Dissemination event of project FARM

Researchers from the Department of Business and Rural Development Management of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of the of the Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) together with other partner universities are implementing the international ERASMUS+ project “Fostering Agriculture Rural Development and Land Management” (FARM) coordinated by the Harz University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

Project researchers would like to invite you to the dissemination event of the project. Together with four European partners from Northern Macedonia, Spain, Lithuania and Cyprus, a holistic approach to promote knowledge and technology transfer in the agricultural sector was developed over the last two years. The project focused on innovative technologies, especially decision support systems (DSS) and their usage in agriculture. The event will showcase all project outputs, which include an interactive map and dashboard, an online catalogue, two DSS prototypes, and learning materials. There will also be an opportunity for networking and exchange.

REGISTRATION:

Laura Gorzitze

lgorzitze@hs-harz.de

+49 3943 659 828

More information about the project

The event will be photographed and/or filmed; therefore, please note that you might be featured in photos or videos which can be published in various media.

“ERASMUS+” training visit to Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar

On November 7–11 Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) representatives – dean of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development assoc. prof. dr. Bernardas Vaznonis and director of Bioeconomy Research Institute, assoc.prof. at the Faculty of Engineering dr. Rytis Skominas visited Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar under the “ERASMUS+” programme.

Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar is an integrated,
accredited higher education institution of Bosnia and Herzegovina, consisting of the eight faculties: Agromediterranean Faculty, Faculty of Economy, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Information Technologies, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Education and Faculty of Law. Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar is aiming to be a flexible, functional and socially responsible higher education institution, recognized in the region for its modern study programmes of all cycles, and oriented towards cooperation, internationalization and high quality.

During the visit VMU AA representatives had meetings with Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar International relation office and academic staff. There were discussed possibilities to collaborate in study and research fields. A visit was complemented by the tour at the Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar with the aim to get acquainted with the scientific infrastructure.

Invitation to participate in online lectures of Visiting Professor Irina Pilvere

We kindly invite you to participate in the lectures of the visiting lecturer prof. dr. habil. Irina Pilvere. The topic is “Bioeconomy Development: Challenges and Possibilities”. The lectures will be held online on November 21 – December 2, 2022.

Registration and detailed lecture schedule here.

We sincerely invite you to participate in the lectures to expand your field of knowledge!

Mienat project: Short-term joint staff training events

Assoc. prof. dr. Rasa Pranskūnienė from the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) has attended short-term joint staff training events for the Erasmus + KA203 project – Erasmus+ MIENAT Strategic Partnership in Higher Education project “Methodology of Interpretation of European Nature Heritage in Tourism”.

In 2022 two joint staff training events were held at the Fachhochschule des Mittelstands, Germany and at the Munster Technological University, Ireland. Short-term joint staff training event 2 was held during 28th June – 1st July at the Fachhochschule des Mittelstands, Rostock, Germany. Short-term joint staff training event 3 was held during 5th – 9 September 2022 at the Munster Technological University, Cork, Ireland. During short-term joint staff trainings project partners had possibility not only to discuss natural heritage and methodology of its interpretation and to make the evaluation of text of the e-book, case studies, but as well to have training for didactical production of audio-video digital materials (podcasts, presentations, videos). During the learning workshops there were held presentations, piloting, evaluation of prepared didactic materials. Each partner presented the draft of his input of the e-book chapters, as well as shared the idea development of chosen case studies, discussed the didactical concepts.

Mienat project has a 36-month implementation period. The main objectives of the project are to prepare materials for innovations in the field of education on the topic of “Experiencing Nature Tourism” and to create new, modern, didactic materials.

Mienat project coordinator: Prague University of Economics and Business (Czech Republic), project partners: Porto University (Portugal), Universidad Europea, Madrid (Spain), Munster Technological University (Ireland), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University (Romania), Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), the Fachhochschule des Mittelstands (Germany) and FH Burgenland (Austria).

ERASMUS+ teaching visit to University of Rijeka in Croatia

On October 3-7 Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA), Faculty of Bioeconomy Development assoc. prof. dr. Erika Besusparienė visited the University of Rijeka in Croatia under the ERASMUS+ training program.

At the university of Rijeka scientist gave lectures on the subject of environmental taxes to undergraduate students, discussed the differences between these taxes in Lithuania and Croatia and also lectured the importance of environmental costs and their accounting, international sustainability standards and non-financial reports for companies for the disclosure of social accountability, regulation in the European Union (EU). The VMU Agricultural Academy and the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development were presented to students and researchers of the University of Rijeka, and the meaning and importance of bioeconomy was discussed.

Although the existing study programmes at the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management at University of Rijekafocus on the tourism sector, specialists, who study economics, accounting, taxes, environmental protection, are trained with broad knowledge. During the visit, the experience of how to ensure the transfer of this knowledge to students, the peculiarities of organizing lectures for full-time and part-time students, and the experience of organizing hybrid lectures was also acquired.

In Croatia contacts have also been established with researchers from the Department of Finance, Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Rijeka, who conduct research in the field of public finance. Together with the researchers, the exhibition of scientific journals was visited in the library of the University of Rijeka, and the possibilities of publishing articles were discussed. The possibilities of public finance research, Croatia’s ongoing integration into the EU, the introduction of the euro, and joining the OECD organization were discussed.

Distinguished Speakers in 13th international scientific conference “Accounting and Finance for Business 2022: Towards Sustainability”

The 13^th international scientific conference “Accounting and Finance for Business 2022: Towards Sustainability” will be held on 10-11^th of November, 2022 at the Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (Kaunas, Lithuania), Faculty of Bioeconomy Development. This year, the Conference will be held online. Conference languages – English and Lithuanian.

The conference is intended to bring together accounting and finance researchers to share experience and business-relevant research results. The main aim of the conference is to present and discuss innovative and sustainability-oriented trends in accounting and finance science, to share new approaches that are important for increasing business competitiveness and efficiency and promoting partnerships between small and medium-sized businesses and the public sector.

November 10^th 9 a.m. speakers with extensive experience in scientific and practical activities will give presentations in the plenary session (English language) of the conference:

Prof. Kaja Tampere – BIOTeacher and scientist in the communication field: organisational communication and public relations, health communication and bullying, organisational culture and corporate social responsibility, sustainability and legitimacy. Kaja works as a professor in Jyväskylä (Finland) and in Tallinn University and Tartu University (Estonia). Author of many scientific articles. Presentation topic: Corporate social responsibility developments in post-communist countries: towards organizations social legitimacy.

Prof. Catalin N. Albu – professor of Accounting with the Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania, where conducts research and teaches in several areas of accounting, with a focus on the application of western models in emerging economies. Catalin’s research has been published in Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, Critical Perspectives on Accounting, Accounting Forum, Accounting and Business Research, Australian Accounting Review, and Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, among others. Professor serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation and as member of the editorial board of Accounting Forum. Catalin is the Chair of the External Relations Committee of the European Accounting Association and acts as Vice-President Conferences for the International Association for Accounting Education and Research (IAAER). Presentation topic: A new role for accountants: the case of NFR reporting in former communist countries.

Dr. Juliette E. Torabian – the author of “Wealth, values, culture & education: reviving the essentials for equality and sustainability” published by Springer. A specialist in comparative higher education, the deputy team leader in H2020 PIONEERED and a Postdoctoral researcher in sociology of education at University of Luxembourg, Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences. Juliette is also a senior expert in international development and education with 25 years of experience in strategic planning, policy making and analysis, and capacity building. Juliette is on the editorial board of the Journal of International and Comparative Higher Education and the journal of Sustainability and Climate change. She has an interdisciplinary academic background and 15 years of lecturing experience in pedagogy, gender and human rights, environment, sustainable development, and ethics in business in universities in France, Switzerland and Luxembourg. Presentation topic: Ethics and sustainability in business: the role of higher education.

Rolandas Kubilius – the senior project manager of consulting and auditing company PwC. Rolandas has 14 years of experience in consulting business organizations – he advises company managers, shareholders and investors in making business-relevant decisions. Ronaldas is currently leading PwC Lietuva’s ESG services team and helps businesses solve challenges related to this area. Ronaldas also regularly speaks at events and writes articles and insights for the media on ESG. Presentation topic: Sustainability reports and standards: changes in legal regulation.

November 11^th 9 a.m. conference participants are invited to the discussion (Lithuanian language) “What are the risks for a business importing or exporting goods if financial and accounting specialists do not have the necessary customs knowledge?”. During the discussion, Enrika Naujokė (Customs Practitioners Association), Ingrida Kemežienė (Law firm “Ellex Valiūnas ir partneriai”), Monika Bielskienė (UAB “PricewaterhouseCoopers”) will share their insights.

November 11^th 9 a.m. a special session (English language) “A Digital Learning Platform for Generation Z: Passport to IFRS©” will be organized, which will be moderated by prof. dr. Aylin Poroy Arsoy (Bursa Uludag University).

We invite you to register and participate in the conference.

Registration of speakers and submission of abstracts until October 3^rd 2022!!!

Details can be found on the conference website: https://afk.vdu.lt/en

Call to find Communication Expert for the RURAL PACT tender!

ELARD is looking for an experienced communication expert for full-time position whose main tasks are:website content management and social media, preparing and publishing publications, collecting best practices, also supporting Rural Pact team with organisation of events, especially virtual events.The communication expert shall have relevant higher degree and at least 3 years of professional experience in the field, or at least 5 years of professional experience in the field, and an excellent command of English (level C1). In the case of successful application, the Communication Expert is expected to join Brussels team and please note that frequent travelling to Brussels might be required or even part time living in Brussels if the work requires. ELARD is looking forward to receive the CVs of strong candidates with experience in the above tasks by 1st of September! Together with your CV please send the description of your previous works related to web management and social media (track record). Please send your CV and track record by 1st of September to ELARD e-mail elard@elard.eu For any questions please contact ELARD Administrative Coordinator Beata Styczeń +48 606 85 88 01, elard@elard.eu More information about the Rural Pact tender is available here https://etendering.ted.europa.eu/cft/cft-display.html?cftId=11117

During the summer school course “My First Start-up 2022” students created business plans

At the end of June and beginning of July Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VDU AA) prof. dr. Jan Žukovskis from the Department of Business and Rural Development Management of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development organized the summer school course “My First Start-Up” for the second consecutive year.

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 familiarize students with the methodology of business plan and budget preparation and to help them prepare their own plan according to their formulated business idea.

This year the course was conducted remotely. It was attended by 16 students from various foreign universities: seven students from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW, Poland), four students from the Polissia National University (Ukraine), two students from the University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland), one each from the Czestochowa University of Technology and WSB University from Poland. Also, this year lithuanian Domas Grigaliūnas, who studied at Manchester University in England, joined the participants and presented a very practical and innovative “Digital supervision” business idea.

Such courses provide an excellent opportunity for participants 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 projects was very practical and likely to have continuity when organizing a “real” business in the future. The most interesting and advanced projects should be noted: “Trade in organic agricultural products” (by Marta Zielińska), “Production and trade of frozen products” (by Jakub Jurczak, Maciej Sobota), “Production of candles from soy” (by Anita Bazyluk, Diana Dąbek). One among the best project in terms of design was the project “Vegetarian and vegan restaurant” (by Angelika Buchta, Jakub Czyżewski). Two projects were related to psychological counseling (Natalia Radomska, Michał Celmer), including those who suffered from the war in Ukraine (Olha Zaharchuk, Yaroslava Fischuk). Ukrainian students Oleksandr Zarichnyi and Vladyslav Khrapko prepared a paper on Trade of watches, and Oliwia Ślusarczyk and Anna Strzelczyk presented a project on the Ecological information collection and search system “Green coach”.

The organizers of the courses are grateful to the representatives of foreign university partners for their help in attracting students and participating in the final presentation of the project. Special thanks go to the professors of Warsaw University of Life Sciences – prof. Iwona Pomianek, prof. Joanna Rakowska and prof. Dariusz Gozdowski – who sent the largest group of course listeners. The organizers are very grateful for the Polissia National University, lecturer assoc. dr. Mariia Plotnikova and the Rector of the university prof. Oleg Skydan, who invited students to participate in these international summer school courses. Many thanks to the professor of Częstochowa University of Technology and WSB University dr. Paula Pyplacz and to the Head of Human Resource Management study programs from the University of Silesia in Katowice prof. Dorota Chudy-Hyski. They both are sending their best students to this course for the second year.

VMU AA prof. dr. J. Žukovskis hopes that next year the course will be able to take place not only remotely, but also directly in Lithuania.

Prof. dr. Jan Žukovskis

VMU Agriculture Academy

Scientists from Faculty of Bioeconomy Development 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.

Project MARHERꓽ international learning week in Offida, Italy

Assoc. prof. dr. Rasa Pranskuniene and PhD student Erika Zabulioniene from Bioeconomy Development Faculty, Department of Business and Rural Development Management have participated in Erasmus+ project MARHER international learning activity, organized by I-Strategies (Offida, Italy) during the 25th – 29th of April, 2022. The MARHER Learning Activity consisted in a 5 days of in presence training to test an innovative training course on Heritage Marketing; to present, test and assess the training materials and tools developed in the context of MARHER project; to experience local Cultural Heritage sites; to exchange with professionals in the field of Corporate and non Corporate Heritage Marketing; to do networking among international partners.

MARHER. Heritage Marketing for competitiveness of Europe in the global market is a project funded by Erasmus+ Programme. MARHER’s objective is to identify key competences of a new professional, innovative and creative figure: the expert in Heritage Marketing.

The main project objectives are: a) Definition of a set of competences of the emerging new professional figure: the expert in Heritage Marketing; b) to create ant test an innovate traning course, able to support SMEs and public bodies to use cultural heritage as leverage for their marketing; c) to improve employability of low-skilled and unemployed and recently graduated in human studies who, in the periodic employment rankings, are systematically in the last positions; d) to improve the competitivness of European companies by enhancing their traditions and secular history. The project started on December 2019 and will end in June 2022. The project consortium involves five international partners: Danitacom (Denmark, Lead Partner, danitacom.org), Syddansk Universitet (Denmark, sdu.dk), Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania, vdu.lt), I-strategies (Italy, i-strategies.it), CBE (Belgium, cbe.be) and HIVE (Italy, the-hive.it).