From: "Ekaterina Radko" <[log in to unmask]>
Dear colleagues,
This letter is intended to inform you of the current situation regarding the
status of the European Humanities University (EHU, Minsk, Belarus).
On July 27, 2004, the Belarusian Ministry of Education issued an order to
annul EHU license for educational activities. This political decision has no
legal foundation and thus violates the principles of academic autonomy.
There is much evidence for it to have been caused by the EHU's firm stand as
an independent university that fosters innovation and maintains strong
leadership in internationalization of the Belarusian higher education.
The EHU was founded in 1992 and became the first private institution in
Belarus higher education holding university status. Since its founding, it
has been pursuing a mission to integrate Belarus into the European and
global educational space. Thus, the EHU has developed and implemented a
number of educational programs that are unique in this country and
established a highly qualified and committed University corporation,
consolidated by the strong university culture and principles of academic
freedoms and university autonomy. Rector Prof. Anatoli Mikhailov, a
prominent philosopher possessing with a highly respected academic career has
been heading it since the University's existence.
The EHU's lose of its right to conduct educational activities is a
reflection of the continuous tension between the University and the official
Belarusian authorities which has lasted for approximately half a year. On
January 21, 2004, Alexander Radkov, Belarus' Minister of Education, made a
viva voce proposition to Prof. Mikhailov to leave the EHU Rector's position.
This demand aroused a wave of indignation from the EHU students, faculty and
administration because Prof. Mikhailov is the leader of EHU and is the
person who guarantees its adherence to the principles of academic freedom
and the values enshrined in the University's mission. Resting upon the
unconditional support from students, faculty and administration of EHU,
Prof. Mikhailov made a decision to reject the minister's proposition for his
resignation, resulting in undue pressure on the University from the Ministry
of Education and associated financial and control authorities.
On July 19, the Minister of Education sent an ultimatum to the EHU demanding
the immediate resignation of Prof. Mikhailov. After the University's Senate
had rejected this ultimatum, the EHU received an official letter from one of
the departments of the Presidential Administration of Belarus, which
notified the University on the termination of the rent of the academic
building hosting most of the EHU programs and facilities, demanding the
vacation of the building in two weeks by August 5, 2004. With the leasing
question being controlled by the Presidential Administration, the University
was denied any opportunity to rent any other suitable premises. In the
upshot, the absence of sufficient classroom space where EHU could conduct
its educational activities was illegally considered as disqualifying the
University and resulted in the annulment of the EHU's license for
educational activity.
We are convinced that the situation around EHU has a direct connection to
those methods and techniques of pressure and control that the Belarusian
authorities are applying to the state system of education. In this light,
one of the claims, stated by high-rank Belarusian officials toward the EHU,
is that EHU invites foreign visiting professors from Western countries to
deliver lectures at EHU, conducts experimental educational programs and has
started to implement a new model of higher education following the
principles of the Bologna Process.
At present, the majority of EHU students are being transferred to the
Belarusian state-run universities where they are going to face adaptation to
the requirements, which to a great degree replicate the Soviet standards of
education. At the same time, the officials of these universities publicly
emphasize that the EHU students will drop out by the end of the first term
if they are not able to meet such requirements.
We hope that you are able to inform your colleagues, academic community and
all other interested persons on the situation around EHU. We have already
received a great number of support letters from scholars, professors and
politicians from different countries who express their support and
solidarity. These are important gestures this uncertain time for the
University.
We would also like to make a public statement of our intention to continue
EHU activity as a "University in Exile". We will be grateful for your ideas,
advice, and any other kind of support that can help us function in the new
format and stay abided by the University's mission to educate a new
generation of young professionals capable of promoting dialogue between
different Eastern and Western European cultures and able to facilitate the
formation of an open civil society in Belarus.
With your permission, hereafter we will provide you with further information
on the situation regarding the EHU.
Sincerely Yours,
Katsiaryna Radzko
EHU Public and International Affairs officer
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Katsiaryna Radzko
Public and International Relations Office
European Humanities University
24 F. Skoriny Ave., office 304
220030 Minsk, Belarus
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