European Humanities University

European Humanities University

Lithuanian: Europos humanitarinis universitetas Belarusian: Еўрапейскі гуманітарны ўніверсітэт
Type	Private, liberal arts university
Established	1992
President	Prof. Anatoli Mikhailov
Rector	Prof. G. David Pollick
Academic staff	~87
Administrative staff	~50
Students	~1100
Undergraduates	~950
Postgraduates	~100
Doctoral students	5
Location	Vilnius, Lithuania 54°40′57″N 25°17′14″E / 54.68250°N 25.28722°E / 54.68250; 25.28722Coordinates: 54°40′57″N 25°17′14″E / 54.68250°N 25.28722°E / 54.68250; 25.28722
Campus	Urban
Affiliations	EUA, IAU, EAIE, SAR, AUF, EUF-CE
Website	www.ehu.lt

European Humanities University (Belarusian: Еўрапейскі гуманітарны ўніверсітэт (ЕГУ), Lithuanian: Europos Humanitarinis Universitetas (EHU), Russian: Европейский гуманитарный университет (ЕГУ)) is a private, non-profit liberal arts university founded in Minsk, Belarus, in 1992. Following its forced closure by the Belarusian authorities in 2004, EHU relocated to Vilnius (Lithuania) and thus continues its operations as a private university.

EHU offers high-residence and low-residence undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate degree programs in the field of humanities and social sciences. University has been headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania, since authorities expelled it from Belarus in 2004. The university intends to return to Minsk.^[1]

From 1992 to 2004 EHU was a non-state establishment of undergraduate and post-graduate education in Belarus. In 2004, due to government opposition, EHU was forced to terminate its activities in Belarus. However, thanks to political, administrative, and financial support from the European Union, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Governments of Lithuania, other European countries, and the United States, NGOs and foundations like MacArthur Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and others, EHU resumed its operation in Vilnius, Lithuania and opened bachelor's and master's degree programs for Belarusian students in autumn 2005. In March 2006 the Government of Lithuania granted EHU the official status of a Lithuanian university.

After the mass protests of the Belarusian presidential election of 2010, many EHU students and teachers were imprisoned by the KGB. The university said it would work with students to help them in their education despite the circumstances.^[2]

In 2015 EHU serves more than 1,100 mostly Belarusian students, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs and promoting research in the humanities and social sciences. About two-thirds of EHU's students attend via online programs and reside in Belarus. About one-third attend courses on campus in Vilnius. Teaching languages – Belarusian, Russian, some courses are taught in English, German and French. EHU ranks second among private universities in Lithuania.^[3]

History

Minsk period (1992–2004)

The university was established in Minsk in 1992. At that time it comprised eight schools and provided education with 13 programs in humanities, foreign and classical languages, and IT. EHU was a basis for the establishment of research centers and institutes in Belarus: the Institute of German Studies, the Center for Economic and Social Research, the Center for Gender Studies, the Center for Civic Education, the Information and Resource Center on the European Integration and others.

In 2002 it was one of the first universities to join European University Foundation - Campus Europae.

On July 24, 2004 the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus revoked university's license for the provision of educational services, claiming the campus was unsuitable for classes. The university was forced to terminate its operations. The actions of the authorities provoked a mass protest next day; about two hundred students and faculty defended their right to study and work in EHU.^[4]

Vilnius period (2004–present)

In 2005 EHU reestablished its activity in Lithuania with the support of the Government of Lithuania, European Commission, the Nordic Council of Ministers, and support by European countries and international foundations.

On March 10, 2006 EHU was granted the status of a private Lithuanian university. The first EHU undergraduate class in Vilnius completed its studies in 2009.

On June 5, 2012 EHU celebrated its 20th anniversary in Vilnius Town Hall.^[5]

On June 14, 2013 EHU was awarded an Atlantic Council Freedom Award for unwavering commitment to democracy in Belarus by providing Belarusian students with a free and democratic environment to pursue their education.^[6]

In 2014 EHU completed faculty reform, which aimed at providing better working conditions for faculty and to strengthening the overall quality of education and research at the university.^[7] In 2015 EHU announced the results of an international Rector’s search, which involved 19 candidates from seven countries. On April 3 Prof. G. David Pollick (US) was appointed as Rector.^[8] In the same year university Senate endorsed Magna Charta Universitatum.^[9]

Academics

Operating in Lithuania, EHU is involved in the Bologna process and conducts the academic process according to the standards of the European Higher Education Area. Upon successful completion of degree studies at EHU, university graduates are awarded European Union-recognized diplomas.

University's academic year begins on October 1.

Academic departments:

• Department of Media
• Department of Political and Social Sciences
• Department of Law
• Department of History

and:

• Core Curriculum Center
• Center for Business Education

EHU offers following high-residence and low-residence undergraduate programs:

• Visual Design and Media
• Cultural Heritage and Tourism
• Media and Communication (minors available New Media and Visual Culture and Creative Industries)
• World Politics and Economics
• International Law and European Union Law (LL.M> degree program)

Master's programs in blended learning mode:

• Historical and Cultural Heritage
• Cultural Studies
• MBA
• Public Policy
• Existential Psychology

Since 2011, EHU offers a Doctorate in Philosophy jointly with Vytautas Magnus University and the Lithuanian Culture Research Institute.^[10]

EHU offers low residence programs and courses via Moodle. Upon completion of distance courses free listeners are awarded with a ECTS.

High-residence students are also eligible to participate in Erasmus+ and Campus Europae student mobility programs with more than 50 partner universities throughout Europe.

Research

EHU conducts research in humanities and social sciences and supports the research activities of its faculty and students by maintaining research centers, laboratories, and institutes:

• Center for Constitutionalism and Human Rights
• Center for Gender Studies
• Center for German Studies
• Laboratory of Critical Urbanism
• Laboratory of Visual and Cultural Studies

EHU research centers conduct research activities, organize scientific conferences, publish scientific journals (Journal of Constitutionalism and Human Rights, Journal of philosophical and cultural studies).

Leadership

General Assembly of Part-Owners

The General Assembly of Part-Owners is the highest governing body of the university that brings together organizations that reestablished EHU in Lithuania after its closure in Minsk. These include the Institute for International Education, Open Society Foundations and Eurasia Foundation.

Governing Board

The Governing Board is responsible for the strategic direction, finances, and functioning of the university. The Chair of the Governing Board is Dr. Daniel Tarschys (Sweden) – ex-General Secretary of the Council of Europe and Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Stockholm.

President

Prof. Anatoli Mikhailov is a scholars in the field of German philosophy, who founded EHU in Minsk in 1992 and served as Rector until September 30, 2014. Starting October 2014 Prof. Mikhailov serves as EHU President.

Rector

On April 3, 2015, the General Assembly of Part-Owners appointed Prof. G. David Pollick as university Rector. Prof. Pollick has experience in managing colleges in the USA: he has served as President of four American universities and colleges: the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Lebanon Valley College, Birmingham–Southern College, and the State University of New York at Cortland, where he was Acting President and Provost for academic affairs. He was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Seattle University.

University Council

University Council is the advisory body of the university. Rector, Vice-Rectors, Heads of Academic Departments, and chief financial officer are members of the University Council. Rector chairs University Council meetings.

Senate

The Senate is an academic self-governance body, operating on the basis of the Oxbridge model, thus faculty working at EHU are under employment contracts of at least 27 hours per week. Five student representatives and the Chief for Academic Affairs are members of the Senate. Its functions are to ensure academic self-governance and maintain academic freedoms. Chair of the Senate is Professor Emeritus Ryhor Miniankou.

Students' Union

Students' Union is an autonomous student self-government body, operating as a legal entity, which represents EHU students internally and externally, as according to the Law on Higher Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania. EHU Students' Union is a full member of the Lithuanian National Union of Students.

People

Doctor Honoris Causa

EHU's Doctor Honoris Causa degree is conferred upon scholars, statesmen, public, religious, and political figures of the Republic of Belarus and other countries to honor their accomplishments in humanities and social sciences, university education and culture; their contributions to the development of democracy and the realization of the principles of the rule of law; and their contribution to the development of culture and promotion of intercultural dialog.

EHU Honorary Doctors are:

• Alain Fleischer, French writer, film director, and photographer.
• Aleś Razanaŭ, Belarusian poet and translator.
• Fr. Alexander Nadson (1926–2015), Apostolic Visitor for Belarusian Greek-Catholic faithful abroad and a Belarusian émigré social and religious leader.
• Prof. Peter Pavlowski
• Prof. Andrea Riccardi, an Italian researcher of Church history, professor of Contemporary History, Roma Tre University, Italy.
• Prof. Rolf Stober, German lawyer and political figure, project coordinator of international educational and research programs in the field of law.
• Stéphane Hessel, French diplomat, public figure, writer.
• Olga Sedakova, Russian poet, translator and scholar of Christian culture.
• Prof. Alfred Grosser, French educational and cultural figure, head of academic programs.
• Prof. Krzysztof Zanussi, Polish film director and public figure, president of the Federation of European Film Directors.
• Wolfgang Grieger, a German businessman, head of the Grieger Mallison consulting company, philanthropist.
• Prof. Sergey Averintsev (1927–2004), Russian researcher in culture and classical philology.
• Prof. Algirdas Brazauskas (1932–2010), President (1993–1998) and Prime Minister (2001–2006) of the Republic of Lithuania.
• Prof. Nikolaus Wyrwoll, theologian, researcher of the dialog between the Catholic and the Orthodox Churches, director of the University of Regensburg's Institute of the Eastern Church, Germany.

Faculty

• Oleg Bresky – PhD in Law, professor, Head of the Academic Department of Law.
• Andrey Gornykh – PhD in Philosophy, professor, author of books and articles on philosophy and cultural studies.
• Aliaksandr Kalbaska – PhD in History, professor, EHU Chief of Academic Affairs.
• Eduard Melnikau – PhD in History, professor, Belarusian journalist, producer of documentary films and TV programs, talk-show "Forum" host (TV channel Belsat).
• Ryhor Miniankou – PhD in Philosophy, Professor Emeritus, Chairman of the EHU Senate, author of articles on social philosophy and history of sociology.
• Anatoli Mikhailov – PhD in Philosophy, professor, EHU Founding Rector and President.
• Iryna Ramanava – PhD in History, professor, author of publications on the history of Soviet Belarus, co-author of a book "Mir: the history of the small town told by its residents (2009).
• Henadz Sahanovich – PhD in History, professor, author of the books "Unknown war: 1654–1667” (1995) and “The Battle of Grunwald i Belarusian History” (2016).
• Alla Sokolova – PhD in Law, Professor Emeritus, author of more than 50 publications on general law theory and sociology of law.
• Almira Ousmanova – PhD in Philosophy, professor, author of the monograph "Umberto Eco: paradoxes of interpretation”, numerous articles on semiotics, visual and gender studies, editor of anthologies “The Philosophy of Postmodernity” (1996), “Anthology of Gender Theory” (2000), “Gender History of Eastern Europe” (2002), “Bi-textuality and Cinema” (2003), “Gender and Transgression in Visual Arts” (2007), “Visual (as) Violence” (2007), “Belarusian format: invisible reality” (2008).
• Tatiana Shchyttsova – Dr. habil. in Philosophy, professor, Editor-in_Chief of the Journal of philosophical and cultural studies Topos, author of articles and papers on philosophical anthropology, social philosophy, phenomenology.
• Victor Martinovich – PhD in Art Criticism, Associate Professor, Belarusian journalist, art critic, author of several books.

Notable alumni

• Uladzimir Puhach, undergraduate program in law, class 1998, the front-man of a popular Belarusian rock band J:Морс, which has released 8 studio albums.
• Uladzislau Androsau, Master's program "Protection and Interpretation of Cultural Heritage", class 2012, EHU Distinguished Alumnus-2014, the owner of "Med Travel Belarus", which provides medical tourism services.
• Artiom Anisimov, undergraduate program in international law, class 2009, holds MA degree in Law from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, specializes in space-, cyber- and telecommunication law. Anisimov is a representative of Space Generation Advisory Council to the UN ECOSOC, member of the EHU Governing Board, Associated Consultant at A.T. Kearney.
• Volha Hapeeva, Master's program "Gender Studies", class 2007, Belarusian poet, writer, translator, winner of the literary contest "Ex Libris", "Golden apostrophe", awarded Janka Maur prize, author of several books.
• Dzmitry Bazhko, undergraduate program "Cultural Heritage and Tourism", class 2009, EHU Distinguished Alumnus-2015, project manager at Airbnb.

References

External links

• European Humanities University
• United States-Based Support Group Friends of EHU
• Germany-Based Support Group EHU Förderinitiative, e.V.
• EHU Trust Fund
• Nordic Council of Ministers
• European Humanities University: To Be Belarusian Or Not To Be
• The Belarusian University In Exile Needs More Than A New Rector
• EHU Rector Selection: Time To Fix Mistakes And Improve Credibility
• The EHU Saga: Building A Future For Belarus, Not Just Selecting A Rector
• Analytical Paper: Optimising EHU's Impact On Belarus
• EHU Fights Allegations Of Financial Misconduct, Needs New Leadership

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