This week, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office Education Team presented the Roadmap for the Democratization of Higher Education in Belarus. It was drafted by a group of education experts and professionals at the initiative of the Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and in collaboration with the United Transitional Cabinet.
Read below to find answers to the main questions about the document and learn about the priorities of the first three stages of the reforms. Find more details about the Roadmap at the link (available in Belarusian). Comments, suggestions, and remarks are accepted through the @AskOffice_Bot Telegram bot or via email at [email protected].
- What is this document?
The Roadmap for the Democratization of Higher Education in Belarus is a document that describes the step-by-step transition from an authoritarian system of higher education to a democratic one, built on the principles of academic autonomy and self-governance.
- Who created this document?
The Roadmap was developed by a group of education experts and professionals at the initiative of the Education Team of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office and in collaboration with the United Transitional Cabinet.
- Why is this document needed?
The Roadmap was created to ensure the stability and effective democratic transformation of the higher education system during the transitional period.
- Who will implement the document?
The roadmap will be implemented through the joint efforts of the Transitional Government, university staff, and students, as well as civil society organizations.
- When will the roadmap be implemented?
The Roadmap will come into effect from the moment the Transitional Government is formed. The document covers the first 500 days of the transitional period and is divided into three stages: 50, 100, and 500 days.
- What are the priorities of the first stage (50 days)?
– Rehabilitation of repressed students, teachers, and researchers;
– Preservation of the sustainable functioning of the higher education system;
– Implementation of organizational and personnel changes in universities, primarily at the management level;
– Appointment of a new Minister of Education and rectors, creation of the National Council for Higher Education and development committees in the universities.
- WHat are the priorities of the second stage (100 days)?
– Restoration and expansion of international cooperation;
– Extensive discussion of key documents on democratic governance in the higher education system, as well as the directions of the future reform of the higher education system;
– Training for education workers in democratic procedures, mechanisms, and principles of interaction.
- What are the priorities of the third stage (500 days)?
– Adoption of new democratic charters of the universities;
– Conducting democratic elections to the self-government bodies of universities;
– Democratic elections of university rectors;
– Extensive public and expert discussions of the directions and priorities of the future reform of the higher education system in Belarus.
- Feedback
The presented version of the Roadmap is open for discussion and additions.
Comments, suggestions, and remarks are accepted via email at [email protected].
