The opening of the new Academic Year was marked by the commencement of the 25th anniversary the University’s establishment in Minsk.
EHU President Prof. Anatoli Mikhailov opened up the ceremony with a welcoming address, focusing on the importance of the humanities tradition in the society of Belarus and wishing high academic achievements to the EHU freshmen. In his welcoming speech, EHU Acting Rector Jørgen Jørgensen noted that EHU has several generations of students who received the best education within the framework of European intellectual tradition. Acting Rector also expressed confidence that EHU graduates will continue to make a significant contribution to the development of the Belarusian society.
Lithuania’s Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Darius Skusevičius addressed EHU freshmen and paid their attention that “EHU occupies a special place among Belarusian higher education institutions, and contributes to the strengthening of civil society in Belarus, as well as the development of the country’s relations with neighboring governments and the world community”. Vice-Minister also emphasized that Lithuania together with other countries and international organizations, was and continues to be one of the long-term and most reliable sponsors of the University.
Vilnius City Mayor Dr. Remigijus Šimašius addressed EHU academic community with a written greetings letter. Mayor of the Lithuanian capital called upon the EHU academic community to continue to develop, grow, dream and actively participate in the life of Lithuania’s capital.
During the Opening ceremony, EHU Alumna Alina Hromava (Class 2015) was bestowed the International Congress of Belarusian Studies award for the best Bachelor’s thesis.
Traditionally Horton Beebe Center, Chair of the EHU’s General Assembly of Part-Owners and President of the Eurasia Foundation, addressed EHU freshmen in his video greeting from Washington DC. Mr. Beebe Center said that creativity and critical thinking are the major skills of EHU students that they develop during studies at EHU.
A number of high-ranking guests paid their visit to the EHU Academic Year opening ceremony: the Ambassadors of the Czech Republic and Ireland, representatives of diplomatic missions in Vilnius, the head of the office of the Nordic Council of Ministers in Lithuania, representatives of the Government’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, as well as the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
The ceremony was concluded with the speech by Chief of Academic Affairs Prof. Aliaksandr Kalbaska, who noted the high quality and innovativeness of the EHU Core Curriculum, which was elaborated in the best traditions of liberal education by a group of high education experts.
Photo: Lithuanian MFA
