Student Union Committee of VSMU

Composition of the Student union Committee of VSMU

The primary student trade union organization of Vitebsk State Order of the Friendship of Peoples Medical University is part of the Vitebsk Regional Organization of the Belarusian Trade Union of Healthcare Workers.

The Belarusian Trade Union of Healthcare Workers is a voluntary, mass, public, and independent organization that unites employees of medical institutions, regardless of organizational or legal forms of ownership, students of medical educational institutions, and former healthcare sector workers.

In its activities, the healthcare workers’ trade union is independent of governmental and economic bodies, political parties and movements, and other public organizations. It cooperates with them on an equal basis and is subject only to the law.

The student trade union organization of VSMU includes the overwhelming majority of students, currently representing 99.9% of the total student body. The trade union organization acts as the authorized representative of VSMU students and operates based on the Charter of the Belarusian Trade Union of Healthcare Workers and the Agreement between the university administration and the Student Union Committee of VSMU.

The purpose of the primary student trade union organization of VSMU is to protect the socio-economic rights and legitimate interests of student members, promote a healthy lifestyle and cultural leisure activities, provide financial support during difficult periods of life, and recognize achievements in trade union activities and professional development.

In its work, the student trade union of VSMU is guided by the following fundamental principles: voluntary membership and withdrawal; elected leadership; objectivity; collegiality; transparency; equal rights of all members and mutual assistance in activities; organizational and financial independence of the union; and regular reporting of trade union bodies to their organizations and higher-level trade union authorities.

The student trade union organization of VSMU consists of the Trade Union Committee and trade union groups. The permanently functioning commissions of the Student Trade Union Committee are as follows:

• Organizational and Mass Activities Commission – ensures the functioning of the university’s trade union as a unified organization, coordinating the work of the trade union bureau, commissions, and the trade union committee.
• Student Social Protection Commission – monitors compliance with and enforcement of legislative and regulatory documents at all levels concerning students.
• Audit Commission – the control and audit body overseeing the activities of the governing bodies of trade union organizations.
• Academic and Educational Commission – exercises public oversight of the organization of the educational process, ensuring that student workload norms established by curricula are observed.
• Housing and Utilities Commission – monitors the provision of dormitory places for non-local students, ensures proper living conditions, and promotes the development of student self-government in dormitories.
• Cultural and Mass Activities Commission – organizes work on the aesthetic and moral education of students, supports the development and self-realization of creative youth at the university, and encourages talented students actively participating in the university’s cultural life.
• Sports and Wellness Commission – participates in events promoting a healthy and active lifestyle and organizes recreation and wellness activities for students.
• Student Control Commission – conducts inspections of the operation and sanitary conditions of university canteens and buffets.
• Information Technology Implementation Commission – provides IT support, monitors the integrity of hardware and information systems, and oversees the computer database of the VSMU Student Union.
• Commission for Work with International Students – cooperates with international students, fosters international friendship, and develops international relations.
• School of Trade Union Activists – works to increase motivation for trade union membership, develop organizational and leadership skills, and provides methodological support for legal literacy training of trade union activists.

The Student Trade Union Committee of VSMU carries out the following activities:

• Represents and protects the interests and rights of students who are members of the trade union;
• Exercises public oversight of compliance with labor protection legislation, trade union regulations, and the implementation of the agreement between the university administration and the Student Union Committee of VSMU;
• Monitors the organization of the educational process and student workload, serving as a support for students;
• Organizes control over the health and nutrition of student trade union members;
• Oversees the work of trade union groups through trade union representatives;
• Promotes spiritual and patriotic education of medical students, develops their legal and political culture, and motivates them for conscious, responsible, and active participation in public life;
• Organizes cultural and mass activities for trade union members;
• Supports the development of sports and a healthy lifestyle among students, organizing physical education and wellness events;
• Cooperates with government authorities and public associations in addressing socio-economic and trade union issues;
• Provides financial assistance to trade union members in difficult life situations;
• Materially rewards active and creative trade union students;
• Provides students with social and merit-based scholarships, grants, allowances, compensations, and subsidies;
• Participates in organizing leisure and wellness activities for trade union members, facilitating access to sanatorium and resort treatment for students;
• Addresses issues related to improving the living conditions of medical students;
• Organizes temporary employment for students;
• Maintains records of trade union members;
• Facilitates the implementation of decisions made by trade union governing bodies;
• Informs trade union members about significant events, news, and the ongoing life of the trade union organization and the university.

The Student Union Committee collects trade union membership fees, which form the budget of the union’s financial resources. These funds are intended to provide financial assistance to students in need, organize sports, wellness, and cultural events, support the development of students’ creative initiatives, and assist talented and active youth.

Trade unions worldwide play an important social and legal role. We are firmly convinced of the significance of the primary student trade union organization of Vitebsk State Order of the Friendship of Peoples Medical University. It exists to improve the lives of medical students, protect your rights and interests, and is accountable for its activities to you.

We strive to find an individual approach to each student and provide assistance to everyone who turns to us. We invite all interested students to cooperate. You can contact the Student Union Committee with any issue and be confident that you will always receive help and support there.