The Hi-Tech Park (HTP) in Belarus plays a key role in developing the country’s IT industry, creating favourable conditions for IT companies and actively participating in educational initiatives. Thanks to the HTP’s efforts, a unique IT training system is being formed in Belarus, covering all levels of education — from preschool to higher education. Today, HTP cooperates with leading universities, launches specialized courses, supports applicants and implements inclusive initiatives. Thanks to these programs, thousands of students and professionals have the opportunity to develop their skills and find promising career opportunities in the IT field. In this article, we will look in detail at how HTP contributes to the development of IT education, what initiatives it implements and what prospects open up for future IT specialists in Belarus.
The Role of HTP in the Development of IT Education in Belarus
The Hi-Tech Park (HTP) in Belarus is actively involved in forming a continuous training system for IT specialists that covers all stages of education, from kindergarten to university. This strategic direction aims to develop interest in information technology from an early age and provide high-quality training for the IT industry.
Preschool Education: “Computer Science without a Socket”
Since 2016, HTP has been implementing the project “Computer Science without an outlet” (https://informatika.park.by/), aimed at developing logical and algorithmic thinking in children aged 5-6 years without using a computer. The methodology includes didactic games and tasks that contribute to developing skills to structure information and perform logical operations. In the 2024/2025 academic year, more than 10,5 thousand pupils from 628 preschool education institutions in 168 settlements of Belarus participated in the project.
Primary and Secondary Education: “Programming is the Second Literacy”
The project “Programming — the Second Literacy” has been implemented in schools in Belarus since 2016 (https://scratch.by/) and was initiated by HTP with the support of the Ministry of Education. It aims to teach students the basics of programming using the Scratch visual environment. This environment allows students to easily master the basic concepts of programming. In optional classes, more than 47,000 students from the 2nd grade study programming in the Scratch environment, which contributes to the development of their algorithmic thinking and preparation for further training in the IT field.
ITeen Academy
ITeen Academy is an educational initiative of the Hi-Tech Park of Belarus, which provides systematic IT education for children and adolescents from 6 to 16+ years old. The academy offers unique author’s programs adapted to the age characteristics of students, which allows them to effectively develop skills in the field of information technology.
One of the key features of the ITeen Academy is the use of exclusive combined IT programs that are not available in other IT schools in Belarus. The training is conducted in a playful format using unique author techniques, which makes the learning process exciting and accessible to children. In addition, the principles of STEM education and the project approach are applied in the educational process, contributing to students’ comprehensive development.
ITeen Academy is equipped with modern equipment. Classes are held in small groups, which allows you to pay attention to each student. The academy also organizes large-scale educational projects during the holidays, offering useful and interesting intensive courses and master classes.
Thus, the ITeen Academy plays an important role in fostering interest in IT among children and adolescents, providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills for a successful future in technology.
Higher Education: Cooperation with Universities
HTP actively cooperates with higher education institutions to ensure a high level of training for IT specialists. The Park’s resident companies have established and maintained more than 90 joint research and production laboratories based at universities. In addition, more than 40 branches of university departments have been opened directly on the premises of HTP residents and the Park territory. This collaboration allows students to gain practical experience and keep abreast of current IT industry trends, increasing their competitiveness in the labour market.
Additional Initiatives: the Introduction of Technology in Education
HTP is also introducing modern technologies into the educational process. For example 2018, a project was launched to equip rural schools with smart tablets with computer vision technology. Schoolchildren from the urban settlements of Bolbasovo and Barani were given 600 tablets equipped with the Nicola application, which motivates children to study various subjects by monitoring homework before accessing entertainment applications.
Thus, HTP forms an integrated system of training IT specialists, starting from preschool age and ending with higher education, contributing to Belarus’s sustainable development of the IT industry.
Support of Applicants and Popularization of IT Specialties through HTP
The Hi-Tech Park of Belarus actively promotes applicant support and the popularization of IT specialties, offering various initiatives and resources for future students. One of the key projects in this area is the electronic directory “IT applicant,” which is updated annually and provides up-to-date information for applicants to Belarusian universities.
The Content and Structure of the Reference Book
The electronic reference book “IT Applicant” is a detailed publication about IT faculties of capital and regional universities in Belarus. It contains the following sections:
1. Description of IT specialities: A detailed description of various areas of training in the field of information technology, including admission plans for the current year, passing scores from previous years, cost of education, availability of a military department and conditions for providing a dormitory.
2. Information on the distribution of graduates: This information about the places of employment of graduates allows applicants to assess employment prospects after graduation.
3. Joint projects with IT companies: Information on the availability of joint laboratories and branches of departments established in cooperation with HTP residents, which ensures practice-oriented student training.
Description of Sought-After IT Professions
The handbook also includes descriptions of the most sought-after IT professions, such as programmer, business analyst, artificial intelligence specialist, and cloud services engineer. It helps applicants better understand the specifics of different directions and choose the most suitable one.
Recommendations from Representatives of the IT Industry
A separate section of the reference book is devoted to the answers of representatives of HTP resident companies to current questions about the IT industry. They share information about the most promising specialities and current trends and advise applicants on choosing a field of study.
Availability and Relevance of Information
The reference book’s electronic format ensures its wide accessibility for all interested parties. Annual data updates ensure that the information provided is up-to-date, which is especially important in the rapidly developing field of information technology.
HTP Educational IT Initiatives for Adults
The Educational Center of the Hi-Tech Park (HTP)—IT-Academy (https://www.it-academy.by)—plays a key role in retraining specialists and advanced IT field training for adults. Founded in 2010, the IT Academy has been successfully training high-demand specialists for IT companies for over 14 years.
Main Areas of Study
The IT Academy offers a wide range of courses covering the most relevant areas in the IT industry:
- Software development: Courses in Java, .NET, PHP, Python, and C++ programming languages and development for iOS and Android mobile platforms.
- Software Testing: Training in manual and automated testing using Java and Python.
- Business and Systems Analysis: Courses aimed at training analysts who can effectively interact between business and technical teams.
- Web design and computer graphics: Programs on UI/UX design, graphic design, motion design and 3D modelling.
- Internet marketing and sales: Courses in SMM, IT Sales and effective work in CRM systems.
- System and network administration: Training in DevOps practices and the basics of cybersecurity.
Advantages of Studying at the IT Academy
- Experience and reliability
Over the years, the IT Academy has established itself as a reliable partner in IT education, having trained thousands of specialists in demand in the labour market.
- The practice-oriented approach
The courses are designed to consider the industry’s real needs, which allows graduates to adapt quickly to the work processes in IT companies.
- Qualified trainers
The training is conducted by practicing specialists with extensive experience, which ensures the relevance and practical nature of the knowledge.
- Partnership with IT companies
The IT Academy cooperates with more than 500 companies that trust the training of their specialists and has 224 IT partners ready to employ the best graduates.
Social Responsibility and Inclusive HTP Projects
The Hi-Tech Park of Belarus actively implements projects aimed at social responsibility and inclusivity and pays special attention to integrating children with special needs into the IT sphere. One of the key projects in this direction is the program “Computer Science without Sockets—for Every Child.”
“Computer Science without a Socket– for Every Child”
HTP developed this program with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus and aims to develop logical thinking and algorithmic skills in children aged 6-7 with various developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, severe speech disorders, intellectual disability, and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. A special feature of the program is that the training is conducted without computers, making it accessible to a wide audience of children with special educational needs.
Goals and Objectives of the Program
The program’s main goal is to create conditions for forming basic logical and algorithmic thinking skills in children with special needs. This is achieved through specially developed techniques adapted to each child’s individual needs. Classes contribute not only to intellectual development but also to social adaptation, increasing children’s self-confidence and stimulating interest in the study of information technology.
Other HTP-Inclusive Initiatives
In addition to the Computer Science without Sockets program, HTP implements other projects to support children with special needs. For example, the Laboratory of Discoveries project is focused on creating conditions for forming cognitive interest and developing research skills in older preschool children and primary school students. This project promotes propaedeutics to the study of physics at school and includes interactive activities to develop children’s skills in experimentation and analysis.
Prospects for the Development of HTP Educational Initiatives
The Hi-Tech Park strives to expand its educational programs and strengthen cooperation with international partners. The state program for socio-economic development of the Republic of Belarus for 2021-2025 provides for introducing new educational standards and updating specialist training programs, which creates a modern educational environment and provides students with the necessary skills to work in the IT field.
HTP has already initiated educational projects aimed at Belarusian university students. For example, in cooperation with international companies such as SkillSoft, HTP provided free access to educational programs for students of the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics (BGUIR) and the Minsk State Institute for Educational Development. This initiative allowed 1920 users to use modern educational resources, contributing to their professional growth and adaptation to market requirements.
In the future, HTP plans to expand the geography of international cooperation by concluding new bilateral agreements with foreign educational institutions and organizations. This approach will allow the integration of the best international practices into the educational process, providing Belarusian students and specialists with access to advanced knowledge and technologies.
In addition, HTP intends to step up participation in international networks and programs, which will allow Belarusian IT specialists to acquire new knowledge and skills and establish cooperation with foreign partners. This will help increase the competitiveness of the Belarusian IT industry in the global market and strengthen the country’s position in the field of high technologies.
Thus, HTP continues developing educational initiatives to train highly qualified IT specialists. It is actively integrating into the international educational and professional community, which opens up new opportunities for the growth and development of the Belarusian IT industry.
Conclusion
The Hi-Tech Park’s activities in IT education play a key role in training specialists who are in demand in the IT industry. By creating a continuous training system, from children’s educational programs to professional retraining for adults, HTP provides a high level of training that meets modern market requirements.
Innovative educational initiatives such as the ITeen Academy, the IT Academy, and programs for special children promote talent development, expand learning opportunities, and make IT accessible to all. Active cooperation with international partners allows us to introduce advanced training methods and maintain high standards of professional training.
The prospects for the development of HTP educational programs aim at further expanding courses, integrating the best international practices, and deepening partnerships with foreign companies and universities. It ensures the steady growth of the IT industry in Belarus and forms a strong community of professionals capable of successfully competing on a global level.
Thus, HTP educational initiatives not only contribute to the development of the country’s high-tech sector but also create conditions for a successful future for everyone who aspires to join the IT industry.
How to contact us
For more information or advice on issues related to IT sector, do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help and support you.
Phone and email communication options are available for your convenience:
- +375293664477 (WhatsApp/Telegram/Viber);
- info@spex.by.
