Inspired by the model of the Western university, Prof. Mikhailov initiated the establishment of EHU in Minsk and served as Founding Rector from 1992 to 2014. From October 1, 2014, Prof. Mikhailov held the office of University President.
Prof. Mikhailov says: “I could never imagine back in 1992 that remaining in this unusual managerial role for me would last that long. Back in 2001, I expressed my first urgent request to resign from the Rector’s office. Then I felt the overwhelming burden of maintaining this unconventional project in extremely unfavorable conditions. At that time, however, it was difficult to anticipate all the drama of the reemergence and evolvement of EHU in exile. I can only say that every time circumstances arose that predetermined my behavior in relation to the project”.
“I believe that now when the next stage of transformation of the University and its programs is taking place, the most favorable moment has come for my decision. I am sure that the potential of our project is far from being exhausted in the era of new challenges facing contemporary Humanities education”, adds Prof. Mikhailov.
Rector Prof. Sergei Ignatov has expressed sincere gratitude to the University Founder for his dedication to EHU: “With deep respect, I acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Professor Mikhailov to the evolvement of the University and the profound impact that he had on the lives of thousands of people of different ages in Belarus, Lithuania, and around the whole world. Thanks to Professor Mikhailov and his subtle philosophical humor, a special atmosphere of a genuine European intellectual life has been formed at the University, this notion will support and give us the strength to continue developing our common project”.
Prof. Mikhailov will continue teaching and doing research at EHU in the capacity of Professor of Philosophy. His academic interests include phenomenology, hermeneutics, and the philosophy of education.
In 1966, Anatoli Mikhailov defended PhD in Philosophy at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany). Prof. Mikhailov is a member of the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts.
In 2003, Prof. Mikhailov was given the rank of Officer of the French Order of Academic Palms, in 2004 he received Germany’s prestigious Goethe Medal. In 2007, Prof. Mikhailov was bestowed Ion Ratiu Democracy Award, in 2008 – Commander’s Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania. In 2019, Prof. Mikhailov has received an Honorary Doctorate from the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia.