The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report
Belarus Higher Education Modernization Project (P167992)
Belarus Higher Education Modernization Project (P167992)
EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA | Belarus | Education Global Practice |
IBRD/IDA | Investment Project Financing | FY 2020 | Seq No: 5 | ARCHIVED on 09-Feb-2023 | ISR51769 |
Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Education, Republic of Belarus
Key Dates
Key Project Dates
Bank Approval Date: 20-May-2020 Effectiveness Date: 20-Oct-2020
Planned Mid Term Review Date: 24-Apr-2023 Actual Mid-Term Review Date:
Original Closing Date: 31-Dec-2025 Revised Closing Date: 31-Dec-2025
pdoTable
Project Development Objectives
Project Development Objective (from Project Appraisal Document)
The DO is to improve the teaching and learning environment and information on the labor market relevance of higher education.
Has the Project Development Objective been changed since Board Approval of the Project Objective?
No
Components Table
Name
Modernization of the teaching and learning environment:(Cost $97.00 M)
Innovations in teaching and learning:(Cost $8.50 M)
Quality assurance:(Cost $3.00 M)
Project management:(Cost $0.50 M)
Overall Ratings
Name Previous Rating Current Rating
Progress towards achievement of PDO Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Overall Implementation Progress (IP) Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Overall Risk Rating Moderate High
Implementation Status and Key Decisions
Starting on March 19, 2022, the World Bank suspended its country work program in Belarus. In light of the deteriorating operational environment
resulting from the cumulative impact of the restrictions and sanctions, the Bank determined that an extraordinary situation had occurred that made it
improbable that the Belarus Higher Education Modernization Project could be carried out in accordance with the obligations contained in the
respective Loan (and Grant Agreement(s). The Bank provided a transition period starting on March 19, 2022, with a duration of 30 days to enable
completion or temporary conservation of the works, supply of goods, and provision of services, and 60 days – to make payments to the contractors
for contracts signed prior to the suspension. In June-July 2022, the undisbursed amounts under the Project were canceled following the request
from the Government of Belarus. There are currently no undisbursed funds under the Project.
All project components were successful prior to the suspension of the Project. Its implementation planning by components was finalized, activities
contributing to the achievement of the project development objective were on track, and implementation plans for the next years were set.
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The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report
Belarus Higher Education Modernization Project (P167992)
Component 1: Modernization of teaching and learning environment. At the time of the project suspension, research equipment for five
laboratories had been delivered under sub-component 1.1. Within sub-component 1.2., the renovation has been fully completed at nine facilities and
partially completed in three facilities.
Component 2; Innovations in teaching and learning. Activities under this component were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was
planned during 2022 to launch Graduate Tracer Study (GTS) study, conduct study tours and mobility programs for Belarusian Master students and
academics, and work on the concept for digital higher education under subcomponent 2.3. However, these activities did not proceed due to
suspension. At the same time, the adoption of the new law on education in Belarus provided opportunities for more innovations in higher education
of the country.
Component 3: Quality Assurance. In early January 2022, the Belarus National Quality Assurance Agency became fully operational and started to
work on the implementation of mandatory steps to join the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). This process
is currently on hold.
Broad citizen engagement, a well-organized grievance redress mechanism, and information activities within project implementation were key
elements of successful project implementation before the suspension. The Ministry of Education worked a lot to hold focus group discussions with
academics and students, including differently able students, to discuss project activities. Different channels for external communications on project
activities were piloted by the Project Implementation Unit and the Ministry under the Stakeholder Engagement Plan.
Risks
Systematic Operations Risk-rating Tool
Risk Category Rating at Approval Previous Rating Current Rating
Political and Governance Moderate Substantial High
Macroeconomic Substantial Substantial High
Sector Strategies and Policies Moderate Moderate Moderate
Technical Design of Project or Program Moderate Moderate Moderate
Institutional Capacity for Implementation and
Substantial Substantial Substantial
Sustainability
Fiduciary Moderate Moderate Moderate
Environment and Social Moderate Moderate Moderate
Stakeholders Substantial Substantial Substantial
Other -- Moderate --
Overall Moderate Moderate High
Results
PDO Indicators by Objectives / Outcomes
Modernization of the teaching and learning environment
IN01150822
►Number of higher education institutions with improved research facilities (Number, Custom)
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The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report
Belarus Higher Education Modernization Project (P167992)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
Value 0.00 0.00 9.00 18.00
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
At the time of the project suspension, research equipment for five laboratories had been delivered under
sub-component 1.1. Within sub-component 1.2., the renovation has been fully completed at nine facilities
Comments: and partially completed in three facilities. These three facilities will be finalized by the Government of
Belarus.
Innovations in teaching and learning
IN01150823
►Percentage of Bachelor’s programs with established learning outcomes (Percentage, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
No progress has been achieved to date for this indicator.
Comments:
IN01150825
►Percentage of Master’s programs with established learning outcomes (Percentage, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 100.00
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
No progress has been achieved to date for this indicator.
Comments:
IN01150916
►A national system to regularly trace higher education graduates (graduate tracer system – GTS) is established (Text, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
GTS concept is GTS concept is
Value No GTS GTS fully established
developed developed
Date 29-Aug-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
The GTS model has been developed through an earlier grant. The GTS model and concept were
expected to be developed in Year 1 using the results of the work under the grant implemented earlier. In
Year 2, an automated information system of GTS was expected to be created. In Year 3, the pilot testing
and refinement of the GTS was expected to be conducted. In Year 4, a survey of the second cohort of
Comments:
graduates was expected to be done using the GTS, and the data to be analyzed and published. In Year 5,
two cohorts of graduates were expected to be studied in parallel, and the data to be published, the GTS to
be fully established. The progress of this indicator stopped after the suspension of the project.
Quality assurance
IN01150824
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The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report
Belarus Higher Education Modernization Project (P167992)
►The newly established Belarus quality assurance agency is a full member of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher
Education (ENQA) (Yes/No, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
Value No No No Yes
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 30-May-2025
The quality assurance agency, which manages its resources and operations independently, is in place
and operating with sufficient financial and human resources. The process of joining ENQA for the agency
Comments:
is on hold.
Overall Comments PDO
The latest information that the team could obtain from the counterparts is dated December 15, 2022.
Intermediate Results Indicators by Components
Modernization of the teaching and learning environment
IN01150918
►Number of targeted higher education institutions with improved teaching and learning facilities (Sub-component 1.2.) (Number, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
Value 0.00 0.00 9.00 18.00
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
Number of higher education institutions selected under the project (eighteen [18]) that have been
rehabilitated, renovated, set up or modernized with centers for shared use of unique educational and
Comments:
scientific equipment.
IN01150920
►Number of entrepreneurial university (“University 3.0”) projects completed out of the targeted entrepreneurial (“3.0”) projects (Sub-
component 1.2.) (Number, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 7.00
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
No progress has been achieved to date for this indicator.
Comments:
Innovations in teaching and learning
IN01150917
►Students benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning (Number, Corporate)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 300,000.00
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The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report
Belarus Higher Education Modernization Project (P167992)
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Aug-2025
No progress has been achieved to date for this indicator.
Comments:
IN01150922
Students benefiting from direct interventions to enhance learning - Female (Number, Corporate Supplement)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 150,000.00
IN01150923
►Beneficiaries that assess that project investments reflected their needs (Sub-component 2.1. and 2.2.) (Percentage, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 90.00
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Aug-2025
No progress has been achieved to date for this indicator.
Comments:
IN01150924
►Number of students who participate in national and international competitions related to entrepreneurial activities (Text, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
(Increase from
Value 0.00 0.00 0.00
baseline).
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
No progress has been achieved to date for this indicator.
Comments:
IN01150925
Of which number of female students (Text, Custom Breakdown)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
(Increase from
Value 0.00 0.00 0.00
baseline)
Date 28-Aug-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
IN01150926
►Number of new twinning projects involving Belarus and foreign universities (Sub-component 2.2.) (Number, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 21.00
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
No progress has been achieved to date for this indicator.
Comments:
IN01150927
►Number of Master’s students participating in mobility programs supported under the project (Number, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
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The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report
Belarus Higher Education Modernization Project (P167992)
Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 250.00
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
No progress has been achieved to date for this indicator.
Comments:
Quality assurance
IN01150919
►External quality assurance agency in place and operational (Sub-component 3.1.) (Text, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
External Quality
Assurance Agency
(QAA) in place and,
operational and in
No standalone QA QA agency is accordance with
Value QA agency is established
agency. established European Standards
and Guidelines for
Quality Assurance in
the European Higher
Education Area (ESG).
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
A quality assurance agency, in accordance with ESG and which manages its resources and operations
independently, is in place and operating with sufficient financial and human resources. This indicator of
Comments:
the project was achieved.
IN01150921
►Number of training events on internal quality assurance (Sub-component 3.2.) (Text, Custom)
Baseline Actual (Previous) Actual (Current) End Target
Value 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.00
Date 14-Jun-2019 08-Feb-2022 15-Dec-2022 31-Dec-2025
No progress has been achieved to date for this indicator.
Comments:
Overall Comments IR
The latest information that the team could obtain from the counterparts is dated December 15, 2022.
Performance-Based Conditions
Data on Financial Performance
Disbursements (by loan)
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The World Bank Implementation Status & Results Report
Belarus Higher Education Modernization Project (P167992)
Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Currency Original Revised Cancelled Disbursed Undisbursed % Disbursed
P167992 IBRD-90560 Effective USD 109.90 2.93 106.97 3.10 0.00 100%
Key Dates (by loan)
Project Loan/Credit/TF Status Approval Date Signing Date Effectiveness Date Orig. Closing Date Rev. Closing Date
P167992 IBRD-90560 Effective 20-May-2020 23-Jun-2020 20-Oct-2020 31-Dec-2025 31-Dec-2025
Cumulative Disbursements
Restructuring History
There has been no restructuring to date.
Related Project(s)
There are no related projects.
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