Kryzys edukacji na Białorusi a rola Wolnego Uniwersytetu Białoruskiego w budowaniu przyszłości demokratycznej
Higher Education in Crisis: The Role of the Belarusian Free University in the Democratic Transformation of Belarus

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the crisis of higher education in Belarus in the context of authoritarian repression and explores the role of the Free Belarusian University (Wolny Uniwersytet Białoruski, WUB) as an academic institution operating in exile. Based on a qualitative analysis, including structured interviews and discourse analysis of institutional materials, the article investigates how WUB shapes its mission and strategic approach toward the Belarusian academic community in the face of political repression and forced migration. The findings suggest that, although WUB represents a key element of resistance against the erosion of academic freedom, its operation is constrained by the need to balance the preservation of academic identity with adaptation to a new institutional environment. The analysis shows that WUB serves as a space of hope and academic continuity, while its future depends on further reflection on mechanisms of institutional survival and development under conditions of political crisis. The study also points to the need for continued exploration of long‑term strategies for WUB’s integration into the international educational landscape and its role in democratization processes in Belarus.

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