The main purposes of the Master students that study at the Sukhoi State Technical University of Gomel are getting good knowledge and becoming a demanded specialist not only in their home countries, but also in Belarus.

The Master students from Pakistan, India and Ghana met me together with the International Department officers in a comfortable classroom. In spite of the severe frost, even though their home countries are warmer than Belarus, they look happy and friendly. At once I noticed the friendly and warm relationships that developed between the international Master students and the International Department officers. My interviewees at once assure me that I’m not mistaking.

Ranjit Dadra (India): “Belarus is inhabited by polite and benevolent people that are always ready to help you. I consider my teachers and the International Department officers as my friends, and this is the thing that matters.”

Ranjit came to Gomel in March, 2017, to continue his education at the Master Department. Now he is studying economy in one of the leading regional higher education institutions. When I asked him why he chose Belarus Ranjit answered that he was really happy to study particularly in Belarus and he also suggested his friends to come to Sukhoi University of Gomel. One of his friends has come to Gomel recently and is now studying at the Preparatory Department.

Ranjit: “At first I had an idea to study in Canada, but then I started analyzing the situation and found out that Belarus was geographically closer and is a country that has the good level of economic development. Also I used such criteria as time period of studying, tuition fees and living expenses (in Canada time period of studying for getting a Master’s Degree is 2 years).”

Nasir Muhammad Omer came to study at GSTU from Pakistan. Besides everything he was also interested in the possibility of learning Russian language. He is sure that, having learned Russian, he will be able not only to complete his master’s program, but also to continue his studies further and get his PhD. His countryman and friend Syed, who came to Gomel to study Power Engineering, is also planning to continue his education. But this is the matter of further prospective, and now Syed is thinking over the defense of his master thesis.

Omer: “In comparison to other countries Belarus is more quiet and peaceful. Living and studying are cheaper than in, for instance, Germany, and the quality of education is not worse than in Europe”.

The guys are very serious about the educational process. Today to be competitive at the job market it is necessary to be a qualified specialist, no matter where you live or intend to realize your professional skills.

For example, Ankrah Twumasi has extensive plans. After getting his master degree he intends to continue studying at GSTU for getting a PhD and later to stay and work in Belarus. Joseph Brefo wants to become a good professional to work for the benefit of his native country. He is studying the technology of machine building in agriculture and his knowledge will be in great demand in Ghana.

The guys are feeling self-confident. They are satisfied with the quality of education provided by the University and already found many friends among the Belarusian students, help each other in studies and spend free time together. Who knows, maybe, in the nearest future there will be some new projects and ideas born within such cooperation.

Having been asked about what other possibilities for personal and professional development would they like to have in Belarus all the students gave almost the same answer – it would be better to combine studying with the possibility of having a part-time job.

Shah Syed Zameer Hussain: “It is not very comfortable that it is possible only to study being issued a study visa. We have to ask our parents and relatives to provide us with the funds for living and studying here, and it is very inconvenient. Of course, we would also like to earn our living and studying by ourselves”.

Another problem for the international students is the language barrier. Of course this is not the case when it concerns peers – young people understand the importance of learning languages, particularly English, and learn it. Young lecturers also mostly speak English freely, however this is not the case with respect to the elderly lecturers and professors.

Alexander Semak, Head of the GSTU International Department: “We know about this problem, we understand it and are trying to solve it. The international students and master students are being taught in English, but at present not every lecturer or professor is able to deliver his subject in English. Our University is working on this issue, especially taking into consideration the fact that it is very important both for lecturers and students to communicate not only during lectures and seminars, but also outside the classrooms”.

Sukhoi State Technical University of Gomel is one of the leading technical universities in Belarus. It trains specialists for such spheres as mechanical engineering, machine building, metallurgy, power engineering, economics, radio electronics and information technologies. The University provides training in 22 Bachelor and 8 Master programs. From year to year the University is becoming popular among the international students. Today the University has students from Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Morocco, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Palestine, Iraq.

(original text of the article: ]]>https://nastgaz.by/u-vas-spakojna/]]>
author of the article - Natallia Lutchenko,
photos by Natallia Zhuravskaya)