Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania Empowers European Humanities University with Significant Financial Support

The Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania has provided a financial grant of 250,000 euros to the European Humanities University (EHU). This contribution is designated for the EHU Trust Fund, aimed at covering full graduate scholarships for 20 students from Belarus and 20 students from Ukraine.

“We are proud to stand alongside the European Humanities University in providing transformative support for students facing adversity. Education is a powerful catalyst for change, and through this partnership, we affirm our commitment to fostering resilience, academic excellence, and a brighter future for those overcoming challenges in Belarus and Ukraine,” – commented Helén Nilsson, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania.

In this initiative, the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania’s contribution transcends traditional financial aid. The grant not only encompasses tuition fees but also extends to cover the full study cost, amounting to 6,400 euros per student annually. This marks a pivotal moment in reshaping EHU’s financial model, ushering in a scholarship-based approach to student support.

The grant allocation process adhered to specific criteria outlined in the agreement between the Trust Fund of the European Humanities University and the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania. For Belarusian students, selection criteria included considerations of political persecution and academic performance. Meanwhile, Ukrainian students were selected based on the primary criterion of financial hardship resulting from the ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine.

Dr. Vilius Šadauskas, EHU Chancellor, conveyed his deep appreciation, stating, “We are confident that this support contributes to the development of future leaders ready to address global challenges and make their intellectual, creative, and professional contributions to a peaceful and prosperous future.”

About European Humanities University (EHU)

EHU is a student-centered University for promoting civil society development through Humanities and Liberal Arts for students from Belarus and the region by bringing them together and offering international experience in study quality. The University is oriented at civically-minded students from Eastern Europe, distinguished by a commitment to the European values and Liberal Arts as well as rich on-campus life and alumni network.

From 1992 to 2004 EHU was a non-state establishment of undergraduate and post-graduate education in Belarus. In 2004, due to government opposition, EHU was forced to terminate its activities in Belarus. However, thanks to political, administrative, and financial support from the European Union, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Governments of Lithuania, other European countries, and the United States, NGOs and foundations like MacArthur Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and others, EHU resumed its operation in Vilnius, Lithuania and opened bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for Belarusian students in autumn 2005. In March 2006 the Government of Lithuania granted EHU the official status of a Lithuanian university.

After the mass protests of the Belarusian presidential election of 2010, many EHU students and teachers were imprisoned by the KGB. The university said it would work with students to help them in their education despite the circumstances.

In the academic year 2023/24 EHU serves around 1500 mostly Belarusian students, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs and promoting research in the humanities, social sciences and IT. About two-thirds of EHU’s students attend via online programs and reside in Belarus. About one-third attend courses on campus in Vilnius. Teaching languages – Belarusian, Russian, some courses are taught in English, German and French. EHU ranks second among private universities in Lithuania.