EHU Museum

E.H.U. International Between Closure and Recovery

AN IMPOSSIBLE
DREAM?

Based on documents and memories, the exhibition represents the three-year period of EHU history as the most dramatic one. The exhibition demonstrates the existence of the university community "in between": work on both sides of the border from its closure in Belarus through relocation to registration in exile in Lithuania.

Virtual Exhibition

Minsk protests of 1991 against the GKChP ©Uladzimir Sapagou. Web archive vytoki.net

The dissolution of the Soviet Union significantly impacted various aspects of life in the successor states. Belarus' independence in 1991 marked the end of a unified political space, prompting the country's leadership to implement certain political changes and seek its own (national) identity. This search also touched the higher education system in Belarus.

Economic problems accompanying the transition to a market economy placed universities under financial constraints, leading to the creation of private higher education institutions. By the 1996/97 academic year, there were already twenty such institutions in the country.

In April 2004, the Belarusian Minister of Education, Alexander Radkov, signed a license for the educational activities of EHU for the next five years.

Nevertheless, the Belarusian authorities did not have clear ambitions to create a radically new model of higher education. Instead, they attempted to adapt to the former Soviet model inherited from the Soviet period.

License of the Ministry of Education of Belarus for educational activity of EHU. 30.04.2004

The EHU Rector A. Mikhailov. 2004.12.01

Licence of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus to establish "EHU". 18.04.1995

The team of like-minded individuals grew in number. For less than 10 years EHU was recognized as one of the best private universities in the country.

V. Dounaev, L. Vasilieva, R. Miniankou
On the occasion of Human Rights Day. 1998-99

Graduates of the Faculty of Law, University staff and officials. 2000

Shortly after its establishment by a group of intellectuals, the university quickly gained fame, recognition, and interest from applicants. The ambitious university received official rights to issue diplomas.

EHU was founded in 1992 in Minsk,Belarus, as a symbol: Belarus belongs to Europe and shares its values for centuries.

ESTABLISHING

The Belarusian authorities accused EHU of engaging in political activities, suggesting that its educational programs were fostering opposition sentiments.

The university demonstrated its commitment to humanitarian education. Programs that fostered critical thinking and respect for human rights were implemented, increasing internationalization through new international connections. The Belarusian government, traditionally maintaining strict control over educational institutions, saw this as propaganda of values incompatible with government ideology.

The main reason for these changes was political and related to the logic of consolidating an authoritarian political regime, which sought to strengthen its ideological control over higher education and prevent any political involvement of students.

The government's
policy began to
change
demonstratively

On January 21, 2004, the Minister of Education A. Radkov proposed to the Rector, academic Anatoli Mikhailov, to resign without any arguments. In early February 2004, one of the defining rallies of the collective took place, which supported Anatoli Mikhailov's intention to remain in office and not to cancel the planned business trips at that time.

In July 2004, literally two and a half months after the official issuance of the license, Minister of Education A. Radkov signed a decision to revoke the license and close the university, which was justified by the absence of necessary educational spaces.

EHU, being at the forefront of changes, teetered on the brink of closure

Order on the cancellation of the educational licence of EHU. 2004.07.27

Rector noted in his address to the university community:

"The outrageous violation by the Belarusian authorities of the law in relation to EHU caused unprecedented solidarity of the world academic community, which in turn supported the creation of 'EHU in exile".

The international community, concerned about the pressure starting on EHU Rector, Professor Anatoli Mikhailov, tried to protect him by all possible means.
All efforts were in vain.

Thus, for political reasons in the 21st century, EHU joined a small family of universities in exile

Simultaneously, intensive searches were underway for a city or country that could accommodate the expelled university.

During the summer holidays, daily rallies of the community in defense of EHU, distribution among state HEIs of nearly a thousand students and the rescue of a library with more than 60,000 books and educational aids took place. By September, all students of the Arts’ faculty who were in Belarus at the time of the university's closure had been transferred to Minsk Higher Educational Institutions.

Under the leadership of the first vice-rector Professor Vladimir Dounaev, the evacuation of the four-story educational building took place over two weeks.

RELOCATION

From March 15 to 18, 2005, "E.H.U. International" holds a conference in Druskininkai, Lithuania, on "Experience and Perspectives of Development of Educational Programs in Belarus.” During these days, 57 colleagues discussed the status and limits of opportunities for "E.H.U. International," the state of the existing process of distance learning, improvement of communication mechanisms with students and among themselves. Technical support for programs, defense of final works in Belarus and beyond its borders and other, no less important issues.

University staff at the conference in Druskeninkai. 15-18.03.2005

With dedicated colleagues scattered in different corners of Europe tirelessly working on creating new descriptions and collecting document packages for the registration of new programs in Lithuania. The intensity of communication sometimes reached such a level that during our stay in Berlin we had to share a single "migrating" laptop among several people. Leaving it among the bedding in the rooms of the student dormitory, where colleagues-instructors spent the night. So that the "owls" could be using it in the first half of the night and the "larks" from the early morning. "Polishing" on it the drafted program descriptions and sending them in parts for translation into Lithuanian.

Thanks to the proactive and very humanitarian position of the former employees of the closed center for German studies at EHU, P. Liezigang and F. Knodler, several dozen students from the design, museology, and tourism departments, as well as "orphaned" students from the Faculty of Informatics, managed to study in Germany. Students were accepted at the Free University in Berlin, the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt on the Oder, and the Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences) in Saarbrücken.

Z. Pavilionis. Head of the Department of the EU Integration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2002-2006)

R. Juska. Advisor of the Foreign Policy Analysis and Planning Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2003-2006)
A. Juskienė. Executive Director of the E.H.U. International

The Lithuanian Government is joined by the European Commission, the Open Society Institute, the Council of Ministers of the Nordic countries, and the embassies of some European countries. Work begins on shaping the concept of the university in exile, forming working teams on both sides of the border managing the distance learning process during the current 2004-2005 academic year, preparing for the defense of diplomas for those graduates who remained in Belarus or found themselves beyond its borders.

To address organizational, logistical, and procedural aspects of university preparation and opening in exile, on October 28, 2004, the non-governmental public institution "E.H.U. International" is registered.

Of the possible relocation options (Poland, Russia, and Lithuania), the most persuasive offers came from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Algirdas Brazauskas.

E.H.U.
INTERNATIONAL

Rymantas Vaitkus, Vice-Rector of the University named after Mykolas Romeris, assured that in the first year, "E.H.U. International" would be provided with some premises on Didlaukio Street, 350 square meters for joint use, with lecture halls, a library, and dormitory with the Faculty of Politics and Management in the building at Valakupių street.

Presentation of the Order of Academic Palms to the former dean of the Franco-Belarusian Faculty S. Pankovsky "Honorus" badge of honour 25.01.2005

On June 9-10, 2005, a significant event in the history of EHU took place in Vilnius. An international conference publicly inaugurated "E.H.U. International." The conference was welcomed by the President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus and the President of the MacArthur Foundation Jonathan Fanton, MEP Rolandas Pavilionis, President of the Lithuanian Rectors' Conference V. Kaminskas. Greetings were read from George Soros and the Chairwoman of the European Commission Benita Ferrero-Waldner. The presentation of the project "EHU in exile" was carried out by the president of "E.H.U. International" Anatoli Mikhailov.

Bachelor's diploma example. 30.05.2005

The inaugural conference empowered "E.H.U. International" to prepare for the opening of a full-fledged university. The celebration was adorned with the awarding of diplomas from "E.H.U. International."

Donor W. Newton-Smith's pointing finger

D. Davidson. President of American Councils for International Education and Chairman of EHU International Board J. Fanton. President of the MacArthur Foundation
Horton Beebe-Сenter. President of the Eurasia Foundation

E.H.U. International
inauguration

T. Halko on International Conference "Higher Education in Belarus". 11-12.12.2006

Prof. A. Sokolova and assoc. prof. S. Naumova

Prof. V. Furs on International Conference "Higher Education in Belarus". 11.12.2006

Rector MRU А. Pumputis and rector EHU A. Mikhailov after signing the agreement on the transfer of educational space on Valakupių 20.12.2006

A new model of the faculty's existence was built

Within the ‘E.H.U. International', in addition to the three renewed faculties/departments: International and European law (Alla Sokolova); Arts and Cultural History (Aliaksandr Kalbaska); Philosophy and Political Sciences (Ryhor Miniankou), a fourth one was created – the Department of Social Sciences under the guidance of Almira Ousmanova.

Dean of Social Sciences Department A. Ousmanava with graduates. 03.08.2006

T. Kuzina. 10.10.2005

The dean had to travel from the station with a cake to the dormitory to gather in the reading room around midnight to support the fighting spirit. And in the morning, stimulate the cleaning of the scenes and the cleaning of warm radiators by personal example.

Student complaints about housing conditions, Sauletikes, 12. 10.07.2005

First-year students of the faculty immediately faced a series of challenges and difficulties. In the dormitory on 12, Sauletekis street, they had to move in the day after the departure of the builders. Getting used to the new living conditions was accompanied by repairs to part of the shower cabins and washrooms. Setting up a communal kitchen. Getting used to uncomfortable neighbors one by one. Independent wallpapering. Replacing the laminate on the floor. Forming habits of self-service. Solving existential questions like washing their own laundry or sending it home to mom, cleaning lampshades from lazy flies, or hibernating with them?

EHU student's room. 23.01.2006

P. Tereshkovich. Academic codirector of the СASE, creator of the program "History and (Cultural) Anthropology"

T. Shchyttsova. Editor-in-Chief of the philosophical and cultural journal “Topos”.

To ensure work experience and payment for their work in Minsk, the European Culture Institute is registered, which, in October 2005, has 30 people.

Through it, agreements are concluded with 'E.H.U. International’ to develop distance courses in the same directions that were registered in Lithuania, but specifically for Belarusians without any legal status abroad.

EHU Professor's certificate

Certificate of the Institute of European Culture's Director

Under the leadership of the former dean the preparatory faculty of EHU is revived as language courses 'Propilei.' As a continuation of the work to attract and prepare future applicants for enrollment at EHU.

In Minsk, things were unfolding in their own way

V. Lobko treats roommates to dinner in a rented apartment in Užupis. 01.11.2007

Poster of the theatre tour "How Uncle Antoś went to Vilnius"

Map showing trolleybus and bus stops for EHU students and staff. 15.11.2005

Since the train with new visitors arrived in Vilnius at 10 pm, and predecessors had to move out of the apartment by that time, the problem of handing over the keys to the apartment was often solved with the help of the station's luggage storage cameras and SMS communication.

Since only a few administrative staff of 'E.H.U. International' had a legal Lithuanian status, Belarusian visitors from the Institute of Belarusian Culture provided the educational process on a rotational basis. With the full flavor of communal living, assisted by weekly changes of the most diverse neighbors. To bring everything a person needs for a week of living and teaching to Vilnius, from a computer, methodological handouts to changeable shoes. And the mandatory export of all property across the border home.

It wasn't easier for the teachers too

Official letter from EHU students to A. Mikhailov. 27.03.2006

The search for the university's own identity abroad became quite challenging. Lithuanian. Belarusian. European. International

For example, there was no boundary to the astonishment of students in the 'Belarusian Studies' program when they heard the lecture course by Mr. Uladzimir Rouda, 'Introduction to Political History,' in the Russian language. Demonstratively leaving the auditorium, they, with 42 signatures collected, submitted an ultimatum statement to the administration, demanding the teaching of the discipline in Belarusian. After the second lecture, conducted in Belarusian, 32 signatures were collected in favor of studying the discipline in Russian.

Each project participant and each external observer had their own view and response to this question, sometimes diametrically opposed.

Presentation of diplomas EHU International. A. Mikhailov, V. Dounaev

US President George Bush greetings to EHU. 01.03.2006

Welcome letter from George Soros to EHU. 07.06.2005

On February 15, 2006, the government of the Republic of Lithuania agreed to the creation of the European Humanities University in exile, and on March 2, President Anatoli Mikhailov officially signed the EHU Establishment Act.

EHU IN EXILE

Briefing on Belarus and academic freedom from Scholars at Risk Network.

2024 Scholars at Risk Global Congress is to be held June 25-27, 2024 in Vilnius, Lithuania, in partnership with the EHU, that marks 20 years in exile. Global Congresses bring together leading scholars, advocates, students and professionals to rethink issues of academic freedom and related values.

As we can see, Belarus has firmly established itself among the authoritarian countries and does not seem willing to surrender its position.

Persecution and dismissal from work of dozens of scientists of the Academy of Sciences for participating in the Telegram group called 'Scientists Against Violence,' which the Belarusian authorities called 'extremist.'

But is it already a new story, or the continuation of the old one?

The imprisonment for 10 years of the former EHU employee Tatsiana Kuzina.

The imprisonment of a third-year student of the program "International Law and Law of the Eurasian Union" at EHU, Marfa Rabkova, sentenced in 2020 to 15 years in prison.

A two-year sentence served by 11 students of the Belarusian Students Association and their teacher.

Today, the Republic of Belarus continues to replenish its own portfolio with new cases. In addition to the closure and expulsion of EHU beyond the country, the following were added:

We have shown you a part of our university's history, which continues to do what cannot be done since every day of its existence in exile. Our impossible dream lives on in everyone who is involved in the life of EHU. We are glad you took the time to visit us and our exhibition. If you would like to contact us: leave your feedback or share your favorite objects related to you and our university – just click on the our email. 

museum@ehu.lt

Virtual Museum EHU 2024
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