BSEU develops cooperation with universities in Irkutsk

There was an official visit of the delegation of the Belarus State Economic University consisting of Elena KIREEVA, First Vice-Rector, and Olga MOROZEVICH, Vice-Rector for Academic Activities in Irkutsk (Russian Federation) from 3 to 8 May.
The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the implementation of the joint educational project, to prepare for the opening of a new joint master's programme and to identify prospective areas for cooperation.

Irkutsk National Research Technical University (IRNITU) and the Belarus State Economic University (BSEU) signed an agreement on the joint implementation of educational programmes and the awarding of two master's degrees diplomas last September. Students study part of the economic disciplines in a full-time format while some modules are delivered by leading BSEU lecturers using information and communication technologies. After completion of the programme and defense of final qualification works, IRNITU issues students with a diploma of Master of Economics, while BSEU issues a Master of Business Administration degree.
The Rector of the Irkutsk National Research Technical University (IRNITU), Mikhail KORNYAKOV, as well as Andrei NECHAEV, Director of the Institute of Economics, Management and Law, and Stepan BYKOV, Head of the Department for International Cooperation and representatives of the Belarus State Economic University attended the meeting. There were discussed technical aspects of the joint educational program and issuing two master's degrees diplomas in “Economics” (IRNITU) and “Business administration” (BSEU) during the meeting. Students are currently taking the programme from Russia, China and Benin.
The parties paid much attention to the process of opening a new master's programme in “Economics” (IRNITU) and “Jurisprudence” (BSEU) in 2021. In 2022 it is planned to prepare a joint bachelor programme in “Advertising and Public Relations” which will develop both economic and technical competencies.
BSEU and IRNITU discussed possibilities of grant support for students studying in joint educational programmes and participating in academic mobility, as well as internships and practical training in Belarus and the Irkutsk region.
During the meeting, representatives of the two universities considered the possibility to defend PhD and doctoral theses in “Economics” in the dissertation councils of Belarusian universities, as well as an academic exchange of students and teachers.
Representatives of BSEU visited lectures and practical classes in marketing disciplines, during which IRNITU teachers presented their colleagues methods of lectures and practical classes in marketing disciplines, including in English, using various remote learning tools. The Belarusian side had an opportunity to study in practice the use of innovative methods of classes and students' knowledge control in the educational process.
There was another one meeting with representatives of Baikal State University during the visit to Irkutsk. The result of which showed an interest in concluding a cooperation agreement between universities, conducting joint research, as well as developing and implementing a joint professional development programme.
The visit confirmed mutual interest in developing cooperation with Irkutsk universities and creating new promising educational products.