When Chaos is the New Normal
Operating a University in a World Shaped by Vladimir Putin
Imagine that you are operating a business or a University in an environment where your most stable markets are Albania (the former North Korea of Europe), Moldova (probably the poorest country in Europe) and the Republic of Georgia which has been carved into three pieces courtesy of Putin policy. I just returned from our semi-annual meeting of the LCC International University (LCCIU) board in Klaipeda, Lithuania. The University is located in the historic Hanseatic League port of Memel – now Klaipeda – and its historic reason for existence remains relevant today in terms of a bridge between two worlds. After 24 years living with variations of this kind of chaos the meetings were calm without any sense of panic. Chaos can actually become the normal – we should design a University course with that title!<
LCCIU was founded in that amazing interval in 1990-1991 when the Berlin Wall had just come down. Lithuania alone among the Soviet Republics had declared independence. The Soviet Union still existed but Gorbachev hesitated to shed blood to prevent its imminent collapse. Leona and I together with a few colleagues negotiated the idea of a Western-oriented English University with a self-declared Government inside a Lithuanian Parliament “protected” with sandbags to slow down Soviet tanks. Inside this ‘citadel’ were 20- something self-appointed leaders.
Related articles located in the attached website artdefehr.com
The story of the politics of the event and times is described in two similar documents written as opening chapters to two different books about the history of LCCIU:
LCC in the Beginning – Background and Vision – 10 year retrospective
Reflections from a Revolution – 20 year book about LCCIU
Field notes from a Revolution – A series of Trip Reports and related articles that report on my visits to and observations about the decline and end of the Soviet Union
The University was initially conceived as a challenge to the sterile moral world of Homo Sovieticus – the legacy of Lenin, Stalin and the decaying Communist structures. This was the world into which my parents were born and a world I was given some opportunity to challenge. LCCIU was designed as a challenge to the rigid Soviet style of University but more important to train a new generation of leaders who understood and appreciated an open society, were trained in a corruption-free environment, understood democratic ideas and were taught to think and act in terms of internalized ethical values.
LCCIU is designed to serve and appeal to students from the more challenged remnants of the post-Soviet world. Lithuania as local market is an important source of students. As the western extremity of the Soviet Empire Lithuania was in a privileged location. With the collapse of the USSR Lithuania emerged as a backwater between two empires and the loss of its former market and patron. Lithuania was desperate to join the EU and NATO to get under a security umbrella and eventually succeeded. It is now a backwater of the EU – a country that looks like Denmark but absent the entrepreneurial energy.
Young Lithuanians appreciate the access to a larger and more dynamic world. Unfortunately too many are voting with their feet to access superior employment opportunities in Europe or beyond and to benefit from the free or low-cost Universities now available to them. The result is a demographic disaster with a reduction in population of 20-25% since independence and a much greater reduction in the critical 20-35 year age group. LCCIU and other local Universities compete against each other and the world to attract the diminishing local student cohort. Since LCCIU was created with a much larger vision of its market we at least have alternatives.
Historically the prime sources of (non-Lithuanian) students are the high-population and adjacent neighbors of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. If you would be Director of Marketing – consider that list for a moment.
- Ukraine is normally the largest source of students. Consider the impact of the civil war, economic chaos, the return of conscription, the loss of income by many families, internal refugees and most critical the 56% devaluation of the hryvnia – the local currency.
- Russia is the second-largest source of enrollment. The Ruble has depreciated 28% against the Euro. However, consider the emotional state of mind of parents planning to send their sons and daughters into a hostile Western environment. Lithuania is a particular challenge for Russians since Lithuanians carry long memories and grudges from the centuries of first Russian and later Soviet repression.
- Belarus as the last Stalinist state always deserves special consideration. Although our immediate neighbor the country is becoming more restrictive and our recruiters no longer have access to the High schools within the country. The currency has also depreciated by 20%.
LCCIU currently attracts students from 27 countries which in addition to the above includes such interesting markets like Azerbaijan, Kyrgysistan, Chechnya – you get the picture.
Enrollment and currency are only part of the challenge. LCCIU is blessed with a beautiful, new and purpose-built residential campus since building community among this diversity is a primary goal and strategy. The dorms are designed as apartments shared by 4 or 5 students where they sleep, study and eat. The University administration deliberately creates clusters of mixed nationality. A typical dorm cluster could include a student from Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Albania and frequently a North American “Study Abroad” student. Consider the dynamics but also the opportunities for learning the values the University was created to promote.
LCCIU is unique in other ways. The curriculum and campus atmosphere follow the philosophy of a North American Liberal Arts model but must also meet the requirements of the emerging EU consensus on post-secondary education. We were fortunate to find a window of opportunity within the post-Soviet chaos where the University could achieve a charter through an act of the Lithuanian Parliament. Given the complexity of accession to the EU, anomalies like LCCIU were simply grandfathered. Such a charter and therefore such a University could probably not be established in the EU of today!
The University is unique in other ways. Given the low-income countries from which students are recruited and the complete absence of Government funding – how does LCCIU survive? Many of us were attracted by the opportunity to make a contribution and sometimes a personal statement about the world after Communism. It is quite incredible that the University has had the benefit of almost 2,000 volunteers as Professors, student life workers, campus construction, board membership, advocacy and the raising of resources. In the earlier years to volunteer meant that you would buy your own air ticket, rent an apartment and cover your own expenses. The University provided a class of eager and appreciative students. Many contributed under these conditions for years. The terms of engagement are more generous these days.
An anecdote we refer to as the “flag incident” best describes why LCCIU exists and why many of us remain engaged. Several months ago during the height of the confrontation between Russia and Ukraine one of the students from Russia hung a Russian flag from the window of his dorm. Given the timing this was considered a provocative event, the Lithuanian press picked up the story and it instantly became national news. This had the potential for huge damage inside the culture of the University as well as our image in the country. The student council and student life faculty immediately grasped the potentially damaging nature of the problem. The solution they devised was immediate and ingenious. Within hours every student from our 27 countries had located a flag from their own country and hung it from their dorm windows. The resulting colorful image of a 5 story dorm decorated like the United Nations sent an incredibly positive image which became an even bigger national news story.
We were incredibly proud of our students. The values and lessons for which the University had been created have been internalized by our students. They represent a new generation that can shape a narrative beyond the world created by Putin.
*For other information related to LCCIU and my other writings you are invited to look at my website artdefehr.com
