On completion of advanced training courses for employees of state archival institutions

Advanced training courses are organized by the Department of Archives and Records Management of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Belarus together with the Faculty of History of the Belarusian State University on the basis of the Faculty of Advanced Training and Retraining of the Belarusian State University.

The lectures were given by teachers of the Belarusian State University, senior officials of the Department of Archives and Records Management, and highly qualified specialists from republican archival institutions.

As part of the current courses, 29 employees from 23 state archival institutions were trained, including from republican archival institutions – 7, state archives of the Brest region – 2; Vitebsk region – 3; Gomel region – 4; Grodno region – 5; Minsk region – 3; Mogilev region – 5 employees.

The course program had relevant topics and covered issues of the activities of state archives in the field of acquisition, preservation, state accounting, and the use of archival documents.

Particular emphasis was placed on highlighting the new direction of working with electronic documents.

The issue of terminology in the field of archival affairs and office work was covered in the light of the changes made to the Law of the Republic of Belarus of November 25, 2011 «On Archival Affairs and Office Work», as well as the main changes in the organization and management of office work in the light of the new edition of the Instructions for office work in state authorities and other organizations.

On May 22, 2024, a round table «Modern trends in records management and archival affairs» was held at the National Historical Archives of Belarus with the participation of the First Deputy Director of the Department O.A.Ledovskaya. and the director of the Belarusian Scientific Research Institute of Documentation and Archival Affairs A.E.Rybakov, who discussed current issues of the activities of state archives in the field of digitizing archival documents and expanding access to them.

As part of the event, course participants were introduced to the activities of the National Historical Archive of Belarus, the structure of its scientific and reference apparatus, the digitization of documents, as well as archival repositories.

Vladimir Denisov, leading researcher at the Department for the Use of Documents and Information, told those present about the history of archival work in the Belarusian lands, the composition and features of the institution’s funds, and the most important documents stored in the archive.

Course participants were given a unique opportunity to familiarize themselves with centuries-old documents. The collections of ancient documents, creating a special atmosphere of past centuries, aroused real admiration.

On May 24, 2024, a round table «Modern challenges and opportunities in the field of document management and archiving» was held, in which the director of the Department of Archives and Records Management O.L.Voinov, head of the department of source studies of the Faculty of History of BSU, Doctor of Historical Sciences S.N.Khodin took part, Director of the Belarusian Scientific Research Institute of Document Management and Archival Affairs Rybakov A.E.

In his speech, Voinov O.L. focused on the topical issues of the activities of state archives at the present stage: ensuring the long-term safety of electronic documents, transferring documents stored in archives into digital format, storing documents of liquidated business entities, etc.

The discussion was attended by Deputy Director of the State Archive of Public Associations of the Mogilev Region Nabokova E.A., who spoke about the archive’s experience in declassifying documents of the Communist Party of Belarus and the existing problems; Director of the Zonal State Archive in Krichev T.E.Ryskova shared her experience of working with archive acquisition sources.

Director of the Zonal State Archive in Molodechno Pudakevich I.Z. highlighted the issues of interaction between the archive and educational institutions within the framework of the «Archives to School» campaign. Junior Researcher of the Belarusian Scientific Research Institute of Documentation and Archives Lyutarevich I.V. spoke about his experience in graduate school, the courses he taught, and the advantages that studying at the second stage of higher education provides.

At the end of the course, students were awarded certificates of advanced training in the established format.

The content of the program and the organization of the courses received positive feedback from employees of archival institutions. Listeners appreciated the relevance of the advanced training program and emphasized the need to regularly improve their educational level.

Work to improve the human resources potential of the archival industry of the Republic of Belarus will continue.

In October 2024, it is planned to organize advanced training courses for employees of archives of government agencies and other organizations.

1. Director of the Department of Archives and Records Management O.L.Voinov with graduates of advanced training courses. May 24, 2024

2. Course participants during a round table at the National Historical Archive of Belarus on May 22, 2024.

3. Introduction to the NSA system of the National Historical Archives of Belarus

4. Demonstration of the oldest document from 1391 in the National Historical Archive of Belarus

5. Opening of the round table on May 24, 2024