Within the framework of the event jointly organized by EHU and Belarus Country Office of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, participants reflected on the place of Belarus in / outside the European family and exchanged ideas about projects and academic activities.
At the beginning of the event, EHU Rector Prof. Dr. Sergei Ignatov addressed the audience with a welcoming speech, noting in particular:
“I would like to share with you my hope that those Belarusians who are now forced to flee their country because of their desire to live a life based on European values will be the ones who will carry out the exchanges between the European and the Belarusian cultures, that is to say, they will integrate themselves successfully into the European culture, and they will be able to sow the seeds of that exchange on Belarusian soil.”
The relationship between Belarus and Europe, starting from history, going through culture and heritage up to political and economic challenges, the position of Belarus in relation to the European system of coordinates and opportunities for convergence were discussed by the speakers:
- Hanna Liubakova, Belarusian journalist, Atlantic Council nonresident fellow
- Jakob Wöllenstein, Director of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Belarus Office
- Anna Kozłowska-Słupek, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland
- Maryia Shkumayeva, EHU 3d year student of the Bachelor’s program “Media and Communication”
The discussion was moderated by Prof. Liudmila Ulyashyna, Chairperson of the EHU Senate.
The panel discussion was followed by the presentation of the music video “European Superstar Francisk Skaryna” by Jakob Wöllenstein.
After the official part of the event, participants continued to network in an informal Christmas atmosphere for a fruitful exchange on their activities, projects, mutual needs, work, study, volunteering, and mobility opportunities. As a part of the Christmas fair 5 organizations exhibited their stands:
- American Councils representatives told about study and exchange programs in the United States
- Belarus Affairs Unit of the US Embassy told about current work of the diplomatic corps
- ForumCiv representatives shared information on possibilities of financing projects aimed at the development of civil society in Belarus
- KAS representatives told about the scholarship programs, possibilities of studying German language and masters degree in German universities
- BEROC representatives told about the possibilities of cooperation and participation in joint research and educational projects
