entrepreneurship support of BNTU Polytechnic presented the advanced developments of the enterprise.

As part of the program of the visit the delegation also met with more than 100 students from among the citizens of African countries, 60 of whom are students of BNTU.

In their address to the students, the parliamentarians noted that studying in Belarusian universities is a unique opportunity for African citizens to get a good education, necessary for their countries. The knowledge, which the students will get at BNTU, they will bring to Africa, which needs highly qualified specialists in engineering.

After the speeches of the delegation members, the students had an opportunity to ask questions about the potential of increasing the contingent of African citizens in Belarusian universities, expanding the recognition of Belarusian education for citizens of African countries.

The meeting became an important step in increasing the attractiveness of Belarusian educational services in the African region, promoting the BNTU brand, as well as developing inter-university cooperation and attracting citizens of the CIS countries to study at the leading technical university of Belarus.

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