Internationalizing teacher education: the case of Belarus

This article describes the unique characteristics of internationalization in teacher education in the republic of belarus,by asking how the creation of a national system of teacher education after the ussr's disintegration has both enhanced and hindered internationalization. the question is answered by providing an overview of the specific challenges in establishing a national teacher education system after the republic of belarus became independent in 1991,by introducing a concept of internationalization,and by analysing three components of the internationalization of teacher education in belarus. the authors conclude that internationalization in teacher education is still weak; it has been hindered mainly by the frequently changing,indecisive,and incoherent national policies that have left little academic freedom for those higher education institutions specializing in the initial education of teachers. the new nation's various and changing contacts with other countries,in both east and west,call into question the term internationalization for belarus,where former national contacts have quickly embraced internationalization. © 2012 unesco ibe.