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Belarus to set up IT university

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MINSK, 14 October (BelTA) - We intend to set up an IT university in Belarus by the new school year, Belarus’ First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin told the media after a meeting chaired by the head of state to discuss certain aspects of Belarus’ development in the digital environment, BelTA has learned.

The meeting was a continuation of the president's meeting with representatives of the IT industry hosted by the Hi-Tech Park in April this year. Its major focus was on training of specialists for the industry. At today’s meeting, this topic, according to Aleksandr Turchin, received a logical conclusion: the head of state supported the proposal to set up an IT university.

“This is the proposal of not only the IT community but also our leading universities: BSU and BSUIR. I think that we will soon submit to the head of state the relevant draft legal act that will regulate the activities of this educational institution,” the first vice premier said.

The founders of the IT university will be the Hi-Tech Park, BSU, BSUIR and large companies - residents of the Hi-Tech Park. The institution is to open by the new school year. It is not yet known what name it will get. The president instructed to think thoroughly to sure the name is associated with the country.

“This will be our attempt to train specialists of a very high level,” said Aleksandr Turchin. “At the initial stage we plan to enroll about 180 students. We assume that the training in the university will be fee-paid, without budgetary funding.” A system of grants will be devised to support gifted children.

The government noted that the new university will train personnel not for specific companies and not only for the IT industry, but in general for the country. “If we are serious about digitizing the economy, we will need these specialists in every sector," Aleksandr Turchin added. "Our task is to create the conditions for our most talented young people to make sure they do not leave the country.”

Addressing the meeting, the head of state noted that with the new educational institution up and running, it is important not to forget about the existing universities and to develop them further. In his opinion, competition will help to improve the quality of educational services.

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