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Around 300 foreign citizens to take part in first international forum of graduates of Belarusian universities

Around 300 foreign citizens will arrive in Minsk to take part in the first international forum of graduates of Belarusian (Soviet) universities “Education without Borders” will be held on May 28-30. Vice Premier of Belarus Alexander Kosinets has been elected head of the organizing committee of the forum, BelTA learnt in the foreign relations department of the Belarusian Education Ministry. Foreign citizens - graduates of Belarusian (Soviet) universities, foreign citizens including former citizens of Belarus who represent the universities and organizations which cooperate with Belarusian educational establishments and various companies, foreign citizens – candidates for master’s degree and post-graduate students who study in Belarus, heads of the governmental departments, universities and companies of this country are invited to take part in the forum. The initiator of the forum is the International Association of Graduates. The idea of the forum was supported by the Council of Ministers of Belarus, the Education Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, other state administration bodies. The forum will be held with a view to intensify the cooperation with the foreign citizens who studied in Belarus and also with the Belarusian citizens and former citizens of Belarus who live abroad. One of the main goals of the forum is to develop and conclude agreements between Belarusian organizations and foreign state and private structures on the projects which promote the export of Belarusian goods and services, attraction of foreign investments in the Belarusian economy. According to specialists of the foreign relations department of the ministry, in the modern world the influence and the authority of a state are identified by intellectual potential, by development of higher school and science. Belarus is one of the countries which not only preserved but gradually develops educational, intellectual and sci-tech potential of the society. Participants of the forum are expected to visit the exhibition of achievements of the Belarusian economy, universities, tourist facilities. A business forum with the participation of foreign businessmen and representatives of Belarusian universities and companies-exporters will be held as well. Organizers of the forum hope that the 1st international forum of graduates of Belarusian (Soviet) universities will promote the national system of education, strengthen the authority of the Belarusian sate in the international arena. From 1961 to 2007, more than 53.5 thousand foreigners from more than 110 countries worldwide graduated from Belarusian universities. The number of the foreign citizens who would like to study in Belarus is growing. In 2007-2008, almost 7 thousand foreign students attend Belarusian universities. Some 28% of them study medicine and pharmacy, 17%- get technical knowledge, 15% - science, 14% - economy and law, 7% - pedagogic, 5% - agriculture, 4% - arts.