Location

Vitebsk is one of the biggest cities of the Republic and is situated in the north-east part of Belarus. It is 281 Km away from Minsk. It is an ancient city which was founded in 1974. About 400 thousand people live here. The city is surrounded by Lakes, beautiful garden & country side. Vitebsk is located on the bank of the largest European rivers – the Western Dvina. Picturesque neighborhood of Vitebsk and its ancient streets was always attractive for painters. The climate of the region varies from cold winters, cool and moist summers ; transitional between continental and maritime. Vitebsk today is a major industrial, scientific and cultural centre of the republic of Belarus. There are a number of museums, Art galleries and Drama Theatre in the city. Vitebsk is famous for a house – museum of the world famous Artist Mark Chagal and the International Cultural Art Festival “Slavyanski Bazar”. Vitebsk is also a city of students. It consists of the Medical University, Pedagogical University, Veterinary Science University & Technical University. Two trans European trains crosses the region Paris-Moscow, Helsinki-Vitebsk-Gomel-Kiev-Ploudiv.

INTRODUCTION

Vitebsk State Medical University was established in 1934. In 1940, Medical faculty was opened with 32 theoretical and clinical departments. In 1981 teaching foreign students in Medicine & Pharmaceuticals faculties started. In 1984 the Faculty for Advanced Specialization in General Medicine was established. In 1999, for the experience in training physician for Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, Vitebsk State Medical Institute was awarded with the Medal of Peoples Friendship by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Union. The same year it was accredited to University status. Vitebsk State Medical University is ranked very high among the former USSR medical educational establishments. It has highest number of foreign students from all over the world, which makes it an international educational institution. In WHO International ranking, VSMU holds 16th position.

Students from more than 50 Countries are pursuing their studies here, mainly from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Germany, Poland, England, Iran, China, Malaysia and Mauritius etc. At present, more than 4000 students are studying in VSMU out of which 200 are Indians.

SCIENCE & RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

There is a Central Scientific Research Laboratory with modern equipment for training highly qualified specialists at the University. The University possesses faculties appropriate for training specialists at a higher school. The University is a large scientific center: 55 doctors and 204 candidate of science work in it. The main directions of its research activities are : transplantation of tissue and organs, cardiovascular diseases , immune-deficient conditions, role of hereditary factors in the development of parasitogenic process, diseases of abdominal organs , arterial hypertension and the principles of its prevention, infections in surgery, development of minor invasive surgical methods, brain injury, development of technologies of new medicine preparations. VSMU publishes magazines like Surgery News, Pharmacy News, Immunology, VGMU News, Motherhood & Childhood Protection and one Regular Newspaper “Medvuzovets”.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

In the field of education and scientific exchange Vitebsk State Medical University cooperates with higher school in Nepal, India, the Lebanon, Poland, Germany, the USA, etc. Nowadays the University scientists perform researches on 40 perspective medical projects. There are 45 scientific study groups of students. This society of young scientists is one of the famous in Belarus and the nearest countries. Republic centers “Infection In surgery”, “Minimal Invasive Surgery”, “Lipid Centre”, “Central Scientific Research Laboratory” of the University are well known abroad. The University enjoys an international reputation as a center of teaching and research. International Scientific Conferences are held at regular intervals at VSMU. The council of Student Scientific Society and the Council of Young Scientists of VSMU invite students, clinical interns, competitors, post graduate of the higher educational institution from all over the world to take part in the conferences.

EDUCATION BASE

Educational processes are organized at 58 departments, where 60 doctors and 181 candidates of sciences, including 39 professors and 145 associate professors, work. The educational departments are equipped with modern automatic apparatuses for training, sets of plastic models and phantoms, complex medical – diagnostic equipments. The teaching is supported with skilled pedagogical experience, highly – qualified research activity and great academic means of training Ratio and 3- stage system of students knowledge assessment is used at the university,(compute testing, practical skills and interview). To improve the quality of teaching educative industrial pharmacy, dental clinic, and control analytic laboratory were created where students are able to put the accepted knowledge into practice. Clinical bases of the universities are the majority of city clinics containing necessary modern medical diagnostics equipment. Total bed fund of clinical department is 4200 beds. The main clinical bases of the university the Regional clinical hospital, Regional Oncological Health Centre, Hospital of Emergency Medical Health, Regional Children Clinical Hospital, VSMU Clinic and others. There is perfect library at the University, available to each student and having a large number of books in all branches of knowledge in Russian and foreign languages. The majority of books are educational and scientific methodical literature, unique editions of lectures, recommendation, monographs, scientific works and materials of conferences issued by various chairs. The unique electronic library in the republic of Belarus was founded in VSMU in 2003. The center is equipped with new computer equipment having high internet speed connections. Teaching staff and students are given access to materials of scientific medical department, data bases “Medicines” (Russia), “Medline” (The USA), “International Pharmaceutical Abstracts” (The USA) etc. There are 14 scientific pedagogical schools in medical, biological, clinical, pharmaceuticals disciplines at VSMU which made a valuable contribution in to contemporary medical and pharmaceutical science and practice development in the republic of Belarus and CIS countries. Students scientific Society has rich tradition and wide experience in the field of young scientist preparation. The scientific activity of VSMU is carried out in the following perspective scientific directions: field and extreme medicine, surgical diseases, prophylalxis of alcoholism, drug addiction and psychosomatic diseases, internal diseases; organization management and economy of health care system. The university edits scientific practical magazines “News of surgery”, “Bulletin of pharmacy”, “immunology, Allergology, Infect logy”, “Bulletin of VSMU”, “Maternity and Childhood protection”, published in large addition newspaper” Medvuzovets.

OVERSEAS STUDENTS TRAINNING FACULTY

In 1981 by the decisions of Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health Services of the USSR, Vitebsk State Medical Institute was the first in Belarus to receive the right of training medical staff for foreign countries. Within 25 years of the Overseas Students Training Faculty existence 1250 doctors and pharmacist have been prepared and now they are working successfully in 110 countries of the world.

PROCESS OF TRAINING

The time frame of academic year strictly regulated . It is divided into two semesters: Autumn semester: September- January & Spring semester: February-July. The training process in each semester is carried out according to the certified program & includes the precisely established number of discipline. Foreign citizens are offered English medium of disciplines to other semester are not allowed. Foreign citizen are offered English Medium (General Medicine only). The curriculum of both forms of training is the same except the language of instruction. Educational process is organized on the basis of traditional European curriculum which includes lectures, seminars, laboratory at practical classes. Studying clinical subjects is organized in the forms of cycles (1-3 weeks each).

AMENITIES

Students registering at University’s Medical Office are offered with full range of services free of charge throughout the year. Two trans European trains cross the region Paris – Moscow, Helsinki-Vitebsk-Gomel-Kiev-Ploudiv. The university is situated in the city center. A lot of University Departments are located here, together with library, electronic library, Internet center, sport halls, cafes etc. The availability of public transport is another great advantage of the University. Bus and trolley bus stations are just outside the University, giving easy access to the rest of the student accommodations and other clinical bases of the University, which are situated all over the city. The Tuition fee covers all the costs of education (lectures, practical courses, examinations etc).

LIBRARY

The University Library was founded in 1934. It is the largest and the finest academic library in the city, which contains over 375000 books and 160000 items of educational material, medical journals, scientific and fiction literature. All the Books are provided by library on compulsory basis free of charge. The well-equipped library facilities include reading halls, Central networking of library database and 24 hour Internet connection allowing students quick access to World Wide Web.

HOSTELS

Vitebsk State Medical University has 5 comfortable students hostels with well organized services laundry, Kitchen, cafeteria, student café and so on. Prices for accommodation and meals are very reasonable and subsidized. The charges are inclusive of heating and electricity costs. Foreign citizens are placed in a comfortable International hostel which is at a few minutes walk distance from the university. It is provided with well equipped sport center, Reading rooms etc. The hostels are situated within the University campus, nearer to all major departments of study. The University cafes, restaurants are situated in their neighborhood.

CANTEEN

During the educational day, students may visit the canteen or the café where they can have a meal or a hot drink. Off course every nation has its particular national cuisine. And though one will hardly find here famous Indian sweets Gulab Jamun or appetizing KUS-KUS so much loved by the Arabs, there is a very rich Assortment and choice of tasty and delicious from fish, flour and diary products at very reasonable prizes.

CULTURAL LIFE

Cultural life in the university is multinational in character. Every year there are several sports programme organized viz. cricket tournament, chess competition, football championship and other sport events. The immense number of culture festivals and celebration which take place all year long demonstrate international cultural diversity. The feasts; ‘faculty days’, ‘ national students union holidays’ with the wide range of cultural activities present a perfect chance for foreign students to display their skills and abilities. The variety of Belarusian country and land scapes offer many intrusting excursion, travelling tours around the country to all tastes (Braslav lakes, Mir and Nesvizh castle , etc.). Students may enjoy this kind of activities all year round.