Students Invited to Join Free Text Animation Course Online

On 11–17 August, Transform4Europe invites students from the intiative’s universities to attend free text animation course online organized by the Estonian Academy of Arts. Applications are open until 1 August.

During the course, students will learn to present their ideas with the power of animation, take their future presentations to the next level with Blender and help to advance positive changes for higher education. The summer course is for anyone who wants to enhance their storytelling and presentation skills with animation. During the five-day international course, participants from seven universities will gain a basic understanding of how 3D animation works.

With a focus on typography, the students will learn the essential tools that make 3D objects move. Multiple workshops will offer practical exercises to gain knowledge about versatile animation principles and techniques to create outstanding presentations with animated texts. In addition, participants will learn how to use key frames and eases and how rigid body physics works.

As a result, through the use of learned tools and gained skills, students will work on the vision of a future university campus and create animated video presentations by working as a group. What needs to change and what are the qualities espoused by a renowned higher education environment? Each university will create and present their vision in an animated video project. The videos will be made with the assistance of two instructors.

The course is created by Estonian Academy of Arts. EKA Summer Academy together with the Department of Animation will offer Transform4Europe alliance universities an opportunity to learn basic animation skills. Students will be assisted by two instructors: Hieb Kuftseryn and Elise Eimre.

The animation course is the first project presented by Transform4Europe.

Students from Transform4Europe alliance universities can apply to participate in the online course. The member universities are: Saarland University, University of Alicante, Estonian Academy of Arts, University of Silesia in Katowice, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, University of Trieste, and Vytautas Magnus University.

All participants will be invited to a Transform4Europe event at one of the partner universities in 2022; travel costs will be covered by Transform4Europe.

More information

Registration

About Transform4Europe

Summer school course “MY FIRST START-UP” (Vytautas Magnus University, Agriculture Academy)

July 12-16, 2021 in Lithuania, VMU Academy of Agriculture, Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, Institute of Business and Rural Development Research Prof. dr. Jan Žukovskis organized the summer school course “My first Start-Up”. This course was one of the initiatives of the lecturers of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, aiming to attract foreign partners to cooperate and share the experience of organizing studies in the field of business development.

The aim of the course was to acquaint students with the methodology of preparing business plans and to help them prepare their own business plan. The course was taught remotely and was attended by 23 students from various foreign Universities: two students from “Nanjing Aeuronautics and Astronautics University” (China), six students from “Shankara Group Institutions” in India, three students from “Indonesian Islam University”, two students – from Turkey (“Istanbul Audyn University” and “Ozmangazi University in Eskesehir), three students participated from the “Polissia National University” in Ukraine. The largest number of participants came from neighboring Polish universities: “Jagiellonian University” in Kraków (2 students), “Silesian University in Katowice” (4 students) and one student from WSB University (Higher Banking Schools). Such a wide geography of participants provided a great opportunity for them to make useful acquaintances, share various ideas, communicate and improve their presentation skills in English.

The first feedback from the students about the course was positive and their works were very practical and are likely to have continuity in organizing real business in the future. Notable projects: students from Ukraine “Waffle cups for coffee”, students from India “Organic rice” and “Coconut water”, Indonesian students “Organic coffee” and students from China Electronic platform “Flow in Future” combining the possibilities of games and virtual reality.

The course organizers are very grateful to the representatives of foreign University partners for their help in attracting students and participating in the final presentation of the students projects. Special thanks are sent to the Secretary of the International Cooperation Division of “Nanjing Aeuronautics and Astronautics University” (China), Mrs. Hana Xu, “Shankara Group Institutions” (India) Dean Prof. Dr. SN Kutty, Head of the International Bachelor’s Program in Accounting Ayu Chairina Laksmi from “Islamic University of Indonesia”, lecturer at “Jagiellonian University” and VMU collaborator dr. Janusz Sasak, as well as lecturers of “Chęstochova University of Technology”, VMU collaborator Dr. Paula Pyplacz, Director of Human Resources Management Study Programs from “Silesian University in Katowice”(Poland), prof. Dorota Chudy-Hyski and the lecturers of this program prof. Agata Hilarowicz, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism in Osmangazi University Prof. Yasar Sari (Turkey), lecturers at the Polissia National University doc. dr. Maria Plotnikova and the Rector of this University prof. Oleg Skydan and their other helpers, who invited students to take part in international joint summer school course “My first Start-Up “.

VMU Agriculture Academy on the Path of Change: Success Determined by Cooperation

Future leadership has been promised to the Agriculture Academy of Vytautas Magnus University (VMU Agriculture Academy) by the economists who have been following the global processes and by the agricultural sector of Lithuania that accounts for the fourth of the national exports. Domestic policy makers also have high expectations of the Academy in light of their concerns that the country might be left with nothing else but the need to copy foreign technologies in case of an insufficiently effective use of the available scientific potential. This would not mean a step forward for Lithuania.

VMU Agriculture Academy is still making a new step towards more close cooperation with business, but has already developed a specific action plan. It is also expected that the activity based on the state-of-the-art would help attract more young people into the agricultural sector and Lithuanian regions.

Prof. Dr. Astrida Miceikienė, an internationally renowned researcher, economist, active initiator of bioeconomy development in Lithuania, has already been holding the position of the Chancellor of VMU Agriculture Academy for six months. After the quarantine restrictions had been lifted, a celebration ceremony was held at the Academy on 28 June, where the Chancellor’s regalia were presented to A. Miceikienė, and the activity plans of the team were announced. The policy makers, social and business partners, and student representatives shared their expectations with the academic community at the event.

Expert Knowledge Vital for the Country

Mr Simonas Gentvilas, the Minister of Environment, noted that it was not by accident that VMU Agriculture Academy was one of the key social partners of the Ministry of Environment. “Agricultural production has been growing very rapidly, and we have to be grateful to the farmers who support the exports in the crisis period. Nonetheless, sustainability of the national ecosystems has already reached its limits. Moreover, Lithuania has to make great commitments on neutralization of the climate change, think about preservation of its forests faced with new challenges in the light of climate warming. The role of VMU Agriculture Academy is therefore very important. It is the expert opinion that should become the most important in decision making by the country’s policy makers and agri-business representatives”, – said Mr S. Gentvilas.

The Minister’s idea was supported by Prof. Antanas Maziliauskas, Senior Chancellor of VMU Agriculture Academy, Rector Emeritus of VMU. He noted that the researchers at the Academy had considerable background in the international and national projects that were important not only for Lithuania, but also for the entire Europe. “The leadership of agricultural sector is obvious. It would be very much desired that the politicians found the instruments encouraging young people to choose the professions that are important for the country in terms of the economy”, – Mr A. Maziliauskas encouraged the authorities to undertake changes in the educational system and not leave the motivated graduates of more remote regions behind.

Prof. Juozas Augutis, Rector of Vytautas Magnus University, noted that the Agriculture Academy with almost a century-long history has always managed to follow its path despite the historic transformations and continue to prepare the specialists who are necessary for agriculture and has attracted the strongest graduate community in the country.

Dr. Edvardas Makelis, Director of the Lithuanian Agricultural Advisory Service, who spoke on behalf of the community, also noted the most pressing recent issue in the agricultural sector – the shortage of specialists at all tiers.

Mr Kazys Starkevičius, Chairman of the Economic Committee at the Seimas, Mr Viktoras Pranckietis, Chairman of the Committee for Rural Affairs, members of the Seimas Mr Jonas Varkalys and Mr Vigilijus Jukna were open in that they were already well aware of the issue and claimed that they were putting efforts to make sure that it was not only the competitive score, but also the young applicant’s motivation that would determine admission to VMU Agriculture Academy, the country’s only university providing higher education degrees in agriculture, forestry, sustainable water and land resource management, bioeconomy, and smart engineering.

Mr Jonas Vilionis, Chairman of the Lithuanian Agricultural Council representing the country’s self-governance organisations uniting the farmers producing the largest volumes, was confident in that the scientific research findings should become the top authority to the policy makers and farmers-practitioners.

Change Created by Those Who are Not Afraid of Challenges

“Agricultural sector is one of the areas that change the fastest and implement the most advanced environmental technologies and management systems. It is therefore astonishing and outrageous that people not related to the sector still have a very different view of agriculture. This has led to rapid reduction in the number of specialists who are the experts in their field, and lower competition among the students. This situation is not healthy, and these stereotypes need to be broken,” – Ms Liveta Budreckytė, graduate student at the Faculty of Agronomy of VMU Agriculture Academy, called the farmers, policy makers, agri-business leaders, and her peer students for reconsideration of the situation. She has already started making her successful career path at one of the country’s leading agricultural companies. According to Liveta, she could serve as the example of what a young individual may become in a few years after arriving from a remote area to study at the Academy.

“The community of the Academy has never distanced itself from the agricultural sector and the related business sectors, their issues and challenges, as well as the public sector that shapes the future of the agricultural sector in all possible senses: the agricultural policy, its implementation, tax policy, and other activities.

Partnership between the research institutions and agri-business managers, NGOs, self-government authorities, cooperation aimed at promotion of the development processes of the sector are the only possible way to develop research activities, create and implement innovations, and turn the challenges into opportunities”, – Prof. A. Miceikienė, Chancellor of VMU Agriculture Academy noted that the agricultural science, sector, and the Lithuanian countryside have always paid their duties to the state. Despite the challenges, the partnership and results of the joint activity have always provided the nation with a piece of Lithuanian bread, be it smaller and larger.

Agricultural sector for Those who Seek to Create New Products

According to A. Miceikienė, the global trends show that the demand for food will become almost two-fold by 2050, and the climate change, limited areas of arable land and water resources, the aspiration to produce the competitive high added-value agricultural and food products in an efficient and sustainable way will promote development of new species of plants and animals, use of precision technologies, innovative fertilizers, services, and measures. The ongoing digitalization processes bring irreversible change to the business models and work places by turning some of them obsolete and by creating new jobs that will require new knowledge and high qualification. New technologies and inventions unite the digital and biological worlds and the humanity in essentially different ways. All these developments give rise to the following questions: are we ready for the future, leap in technological innovations, do we have sufficient knowledge and competences to control these changes, will we be capable of making use of the possibilities offered by the new technologies.

Changes Faced Bravely

VMU Agriculture Academy faces the challenges with a new organisational structure, prepared strategy, and the implementation plan.

“To be the leaders in the bioeconomy development, we have established the Research Institute for Bioeconomy; to maintain even closer relations with the business and social partners, we have established the Centre for Business and Social Partnership and the “Green Intellect” cluster. We believe that the new strategy of the Agriculture Academy that covers the new organisational culture of the Academy will help us become the higher education institution of the future, and will integrate the education, research, and services to business and public sector.

We have been implementing joint business and research projects, developing the agri-business study programmes of the future together with the sponsors and partners, aiming at provide the opportunities for young people to study and seek prospective future in the Lithuanian region. We are happy with the new initiative by the alumni of the Agriculture Academy to establish Lithuania’s first alumni-initiated Charity and Support Fund to provide financial possibilities for the motivated and talented young residents of remote regions to study at the Academy, with the cluster of the Engineering studies uniting six leading business companies that offer their infrastructure for the studies and scholarships for the students of Engineering. At present, we feel particular support from the agri-business in the complicated context of educational policy”, – A. Miceikienė was confident that it would be only by providing young people with the opportunities and possibilities to gain specialization in land, forest and water management and rural development that we would encourage them to stay in their regions, continue developing their parents’ businesses or establish own businesses, develop the rural social infrastructure, help preserve the rural identity, and ensure viability and sustainability of the regions. These aspirations can be made true only by the highly qualified specialists that hold comprehensive knowledge and educational background in the respective Alma Mater spirit.

Digital Sea Conference will hold discussions about Blue Economy

The importance of the blue economy is growing in the European Union: its contribution to the national budgets is increasing, the number of jobs created is growing, and the importance of sustainable aquaculture for nature, people and their food chain is becoming increasingly clear. In addition, the blue energy from the sea represents a huge unrealised potential for energy that will in the near future attract a large amount of investment, generate significant economic returns for society, help protect the environment and strengthen energy independence. The political and business leaders will discuss effective digital solutions to enable Lithuania’s blue economy at the Digital Sea Conference on the 8^th of July. Participation in the conference is free of charge, but pre-registration is required due to the limited number of people who can join.

The Topic Is Relevant Throughout Europe

This will be the first ever exclusive top-level international conference in Lithuania on the challenges and digital opportunities at sea in the context of the twin transition. In addition, this conference is the only one in our country and one of the few events in Central and Northern Europe to have been awarded the right to be part of the European Commission’s initiative “European Maritime Day”. According to the event organisers AgriFood Lithuania DIH, this conference is an excellent opportunity for Lithuania to take stock of the challenges, resources and opportunities available in the Baltic Sea and to send a clear message to the public, businesses and decision makers across Europe.

Per Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė, the Director of AgriFood Lithuania DIH, “Aquaculture is an important part of the food sector that is unnecessarily neglected, the importance of the blue economy is growing rapidly and has no intention of stopping, and the Baltic Sea is home to many challenges that need to be addressed. However, we do not talk enough about the digital opportunities that exist in the sea in the context of the twin transition. Enabling and turning the existing digital opportunities at sea into benefits will be the focus of the international Digital Sea Conference.”

The event organisers hope that the message sent by Lithuanian business and political leaders will reach a wide European audience. The conference, which will take place on the DFDS ferry in Klaipėda, will be streamed live on partner platforms and translated into English and Lithuanian. In addition, EIT Food, Europe’s leading food innovation initiative, is one of the organisational partners of the conference. Marja-Liisa Meurice, the Head of the EIT Food Consortium and the Director of the EIT Food CLC North-East, shared her thoughts: “Despite multiple challenges that the aquaculture industry is facing, it will make an important contribution to protein diversification, find solutions to reduce pollution in Blue economies and support actions in the protection of ecosystems. The European aquaculture sector has room to grow in Europe and to create a sustainable business.

The Baltic Sea can be Sustainable

According to scientific data, the Baltic Sea is the fourth most polluted sea in the world and transports around 15% of the world’s freight. It is also heavily affected by chemicals and eutrophication, with agricultural pollution and inadequate sewage treatment being major contributors. Studies show that almost 97% of the Baltic Sea is eutrophic and that the area of anoxic bottom zones is increasing, now covering around 17% of the seabed (150 years ago, such areas did not exist). Therefore, effective coordinated action is needed to reduce pollution and increase the resilience of the Baltic Sea to the adverse effects of nutrients. Otherwise, the Baltic Sea will simply become a swampy pond. In addition, there are the challenges of pollution from the Port of Klaipėda and the ongoing debate on what to do about chemical weapons on the Baltic seabed.

The Minister of the Environment Simonas Gentvilas, the Adviser to the Prime Minister Dalius Krinickas, the Director of Infrastructure at Port of Klaipėda Vidmantas Paukštė, and the Mayor of Klaipėda municipality Vytautas Grubliauskas will discuss innovative solutions to these challenges.

The Sea – Unrealised Potential for Electricity

According to the Minister of the Environment Simonas Gentvilas, Lithuania spends €2.5 billion annually on energy imports alone. Can marine energy help keep this money in Lithuania? According to the organisers, this will be one of the topics that will certainly be touched upon during the conference. The European Commission has set a target to increase the amount of renewable energy coming from the sea to 5 times by 2030 and 25 times by 2050. Is Lithuania ready for this? If so, how is Lithuania planning to exploit the new opportunities?

According to Dainius Kreivys, the Minister of Energy, who will be giving a speech at the conference and participating in the discussion, with the fight against climate change becoming one of the world’s top priorities, it is changing energy production, industry and households in a comprehensive way, which is why the rapid growth of the green energy production is one of the country’s most important goals. Lithuania is committed to meeting the targets of the European Green Deal and to generate half of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. “The successful ’employment’ of the offshore wind for local generation is one of the key pillars of Lithuania’s green transformation. The planned 700 MW offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea would generate around 25% of the country’s current electricity demand,” says D. Kreivys.

Another imminent energy challenge is the massive electrification changes that await maritime transport. According to Rokas Pečiulaitis, the Founder and Director General of Contrarian Ventures, there are around 50.000 cargo ships in the world, which emit more than 900 million metric tonnes of CO2 and other pollutants into the atmosphere every year. According to a participant in the forthcoming debate, we need to be clear about the scale of the fact that the 15 largest container ships emit more sodium and sulphur oxides and other pollutants than all the vehicles in the world combined. “This is a clear problem and a technological challenge to electrify the entire world’s cargo fleet in a short period of time, not only to protect the environment but also to save operational costs,” says Pečiulaitis.

The challenges and opportunities of logistics in exploiting the sea route and digital innovation solutions for the creation of the future sea will also be discussed at the conference. Among the speakers at the conference are the Minister of the Environment Simonas Gentvilas, the Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Agnė Vaiciukevičiūtė, the Deputy Minister of Energy Daiva Garbaliauskaitė, the the Adviser to the Prime Minister Dalius Krinickas, the Director of Infrastructure at Port of Klaipėda Vidmantas Paukštė, the Director of AgriFood Lithuania DIH Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė, the Director General of Enterprise Lithuania Daina Kleponė, the Vice-President of the Management Board of Linas Agro Group Andrius Pranckevičius, the Director General and Founder of ART21 Augustas Alešiūnas, the Rector of Vytautas Magnus University Juozas Augutis, the Head of the Innovation Programme of EIT FOOD Mercedes Groba, the Founder and Director General of Contrarian Ventures Rokas Pečiulaitis, CEO at Ignitis Renewables Aleksandr Spiridonov, CEO at Association of Lithuanian Stevedoring Companies Robertas Valantiejus, CEO at Susea Mark Chryssolouris and others.

To register for the event and for more information, please visit the conference website.

Power starts with bioeconomy: from principles to practice

Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of Vytautas Magnus University and Baltic Summer University invite You to Summer school „Power starts with bioeconomy: from principles to practice“ , which will be held online 2 August – 6 August, 2021. We are waiting for everyone, who is interested in bioeconomy. More information: here.

Registration (till 18 of July)

Contact person: Anastasija Novikova, e-mail: anastasija.novikova@vdu.lt

Information leaflet

From September VMU students will receive larger scholarships

During the last meeting of VMU Senate of 2020 – 2021, which took place on June 23^rd, 2021, together with the VMU Student Representative Council, a decision was made to amend and supplement the existing provisions of the VMU Scholarship Description Procedure, which in addition to procedural changes, expands the circle of first-year students who would be eligible to apply for it, and also increases the sizes of scholarships that are already awarded to students who achieve the best academic results.

Changes of the description responds to the goals of VMU Strategic Plan of 2021 – 2027 to promote and motivate students to achieve the best study results. It is also linked to the decisions of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania to increase the normative component of tuition fees that is used to encourage students; it responds to the recommendations of the Supervisor of Academic Ethics and Procedures in order to ensure legal certainty and clarity in the regulations of award procedures of scholarships; it also assessed the changes related to the amendments of the Study Regulations and new scholarships awarded by VMU to compensate the cost of tuition fees.

Major changes of the Description of the VMU Scholarship Award Procedure are related to the fact that from September 1^st, 2021, the size of scholarship in full-time studies increases from 140 Eur/month up to 150 Eur/month and in part-time studies, organized by the Academies of Education and Agriculture, it changes from 92 Eur/month up to 100 Eur/month. Meanwhile, the admission score for first-year students is being reduced: from September 1^st, 2021, students of bachelor or integrated studies will be awarded 80 Eur/month scholarship for students of full-time study forms and for part-time studies, organised by the Academy of Agriculture or Education – 52 Eur/month scholarship. If students’ admission score is not less than 8,500 points (until now this score was 9,500 points), respectively for master’s students – 9,500 points (now students had to reach 10,000 points).

This procedure applies to all students, except to those who will receive University’s scholarship to cover the cost of tuition fees, unless they are the students with the best study results.

Ceremony “The path of change”

You are kindly invited to participate at the celebration ceremony “The path of change” hosted by Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy to present the Chancellor’s regalia to Prof. Dr. Astrida Miceikiene and honor the significant business and social partnership. The ceremony will be held on 28 June 2021, 01:00 pm, at the Hall of Celebrations at VMU Agriculture Academy.

You are welcome to join the event remotely on the Youtube platform of the University.

Press release: Three young scientists awarded for scientific excellence

On the 16^th of June the Baltic Sea Science 2021 Award Ceremony was taking place as part of the online Baltic Science Network final conference. The award was presented to three young scientists for their excellence in promoting the Council of the Baltic Sea States’ Science, Research & Innovation Agenda through their research projects. Eleven research projects from around the Baltic Sea Region were submitted. The international award selection committee consisting of academia, public authorities and international organisations evaluated the projects according to selection criteria covering the aspects of regional coverage, sustainability and compliance with science, research and innovation strategies.

The committee selected the following three scientists and projects as winners of the Baltic Sea Science Award 2021:

Evaldas Makrickas from the Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania and his research on “Assessment and Spatial Planning for Peatland Conservation and Restoration: Europe’s Trans-Border Neman River Basin as a Case Study in Life Science “

Marta Skorek from the University of Gdańsk, Poland and her research on “Discourse shapes marine space: Representations of the macro-regional governance of the Baltic Sea and their social-ecological implications”

Jordi Hitzen from University of Southern Denmark and his research on “Actin methylation by histidine methyltransferase SETD3: mechanism, scope and inhibition”

The award to promote young scientists in the Baltic Sea Region was introduced in 2019 during the CBSS Baltic Sea Science Day. The annual event started in 2017 and linked to the historic date of establishment of one of the first academies of science in the Baltic Sea Region in 1724 in St Petersburg. The award also includes financial assets to support further research.

Watch the full ceremony:

More information…

VMU Signed Memorandums of Understanding With Two UK Universities

In a ceremony at the British Embassy in Vilnius on 14 June, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) signed memorandums of understanding with two universities of the United Kingdom: the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) and the University of Strathclyde. This partnership allows students to acquire a combination of British and Lithuanian education which will raise their competences and professionalism to an international level.

“The partnership with RAU is unique and promising: it will unite the two main academic institutions of both countries that conduct scientific research and studies in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and bioeconomics. It is my belief that joint efforts will improve our contribution to the implementation of the global Green New Deal”, VMU Rector Prof. Juozas Augutis said.

VMU will cooperate with the University of Strathclyde in the implementation of master’s degree studies. The universities are currently preparing the Education Management programme, while the future plans are dedicated to the development of research projects and employee exchange. According to VMU Rector, the partnership with the University of Strathclyde is an important step in the promotion of international training of teachers in Lithuania. Importantly, the partnerships will allow students to have even more experiences and opportunities: new double-degree programmes will be developed, and their graduates will receive double diplomas.

Speaking at the start of the ceremony, the British Ambassador to the Republic of Lithuania John Brian Olley noted that one of the most rewarding privileges of diplomatic service is to be able to celebrate real progress in building even stronger relations between two countries. According to the ambassador, the United Kingdom value collaboration with Lithuania through overseas higher education programs, joint research programs, publications, student and staff mobility exchanges.

“I congratulate all three universities at the start of this new key strategic partnership. These new partnerships will enable a higher level of academic and scientific cooperation between our two countries, especially on the Green Agenda and in education. This will also widen opportunities for the mobility of students and members of academic staff”, the ambassador emphasised.

The event’s participants also included the Vice-Minister for Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania Gintautas Jakštas. The vice-minister noted that such European higher education cooperation initiatives significantly increase mobility and enhance the quality of education and research. Also, they enable students to obtain a degree by studying in several different countries. “We believe that shared experience and different approaches, the pooled competences through the partnership established today will [not only] give an impulse to the new quality of academic cooperation, but also it will contribute to the efficient solutions of global green challenges. My congratulations and sincere wish for sustainable and fruitful cooperation”, Gintautas Jakštas said.

Before signing the memorandum with VMU, the Vice-Chancellor of RAU Prof. Joanna Price highlighted that the new agreement is a continuation of traditions for the university, which was opened 175 years ago: for many decades, the Royal Agricultural University has had an international outlook and collaborated with the best in the field to ensure the advancement of agricultural productivity and global as well as national food security.

“This exciting new collaboration with VMU is an important extension of this transition, bringing together two leading agricultural specialists in the shared endeavour of addressing food security in the context of profound climate and environmental change. I sincerely hope that our new collaboration with VMU will enable both our respective researchers and students to play an important and innovative role in making the most of the new opportunities and leading the way towards a more equitable and healthy world”, the Vice-Chancellor said.

Concurring with Prof. Joanna Price, the RAU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Neil Ravenscroft added that one of the main goals of cooperation with VMU is to provide students and staff with the opportunity to have international experience to understand problems from different perspectives. “Working collaboratively offers so much more than working in isolation. And it’s been cornerstone of the RAU as a specialist provider in the UK to find the right partners globally to work collaboratively”, Prof. Ravenscroft noted.

The other memorandum of understanding was signed between VMU and the University of Strathclyde. The Associate Principal and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at UoS, Prof. Ian Rivers, reminded the audience that this university was founded in 1796, and today its aim is to meet the needs of the 21st century student and the demands placed upon them.

“Partnership is at the heart of our commitment to useful learning, and I hope that this new relationship with VMU will enhance that commitment. I’m very pleased that we can build even stronger connections to Europe and more especially with Lithuania, through the development of our own academic partnership in the field of educational management and leadership. The development of a joint degree is one of our international priorities”, Prof. Rivers said, adding that the new joint Educational Management and Leadership programme is expected to be ready in 2022.

Other representatives of the University of Strathclyde also spoke during the ceremony. Joanna Holmes, the Associate Dean, Director of Professional and Academic Learning at the School of Education of the University of Strathclyde, noted that it was exciting and pleasing to see something that began as conversations on Zoom come to fruition in this way. Mark Wilber, the Business Development Manager, expressed hope that University of Strathclyde will soon be able to welcome VMU employees and students.

VMU Vice-Rector for Communication Assoc. Prof. Vilma Bijeikienė remarked that the university considers these two memorandums to be an encouragement and strong obligation to strive for better quality in studies and research. “The legendary basketball genius Michael Jordan said: “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships”. I hope that this cooperation will allow the teams of our scholars of our universities ultimately to make our youth and our countries the winners”, VMU Vice-Rector said at the end of the ceremony.

The first of its kind Digital Sea hackathon in Lithuania

The three EIT FOOD hubs of the Baltic States — AgriFood Lithuania DIH, Riga Technical University and Tartu Biotechnology Park — are coming together for the first time ever for the exceptional international online hackathon HACK DigitalSea’21, which was initiated by the Lithuanian Digital Innovation Hub.

The organisers are inviting both students, who are still seeking ideas, and experienced start-ups to compete in a variety of categories for winnings from a 12,000-euro prize fund. Registration for the hackathon has already begun and will be open until June 27. HACK DigitalSea’21 will be held on July 3-4.

Hackathon supported by the Ministries of the Environment of the Baltic States

The relevance of the topic is confirmed by the great attention paid to the hackathon by the authorities of the Baltic States. The Ministries of the Environment of all three Baltic States as well as the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania have already became official partners of the event.

“Digital and innovative solutions that promote the development of green ports, reduce pollution and the impact of shipping, preserve natural biodiversity, strengthen food value chains, promote the use of renewable energy sources, make more efficient use of logistics and involve society in these processes are especially important to us. Innovative solutions developed by young innovators during the hackathon would allow us to become even more competitive as it would make us greener and more sustainable. This would not only allow us to protect nature and human health, but also give us a possibility to compete successfully with other EU countries,” says the Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Lithuania Simonas Gentvilas, who actively supports the idea of the HACK DigitalSea’21. Together with the Ministers of the Environment from Latvia and Estonia, Simonas Gentvilas will give a welcome speech during the opening of the hackathon.

Three prize categories of the hackathon

An experienced international jury will select winners of the HACK DigitalSea’21 hackathon in 3 different categories: The Most Advanced Solution, The Strongest Idea and From Zero to Hero. The winners will be awarded cash prizes of 4,000 euros. Participating teams will also be competing for other valuable prizes established by the partners of the event.

“This time we took into account the fact that not all teams compete under equal conditions for a variety of reasons. Some teams are simply too strong and makes it impossible for beginner teams to win. Others come to the hackathon with already existing solutions. These teams are particularly difficult to compete with for those who begin creating a response to a challenge only during the hackathon. Now everybody will have an equal chance to win,” says the director of the AgriFood Lithuania DIH Kristina Šermukšnytė-Alešiūnienė.

Four challenge categories

According to the organizers of the event, this hackathon is a great opportunity to identify and start solving problems existing in the sea. The sea in this context is not only ships and ports. It is also a very important part of a sustainable environmental ecosystem, food supply chains, logistics and renewable energy. The European Commission has set the goal to scale up renewable energy quantities 5 times by 2030 and 25 times by 2050. The Baltic Sea itself is rated fourth worst-polluted in the world as it is severely impacted by chemicals and eutrophication with as many as 2000 ships sailing in its waters at any given moment. Excessive fishing, the use of bottom trawls and fishery farms have already caused great damage to the ecosystem of the sea. Furthermore, a great untapped potential in the Baltic Sea exists as, for example, the biomass produced from macroalgae could be used as food and consumables. However, growing and harvesting macroalgae is still in its infancy in the Baltic Sea.

The participants of the HACK DigitalSea’21 will choose a challenge from four main categories: Precision Fishing and Aquaculture, Environmental Sustainability, Advanced Logistics Solutions and Renewable Energy. Specific challenges will be purposed by companies and organizations facing particular issues every day.

The highest performing teams will be able to present their solutions during the high-level Digital Sea Conference. It is the only event in Lithuania and one of the few events in Central and Northern Europe to receive the right to be part of the European Commission’s European Maritime Day initiative.

Do not miss the opportunity to participate in this exceptional international hackathon, offer sustainable and advanced solutions and win cash prizes. Registration has already begun and will be open until June 27!

More information about the organisers of the hackathon

The main organiser of the event is Lithuanian Digital Innovation Hub AgriFood Lithuania DIH. In 2020, it was highlighted as one of two good practice examples of European sectoral DIHs in the overview of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Also, AgriFood Lithuania DIH became an EIT FOOD Hub in Lithuania in March 2021.

EIT FOOD is a leading food innovation initiative in the European Union, which seeks a more sustainable, healthier and more reliable food system across the continent. It is the most prestigious organisation of this type in the EU, which brings together digital innovations hubs across Europe. You can find out more about EIT FOOD by visiting its website.

Other organisers of the hackathon are Riga Technical University and Tartu Biotechnology Park.