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Lukashenko: Research papers must reflect the times, meet economic needs
MINSK, 21 November (BelTA) – The topics of all research papers must reflect the times and address the current economic and social needs, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting to discuss the development of the science and the activities of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) on 21 November, BelTA has learned.
“As I am informed, dissertation works do not always align with the priority areas of scientific, scientific-technical, and innovative activity. The topics of all research papers must reflect the times and the pressing needs of the economy and society,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president cited one recent example: “In one of the submissions I received, the topic [of the research paper] was ‘The method of pedagogical silence as a means of developing the cognitive independence of foreign students.’ How relevant and applicable this is later in teaching practice or in life is hard to say. And there are many such cases, especially in the humanities.”
The president pointed out that the same topic matter can be presented in different ways in different dissertations. Sometimes, research papers even contain outright plagiarism, which, according to the president, is unacceptable.
“Aleksandr Yevgenyevich [Guchok, Chairman of the Higher Attestation Commission], you were once tasked with putting order into the certification of scientific personnel and ensuring an objective approach to the dissertation defense process. Continue this work, as it remains relevant today. You are acting correctly, but do not turn it into prosecutorial oversight; these are still scientists,” Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized.
As one possible solution to the problem, the president proposed the following: “Let the sectoral minister approve dissertation topics, either individually, all of them, or in some other way. This would make it easier for us to fund them,” the head of state noted, instructing that the issue be further studied.
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