The kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+ MARIPET project

The kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+ project “Innovative Curriculum To Evaluate Marine Fishery Discards As Raw Pet Food For Sustainable Europe” [MARIPET] was held at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim On August 10 and 11. Prof. dr. Artūras Stimbirys and assoc. prof. dr. Anželika Dautartė of the Department of Environment and Ecology took part in the meeting to discuss the goals and objectives of the project and further activities. Meeting participants got the opportunity to visit a salmon slaughterhouse and a salmon production site.

During the MARIPET project, an innovative 5-module training programme, a virtual dedicated environment with an online education kit, platforms for discard fisheries and pet food trainers/experts and pet food manufacturers/experts, and an e-book/guidebook on European Discard Fisheries and Pet Food Production will be developed. The Training workshops and Multiplier events in five countries will finalise the project activities.

The project is coordinated by Ege University (Turkey), project partners: University of Balikesir (Turkey), University of Dubrovnik (Croatia), Agricultural University of Iceland, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality (Turkey), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and Vytautas Magnus University.

The project’s next meeting will be held at our institution in January 2023.The project will last until February 28, 2024.

The first meeting of the Erasmus+ project “Medical beekeeping for beekeepers”

The first meeting of the Erasmus+ project “Medical beekeeping for beekeepers” (MEDI-BEEB) took place on July 5-6 in Didim, Turkey. The project is coordinated by Adnan Menderes University (Turkey), project partners: Confederation of Italian Farmers of the Umbria region, Onsekiz Mart University of Cenakale, Wroclaw University of Environment and Life Sciences, Aydin Province Beekeepers’ Association and Vytautas Magnus University. The main goal of the project is to enable beekeepers, considering international standards, to produce reliable and qualitative apitherapy products: propolis, royal jelly, pollen, etc. Within the framework of the project, it is planned to prepare training materials in a virtual environment, to create a video of best practice examples, to organize meetings presenting the results of the project with the target group in each country, and other relevant activities. Prof. dr. Virginija Dulskienė and assoc. prof. dr. Anželika Dautartė from the Department of Environment and Ecology attended the meeting and gave an analysis of the survey findings of Lithuanian beekeepers as well as an assessment of the situation in the Lithuanian beekeeping sector. Perugia will host the next project meeting (Italy).

A Visit to the University of Palermo (UNIPA)

Assoc. prof. dr. Anželika Dautartė (Dept. of Environment and Ecology, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Ecology) visited the University of Palermo (UNIPA) in Italy from November 9^th to 11^th, 2021, as part of the Erasmus+ teaching program. Agricultural activity’s influence on the environment, eutrophication of water bodies, changes in biodiversity, and their prospects were discussed at the PhD degree Fall seminars “Biodiversity in Agriculture and Forestry” during the teaching visit. With interested students and professors, the opportunities for exchanges, studies, and internships at VMU Agriculture Academy were discussed. On behalf of the departmental Erasmus+ coordinator, dr. Antonio Comparetti, the prospective research collaborations, and ways to improve scientific collaborations with staff members of the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Forestry Sciences was explored.

The University of Palermo (UNIPA) is a consolidated cultural, scientific, and teaching presence in central-western Sicily. Its 5 Schools and 20 Departments cover the most important domains of contemporary scientific and technological knowledge. The researchers study every day to find new solution to the questions posed by nature, science and society. From Information Technology to Biology, from Mathematics to Medicine, to Social Sciences and Preservation of Cultural Heritage, the University works to make its contribution of innovation and progress to the international scientific community and the world of production.

Visit of Teachers of VMU Agriculture academy to polytechnic institute of Beja (Portugal)

The teachers of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy assoc. prof. dr. Midona Dapkienė (Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Engineering), prof. dr. Laima Česonienė and assoc. prof. dr. Daiva Šileikienė (Department of Environment and Ecology, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Ecology) visited Polytechnic Institute of Beja (Portugal) according to Erasmus+ Mobility agreement on October 12th to 15th 2021.

The Polytechnic Institute of Beja (IPBeja) is a professional and research oriented public higher education institution, located in the south of Portugal, in the region of Alentejo.
IPBeja is made up of four Schools – the School of Agriculture, the School of Education, the School of Technology and Management and the School of Health, with a range of more than 30 courses on offer. The Institute has more than 2000 students, enrolled in both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and other professional oriented post-graduate programmes.

The representatives of VMU Agriculture Academy gave the lectures for bachelor and master students in the field of surface water quality, wastewater treatment and its reuse for irrigation, environmental policy and Green Deal. They also presented the oral communications on Environmental Engineering Seminar in Agrarian School of IPBeja. Prof. Laima Česonienė presented the assessment of the impact of hydropower plants on the ecological status indicators of water bodies in Lithuania. Assoc. prof. Midona Dapkienė shared experiences on wastewater treatment in rural areas of Baltic Sea region. Assoc. prof. Daiva Šileikienė presented an analysis of the main principles of organic agriculture – health, ecology, fairness and care.

The teachers had an opportunity to familiarize with the study process and reasearch at IPBeja as well as to discuss the opportunities of Erasmus Mundus project.

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