On 30/09/2026, an information meeting was held at the Belarusian National Technical University with first-year students from African countries. The event was conducted in two languages – English and French, which made it possible to reach the maximum number of participants.
The meeting began with an introductory speech by Polina Khokhlova, the chairperson of the Student Council of the ICF and the council of the BNTU fraternal associations.
Next, the students were addressed by the chairperson of the Zimbabwe fraternal association, Manjanda Tanatsva Emmanuel, who communicated with the students in English, as well as the chairperson of the Africa fraternal association, Mapenzi Kitalano Beny, who translated everything into French.
During the meeting, the students were introduced to the structure of the student council and were told about current creative competitions and associations. For the convenience of communication and news exchange, everyone interested was invited to join special Telegram and WhatsApp chats for African students.
The key part of the event was the presentation «BNTU: Your New Home» for first-year students. Senior students shared valuable advice on how to study and adapt more quickly in a new environment, honestly spoke about the possible difficulties of the first day and presented their study strategy. In particular, they recommended writing down chapter headings, studying material in English or French, not postponing the study of Russian until later, and valuing every hour of study.
– I arrived in Minsk just a week ago and I don’t know many people yet. It was really cool to immediately get involved in such an event, where guys from different countries gathered. You immediately feel like you’re not alone here, – said a first‑year student from the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Particular emphasis was placed on practical assistance. Senior students offered their support to the newcomers and asked them not to hesitate to ask questions if something remained unclear. The meeting became an important step on the path to the successful integration of foreign students into university life.
