Student from China Hou Yabo shares his experiences and impressions of studying at BNTU.
Hou Yabo came to Belarus from a small town Luohe (province of Henan) in 2008 upon an insistent advice of his relative, who had graduated from Belarusian National Technical University earlier. Hou’s relative not only got a decent education, in his opinion, at the best technical higher education establishment, but met his love here – a Belarusian girl who worked as a teacher at BNTU. Today both of them live in China and work as university professors.
For a year Hou Yabo has attended the Preparatory Course for international students at the Faculty of International Cooperation, where he has been studying Russian language, Russian literature, Economics, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and other subjects essential for the chosen speciality — "Automated Electric Drives" of the Information Technologies and Robotics Faculty. Except for practice of colloquial language during classroom sessions students were offered to participate in various cultural, sport, educational events. That allowed them to plunge into youth student atmosphere of BNTU’s life.
– According to the official rating of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, BNTU has the second highest rate among higher education establishments of the country. What do you think defines such a great position of the university?
– From my point of view, BNTU must be the first one! (smiles) The level of education, of course, the professors. Quite frankly, I reckon that the system of education in Belarus is very good. In China we have many students and a very few universities, therefore it is difficult to enter one.
According to the graduate student, education fees in Belarus are high in comparison with China, but still affordable for an international student.
– Are you satisfied with the living conditions in your dormitory?
– Yes, our commandants, managers and janitors are very good. They always help us. I think the situation will be even better when the 18th dormitory is put into service.
Apart from the capital of the country, Hou visited Brest, Gomel, Vitebsk, Polotsk, Soligorsk and Baranovichi. While being abroad the student misses Minsk as if his own hometown. This summer Hou is awaiting parents to visit him, fellow is looking forward to showing them around the city.
“I have indeed settled down here. I’m not already considered to be Chinese (laughing)”.
“In 3-4 month considerable result in overcoming language barrier was transparent. I could understand the Russian language and communicate with people. Grammar, obviously, was hard for me. However, my teacher Julia Sidorenko helped me in any situation”.
Having successfully passed his exams Hou Yabo has been enrolled into the first year of the university.
- Quite frequently, after finishing the Preparatory Course international students from China enter BSU, MSLU and other universities, as they are afraid of technical specialties. It seems to me that if a student after the course stays at BNTU he is, obviously, eager to study. What about me, I was confident I would study well. Undoubtedly, it was extremely difficult at first: you meet a few Chinese people studying at BNTU, professors give their lectures only in Russian. After lectures we usually took pictures of our classmates’ syllabuses so that to work on training material. Furthermore, our professors always asked if we needed help, offered to send us lectures in electronic version in advance. Except of that, in BNTU there is the International Cooperation Department where a foreign student can be consulted on any question of study, visa, registration.
Hou successfully graduated and got a Diploma of Higher Education of international standard. After that, the fellow entered Master Degree Course, he was studying and working simultaneously. Last year he entered PhD Course of BNTU.
- From the very beginning of the construction of the industrial park “The Great Stone” I helped investors from China. I acquired the necessary knowledge and skills for this work at BNTU. Everyone in the industrial park was very pleased with that. Investors even hired students who studied at BNTU on my recommendation.
“Now there is a strong and benevolent relationship between China and Belarus. Having worked with the Chinese delegations, I realized that a good education and a PhD degree are very much valued by investors who come to Minsk to implement their projects. ”
Recently a wonderful occasion happened in Hou Yabo’s life: the fellow got married. Hou met the Chinese girl in Minsk. The answer to the question “How?” was brief and clear: “Destiny”.
After graduation Hou plans to stay here, in Belarus, perhaps launch his own company. Moreover, the graduate student shared with us his aspiration to “building up the bridge” between Belarus and China: to encourage students to enter BNTU, to present the university for the Chinese, to interest Chinese industries in BNTU’s technology. Hou became obsessed with this idea while working in the Scientific and Technological Park of BNTU “Polytechnic”. For instance, thanks to Hou, BNTU technologies in the field of applying multifunctional coatings are already introduced in China (prometal.by).
- Hou, may I ask you an indiscreet question? Why are you wearing glasses? Is that on account of studying a lot?
- Yes, indeed, almost all Chinese students are bespectacled as we study from early morning until late night, – Hou laughs while correcting his glasses.
– What would you say to an enrollee from China who plans to enter Belarusian National Technical University?
– To choose BNTU means to choose your bright future! In China, we do not acquire such an experience. I am talking not only about the studying, but about the living as well.
The last thing we asked the interviewee to do is to describe Belarus in one and the most appropriate word. Hou smiled warmly and answered straight away:
“Kind! I love Belarus. People are extremely kind here. That is the most significant thing. If I had faced the choice one more time I would have definitely come here anyway”.
Перевела Лахцутко Полина, студент БНТУ – ФТУГ
