ERASMUS teaching visit to Alaaddin Keykubat University

The visit under the ERASMUS+ teaching mobility programme of assoc. prof. dr. Raimundas Rukuiža took place at Alaaddin Keykubat University at Alanya (ALKU) on 20-23 June. Main partners at ALKU were assoc. prof. Derman Vatansever Bayramol, head of the Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering and lecturer dr. Fatma Aydin Unal from the Faculty of Engineering. R. Rukuiža , associate professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical, Energy and Biotechnology Engineering at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA), gave the lectures for integrated group of ALKU MSc and PhD students, and young scientists under the topics of engineering materials testing outline, surface processing and investigation methods, tribological research methodology and equipment. VMU Agriculture Academy study and research facilities and the possibilities for ERASMUS+ exchange studies at VMU AA were also presented. The MSc and PhD students, and lecturers expressed great interest in the ERASMUS+ exchange programme for performing the study and research exchange at VMU AA, using the facilities of engineering and tribotechnical materials equipment. It was agreed that soon as the ALKU students together with their supervisors will prepare the specimens and apply for ERASMUS+ grant, the students will be accepted at Tribological Laboratory of the Faculty of Engineering of VMU Agriculture Academy.

The possible cooperation in research were discussed with the ALKU partners: Derman Vatansever Bayramol, dr. Fatma Aydin Unal and İsmail Topcu. The colleagues from Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department of ALKU are interested in cooperation in the fields of piezoelectric actuators performance improvement, ceramic powder coatings and mechanical wear metal surfaces.

The ALKU partners were also invited to participate in international tribology conference BALTTRIB 2022, which will take place at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy on 22-24 September 2022.

“Erasmus+” mobility visit: the LANDNET workshop in North Macedonia

The 13th International LANDNET workshop took place from 25 to 27 May in Skopje, North Macedonia. The workshop was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (UN FAO REUT) in partnership with the University St. Cyril Methodius in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, and the Delegation of the European Union.

The event brought together representatives from governments and the private sector, NGOs, universities and research institutes from Europe and the Central Asia region to discuss on land tenure topics such as land consolidation, land banking, state land management, land abandonment and land market development.

Dr. Giedrius Pašakarnis, lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Land Management and Geomatics, at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA), took part in the seminar, taking an advantage of the opportunity provided by Erasmus+ programme funding.

On the first day of the workshop, the focus was on land banking instruments and the launch of a new UN FAO initiative on capacity development for land consolidation and land banking. Lecturer dr. G. Pašakarnis shared with the participants his experience on how the Department of Land Management and Geomatics of VMU AA educates future land consolidation projects professionals.

On the second day of the event, the focus was on the introduction of land consolidation in North Macedonia with presentations in the morning and a field trip to land consolidation project areas in Bitola municipality in the afternoon. It is important to mention that back in 2017, lecturer dr. G. Pašakarnis, as an international expert working for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, advised the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of North Macedonia on the selection of the areas in which it would be the most feasible to start land consolidation projects, where the municipality of Bitola was selected as one of the most suitable candidates.

The participants of the seminar were impressed by the results of the 336 ha land consolidation project in the Egri cadastral area, Bitola municipality: implementing land consolidation project, project planners were able to consolidate land parcels so that the average parcel size has increased from 0.38 hectares to 1.30 hectares, the fragmentation of land has been reduced from 874 to 260 parcels, a new roads and irrigation infrastructure was developed, and in the end, all participating farmers in the area have been very happy with the project results.

Consolidated fragmented land parcels in Ergi, Bitola municipality

Developed a new irrigation infrastructure

Developed a new rational road infrastructure

Landowners and farmers were very satisfied with the land consolidation project results

On the final day of the seminar, the focus was mainly on the reduction of abandoned land. After the seminar, lecturer dr. G. Pašakarnis visited the University St. Cyril Methodius in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering where dr. Marijana Lazarevska, Vice Dean for Science and International Cooperation, dr. Gjorgji Gjorgjiev, Lecturer, and dr. Zlatko Srbinoski, Dean of the Faculty, presented the study programmes, the research facilities and the students’ work.

VMU Agriculture Academy has signed a cooperation agreement with the University St. Cyril Methodius in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering, so from now on lecturers and PhD students can go on short-term Erasmus visits. The faculty lecturers invited VMU Agriculture Academy researchers to collaborate on research in water engineering, road and civil engineering, environmental protection, geodesy and geoinformation technologies, to participate in Erasmus+ researcher mobility programmes and to submit scientific articles to their journal “Scientific Journal of Civil Engineering”.

Lecturer dr. Giedrius Pašakarnis with dr. Marijana Lazarevska, Vice Dean for Science and International Cooperation of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and lecturer dr. Gjorgji Gjorgjiev

Lect. Giedrius Pašakarnis

VMU Agriculture Academy scientists visited the University of Life Sciences in Lublin

May 31–June 2 dean of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA), Faculty of Agronomy associate professor dr. Aida Adamavičienė and associate professor of the Department of Plant Biology and Food Sciences dr. Živilė Tarasevičienė visited the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, under the “Erasmus +” staff teaching mobility programme.

During the visit, scientists from VMU AA gave lectures to students and introduced them to study opportunities at VMU. Possibilities of cooperation in joint research and project activities were discussed with fellow researchers.The organization of student exchanges and lecturers’ visits was discussed with representatives of the administration. During the visit a meeting was also held with representatives of the food industry company “Lubella”, where the possibilities of cooperation were discussed.

VMU Agriculture Academy diploma ceremony (photo gallery)

On June 21, 337 graduates of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) were awarded the bachelor’s and master’s degree diplomas.

Congratulations!

Pictures of VMU AA diploma ceremony:

Faculcy of Engineering

Faculcy of Bioeconomy Development

Faculcy of Agronomy

Faculcy of Forest Sciences and Ecology

VMU Agriculture Academy scientists visited Bialystok University of Technology

Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) lecturers from the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, Business and Rural Development Management Department associate professor dr. Lina Marcinkeviciute and lecturer Jolanta Vilkeviciute visited Bialystok University of Technology (BUT) under the “Erasmus+” programme during 6-11 of June.

BUT was established in 1949 and has a long tradition of educating engineers and young scientists. Now there are studying 8500 students and working 660 teachers – experts in their fields. BUT has 7 Faculties (Departments). L. Marcinkeviciute and J. Vilkeviciute visited Department of Finance and Accounting of Faculty of Engineering Management, university library.

During the visit scientists presented VMU AA Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, the main research fields and gave lectures for bachelors in the area of Law and Management.

Lecturers had discussions with the dr. hab. Prof. Zbigniew Korzeb and hab. Dr. Zofia Kołoszko-Chomentowska about the possibilities for cooperation in projects, common scientific articles, student’s and lecturer’s exchange opportunities between institutions.

The main purpose of the visit was to collect data for research, to strengthen the cooperation within “Erasmus+” programme and to establish contacts with the staff of the host institution that can lead to joint implementation of new research projects in the future.

UNeECC Annual Conference 2022 “Culture and Nature – Partners in Dialogue” at VMU AA

We are pleased to invite You to take part in the UNeECC Annual Conference 2022 titled “Culture and Nature – Partners in Dialogue”, which will be hosted by Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy, Kaunas (Lithuania), on 5-7 October, 2022.

Conference Topics:

-Culture, Science and Social Well-being
-Consciousness in Cultural Consumption
-Sustainability as a Key for Bioeconomy Challenges
-Nature and a New Cultural Mindset

Important dates concerning the Call for Papers:

-Extended deadline for submission of abstracts: 29 June 2022 (extended – 29 July).
-Abstract Acceptance Notification: 29 July 2022 (extended – 29 August).

Papers are published in the conference proceedings with ISSN and the select 5 papers to be published in a high quality journalꓽ “Tourism: An International Interdisciplinary Journal“, the second oldest tourism journal in the world, regularly published since 1953.

We are pleased to present plenary session Keynote Speakers:

Conference websiteꓽ https://uneecc.vdu.lt
For further information please contact: uneecc@vdu.lt

VMU Agriculture Academy scientists visited the University of Trieste

On June 13-14th, scientists of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy visited the University of Trieste in Italy. During the teaching visit associate professor dr. Anželika Dautarte and international coordinator lecturer dr. Ekaterina Makrickiene paid special attention to the discussion of possibilities of double diploma programs with partners from the “Transform4Europe” University Alliance. Vytautas Magnus University was also represented by Faculty of Natural Sciences professor dr. Algimantas Paulauskas.
The meeting was attended not only by the representatives of Vytautas Magnus University and the University of Trieste, also by the staff of University of Silesia (Katowice, Poland) and the University of Sofia (Sofia, Bulgaria). The partners actively discussed the aims and content of the double degree study program and started comparing the content of individual subjects. It is planned to complete the structure of the programme in the nearest future and move on to the preparation of the contract.

Academic and administrative staff of Uzbekistan visited VMU Agriculture Academy

Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy Faculty of Bioeconomy Development is implementing the ERASMUS+ project „New Master‘s Degree Curricula for Sustainable Bioeconomy in Uzbekistan“ (2021-2024). Academic and administrative staff from Tashkent State Agricultural University and its branch in Samarkand, Tashkent State Institute of Irrigation and Mechanization, and Bukhara State University visited Faculty of Bioeconomy Development on June 6-11.

During the visit colleagues from Uzbekistan got acquainted with the laboratories and library of Agriculture Academy, visited a number of companies in the Lithuanian bioeconomy sector, such as “Allive Europe“,”Nuotekų valykla”, “Kauno Energija”, “Norvelita”, “Raseinių Žuvininkystė”, Audrone Ispiryan farm, Audrius Banionis farm, agricultural cooperative “Pienas LT”, got acquainted with the companies incubated in the business incubator of Agriculture Academy, met with the academic staff of VMU Agriculture Academy participating in this project.

These activities provided an opportunity for colleagues from Uzbekistan to learn about research and innovation in the bioeconomy sector, to acquire a better understanding of the implementation of the principles of bioeconomy and the circular economy in business organizations. In September, the implementation of the Master’s study programme in Bioeconomy will start at the universities of Uzbekistan, organizing the study process for 24 students.

ERASMUS+ teaching visit to the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

ON May 09-13 prof. dr. Algirdas Jasinskas from Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) Agriculture Academy Faculty of Engineering and prof. dr. Kęstutis Romaneckas from VMU Agriculture Academy Faculty of Agronomyvisited University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland) according to the programme ERASMUS+ Teaching.

The main tasks of this mobility was to increase the professional knowledge of objective skills while oral presentation of new technologies and technique for foreign students; to increase the usage of English language skills into practice; to improve the competencies exchange in the fields of agricultural engineering, agronomy and environment research; to grow up the relations with teachers and students in University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn.

During this visit, professors presented lectures on such topics: Sustainable soil tillage and sowing systems; Multi-cropping and inter-cropping systems; Agricultural plant growing, harvesting and preparation for biofuel technological-technical and energy assessment; Energy plant biomass processing and pressed bio-fuel utilization for energy conversion in Lithuania; Complex evaluation of agricultural technologies.

Some time was spent for the meeting with the staff of Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, and for discussions about the attending in the future scientific and study projects and conferences (Agroeco 2022; Rural Development 2023,), was organized the discussion on an ongoing joint international European project Horizon2020 – BRANCHES, and the discussions about the future ERASMUS+ activities.

The hosts organized a visit to the largest biogas plant in Poland, Biogal, where they got acquainted with the specifics of its work and technological processes, and in free time, professors made sightseeing in wonderful places of Olsztyn and region of Warmia and Mazury in Poland.

Prof. dr. Algirdas Jasinskas and prof. dr. Kęstutis Romaneckas

Assoc. prof. dr. Rasa Pranskuniene from Bioeconomy Development Faculty, Department of Business and Rural Development Management has visited University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland on 24–26 of May. R. Pranskuniene was invited by prof. dr. Agnieszka Jaszczak, the Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture. During the visit R. Pranskuniene presented the lectures for the students in the field of Landscape Architecture and discussed together with students the challenging aspects of the interaction of public perceptions on changing landscape. As well, the possibilities for exchange studies at VMU Agriculture Academy have been discussed. During the stay at University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn the possible cooperation in research, the inter-university cooperation within the framework of the ERASMUS+ programme establish and strengthen the scientific cooperation were discussed as well.

VMU Agriculture Academy scientist visited Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University

The International Staff Week under the ERASMUS+ programme took place on 17-20 May 2022 at the Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University (TOGU), Tokat, Turkey. Lecturer Otilija Miseckaite got acquainted with the TOGU, gave lectures about VMU Agriculture Academy and participated in various activities with the colleagues from different countries (Gabon, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey).

During the visit O. Miseckaite had meetings with TOGU rector prof. dr. Bunyamin Sahin, academic staff, where discussed about the possibilities to collaborate in study and research fields.

Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University offering a wide range of courses (51 study programs) in Engineering, Natural Sciences, Education, Arts, Sciences, Economics, Medicine, Agriculture, Dentistry, and Theology. The university is also home to three graduate institutes called Institute for Graduate Studies in Pure and Applied Sciences, Institute of Social Sciences, and Institute of Health Sciences. The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022 ranks TOGU in 1001+ bracket. The university has also received European Accreditation of Engineering Programs. Tokat Gaziosmanpasa University is one of the youngest universities in the country (founded in 1992) and is highly renowned for its research and development projects and capabilities, actively participates in many projects nationally and internationally.