Within the Get Engaged conference, EHU undergraduate students presented their civic engagement projects, such as “Keep in touch” volunteer educational project for orphans of Hrodna region, Belarus; “Belarusian Young Leaders” educational workshops for high school students on politics, sociology, human rights; EHU Eco School; and the Active University initiative. The “Belarusian Young Leaders” project coordinator Maxim Ermolenko shares his motives and impressions from participation: “Imagine a community where people care about each other. They are ready to solve their common problems together. They are ready to make changes and start with themselves. That’s the community I would like to live in. That’s the civic society, and “Get Engaged” is the first step for me to realize that I am not alone with my wish”.
Besides that, another cohort of the EHU students represented themselves at the British Parliamentary Debate Tournament in the Bard Network Debate Conference. EHU student team, represented by undergraduate students Yauheniya Marholina and Lizaveta Savich had five days of discussions, workshops and debates along with their peers from Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, Bard College Berlin, Al-Quds Bard College for Arts & Sciences, American University of Central Asia, Smolny College, and Central European University.
“The Budapest conference is a grafting of aesthetic and intellectual love in the first place. The opportunity to be a participant in such an event in the debate network means acquiring unique practical skills and sharing experience with other participants. The Debate Network workshops are not narrowly focused on a specific group of debators only. They can be applied both in the academic community and beyond. This is an opportunity to find a common language with people from different countries from different continents and plunge into the magic of one of the most breathtaking European capitals”, adds Lizaveta Savich (Cultural Heritage and Tourism, 2nd year).
Since 2014, EHU is continuously expanding its participation in Bard Network activities. University faculty members are regularly involved in capacity building, enhancing professional competencies and skills. EHU Core Curriculum is designed in close cooperation with international experts in Liberal Arts and Sciences, which represent seven Bard Network institutions worldwide.
In addition, EHU is taking part in distance courses of the Bard International Network, such as “Global citizenship”, “Freedom of Expression”, “Civic engagement” and “Nation and Nationalism”. These 4 courses are taught simultaneously for students from all Bard Network members in online mode, which contributes to fostering vibrant dialogue among students and developing their creative and critical thinking.
Spring term of AY 2018/19 has been also special for EHU. For the first time in the history of the Belarusian University-in-Exile, EHU student took part in a study mobility in the United States. Anastasiya Halaburda, 2nd year undergraduate student of the “Cultural Heritage and Tourism” program is on study exchange at the Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson.