Winner. University of the Year 2021

Educational Institution
"Grodno State Medical University"

Motto: High-quality medical education is the key to the health of the nation
Type: Public
Established: 1958

Rector: Assoc. Professor, Dr. Yelena Kratkova
Academic staff: 551
Administrative staff: 1258
Students: 4515
Address: 80, M.Gorkogo Street, Grodno, 230009, Republic of Belarus
Website: www.grsmu.by

In the postwar period the social sphere of the Republic of Belarus began to develop actively. In order to improve the health service and to provide medical training and research in western region of Belarus, State Medical Institute in Grodno was established, and 250 students were admitted for the academic year 1958/59. This was in accordance with the Decree of the BSSR Council of Ministers №541 from August 9, 1958, by the order of the Ministry of Health of the Belorussian SSR №75 from August 14, 1958. Looking back after many years, one cannot forget that on October 1, 1958, the first classes in Grodno State Medical Institute started. It was devoted to human anatomy. On October 15, the first meeting of the Academic Council was held. In the first semester only 7 Associate Professors and Candidates of Science worked for 9 opened departments, and the number of employees didn’t exceed 30.

Despite considerable difficulties, the university was gradually developing. By 1964, the number of the Institute employees increased by 10 times. By that time 170 teachers, including 9 Doctors and Professors, 46 Associate Professors, 29 Candidates of Sciences had worked for 34 departments.

In 1964, 248 physicians graduated, and 22 of them with honors. Later many of them have become excellent doctors, bright scientists and teachers.

In accordance with the curricula and programs approved at that time, training in Therapeutic, and then (1979) in the Pediatric Department was carried out. In the academic year 1959/60, the higher education system of medical practice was introduced, and in 1970-71 - sub-internship and internship. For more than half a century of its existence, the Institute, and then the University had trained more than 16 thousands of doctors and nurses with higher education, including about 300 foreigners from 25 countries. Up until the 1990s, student enrolment in the university had been increasing. In 1990s new faculties exclusive for the USSR were opened: Nursing (1991 - full-time, 1996 - extramural studies) and Mental Health (1993).

Since 1992, the Institute began training specialists for foreign countries. In 2008, the Faculty of Medical Diagnostics was organized, which provides training in two specialties "Medical Diagnostics" and "Nursing."

In January 2000, the Institute was successfully accredited as University. Major efforts are undertaken at the University to improve the quality of medical education. Modern computer technologies are introduced widely in the educational process, the students prepare multimedia presentations, create training videos, participate in role-playing games.

Teachers publish manuals and textbooks for students. Grading criteria for all courses have been developed. Active forms of learning are used. Monitored independent students’ work is being introduced; theoretical and practical clinical training of students is being upgraded.

Grodno State Medical University is the oldest medical school in Belarus, and is considered as one of the best medical universities in the country.

In recent years, the University has three times become a prize winner of Belarus Government in the field of quality (2011, 2016 and 2019).

The University was awarded a special award in the nomination "Social Responsibility".

The University is a laureate of the international competition "Leader of the Year 2019" in the category "Educational Services" and has been awarded the Grand Prix "Leader of the Year 2020" in the category "Services in the Field of Education".

The Rector of the University, Yelena Kratkova, was awarded the diploma of the Laureate of the prize for effective management and high professional competence.

The University is a winner of the competition "Best Exporter of 2019" in the nomination "Education".

The University does conduct research. It takes part in EU's Trans-European Mobility Programme for University Studies. Also, Grodno State Medical University publishes its own medical journal.

The university includes five hostels. In total, 2,300 people lived in the university dormitories for 2020. Dormitories are equipped with reading rooms, sports and fitness rooms. In December 2019, a new thirteen-story block-type dormitory was commissioned for 1,030 residents. Each of the 173 blocks has three double rooms with modern furniture, a separate bathroom, a shower, an equipped kitchen: kitchen furniture, an electric stove, and a refrigerator. The dormitory is equipped with sports rooms with modern weight training benches for boys and girls, classrooms for self-training. The dormitory has a canteen seating 40. Also equipped with laundry, ironing, medical office, psychologist's office, and psychological relief room. On each floor, there is a commodious hall with soft furniture for relaxation and rooms for creative work in student communities of interest.