Baltic States – CIS, Education and Science, Forum, Lithuania

Lithuanian ex-President Valdas Adamkus is among the prominent speakers to take a closer look at the leadership potential among the EU's eastern neighbors, with particular emphasis on the case of EHU.

"Those who are young today are the leaders of the future, so it is therefore important that we grasp the potential out there. At EHU young Belarusians receive a higher education based on academic freedom and the leadership potential amongst these students is enormous," says Valdas Adamkus.

EHU was founded in Minsk in 1992 but was forced to relocate to Vilnius in 2004. In 2010 the University will count nearly 500 future leaders among its graduates since reconstituting its activities in Vilnius. This is in addition to the more than 2,000 graduates of EHU programs while the University was located in Minsk.

"The EU has adopted the Europe 2020 strategy, and in that context, we have immense possibilities for cooperation in order to promote understanding, confront challenges as a result of post-Soviet adaptations, and build contacts and partnerships with academic groups, young talent and institutions in the EU's eastern neighboring countries," says Halldor Asgrimsson, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Adamkus and Asgrimsson will be joined by Dr. Jonathan Fanton, President Emeritus of the New School for Social Research, a university that began in exile in New York in 1933 as an emergency rescue program for threatened scholars. Dr. Fanton will speak on his extensive experience in higher education and his long term association with the European Humanities University. EHU Rector, Prof. Dr. Anatoli Mikhailov, will discuss the case of EHU and its contribution towards higher education in Belarus.

The seminar will take place during the Baltic Development Forum on Tuesday, June 1, 15.30-16.30 in the Lithuanian Exhibition Centre LITEXPO, Laisves prospektas 5, Vilnius. Registration is available in person or via www.bdforum.org.