European Humanities University

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.[5]

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.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] In the same year university Senate endorsed Magna Charta Universitatum.[10] In summer 2016 Prof. G. David Pollick resigned from the University's Rector position. Starting October 3, 2016 Jørgen Jørgensen (Denmark) served as University's Acting Rector.[11] In academic year 2016/17 EHU started implementation of the brand new liberal arts-inspired Core Curriculum, which was designed with an assistance of the Bard College network.[12] Starting March 1, 2018 former Minister of Education of Bulgaria Professor Sergei Ignatov serves as University's Rector.[13] Starting from May 3, 2018 EHU Campus is located in the former Augustinian monastery of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Vilnius Old Town.[14]

During the AY 2020/21 Opening Ceremony, former President candidate and leader of the Belarusian opposition Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya made a keynote address to EHU students.[15]

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 Eastern Europe Studies Centre (Lithuania), Open Society Foundations (USA) and Eurasia Foundation (USA).[19]

The Governing Board is responsible for the strategic direction, finances, and functioning of the university. Starting January 6, 2020 the new membership of the Governing Board has been appointed for the 3-years term.[20] The composition of the Governing Board:

• Chair Andrius Kubilius (Lithuania), Member of the European Parliament, Former Prime Minister of Lithuania
• Vice-Chair Megaklis Petmezas (Greece), Vice Principal for Communication, Marketing and Student Recruitment at the International Faculty, City College, University of Sheffield (Main Campus in Thessaloniki)
• Dr. Jonathan Fanton (USA), President Emeritus of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Mindaugas Kačerauskis (Lithuania), Deputy Director at the Development Cooperation Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania
• Reinhard Stuth (Germany), former Minister for Culture and Media at Hamburg State Government
• Prof. Sergei Ignatov, ex officio (Bulgaria), Rector of the European Humanities University
• Prof. Anatoli Mikhailov, ex officio (Belarus), President of the European Humanities University

Prof. Anatoli Mikhailov is a scholar 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.[21]

Starting March 1, 2018 the General Assembly of Part-Owners appointed an internationally acclaimed Egyptologist Prof. Sergei Ignatov as University Rector. Before this appointment, Prof. Sergei Ignatov served as Bulgaria’s Minister of Education, Youth and Science in the Boyko Borisov’s Government. In 2002-2009 Prof. Ignatov served as Rector of the New Bulgarian University. [22]

The Senate is a collegiate academic consulting body, operating on the parity representation basis of the two academic departments of the University. According to the Statutes, the Senate is responsible for assessing the quality of studies, research and art activities. Chair of the Senate is Prof. Aliaksandr Puptsau.[23]

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.

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.
• Dr. Vitaut Kipel, leader of the Belarusian diaspora in the USA
• Dr. Jonathan Fanton, President Emeritus of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Dr. Hans Gert Poettering, former President of the European Parliament
• 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.