Graduation Ceremony

On 31 January, Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy invites graduates to participate in festive graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development.

FESTIVE HALL OF VMU AGRICULTURE ACADEMY | STUDENTŲ G. 11, AKADEMIJA, KAUNO R.
2 p.m. Graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of VMU Agriculture Academy

We would like to inform you that the event may be filmed and/or photographed, and you may appear in event photos or videos that could be published across various media platforms.

Students and Teachers – New Partnerships in Customs

Sustainability and professional development are becoming the most important elements in today’s customs sector. With increasing demands to integrate sustainability principles into the business and public sectors, it is necessary to constantly update knowledge and strengthen cooperation with social partners. This mission will be continued at the conference “Customs Current Affairs and Sustainability” on 12th December 2024, where Assoc. Prof. Dr. Milita Vienažindienė, Head of the Department of Business and Rural Development Management of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of VMU ŽŪA and Chair of the Business Logistics Committee of the Master’s Programme, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erika Besusparienė, Chair of the Customs Process Management Committee of the MBA programme, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vilma Tamulienė, Chair of the Logistics and Commerce Committee of the Bachelor’s programme, deepened their knowledge in the most relevant areas of customs.

The event was organised by the Customs Department of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania together with the Customs Practitioners Association, of which VMU is a member. The event became an excellent platform not only for the application of theoretical knowledge, but also for strengthening relations with social partners. In the modern global context, the sustainability and effectiveness of customs institutions’ activities require continuous professional development and cooperation with various institutions.

VMU Faculty of Bioeconomic Development teachers with Customs Practitioners Association Head E. Naujoke

The conference focused on key aspects of the customs reform, including the digitalisation of customs procedures, the entry into force of new regulations and the practical implications of their implementation. The application of the EU Deforestation Regulation, which has become one of the most important sustainability issues, was discussed, as well as the adaptation of companies to new requirements, product passports and certification. Much attention was also paid to the use of artificial intelligence tools to more effectively manage the implementation of sustainability standards and ensure smoother movement of goods through customs. Enrika Naujokė, head of the Customs Practitioners Association, presented the customs knowledge assistant PICOCO, which will help simplify complex customs and international trade procedures. These topics not only highlighted the importance of sustainability, but also the need to constantly update knowledge and adapt to changing regulations to ensure the effective development of the customs sector.

The conference participants, including students, teachers and practitioners, emphasised the importance of education as a key factor contributing to the formation of a sustainable and responsible professional community in the customs field. The teachers of the VMU Faculty of Bioeconomy Development are pleased that the students of the MBA programme Customs Process Management are actively involved in the activities of the Customs Practitioners Association, creating valuable contacts with professionals and strengthening the knowledge base. At the conference, the teachers had the opportunity to meet with alumni and current students of the MBA programme Customs Process Management.

The conference “Customs Current Affairs and Sustainability” has become an important step not only for professional development, but also for ensuring long-term sustainability in the customs field.

Applications are now open for the autumn 2025 semester, and teachers are inviting international candidates interested in customs and logistics to apply via https://vytautasmagnus.dreamapply.com/ . Don’t miss the opportunity to join our programme and explore the field of customs management and international trade:

12th International Scientific Conference “RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2025: Resilience to Global Challenges”

We kindly invite You to the 12th International Scientific Conference “RURAL DEVELOPMENT 2025: Resilience to Global Challenges”, which will take place in Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (Lithuania), 1-3 October 2025.

This conference is aimed at fostering interdisciplinary scientific discussions by presenting new ideas for agricultural development, rural development, and resilience in the context of global challenges.

The main topics of Conference sessions:

Biosystems Engineering for Sustainability;
Climate Smart Agriculture and Food Technologies; 
Multifunctional Approach for Sustainable use of Bioresources;  
Social Research and Innovations for Strengthening Rural Areas.

Keywords: Agriculture, Bioeconomy, Biosystems, Global Challenges, Resilience, Rural development.

Political, Business and Science panel discussion “Adopting to Global Change and Building a Resilient Bioeconomy” will be held during the Conference.

Important dates and deadlines:

Until June 30th, 2025 – early bird registration 
Until July 7th, 2025 – payment of early bird participation fee  
Until August 31st, 2025 – late bird registration
Until September 5th, 2025 – payment of late bird participation fee  
Until September 19th, 2025 – article submission
January 2026 – publishing of the Conference proceedings

Participation fee	In person (EUR)	Online (EUR)
Early bird authors and co-authors until July 7th	300	170
Late bird authors and co-authors until September 5th	400	220
Students	150	100
Participants	150	Free of charge
For Ukrainian authors and co-authors (if all authors are from Ukraine)	150	100

Participation fee in person covers not only the Conference proceedings, but also coffee breaks, lunches and gala dinner. The costs of accommodation, cultural (social) programme and transport should be covered by the participants of the Conference.

Speakers of the conference pay the participation fee after receiving information about the confirmation of the abstract of the presentation, but no later than deadlines. Confirmation will be sent to the participants during the five workdays after filling in the registration form.

More information about the Conference.

Online Registration on the Conference website.

Information for authors.

Conference website: https://www.ruraldevelopment.lt/

Conference e-mail: rural.development@vdu.lt

Key Insights from Accounting and Finance Experts on Driving Sustainability Forward

There is no doubt that the 14th International Conference “Accounting and Finance for Business 2024: Towards Sustainability”, held on 14-15 November 2024, touched on critical aspects of sustainability in accounting and finance from various perspectives.

The plenary session began with a presentation by Nora Marija Laurinaitytė from Lithuania, titled “Unlocking the Potential of Green Finance.” She emphasized the importance of green investments not only for the future but also today. According to her, any business seeking funding must demonstrate its adherence to sustainability criteria. In the discussion, she also noted that smaller companies often have the advantage of adapting more quickly to these requirements and implementing the necessary changes.

Next, Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Galloppo from Italy spoke at the conference, presenting “Green Initiatives and Stock Market Reaction of Italian SMEs.” His research focused on how investors react to companies’ announcements regarding sustainability. Prof. Galloppo provided a detailed explanation of his research methodology, underscoring the importance of these announcements for investors as they directly impact their investment decisions.

The third plenary presentation, by Prof. Dr. Nadia Albu from Romania, complemented the previous two well, with her topic titled “Professionalization of Accountants in a Post-Communist Setting.” Prof. Dr. Nadia Albu discussed the differences in accounting practices between post-communist countries and Western nations. She highlighted that in Eastern Europe, accountants often limit their role to meeting institutional requirements, such as tax declarations or financial reporting, while in Western countries, there is a greater focus on data collection that supports companies’ own sustainability strategies. She noted that, because of these differences, sustainability reports are often prepared by managers or marketing teams based on narratives rather than accounting metrics or financial indicators. According to professor, this issue can be addressed by transforming accountants’ roles and revising accounting systems to ensure that the necessary sustainability metrics are collected.

Assistant Professor Zhelyo Zhelev from Bulgaria concluded the plenary session with his presentation, “Taxpayer Behavior in the Context of Digital Business Processes.” He analyzed how digitalization in business and tax reporting processes is changing taxpayer behavior. Zhelyo Zhelev emphasized that digital technologies not only transform tax processes but also reshape broader aspects of business management and relationships with government institutions. He shared insights from best practices in various countries, illustrating how these changes contribute to sustainability. Smart tax platforms often implemented at the initiative of tax administrations are pushing taxpayers towards greater transparency, increased sustainability, and, in some cases, moving out of the shadow economy.

On the second conference day (15th November 2024), interesting discussions moved to Panel Presentations and discussion on the topic “Linking sustainability policy to future finance and accounting”. The discussion was moderated by prof. dr. Vilija Aleknevičienė. It was attended by dr. Bart Henssen (Belgium), Head of the Center for Sustainable Entrepreneurship; Giedrė Padaigienė (Lithuania), Head of Swedbank AB’s business clients’ sustainability in Lithuania; Ronaldas Kubilius (Lithuania), Leader of ESG team and member of Tax and Legal Services Team at PwC Lithuania; Silva Katutytė (Lietuva), Managing director at UAB Randers Reb International.

Before the discussion began, its participants made presentations on green financing and the impact of sustainability requirements on the possibility of obtaining bank loans; challenges arising in the process of business sustainability disclosure; the impact of corporate social responsibility on the cost of debt capital in Scandinavian companies. Dr. Bart Henssen presented the experience of Belgian and other European universities in promoting the transition to sustainable business models through the university-business interface, discussed the challenges arising in implementing sustainable business models in practice and carrying out a systematic transformation of higher education institutions towards sustainability. Giedrė Padaigienė expressed her view on the role of the Bank of Lithuania in helping the country’s banks assess the sustainability of their clients and incorporating environmental risk into the assessment of clients’ creditworthiness. She discussed the role of stakeholders and cooperation between banks in assessing the sustainability of clients. Ronaldas Kubilius spoke about the role of accountants and accounting services companies in the team preparing corporate sustainability reports, and presented the services provided by PwC in the field of corporate sustainability assessment and disclosure. Silva Katutytė emphasized that although for the company is not mandatory to submit sustainability reports, some clients already request certain information related to sustainability. Therefore, the company’s management decided not to wait and to prepare the information in advance by forming the team and sharing the responsibilities. The panel discussion provided fruitful insights for scientists, business, and policymakers and implementers.

During both days of the conference, scientific discussions were held in various sessions. The first session, Business Finance, was notable for its high attendance and engaging discussions on pressing accounting and financial issues in a volatile economic and geopolitical environment. Here, the L. Sinevičienė (Lithuania) examined corporate investment in environmental protection, focusing on the factors driving this investment amid economic volatility and shedding light on how sustainability efforts adapt to uncertainty. Then A. Lakštutienė with co-authors (Lithuania) examined the risks posed by COVID-19 and the Russian-Ukrainian war to the performance of pension funds in Lithuania. Their case study highlighted the vulnerability of such funds in turbulent times and emphasised the need for strategic risk management. V. Aleknevičienė and co-authors (Lithuania) analysed the impact of uncertainty on the interconnectivity between green bonds and conventional markets, with a particular focus on the period before and during the war in Ukraine. Their research provided insights into how green finance responds to global instability and highlighted its potential role in addressing such challenges. Researcher from Latvia K. Ketners and A. Jarockis (Latvia) presented insights into performance budgeting in Latvia. Their research highlighted its potential as a tool for informed decision making, aligning fiscal policy with sustainability goals.

Other presentations addressed critical issues such as stock market reactions to green bond announcements in Nordic countries, innovative approaches to financial services, evaluation of public-private partnership projects through a sustainability lens, and models for diagnosing financial distress in trading companies. This lively session highlighted the critical role of business finance in addressing complex global challenges, and emphasised innovation and sustainability in financial practices.

The second session of the conference, Accounting and Finance, featured diverse research contributions, focusing on the integration of innovative approaches and sustainable practices in accounting and auditing. R. Klimaitienė with co-authors (Lithuania) explored the potential of the Time-Driven Activity-Based (TDABC) costing system in accounting service companies. Their research highlighted the system’s ability to improve cost accuracy, streamline processes and increase decision-making efficiency in professional accounting environments. S. Kostova (Bulgaria) gave an insightful presentation on the role of auditing in promoting sustainability in business processes. She highlighted how robust audit frameworks can strengthen transparency, governance and long-term organisational sustainability. E. Besusparienė and M. Bielskienė (Lithuania) examined how the accounting and tax environment influences Lithuania’s international trade. Their findings emphasised the importance of adapting the regulatory framework to enhance trade competitiveness and promote cross-border economic cooperation.

Other presentations in the session covered a wide range of topics, from the evolving challenges of e-commerce accounting and digital transformation in the profession, to trends in public finance and sustainability in agribusinesses. Taken together, these discussions reflected the dynamic landscape of accounting and auditing and underscored the profession’s critical role in addressing today’s challenges and advancing sustainability goals.

The third session of the conference, Corporate Governance, presented a variety of research on sustainability and financial practices. Š. Leitonienė and A. Vaivadienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania) analysed Lithuanian NGO websites, highlighting strengths in accessibility but gaps in financial transparency. Authors develop the digital accountability index, offering a systematic way to evaluate NGO’s digital accountability level. D. Juočiūnienė, V. Aleknevičienė and D. Zinkevičienė (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania) examined CSR reporting in Baltic public companies and found that only half disclose standards, with GRI being the most popular. Larger companies in heavy industries align their reporting with the expectations of investors and society. S. Petrova (D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics, Bulgaria) examined the role of retail marketing in promoting sustainable consumption, showing that increased purchases of fruit and vegetables are driven by consumer engagement. M. Nurmet, P. Sander and M. Kantšukov (University of Tartu, Estonia) evaluated Estonia’s 2018 tax reform. While the reduced tax rate on profit distributions affected the dividend policy of some companies, the overall impact was modest.

In summary, the conference highlighted pressing topics in sustainability and digitalization, confirming the increasing importance of these areas for both the business and academic communities. We sincerely thank all participants for their valuable contributions to the discussions and look forward to exploring these essential topics further at our next conference in 2026.

VMU Agriculture Academy Autumn Intake 2025/2026 is open!

Would like to gain strong knowledge, solid skills, and invaluable international experience? Thinking about an unforgettable European student adventure and traveling the world?

Top-quality studies in a high-ranking university and living in Kaunas – located in the center of Europe – may be the perfect combination for You.

Your lifetime adventure can start now with Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) Agriculture Academy.

Application is open from December 1, 2024, for Autumn Intake 2025/2026 study programmes:

APPLY HERE -> vytautasmagnus.dreamapply.com

DEADLINES:

May 15, 2025
- For applicants from non EU/EFTA countries, except the countries listed below.
July 1, 2025
- For applicants from EU/EFTA countries
- For applicants and citizens of visa-free countries: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Georgia (Sakartvelo), Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Moldova, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, and Venezuela.
  Note: Please check if you need a visa to enter Lithuania here.

Note (!) Diplomas may be added after application deadline.

Note (!) Studies start on August 25, 2025.
Note (!) Due to limited admission places, applications for autumn intake for the academic year 2025-2026 might be closed earlier. Spring (February) intake is not offered.

Information about Application and Admission Procedures

Information about Scholarships

Contact person: VMU Agriculture Academy International Coordinator Ekaterina Makrickiene ekaterina.makrickiene@vdu.lt, +370 37 752 386.

More information about VMU Agriculture Academy study programmes.

CONFERENCE “YOUNG SCIENTIST 2025”

The 22nd annual conference of young scientists “YOUNG SCIENTIST 2025” organized by the Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) will be held on April 10 2025 remotely. The conference is intended for the first, second and third degree students. The purpose of the conference is to involve students in scientific activities, develop the ability to publicize scientific research results, present their scientific research achievements and discuss topical issues of bioeconomy, green course, climate change, ecosystem sustainability, rational use and protection of natural resources.

There is no conference fee for students. Certificates of conference participants will be awarded to the speakers of the conference.

Speakers will be able to publish articles in the collection of articles of the conference “YOUNG SCIENTIST 2025”.

Conference topics	Subtopics
Bioeconomy	Accounting and finance: challenges and opportunities
	Bioeconomy, sustainability of agriculture and food sector
	Innovations and solutions in business logistics
	Management of agri-business and other bioeconomy business organizations
	Sustainable development of rural areas
Biosystems engineering	Energy engineering
	Land management
	Mechanical engineering
	Technology engineering
	Transport engineering
	Water engineering
Sustainability of agricultural, forest, and water ecosystems	Agronomy
	Food quality and safety
	Sustainability of agricultural ecosystems
	Ecosystem services
	Sustainable forestry
	Wildlife population management

Pre-registration for the conference until February 15, 2025.

Articles for the conference “YOUNG SCIENTIST 2025” are accepted until March 14, 2025 (the link to upload the article). The articles must be prepared according to the recommendations for the authors of the articles (Annex 1 – Article template, Annex 2 – Authors guarantee letter).

The SafeHabitus Communities of Practice: Fostering safety culture for everyone working in the agricultural sector

Seville, Spain – October 2024 – Coinciding with the European Week of Safety and Health at Work, representatives from the 11 SafeHabitus Communities of Practice (CoPs) gathered in Spain this week for the SafeHabitus Autumn School. The three-day meeting gathered CoP representative, including experts on farm and occupational safety, researchers, and advocates for migration and labour rights to share best practices and exchange valuable knowledge to improve farm safety and health across Europe.

The Autumn School delved into two of the focus themes of the SafeHabitus project, migrant and seasonal workers and tractor and machinery safety. One of the central discussions focused on how corporate social responsibility can help create better working and living conditions for migrant workers in Europe’s agricultural sector Experts on the migrant and labour rights issues presented research and policy insights on the challenges these workers face. To give participants a real-world perspective, the CoPs visited a local farm that employs migrant workers and witness the work of the NGO ASNUCI (New Citizenship Association for Interculturality) providing support to the migrant workers in the province of Huelva in Spain.

The second day of the Autumn School shifted the focus to farm safety culture, specifically to machinery and tractor safety. Accidents involving machinery are one of the leading causes of injuries and fatalities on farms across Europe, making the safety culture a key element to mitigating this danger to all working and living on farms. After looking at the research on tractor safety on the examples of Spain and Ireland, the CoPs took to a practical session on tractor safety, showcasing tractor safety practices and exchanging knowledge on fostering a culture of safety on farms.

SafeHabitus Workshops was held on the last day of the Autumn School. Here the future of farming was shaped by Assessing implications for the attractiveness of farming and CoPs Presentation of draft actor maps was made.

Media contact: – National CoP representative Anastasija Novikova (Lithuania) anastasija.novikova@vdu.lt

More information:

About SafeHabitus:

SafeHabitus project is a four-year project coordinated by TEAGASC Ireland, funded by the European Union as part of the Horizon Europe Programme, grant agreement number 101084270. This multi-actor project aims to strengthen Farm Health and Safety Knowledge Innovation Systems (FHS KIS) and support the EU transition to social sustainability in farming.

GreenCool online workshop with stakeholders

INVITATION

Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme “MANAGEMENT FOR BUSINESS STARTUP’S: 2024 Summer course” in VMU Agriculture Academy

June 3 to 14, 2024, the Erasmus BIP course “Management of Business Startups, 2024” was held at the VMU Agricultural Academy. The course started with distance learning. Later, 21 students from 4 universities came for the Physical mobility part at the VMU Agriculture Academy. Partner universities, participated in this blended intensive program were Jegiellonian University (Poland), WSB Merito University (Poland), Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies and Estonian University of Life Sciences.

The aim of this course was to provide students with the knowledge and skills that would enable them to create their own business plan and be able to present it to interested parties (shareholders, bank representatives, co-workers or clients). This course combined various subjects: planning, organization, marketing, accounting, payroll, budgeting, etc. theoretical knowledge and practical abilities to plan and control business processes, motivate employees, predict business indicators important to shareholders and managers.

The virtual part of the course and theoretical lectures were held by 4 teachers – prof. dr. Gunta Grīnberga-Zālīte from Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies. assoc. prof. Janusz Sasak from Jegiellonian University, Paula Pyplacz from Czestochowa University of Technology and prof. dr. Jan Žukovskis from VMU Agriculture Academy.

During the course, students prepared business plans for their future enterprises. On the last day, they presented them to teachers and classmates. During the week in the afternoons, students went on the study tour to sustainable business “Farmers circle” and visited the old town of Kaunas.

The leader of the course: prof. dr. Jan Žukovskis (Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, VMU Agriculture Academy). Erasmus BIP coordinator Dr. Monika Medikienė.

Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

International project SKILLS at VMU Agriculture Academy – for a secured change in societal values and a greener future

The world’s challenging climate change, depleting resources and rising levels of environmental pollution are worrying signs that long-delayed changes to social, economic and environmental issues are imminent. With international organizations calling for real action as soon as possible, university researchers are starting with the most important steps – changing the attitudes and competences of future agricultural professionals and communities so that they can live well, not just now but in the future.

Encouraging society to move faster towards the Sustainable Development Goals

Dr. Vilma Atkočiūnienė, Professor at the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, Agriculture Academy, Vytautas Magnus University, explains that to initiate change, the European Union (EU) has introduced the circular economy as a high-level as a high-level emerging global strategy. “This strategy includes the ambition for society to move beyond its current development towards the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This makes the circular economy a global strategy and a key priority for the EU to move away from today’s linear economy of production and consumption towards a sustainable use of resources,” she shares her insights on the important changes taking place and the goals for the future.

As a new paradigm, the circular strategy permeates all the processes of the agri-food sector, the activities of farming and local communities, rural landscaping and the natural environment. “Importantly, the transition to circular agriculture requires the implementation of a new governance model that encompasses all the main stages of the agri-food system: primary production, processing, food consumption, by-products and food waste”, says the researcher, noting that the transition to circular agriculture is not only a matter of technology and a significant restructuring of production, but also has a strong link to changes in societal attitudes and perspectives.

The change starts with updating the study programs

Prof. dr. Vilma Atkočiūnienė says that the idea of the SKILLS (Strengthening Key Competences in Agriculture for Value Chain Knowledge) project, which is being carried out by the scientists of the VMU Agriculture Academy together with international partners, is based on the improvement of green competences. “Among the objectives, the need to know the value chain, to promote sustainability, economic prosperity and social justice in the agricultural sector and in the use of natural resources have been identified as important challenges for the circular economy model. It is worth noting that the aim is not only to talk about the changes we want to see, but also to initiate them by channelling resources into active academic and practical activities,” the researcher shares her insights.

The project aims to raise public awareness of the new, sustainable Circular Economy. It also aims to raise awareness of a more efficient food supply chain. “The first step is to educate students, by updating the curricula of agricultural faculties in higher education institutions so that highly qualified graduates understand the importance of the circular economy and how it works. Theoretically sustainable solutions can create competitive advantages for companies and regions alike, so it is crucial that young qualified professionals have a good understanding of the circular strategy and a paradigm that is close to their values,” says Prof. Dr. V. Atkočiūnienė on the importance of education.

Aiming to initiate change across the agri-sector

The scientist says that this project is particularly important for the VMU Agriculture Academy community, as the main objective of the project is to contribute to the development of the competences of students, potential students and agricultural producers of agricultural products, by presenting and promoting the concepts of circular agriculture and green growth.

“The project aims to promote the modernisation of study programmes and the introduction of digital courses at the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of VMU Agriculture Academy. The aim is to make digital courses more attractive to students, as well as to attract farmers, members of rural communities, and specialists from municipal Agriculture and Rural Development departments. In order for society to move beyond its current development and towards the sustainable development goals set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as many people as possible in the sector need to be involved in the process of education and value change. It is not enough to instil sustainability and sustainable development values in students alone, as they will be confronted with older colleagues, communities and professionals who are slower to move towards the circular economy, or who are standing still when they finish their studies. By making it convenient for all those involved in the agri-sector and rural development to study and train, we are creating the conditions for a faster and more certain change in societal values,” says Prof. Dr. V. Atkočiūnienė.

She notes that implementing green solutions in practice faces different challenges in each country. And their implementation is becoming more individualised, depending on the natural, economic, cultural and social specificities of a country or region. “The SKILLS project has focused on finding and describing sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions, both as researchers and practitioners, with the aim of making them as easy as possible to implement. Despite the cultural and economic differences between the different project countries, it is easier for researchers to find common ground on concepts, principles and tools,” says the professor.

Aiming to change attitudes towards the agro-sector and rural development potential

Improving and modernising the curricula of universities and agricultural higher education institutions is crucial, she notes, as faculties in the field of agricultural and rural change management are facing declining enrolments. “On the one hand, the agricultural sector is rapidly modernising, with robotics, new farming strategies and the development and implementation of Smart Villages strategies. On the other hand, there is still a popular perception that agriculture is a less modern sector and that rural life is more complex, less interesting and less meaningful”.

Prof. Dr. V. Atkočiūnienė notes that this can be effectively changed by raising public awareness of the needs and development potential of agriculture and rural development, as well as the possible career opportunities for qualified professionals. She points out that during the pandemic, the agricultural sector was one of the least affected, as food production (including food raw materials and agricultural produce) must continue despite the challenges and extreme conditions that may arise in the future. According to the researcher, this demonstrates the resilience of the sector to challenges and the viability of those seeking broad and secure career opportunities.

Opening up more career opportunities for future graduates

Prof. Dr. V. Atkočiūnienė emphasizes that this project contributes to important changes for the VMU Agriculture Academy community, especially for students. “Developing green competences, engaging young farmers, municipal professionals, community members and other rural and urban residents in the transition from a linear economy to a circular economy is important for the VMU Agriculture Academy Bioeconomy Development and other faculties. It opens up new opportunities for the creation of higher value-added jobs and broader employment prospects after graduation”, says the researcher about the importance of the project for the VMU Agriculture Academy community.

The SKILLS project promotes the concept of circular agriculture as a sustainable and resilient economic sector. “The SKILLS consortium aims to raise and accelerate awareness of circular agriculture among students and farmers, tourism and other economic developers. The outreach and education is based on a Study on the main challenges and potential of circular agriculture for employment, carried out by researchers from the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development of VMU, as well as on training material consisting of theoretical knowledge and practical exercises and a module – a set of digital courses – that will help agricultural and rural development professionals and beginners in farming to make a quicker transition to circular agriculture, to rethink their activities and to develop their green competences,” summarizes prof. Dr. V. Atkočiūnienė.