Problems and future of the EHU discussed in Vilnius

In Vilnius the first day of the conference "Belarusian EHU: after 10 years in Lithuania" has ended up. It is dedicated to the election of the rector and the future of the University.

There are candidates for the position of the rector of the EHU Aliaksandr Milinkevich, Lithuanian Darius Udrys, Tatstsiana Shchyttsova among those present. In addition, there are also graduates and lecturers of the University.

Almost all speakers note that the project of the Belarusian University in Europe is in a deep crisis today and requires reforms, "Nasha Niva" reports.

Kiryl Atamanchyk, a former student of the EHU, has identified the main problems, being indignant at a huge administrative staff and the loss by some lectures the understanding of the University's objective.

-We have survived, but these years have not been a success, Tatstsiana Shchyttsova,the candidate for the post of the rector said, -during this time the University has almost lost contacts with social and cultural organizations in Belarus, with independent media.

Reminding the media, Tatstsiana Shchyttsova has indirectly accused journalists of insinuations and proliferation of rumors. She stressed that despite all the difficulties the University had not lost its identity: today 95% of students of the University are the Belarusians as well as the most lectures.

In his turn, Aliaksandr Milinkevich has compared himself to an anti-crisis manager and stressed the definition of the "belaruskasts".

According to Milinkevich, the EHU should become the basis for unification of all Belarusian intellectuals, received a European education, and for those who are of professional value and could work for the benefit of Belarus until political changes occur in the country".

–At the same time one cannot make the EHU a "Belarusian ghetto" and play to Belarusian authorities, creating a myth of an "opposition" university, –Aliaksandr Milinkevich said. - A person should not have an "activist" label when being hired within the State.

During a speech of Darius Udrys discomfort arose as not all the observers fully understood him as he spoke well neither Belarusian nor Russian. Udrys noted that he was shocked with the management system at the University.

-Some say that we spend a lot of money, the others support the opposite opinion. But we should come to the agreement what should be done next. But I'm a good manager", Darius said. With regard to the question of preservation of the Belarusian University, the position of the Lithuanian candidate seemed not to be clear.

The keynote of the conference is that reforms are required. Participants have repeatedly noted that the EHU ceases its work for the internal needs of Belarus, turning from the Belarusian University in Europe into a more cosmopolitan one. In addition to this, there are a poor management and the ongoing scandals which have followed the University since the previous year.

All candidates for the position of the rector have a different vision of the ways of resolution of indicated problems, but there is one thing they share: after reforms the EHU must attract the most promising Belarusian youth and become a shelter for the lectures fired from domestic universities.