Iryna Sulim, 2004 EHU graduate, Minsk, Belarus

In 2004 the European Humanities University was shut down by the Belarusian authorities for being an independent educational establishment that aimed to foster critical thinking among students and to support freedom of expression. Nevertheless, later the same year, EHU was reopened in Vilnius, Lithuania, and, with the help of students, alumni and faculty from Minsk, as well as the international community and Lithuanian authorities, the university renewed its activities with a great success.

American Councils for International Education has been one of the long-term supporters of EHU, working closely with the University’s Governing Board.

The purpose of the event in Washington, DC, was to discuss the launch of the North American branch of EHU alumni association that would reconnect the alumni and students of EHU who live in the United States and Canada. In addition to providing a forum for EHU alumni and students, this organization would also aim at assisting EHU in Vilnius and at reaching out to potential supporters of the University.

On December 1, the Swedish Ambassador to the United States Jonas Hafström held a reception for the Governing Board of EHU, its alumni, and its international advocates. The Ambassador and his wife kindly received guests at their residence in Washington, DC. Besides the representatives from American Councils for International Education (Nathan Truitt, the Manager for International Philanthropic Development; Julia D. Homstad, the Philanthropic Development Coordinator; Terrence F. Graham, the Director of Higher Education Programs), there were members of the Governing Board of EHU, the Ambassador of Lithuania in the United States (Zygimantas Pavilionis), international observers and country representatives for Belarus and Ukraine (Balazs Jarabik), EHU Rector Anatoli Mikhailov, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Aliaksandr Kalbaska, the Director of the Belarusian Institute of Arts and Sciences (BINiM) in New York Vitaut Kipel, and EHU alumni (graduates of EHU in Minsk—Tatsiana Zhurauliova, Volha Dzianisava, Iryna Sulim; a graduate of EHU in Vilnius—Artiom Anisimov). The guests of the reception had an opportunity to reconnect, get acquainted with one another, and to exchange ideas on the future of EHU. The host of the reception, the Ambassador of Sweden in the United States, welcomed everyone with an opening speech that highlighted EHU’s status as an inspiring model of an independent university. The Ambassador spoke of EHU’s foundation and dramatic closure in 2004, as well as about its revival in Vilnius and current successes and challenges. Mr. Mikhailov, the Rector of the University, in his speech expressed hope for returning EHU to its original location in Minsk when the political situation changes. In addition to the conversation about EHU’s present situation and prospects for the future, the discussion inevitably turned towards the upcoming presidential elections in Belarus (December 19, 2010). International representatives welcomed an opportunity to learn more about the current political regime in Belarus and the country’s future prospects from the Belarusian participants.

Другі дзень  сустрэчы выдаўся вельмі насычаным  для выпускнікоў: яны былі запрошаны  наведаць некалькі сустрэч на Капіталійскім  узвышшы. З ранку яны сустрэліся з Сэнацкім карэспандэнтам Рычардам Дж. Дарбінам з Ілінойсу, Кайл-Эцьенам Джозэфам, і зь сябрам Дзярждэпартаменту ЗША Білам Мёлерам. Гаворка тычылася, галоўным чынам, палітычнай сітуацыі на Беларусі, надыходзячых прэзідэнцкіх выбараў ды іхных патэнцыйных наступстваў для ЭГУ і ягоных студэнтаў і выпускнікоў.  

Спадар  Мёлер цікавіўся асабістымі ўяўленьнямі выпускнікоў пра тое, як абставіны могуць быць палепшаны і ці можа амэрыканскі ўрад дапамагчы чым-небудзь. Удзельнікі прыйшлі да выніку, што адзін са спосабаў эфектыўна паспрыяць свабодзе і дэмакратыі на Беларусі – увядзеньне і падтрымка адукацыйных ды культурных абменаў. Акрамя таго, незалежныя ўстановы, такія як ЭГУ, падтрымалі б свабоду поглядаў, самавыяўленьня і свабоднага доступу да інфармацыі, такім чынам дапамагчы разьвіцьцю грамадзянскай супольнасьці на Беларусі і атрыманьню адукацыі новаму пакаленьню беларусаў.

The second day of the event was busy for the alumni, as they were invited to attend several meetings on Capitol Hill. In the morning they met with the Legislative Correspondent of the Sen. Richard J.Durbin of Illinois, Kyle-Etienne Joseph, and the US State Department Fellow, Bill Moeller. The discussion concerned mainly the political situation in Belarus, the upcoming presidential elections, and its potential consequences for EHU and its students and graduates. Mr. Moeller was interested in the alumni’s personal views on how the situation could be improved and whether the US government could assist with anything. The participants concluded that one of the ways to effectively promote freedom and democracy in Belarus is by introducing and supporting educational and cultural exchanges. In addition, independent institutions, such as EHU, would encourage freedom of thinking, expression, and free access to information, thus developing the civil society in Belarus and helping to educate a new generation of Belarusians.

Visiting Capitol Hill, it’s like plunge into American history. During the lunch break the alumni attended a tour of the US Capitol which focused on prominent moments of the American past and present. The afternoon meeting that followed was held with the Policy Advisors for the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe Ronald J. McNamara and Orest S. Deychakiwsky. Mr. McNamara and Mr. Deychakiwsky have both visited Belarus on numerous occasions before and are currently about to leave for Belarus as international observers for the upcoming elections. Sympathetic to the fate of EHU, the advisors were particularly interested in the University’s relation to Belarus and its culture, language, and history. In addition, meeting the alumni provided the advisors with a unique opportunity to discuss the current political, social, and economic situation in Belarus.

As a result of the event, the alumni, with the support of American Councils for International Education, launched a networking group EHU Alumni (North American Chapter) ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) that aims to connect EHU alumni, who are currently residing in the United States and Canada with each other and the University.  

Let’s keep in touch to build strong and vibrant EHU community in North America and stay connected with our university!