For first-year students, September is a time of great discoveries, meaningful connections, and extensive adaptation. The Faculty of Engineering and Pedagogics at the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU's Faculty of Engineering and Pedagogics) places special emphasis on this process. The start of the new academic year was marked by a series of important organizational and educational events designed to help new students integrate smoothly, confidently, and seamlessly into the university environment. On September 3, as part of the faculty-wide program, the Faculty of Engineering and Pedagogics hosted a large-scale dialogue session with Faculty Dean Alexey Anatolyevich Drobysh entitled "The Dean's Office in Connection: Student Rights and Responsibilities." This session seamlessly evolved into the faculty's traditional "Honest Conversation" format with first-year students and their class monitors.
For reference: "Freshman's Month" is a large-scale, comprehensive project traditionally implemented during the first weeks of the school year. Transitioning from high school or college to a leading technical university is a significant step, associated with a dramatic change of environment, a new assessment system, and, for many, the beginning of independent dorm life.
The "Freshman Month" program at the BNTU Faculty of Applied Physics is designed as a supportive navigation tool. Its main goal is to help first-year students overcome their adaptation barriers as quickly as possible. The project includes mentoring sessions, an introduction to the university's facilities, presentations from creative, sports, and scientific associations, and direct meetings with faculty administration. This allows first-year students to quickly integrate into their studies and feel part of the extended university family.
The dialogue platform held on September 4 marked the first serious step toward building trust between the new student cohort and the administration. The organizers deliberately chose the title of the meeting, "The Dean's Office in Connection." It symbolizes a strong, unbreakable communication link, where the dean and his or her team act not as strict controllers but as experienced mentors, ready to assist, coordinate, and support at any time.
The main focus of this part of the event was a detailed analysis of the legal and disciplinary status of BNTU students. Dean of the Faculty Alexey Anatolyevich Drobysh thoroughly explained the university's structure and internal regulations to the first-year students. The speaker emphasized that student life is a balance of freedom and responsibility. The students learned in detail about their rights: to receive high-quality education, participate in research grants, use the university's sports and library resources, as well as social protection and financial support.
At the same time, Alexey Anatolyevich reminded students of the importance of fulfilling their responsibilities: strict attendance at classes, adherence to academic etiquette, careful handling of the property of the academic buildings, and respect for the long-standing traditions of BNTU.
The official part of the meeting gradually gave way to an open, interactive format—the "Honest Conversation" project. The meeting proved to be extremely informative, comprehensive, and rich. The keynote speakers and mentors for the first-year student leaders were Alexey Anatolyevich Drobysh, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Education, and Yulia Ivanovna Susha, Deputy Dean for Ideological and Educational Work.
For reference: "Honest Conversation" is an ongoing information and communication project of the BNTU Faculty of Engineering and Pedagogy, aimed at developing student self-governance and prompt feedback. As part of this project, the administration meets with group leaders regularly at the beginning of each semester. The leader is the primary liaison between the dean's office and the academic staff, so the purpose of these meetings is not simply to communicate regulatory requirements, but to jointly address complex organizational situations, optimize the educational process, and coordinate joint actions.
From the very first minutes of the meeting, the leaders set a friendly and constructive tone. The dialogue focused on four fundamental sets of questions:
Academic reporting and documentation. The speakers first focused on a purely practical aspect—the rules and nuances of maintaining the group's main document, the class log. The class monitors were given a clear explanation of how to record attendance and why accuracy is critical.
The responsibilities and status of a group leader. Alexey Anatolyevich detailed the key responsibilities of group leaders, emphasizing their powers and how to effectively communicate within the group to maintain their authority among their peers.
Discipline and Rules of Conduct. Students were reminded of the internal regulations in effect throughout BNTU. These included discussions on proper communication, respect for university property, and adherence to academic etiquette.
Dorm Living: The Peculiarities of Living in a Dormitory. Since university dorms have become a second home for many out-of-town students, Yulia Ivanovna Susha specifically addressed important aspects of daily life. She touched on safety precautions, maintaining order in the rooms, and maintaining mutual respect when living together.
The second half of "Honest Conversation" was conducted entirely in a question-and-answer format. Students actively participated in the discussion, simulating real-life and academic situations, and faculty leadership offered clear, step-by-step solutions.
Victoria Dmitrievna Chernova, head of the Electrical Power Engineering academic group, described how useful this interaction format proved to be at the beginning of the academic year: "The meeting was very useful—it's now much clearer how to organize group work and what aspects to focus on. It was especially valuable that we analyzed real-life situations and provided clear action plans. Thank you to the organizers for their openness and willingness to answer even the most 'simple' questions—every detail is important for us right now!"
The organizers and participants of the meetings express their sincere gratitude to the administration of the Faculty of Engineering and Pedagogics—Dean Alexey Anatolyevich Drobysh and Deputy Dean Yulia Ivanovna Susha—for their initiative, their time, and for creating the conditions for an open, constructive dialogue. Special thanks go to the first-year students and class monitors for their sincere interest, high level of engagement, and commitment to the life of the faculty.
Summing up the first significant events of "Freshman Month," it's safe to say that the onboarding campaign at the BNTU Institute of Applied Physics has gotten off to a successful start. The combination of legal lectures and open, interactive dialogue made it possible to address a key challenge—quickly overcoming informational barriers for the new cohort. Armed with knowledge of their rights, responsibilities, and the intricacies of student life, class monitors and first-year students have gained a reliable foundation for managing their teams. The openness established in early September guarantees a productive, safe, and comfortable academic year for first-year students.
