Today, December 10th, the Belarusian National Technical University celebrates its 105th anniversary. Back in 1920, the history of this small institution began with just 75 faculty members working in 20 departments across five faculties. Developing and reaching new heights for over a century, Polytechnic University has become the leading technical university in Belarus, a true flagship of engineering education and scientific and technological progress in the country, a powerful center for training highly qualified personnel and conducting cutting-edge research.
The Belarusian National Technical University confidently looks forward. Amid the fast pace of modern times, its glorious history lends the university its continued stability. Today, we invite you to revisit the past and recall the significant events that took place in the years ending in the number 5.
In the mid-1920s, as a result of the expansion of Belarus's territory, the restoration and development of the republic's national economy, the creation of new industries, and the declared course toward industrialization, the need for training engineering and technical personnel with higher education became acute.
At that time, the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute, established in 1920, was transformed into the Belarusian Institute of Agriculture and Forestry named after the October Revolution. However, around 1925, due to economic needs, an initiative to restore the BPI emerged. This initiative quickly gained support at the state level, as it became clear that without a strong technical school of its own, accelerated industrial development would be impossible.
In the 1930s, BPI began expanding its material and laboratory facilities, strengthening its human resources, and increasing student enrollment. A number of well-equipped laboratories, offices, and workshops were created at this time.
In 1935, the organic chemistry laboratory, the first laboratory of this kind at the institute, was completed and equipped. Soon after, the construction of a materials testing laboratory was completed, followed by a heating and ventilation laboratory. Students actively participated in the installation of equipment there.
The victorious year of 1945 marked the beginning of the restoration of not only the republic's significant industrial facilities but also the BPI infrastructure. The institute resumed operations on January 1st. Students from all disciplines returned to classes by March.
As part of the restoration efforts that began the same year, the university was reconstructed. BPI faculty and students made significant contributions to the renovation of the buildings, demonstrating initiative and conscientious work.
By 1955, BPI had significantly expanded compared to its pre-war size. The institute boasted 91 classrooms with a total area of 14,200 square meters, a 250-square-meter drafting room, mechanical workshops, a training garage, three academic buildings, two gymnasiums, 18 classrooms, and 47 laboratories.
The main building housed the hydraulic engineering, chemical engineering, and construction departments, as well as the administrative and economic staff. The power engineering and mechanical engineering departments, training and production workshops, and the furnace laboratory of the Department of Silicate and Concrete Technology were located in the power engineering academic building. The automobile building housed the automotive and tractor department, the metal forming laboratory, the boiler and thermal power plant laboratory, and the laboratory of general and theoretical heat engineering.
For BPI, 1965 was a period of significant transformations and achievements. The beginning of the academic year marked a significant event: the creation of the Faculty of Engineering and Economics, which expanded the range of educational opportunities and facilitated the training of specialists in a new field. Also that year, the Faculty of Chemical Engineering was transformed into the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. This was a response to the growing industrial demand for qualified personnel.
The institute's successes in 1965 extended beyond the academic sphere. The BPI library was deservedly recognized as the best university library in the BSSR, receiving a first-class diploma for its work in the 1964/65 academic year. Furthermore, the institute's Komsomol organization was awarded the medal "For the Development of Virgin Lands" for the dedicated work of its members in the virgin lands, demonstrating the extensive participation of students and faculty in socially significant projects.
For almost half a century, BNTU has been hosting the renowned creative festival "BNTU Spring," formerly known as "BPI Student Spring." The event first took place in 1975 and immediately became an integral part of university culture. Over the decades, the festival has produced several generations of talented artists, whose work enriches the lives of students and faculty, leaving unforgettable impressions.
Each new "BNTU Spring" becomes a vibrant show, where young talents showcase themselves in dance, music, performing arts, and song. Participants are united by a shared creativity, a desire to express themselves, and to surprise audiences with their original performances. The festival has long since transcended the confines of a simple competition and has become a true tradition, carefully preserved and passed on to new students.
In March 1985, the correspondence department was transformed into three specialized departments: mechanical engineering, energy engineering, and construction. This decision allowed for a more efficient organization of the educational process and focused on training specialists in key sectors.
Furthermore, on April 22, 1985, the newspaper "Soviet Engineer" was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the Supreme Soviet of the BSSR for its significant contribution to reporting on scientific and technological achievements.
That same year, the Instrument Engineering Faculty was established, marking an important step in training qualified personnel to meet the growing needs of the economy.
This year, the International Association of Foreign Alumni of the Belarusian State Polytechnical Academy was established. This event marked an important step in strengthening ties between the university and its graduates abroad, facilitating the exchange of experience and knowledge, as well as the development of international cooperation in education and science.
In honor of the 75th anniversary of the founding of BSPA in December 1995, President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree awarding the institution the Honorary State Banner of the Republic of Belarus. This award recognized the Academy's significant contribution to the development of science and the training of engineers for the national economy.
In the summer of 2005, the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) sanatorium hosted the first wood carving plein air event among universities in the country. Ten wooden sculptures created by the participants adorned the grounds of the main academic building and the sanatorium, becoming the university's signature piece and a testament to its commitment to art and culture.
In the fall of that year, the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) decided to grant BNTU the status of a basic organization for higher technical education in the CIS member states. This status confirmed the university's leading role in training technical specialists and emphasized the importance of its contribution to improving the level of engineering education in the post-Soviet space.
In July 2015, the country's leading technical university underwent significant expansion. The Minsk Mechanical Engineering College and the Soligorsk Mining and Chemical College joined the university, strengthening its potential to train highly qualified mid-level specialists.
In December of that year, celebrating its 95th anniversary, the BNTU staff received congratulations from the President. The university was awarded the Certificate of Honor of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, recognizing the university's outstanding achievements in higher professional education and scientific and technical research.
In January 2025, the Belarusian National Technical University celebrated a number of significant events. For example, the ceremonial opening of a new, modern dormitory No. 19, designed to accommodate 1,030 students, was held. That same month, Professor Valery Konstantinov, Head of the Department of Materials Science in Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, was awarded an honorary diploma from the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus for his long-standing fruitful scientific and pedagogical work.
An event by BNTU international students, held in May 2025, attracted particular attention from the public and the university's administration. Students jointly restored an abandoned military burial site of the time of the Great Patriotic War in the village of Zagvazdino. This event demonstrated the unity of nations and the younger generation's respect for the historical past.
On the first day of September 2025, BNTU not only celebrated Knowledge Day but also opened several laboratories. For example, the renovated "Optical Systems" and "Optical-Electronic Devices" laboratories are now operating within the Instrument Engineering Faculty. BNTU shared the significant workload of opening research and training facilities with employees of Peleng JSC.
Furthermore, another site for practical training of future specialists was opened. In accordance with the instruction of the President of the Republic of Belarus, a classroom (laboratory) for training in unmanned aerial vehicle control has been operating at BNTU since September 1, 2025.
Every new day, month, and year adds fresh pages of achievements and great undertakings to the history of the Polytechnic University which become an integral part of the university's and the entire country's legacy. We sincerely congratulate our beloved university on its birthday! We wish it continued glory and progress!
