1. BUP and Belarusan Universities
Siarhei Darozhka,
Belarusan BUP Centre
BUP Rector’s conference,
, Uppsala

2. BUP objectives set 19 years ago:
to give people from the two social systems an opportunity to meet face-to-face and thus to help create and support the new political situation within the Baltic region
to create conditions for cultural exchange and enrichment
to provide access to educational systems and knowledge, experiences.
to work together to save the common Baltic environment
to give a chance to make regional input into sustainable development both within the region as a whole and in individual home countries
to establish new contacts between Universities, teachers and students
to help develop “project-mind” skills

3. It was a big challenge for both sides of the region, the West and the East, especially for the Universities.
It was a crucial moment in the historical development of the Baltic region.
And BUP has appeared at the right time, in the right place and it proved to be a success.

4. Good examples of BUP activities carried out in Belarus
Great interest from the Universities:
28 Universities and some colleges, gymnasiums and schools;
around 3000 students,
70 teachers,
more than 70 groups,
all BUP courses

5. Belarusan participants have initiated and participated in:
creating the “English for Environmental Science” course
development, editing and publishing the Belarusan version of “Baltic Sea Region: culture, politics, democracy” textbook
development of the fundamental Master course in Environmental Management
the development of “Sustainable Baltic Region” course (especially video films)
the translation of course textbooks “Sustainable Baltic Region” into Russian
the translation of course textbooks “Sustainable Water Management” into Russian
the development and successful implementation of “Pre-conference training for BUP teachers” course
master class series for Teachers of English at Lodz Technical University in EES
organization of cross-cultural training sessions for the BUP teachers and students

6. Belarusan participants have initiated and participated in:
teachers conferences (bi-annual national BUP conferences, SWM conference)
audio conferences (SBR, SWM)
seminars, trainings for Belarusan teachers
students’ camp on the river Neman
summer students’ activities and annual BUP students’ conferences
contribution to the BUP Newsletter

7. Further developments on the basis of BUP activities and contacts
Several joint projects were initiated in Belarus thanks to BUP
- BUUF as a platform for exchange of experience of cities’ development
- Agenda 21 for Minsk (Minsk – Nacka cooperation for development SD) – SEPA / SIDA supported project
- RECO-East – Regional Scheme for Waste Management (Stockholm county administrative Board – MoE of Belarus)
- Castles of Tomorrow (Regional Baltic Sea project)

8. THANK YOU We would like to say to the Uppsala University,
to the Swedish Institute,
to the Swedish government
for substantial moral and financial support of Belarusan Universities, teachers and students from Belarus throughout all the years of BUP activity!