From the events of the mid-20th century to yesterday's appointments—we flip through the calendar of the Belarusian National Technical University.
April 13
This date was twice noted in the university's annals in the mid-20th century. In 1954, a government decree established the Belarusian Institute of Mechanization and Electrification of Agriculture—today, this educational institution is known as BSATU. The personnel issue for the new institute was resolved quickly: faculty members were transferred from the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute, and third- to fifth-year students of the BPI, who were studying to become agricultural mechanical engineers, continued their studies within the walls of the independent university.
Five years later, on April 13, 1959, another technically significant event occurred at BPI: a shortwave radio station was launched, becoming a magnet for students interested in electronics and communications.
April 14
From April 11 to 14, 2023, the Minsk City Department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations hosted the competition for the city stage of the "Students. Security. Future" competition. Teams from seven Moscow universities participated in the competition: BSMU, BSUPC, BGAA, BSUIR, BGATU, BSUKI, and BNTU.
The BNTU team was represented by ten students from the Faculty of Power Engineering, the Faculty of Management Technologies and Humanitarian Studies, the Faculty of Information Technology and Robotics, the Faculty of Instrument Engineering, and the Faculty of Power Engineering. The team was trained by Mikhail Kholod, Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Sports and Technology, and Dmitry Medushka, Instructor and Methodologist for Physical Education, Health, and Sports Activities at the Faculty's Sports Club. Andrey Kobrinets assumed the captain's mantle.
The competition program included a "Life Safety Experts" quiz, a creative business card, "Water Emergency" and "Survival Trail" sports stages, first aid, and a social project presentation dedicated to the problem of child fire deaths. Following the competition, the BNTU team won silver medals and earned the right to represent Moscow at the national stage – the competition finals.
April 15
On April 15, 2025, the Belarusian National Technical University served as a platform for dialogue on modern Belarusian statehood and historical memory. The central event of the meeting was the presentation of the books "Superposition. Parallel Worlds" and "Symbols of Sovereign Belarus," as well as the opening of an exhibition of the same name. The author of the works is Sergei Musienko, head of the EsooM analytical center at Mediafact-Eco LLC, a member of the Public Council on Education under the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, and a graduate of the BNTU Faculty of Civil Engineering.
The event was attended by BNTU Rector Sergei Kharitonchik, General Director of the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Belarusian Telegraph Agency" Irina Akulovich, and Deputy Head of the Youth Affairs Department of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus Tatyana Simanovskaya. Irina Akulovich drew the attention of the student audience to the need to rely on documentary evidence when assessing the events of the 1990s and the establishment of an independent Belarus. Sergei Musienko himself not only spoke about the process of creating his books but also dwelt in detail on the parallels between political reality and fiction.
April 17
On this day, April 17, 1991, the Council of Ministers of the Byelorussian SSR decided to transform the Belarusian Polytechnic Institute into the Belarusian State Polytechnic Academy. This step recognized the high level of training and scientific potential of the university, becoming an important step towards achieving the status of a national technical university in the future.
April 18
Another April day when theory at the Polytechnic University went hand in hand with cutting-edge technology. On April 18, 2023, the Electrical Systems Department of the Faculty of Power Engineering received a virtual reality simulator as a gift from the Vitebskenergo State Unitary Enterprise. Pavel Kabanov, Director of the company's Training Center, personally demonstrated the capabilities of the system to the faculty: virtual goggles, controllers, and specialized software allow for simulating any scenario at power grid facilities, from substation walkthroughs to complex repair operations. The equipment supports multiple operating modes and allows for safe visits to power installations for detailed inspection.
Dean of the Faculty of Power Engineering, Evgeny Ponomarenko, emphasized the importance of such equipment in the era of digitalization in the industry, while Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Yuri Nikolaychik, noted the potential for using the simulator not only in the educational process but also for advanced training for university staff. Vitebskenergo representatives expressed their willingness to involve students in the further development of virtual training facilities.
The calendar has turned, but the history of BNTU continues.
