More than 500 foreign students from 27 countries are studying at Vitebsk Medical University

January 27, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. More than 500 foreign students from 27 countries are studying at Vitebsk State Medical University. This was announced to journalists today by the Rector of VSMU, Valery Deykalo, as reported by a BELTA correspondent. Today, Vitebsk Medical University is a competitive higher education institution not only in the post-Soviet space but also in the world. The university has been training foreign citizens since 1982, and during this time, representatives from over 60 countries have received knowledge and professional training in Vitebsk. VSMU graduates work in 110 countries on all continents. Often, young people from other countries come to study in Vitebsk on the recommendation of their relatives or even parents who once studied at the medical university, noted Valery Deykalo. The university is actively engaged in exporting educational services and implementing modern innovative technologies. Proficiency in Russian is a necessary but not mandatory condition for studying at Vitebsk Medical University. Since 2002, the university has been training foreign students in the English medium format, using English as an intermediary language. In 2008, the first graduation of foreign specialists who completed their studies entirely in this format took place. For foreign students in the 1st and 2nd years, teaching is conducted in English, and the university has created the necessary educational and methodological support for this, with teachers fluent in English. Russian is introduced from the third year, as students begin to work directly with patients in medical institutions. The introduction of the English medium format has allowed the medical university to improve the quality of educational services for foreign citizens and, as a result, enhance the university's prestige and competitiveness in the international educational environment. Vitebsk Medical University is constantly increasing its student intake. For example, in 2011, it is planned to enroll more than 600 students in the basic medical faculty, which is twice the intake of 2006. Over the past five years, VSMU staff have defended 14 doctoral and over 60 candidate dissertations. In 2006-2010, the university significantly updated its material and technical base. The most significant event for the university was the commissioning of the morphological building in 2010, and the opening of a medical library is planned for 2011. In addition, the university plans to build two dormitories for students, as well as a sports complex with a swimming pool. Based on the results of the university staff's work in 2010, the head of the Department of Propedeutics of Internal Diseases, Professor Gennady Yupaten, was awarded the honorary title "Person of the Year of VSMU." The Department of Clinical Microbiology was recognized as the Department of the Year. The winner in the nomination "Scientist of the Year of VSMU" was the Dean of the Medical Faculty, Professor Valery Semenov, and the honorary title "Young Scientist of the Year of VSMU" was awarded to Professor Elena Kunder from the Department of Hospital Therapy. The best inventor and innovator of VSMU based on the results of 2010 was recognized as the head of the Department of Faculty Therapy, Professor Vladimir Kozlovsky. Associate Professor Eduard Zeldin from the Department of Faculty Surgery was awarded the commemorative medal "For Services to the Development of VSMU" for his fruitful scientific and pedagogical activities and success in training specialists. Almost 20 more university employees were awarded honorary diplomas of VSMU and commemorative gifts. -0-