Vitebsk State University has certified its quality management system

July 6, Vitebsk / Sergey Kotov - BELTA /. Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov has certified the university's quality management system (QMS) for compliance with STB ISO 9001-2009 and with the German accreditation system for DIN EN ISO 9001-2008, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Veslav Turkovsky told a BELTA correspondent. Vitebsk State University has also certified the QMS of Polotsk and Orsha Colleges, which are part of the university structure, he noted. The scope of certification includes the design, development, and provision of educational services for pre-university training, as well as the training of specialists at the first and second (master's) levels of higher education, specialists with secondary vocational education, highly qualified researchers, retraining and professional development of staff, and the organization of research and innovation activities. The created quality management system makes it possible to identify problem areas, find growth points, and ensure the development of the university by improving the quality of educational services while rationally using the university's resources and potential, believes Veslav Turkovsky. In addition, the implementation and certification of the QMS enhances the prestige and competitiveness of VSU at the international level, and allows the university to enter the European educational space, he added. During the creation and implementation of the management system at Vitebsk State University, the mission, vision, and quality policy of the university management were defined, 33 standards for describing processes and activities, a quality manual and a QMS glossary, and 6 regulations for its support were developed. The main part of the preparatory work was related to the training of university staff. As a result, over 360 employees received certificates as quality officers, and 25 internal auditors were trained. "The quality management system allows us to work effectively and is a condition and means for the innovative development of the university," is confident Veslav Turkovsky. The university's management structure has been adjusted and optimized. The implementation of the QMS has spurred a number of innovations in the educational process. For example, a three-stage exam for students has been introduced at the university, which is designed to increase the objectivity of knowledge assessment. VSU, in cooperation with secondary school administrations, has created five educational, scientific, and consulting centers that allow tracking processes in secondary schools and ultimately improving the quality of practical training for future teachers. Marketing, tourism services, and a psychological center departments have also been created. Vitebsk State University named after P.M. Masherov was founded in 1910 as a teacher's institute. The university received the status of a classical university on September 1, 1995, as a result of the reorganization of the pedagogical institute. The university trains specialists in the fields of pedagogy, psychology, humanities, natural sciences and mathematics, art and design, law, social work, and physical education. In total, the university trains specialists with higher education in 8 profiles, 40 specialties, 15 fields, and 35 specializations across 11 faculties. In 2009, almost 1,000 young specialists graduated from the university's full-time programs. Today, over 4.7 thousand students are studying full-time at VSU, and almost 5.5 thousand are studying part-time. -0-