ERASMUS+ project “SMARTRURAL

The international ERASMUS+ project “SMARTRURAL: Towards smart rural tourism development in Europe”, which started on October 1, 2019, is gaining momentum. We invite you to get acquainted with the thoughts of the project participants in the project newsletter.

The project involves 7 universities: Eskişehir Osmangazi University (Turkey), Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), Ljubliana University (Slovenia), Alicante University (Spain), University of Economics in Prague (Czech Republic), University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland) and UNIPEGASO (Italy) .

Work organisation of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development during the quarantine

Visit to Kiev National Economic University

On February 24-27 assoc. prof. Jolita Greblikaite was visiting Kiev National Economi University (Ukraine) with c0-operation visit. The common work and partnership with Ukrainian colleagues started few years ago with common participation in scientific conferences committees, scientific committees of scientific journals. Future co-operation will be developed inviting Ukrainian students in Exchange programmes, fullfilling common scientific research and forming International research teams.

Kristina‘s Dryža‘s lecture about today’s being and future in a different way

On the 4th of March, on the initiative of the Entrepreneurship Laboratory and cooperation with VMU World Lithuanian University, Kristina Dryža, an Australian-born Lithuanian, gave a lecture in the Faculty of bioeconomy developmenton. The lecture was on the topic: „What kind of skills and competencies will be important in the near future – 2030”. Lecturer Kristina Dryža is recognised as one of the world’s top female futurists and is also an archetypal consultant and author. Kristina has always been fascinated by patterns for feels we are patterned beings in a patterned universe. She writes and speaks about the patterning of seasonal, tidal, lunar and circadian rhythms and their influence on creativity, innovation and leadership. She also explores archetypes and mythology to perceive the patterns in the collective unconscious and their expression within our psyches, society and media.

K. Dryža introduced to the audience the essence of the imaginal, symbolic, mythic, critical, theoretical and archetypal thinking and being in the world. The lecturer spoke about ambiguous perception of time, patterns, stories and rythms of everyday being. K. Dryža emphasized that we should keep in mind the connection with nature, live in the cycles of nature, and realize that we cannot just harvest, we must also sow and wait, and calmly accumulate strength for the begining of new cycle. The speaker also talked about the lunar cycle and how to relate the rhythm of your life to it. The allegory of caterpillar transformation into a butterfly was used to convey ideas of development, improvement, and change, saying that once a caterpillar is turned into butterfly, it can no longer think and behave like caterpillars because it is already in a different body ant state. The lecturer also talked about the symbols and its meaning to our everyday being. Emphasizing the essential competencies that areexpected to be the most important in the 2030s, K. Dryža emphasized consciousness, collaboration and altruism.

These are just some of the aspects discussed in K. Dryža‘s lecture. In conclusion, the presenter introduced the audience to a slightly different view of the world, everyday life and ourrselves, as well as enriched with insights on future skills and competences.

The lecture was funded by Alumni Club of VMU Academy of Agriculture.

Research internship at university of Perugia

Assoc. prof. dr. Anastasija Novikova from the Research Institute for Bioeconomy visited the University of Perugia during the 10-14 of February. The aim of the visit was to work together on modelling framework for evaluation of agricultural landscape services. The focus was on calculation of residents’ willingness to pay for these services. The colleagues from university of Perugia kindly shared their experience in preparation of research projects and gave advices in paper preparation as well. The visit and stay in the Environmental laboratory of University of Perugia will serve as the continuation of cooperation between the faculties and Departments of the host and home universities.

Erasmus week with VMU

It might be hard to believe, but the international student exchange initiative Erasmus+, which is an integral part of the study process today, is actually 33 years old and still going strong. According to the data, approx. 9 million students have already taken advantage of Erasmus since its launch, and Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) International Cooperation department is encouraging VMU students to also become a part of this programme!

In order to prepare for this serious yet rewarding step and cover all the ins and outs of studying abroad, VMU International Cooperation department is inviting all the students to take part in “Erasmus+ week” activities happening from 17th till 20th of February. During this week students will be able to ask ALL the questions, meet students from other countries and, most importantly, participate in a variety of events.

FULL PROGRAM OF “ERASMUS WEEK” ACTIVITIES: https://www.vdu.lt/en/erasmus-week/

More information via email: international@vdu.lt

Lecture by Australian-born Lithuanian Kristina Dryža at VMU Faculty of Bioeconomy Development

We are inviting to attend a lecture by Kristina Dryža, an Australian-born Lithuanian, on the topic: „What kind of skills and competencies will be important in the near future – 2030”.

The lecture will take place at March 4. 10 a.m. at VMU Agriculture Academy, III building, 318 a., Universiteto str. 10, Akademija, Kaunas distr.

Duration of the lecture: 60 min

Australian-born Lithuanian Kristina Dryža is recognised as one of the world’s top female futurists and is also an archetypal consultant and author. Kristina has always been fascinated by patterns for feels we are patterned beings in a patterned universe. She writes and speaks about the patterning of seasonal, tidal, lunar and circadian rhythms and their influence on creativity, innovation and leadership. She also explores archetypes and mythology to perceive the patterns in the collective unconscious and their expression within our psyches, society and media.

Participation is free of charge.

The lecture is funded by Alumni Club of VMU Academy of Agriculture.

COMPETITION FOR EXCHANGE STUDIES AT non-EU/EEA COUNTRIES

ATTENTION TO ALL VMU STUDENTS!
COMPETITION FOR EXCHANGE STUDIES AT non-EU/EEA COUNTRIES (Erasmus+ and VMU Bilateral Exchange)

Students are invited to participate in a competition for one semester exchange studies at non-EU/EEA countries with Erasmus+ or VMU Mobility scholarship.

Students have to submit completed online application form (Outgoing – Application for Bilateral and Erasmus Study Exchange) until 1st of March, 2020

Selection criteria:

compatibility between the plan for studies or research at the Higher Education Institution abroad and the study programme at VMU;
motivation;
results of studies or research during the last two semesters (for VMU Mobility scholarship GPA should be no less than 8.0);
good knowledge of the language in which lectures will be taught.

Selected students will receive Erasmus+ or VMU Mobility scholarship.

Students will be personally informed via email about the results of first selection stage and invitation to second stage – interview.

MORE INFORMATION

International BOVA Courses “Sustainable Agriculture for Rural Development”

Dear master students, you are welcome to participate at the Intensive BOVA course for master students „Sustainable agriculture for rural development. The aim of the course – to deepen and to expand students’ highly specialised knowledge in the field of sustainable agriculture and to develop students’ competencies required for solution of complex problems of rural development through agricultural multifunctionality.

Registration

More information

International Scientific Conference “Sustainable Bioeconomy Development 2020: From Thinking Globally to Acting Locally”

We are very pleased to invite you to the International Scientific Conference “Sustainable Bioeconomy Development 2020: From Thinking Globally to Acting Locally”, which will be held in the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy on 23 April 2020. What is more, on the conference day, a workshop „Designing the Future of Bioeconomy“ will be organized for PhD students.

The conference is organized by the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy and the Faculty of Economics and Social Development of Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies.

The conference is dedicated to interdisciplinary scientific discussions and new ideas related to the following topics: Sustainability as a Key for Bioeconomy Challenges; Bioeconomy for Rural Development; Innovation to Investments, Markets and the Bio-Based Sector. Important topics of the conference are instruments to support sustainable bioeconomy in rural areas and seizing the opportunity for rural areas.

Online registration to conference and PhD workshop is open until 31 March 2020.

Papers that fulfil the requirements can be published in the scientific journal “Management Theory and Studies for Rural Business and Infrastructure Development”.

Conference programme

On behalf of
Organising Committee of International Scientific Conference „Sustainable Bioeconomy Development 2020: From Thinking Globally to Acting Locally“