Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno Student Tsimur Siuko – Silver Medalist at the III International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence

The Belarusian national team made its debut at the III International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence, which was held from August 2 to 8 in Astana, Kazakhstan. A silver medal was brought to the team's collection by Tsimur Siuko, a 1st-year student of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science of Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno.

Tsimur, a recent graduate of Gymnasium No. 1 named after Academician E.F. Karski, joined the national team alongside three school students.

It is worth noting that the path to success began long before the final. First, the young man passed the regional selection, then the republican stage, where the composition of the national team was determined. "Half of the tasks were unfamiliar to me," Tsimur admits. "But that was precisely the main challenge. I had to figure things out on the fly, look for unconventional approaches and test my hypotheses."

According to the first-year student, the preparation and participation themselves became an invaluable experience for him. "To be honest, everything was held together by enthusiasm – both mine and that of our mentors. We were not afraid to try new things, learn from our rivals, and step outside the familiar. It was a great period that gave me much more than just an award," the first-year student shares his impressions.

The debut performance of the Belarusian team at such a prestigious international arena ended successfully, which became a vivid testament to the high level of youth training in the field of artificial intelligence.

We congratulate Tsimur and wish him new victories on the path to great discoveries!

How the Summer School Felt the Magic of Folk Crafts

Today, the participants of the Summer School of Belarusian Language and Culture exchanged the cozy walls of the main building library for the picturesque landscapes of the Navahrudak region and the historic corners of the Karelichy region. While throughout the week teachers and staff had been bringing Belarus closer to the students in the classrooms, today they set out on a real journey!

The first stop was the Crafts Department of the Navahrudak District Centre of Culture and Folk Creativity. The guests were given a tour of the museum exhibition, which features unique examples of embroidery, fabric, clay and metal products carefully preserved in local villages. The students also saw contemporary works by young students of the centre, who continue to create in accordance with artistic traditions. A craftswoman demonstrated the work of a loom and noted the specifics of weaving characteristic of the Navahrudak region.

Next, the participants enjoyed a fascinating master class on Navahrudak vytsinanka-vybivanka (paper cutting and embossing). This is a distinctive technique where a pattern is embossed on paper using special tools or metal tubes, with a diamond-shaped grid serving as the basis of the composition. In the past, such openwork paper decorations adorned houses – they created towels for icons and curtains with flowers, stars and birds. The main keeper of this intangible heritage today is Natalia Klimko, a folk master of Belarus.

After a sightseeing tour of the iconic places of Navahrudak, the travellers headed to the agricultural town of Raitse in the Karelichy District, where they visited the historic manor of the Rajetski-Putkamer family. The manor house in the classicist style and the remains of the old park preserve the memory of Marylya Putkamer – the beloved of Adam Mickiewicz. Here, another creative master class awaited the students – on straw weaving, led by craftswoman Vera Saldatava.

At the end of the day, the guests visited the local shrine – the Church of St. Barbara, which was originally built as a Catholic church and later reconsecrated as an Orthodox church. Its rich history was told to the students by Priest Alexei Shyshkir.

The day turned out to be exceptionally rich and emotional. We hope we managed to convey at least a part of that unforgettable atmosphere and valuable knowledge that filled the hearts of the Summer School participants today!

International students continue to study Russian language and Culture of Belarus at Yanka Kupala State University of Grodno

The students are intensively studying the Russian language and immersing themselves in the language environment through interactive classes and communication with teachers. The curriculum is designed to combine academic classes with creative formats: students learn the language through music, songs and interactive exercises.

In addition to classroom sessions, sightseeing tours of Grodno have been organized for the school participants, during which they get acquainted with the history and architecture of the city, learn about the cultural traditions of Belarus, and apply their acquired language skills in real-life situations.

From the wisdom of proverbs to Slutsk belts: another eventful day at the Summer School

Associate Professor of the Department of Belarusian Philology Maria Yakaltsevich delivered a fascinating lecture for the Summer School participants on the image of women in Belarusian paremiology – proverbs and sayings. The choice of this topic became very symbolic in the Year of the Belarusian Woman.

The lecture aroused great interest among project participant Piotr Fedosov:

– This is not the first time I have come to the Summer School, so I have heard Maria Antonovna's lectures before. This deep linguistic approach to the analysis of proverbs is truly a unique experience that I have not encountered elsewhere. Most of the meeting was devoted precisely to the image of women. I especially remembered a very warm proverb: "There is no shop where mothers are sold." It is wonderful, because mother is always about boundless love.

The lecture was followed by a talk by Library Director Mikalai Grynko, "And the Hand Weaves, Forgetting..." He told the students about the history of the Slutsk manufactories and the world-famous Slutsk belts.

The participants delved into the study of the traditional Belarusian costume, paying special attention to headwear and the distinctive features of the festive attire with its wide aprons, lace and rich embroidery. The students learned about the sacred content of the ornament: in the past, embroidery could determine a person's social status, the number of children in the family, and even the skill of the hosts! And the first belt in every Belarusian's life was a thin twisted ribbon of three threads, which was put on a child immediately after birth.

Anna Pykhtina, School student, shared her impressions:

– It was extremely interesting to learn so much about the Belarusian costume. We not only discovered the history of belts but also touched the rich world of folk culture as a whole. I really liked how these themes intersect with literature, as I sincerely love Belarusian poetry and prose. A particular pleasure was examining the many bright illustrations in various artistic styles.

A distinctive conclusion to the day was a weaving master class, where every participant could try their hand at the craft.