In June, during the Second Innovation Camp for PhD Students at BNTU, a remarkable reunion took place: Kalibek Mukashevich Dykanaliev – Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, and Vice-Rector of I. Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University – returned to his alma mater four decades after graduation.
He came to Minsk not merely as a guest, but as an active participant of the forum, eager to share his professional experience and knowledge with young researchers. In the university corridors, he was welcomed by Darya Kobel, a specialist at BNTU’s Faculty of International Relations.
“I am truly happy to be here again after 40 years. You know, the moment I crossed the threshold of BNTU, memories immediately came flooding back…
I enrolled here in 1981 at the Faculty of Industrial Pedagogy. I still remember arriving in Minsk for the first time and being surprised by the climate. In Kyrgyzstan, the air is dry and hot – completely different. Here, the sun could be shining brightly, and five minutes later it would suddenly start raining. It felt unusual and stayed in my memory forever.
Minsk immediately won me over with its cleanliness and comfort. And Belarusians impressed me with their kindness, openness, and hospitality. We, people from Kyrgyzstan, are always proud of our hospitality, but here I felt that Belarusians are no less welcoming than we are. I was warmly accepted, almost as if I were part of the family.
Some of my brightest memories are connected with our student group. We were united, supportive, and responsible. Most of the group consisted of girls. We always supported one another, never arrived late for classes, and took our studies very seriously.
I especially remember our trips to help with potato harvesting. Those moments brought us together and helped us feel like a real team. I have carried those memories with me through the decades.
I graduated from the university in 1986 and returned to Kyrgyzstan. The knowledge I received here at BNTU proved to be so solid that it became a reliable foundation throughout my entire professional life. The education I gained allowed me to begin working at a university immediately.
I went through every stage of my professional journey: I started as a training instructor, then worked as an engineer, senior engineer, trainee lecturer, lecturer, and senior lecturer. Only after gaining experience at each level did I defend my dissertation and receive the title of Associate Professor.
Today I serve as Vice-Rector for the State Language and Digitalization at I. Razzakov Kyrgyz State Technical University. My total teaching experience has now reached 40 years.
Today is my first visit back here since graduation – after 40 years. And so much has changed! Technology has advanced tremendously, equipment has become far more modern, and access to information is practically unlimited. In many ways, today’s students are more fortunate than we were.
But I would like to tell them one important thing: appreciate these opportunities and use them wisely.
And I would also give one more piece of advice – begin studying seriously from your very first year at university. That is when the foundation for the future is laid. If you build a strong knowledge base from the beginning, your future path will become much easier. Believe me – I say this from experience.”
This warm and sincere story from an international graduate became much more than simply a return to the university during the Innovation Camp. It became a genuine dialogue between a mentor and a new generation.
Forty years later, Kalibek Mukashevich Dykanaliev returned to BNTU – the place where his journey once began — to share his experience and remind students that quality education and passion for one’s work can shape an entire life.
