Belarusian Students Are Voting With Their Feet

The scale of the brain drain is only increasing.

For almost the entire history of our independence, the Belarusian education system has lagged behind that of the West. To prove my point, there’s no need for hours-long debates—it’s enough to look at where our universities rank in global rankings, writes “Solidarnast”.

Yes, until recently there were decent universities training future doctors and IT specialists, but the desire to “keep what’s dear to us” in 2020 led to such a massive brain drain, capital, and a collapse of the country’s reputation on a global scale that even at those universities previously considered the flagships of Belarusian higher education, the situation is dire.

What solution has the government found to at least halt the exodus of talented young people abroad? It began to put up obstacles, as typically does in such situations.

We all remember how, all of a sudden, it became very difficult to obtain an apostille for the documents required to enroll in a foreign university. This did not stop the flow of those wishing to pursue an education in Europe. Especially considering that the EU actively supports Belarusian students who have faced repression and become victims of state-sponsored terror in Belarus.

The situation worsened with each passing year, especially after 2022, when even the most die-hard optimists realized that the screws had been tightened for the long haul and that, as long as the war continues, there is no point in expecting any easing of restrictions or improvements in the country. This has only intensified the exodus of both those who need to be educated and those who could provide that education.

Alongside exotic initiatives such as recruiting labor from Pakistan and Uzbekistan—which are not directly related to students but are intended, in one way or another, to make up for the labor market’s losses— the authorities have decided to combat the main sources of the threat posed by student outflow using the classic method—terror and repression.

Following the designation of the leading foreign university with Belarusian roots—the European Humanities University—as extremist, searches, interrogations, and persecution ensued, targeting not only students but also their parents.

Can you believe it? The security forces view tuition payments as funding for an extremist organization. Using the same logic as with donations to solidarity funds, it doesn’t matter when the payment was made or when the university was designated as extremist. What matters is that you, my dear, supported a hostile organization with your money.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that over the years of YSU’s existence, thousands of people have studied there, including those who remained in the state education system. At one time, a master’s program at EHU was a convenient way to earn a European degree in addition to a Belarusian one. Many people took advantage of this opportunity. And now all these people are at risk.

Security officials have specifically emphasized that they will not treat everyone the same or bring criminal charges for collaborating with the disgraced university—a statement that has only further increased the pressure on everyone in the at-risk group. This is a deliberate strategy—fear and uncertainty about the future are excellent allies of total control.

It doesn’t stop there: human rights activists report that security agencies have also set their sights on universities in another of our neighboring countries—Poland—which the current Belarusian authorities have a particular aversion to. Students studying at Polish universities are being summoned for interviews, where they are asked about their studies, the cost of tuition, and so on.

Such conversations do little to put students and their parents at ease and are clearly intended to make people think twice—or a hundred times—before deciding to apply to a university in the EU. After all, nothing is stopping the government from starting to label Polish universities as extremist as well.

In this whole “holy war” for minds, hearts, and future workers, Lukashenko’s supporters fail to notice a far more serious threat.

Given the restrictions, difficulties, and dangers of studying in the European Union, students are not turning their attention to the rather faded facades of Belarusian universities. Under these conditions, recruiters from our eastern neighbor are working extremely actively, luring prospective students, current students, and indeed the entire academic community into their sphere of influence.

This is being done by leveraging the vast financial resources and opportunities at Russia’s disposal.

The scale of the brain drain toward the east is only increasing. Minsk’s eastern ally is more than willing to profit from human resources at the expense of the territories under its control.

Our students are no exception.

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