Open Competition for University Fee Exemptions

Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) has launched an open competition for university fee exemptions for autumn semester of the academic year 2023/2024. The purpose of the competition is to achieve the mission of socially responsible university by reducing social exclusion, creating appropriate financial conditions for VMU students to be accommodated and (or) study (taking into account different social (material) situations, study results and (or) accommodation in the dormitory).

University fee exemptions for autumn semester 2023/2024 may be granted at a rate of up to 100 % to cover:

TUITION FEES, and this exemption may be granted for students of a full-time bachelor, master, or integrated studies:

who are currently in a difficult social (financial) situation;
whose grades (taking into account credits) average for the last examination session (for first-year students – entrance competition score) is not lower than 8 (eight).

ACCOMMODATION FEES, and this exemption may be granted for students of a full-time bachelor, master, PhD or integrated studies, who are currently living in the dormitory of VMU and who have concluded Agreement for Accommodation, based on:

social (financial) situation;
dormitory and room type, where student is being accommodated (NOTE: students, who are currently living in a single-bedroom of the dormitory cannot be awarded accommodation fee exemption).

University fee exemptions through the open competition may be awarded as a matter of priority, by taking into account social (financial) status, for:

orphans, students who were granted custody or guardianship until adulthood or who have lost both of their parents (both of the parents have passed away);
students with disabilities;
students from the families with large number of children (there are four or more children in the family, who are currently students, school pupils or minors).

Given the social (material) status, students must provide following documents for the competition:

orphans: original documents of the death certificates of your mother and father, with official translations to Lithuanian, English or Russian languages with the translator’s stamp attached;
students with disabilities: original document, which proves your disability with official translations to Lithuanian, English or Russian languages with the translator’s stamp attached;
students from the families with large number of children:
- original certificate of family composition with official translations to Lithuanian, English or Russian languages with the translator’s stamp attached;
- original documents / certificates from kindergartens/schools/universities and others education institutions which proves student or school pupil status with official translations to Lithuanian, English or Russian languages with the translator’s stamp attached.

Students who are willing to apply for free exemptions, has to complete an electronic application form in Student self-service portal. How to do this?

log in to the VMU Student self-service portal using your personal login provided by the University;
select the Applications in the menu box and click on the Requests button;
select the application category Fees exemptions and compensations, click Tuition / Accommodation fee exemption by the means of competition (form F-006), complete the form, attach (upload) documents, which prove social (financial) status of the family, together with official translations to Lithuanian, English or Russian languages with the translator’s stamps attached and submit it.

Applications are open from September 4^th, 2023, to October 1^st, 2023. Results of the open competition will be published by October 10^th, 2023, by personally informing students about it by an email being sent to the VMU email address.

Tuition fee and accommodation fees exemptions shall be awarded by taking into account all the support granted for the student by VMU, awarded scholarships, granted exemptions and (or) size of the fees paid for the University and given the support and (or) scholarships awarded from the State budget funds, private legal or natural persons.

More information:

Study Exchange and Internship Opportunities for Students

International Cooperation Department invites all VMU students to take an opportunity and apply for studies, traineeship or short-term courses abroad.

These are enriching possibilities that strengthen self-improvement while expanding study knowledge and skills of foreign languages, facing the differences in the study systems, improving professional skills, exploring new cultures, finding new interests, making new friends and bringing unforgettable memories that build the foundation for the future career.

We offer four different options for international mobility:

Erasmus+ studies (in EU/EEA countries). Submit your applications by 2 October 2023.
VMU bilateral exchange and Erasmus+ studies (in non-EU/EEA countries). Submit your applications by 2 October 2023.
Erasmus+ student and recent graduate traineeships (in EU/EEA countries). Submit your applications by the end of each month.
Short-term courses abroad. Submit your applications by 15th day of each month.

More information

On September 19–21, VMU International Cooperation Department will organise Erasmus Days’23 where all students will be invited to learn more about mobility opportunities and join various interesting and meaningful initiatives.

More information about Erasmus Days

The international networking activity of EIP operational groups 2023

Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy organizes „The international networking activity of EIP operational groups 2023“ which will take place on September 27-28, 2023. This event is being organized for the second year in a row, and this year it will be an international event, in which EIP operational groups will participate not only from Lithuania, but also from other advanced foreign countries. During the event, it is aimed to encourage the continuity of the projects of the EIP operational groups, innovations, international partnerships, and integration into new European thematic networks.

The main objectives of the „The international networking activity of EIP operational groups“:

to bring together national and international EIP operational groups and invite them to share good project implementation experiences;
to discuss the priority directions of research and the need for agricultural innovations;
to agree on new project initiatives based on partnership.

The event is free and open to all (new and completed) EIP operational groups and all interested parties. The event will be held in English.

Online registration:

Registration for EIP project groups

Registration for event participants

PROGRAM

Place: VMU Agriculture Academy

More information: zivile.cerniauskiene@vdu.lt

Organizers: Social Partnership Department of the Business and Social Partnership Center of VMU AA in cooperation with the Cluster of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System.

The conference “Fair of contacts and experiences of EIP activity groups 2023” is carried out by the Rural Network project “Implementation of communication tools for greater public involvement and dissemination of information about KPP” NR. PLKT-PV-23-1-00862- PR001. The tool is financed by the Lithuanian Rural Development 2014-2020 program tool “Technical assistance” activity area “Lithuanian village network”. The project is supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the budget of the Republic of Lithuania.

1st of September – the greeting of the chancellor of VMU AA

Dear Community of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy,

We are entering the new study and science year. The arrival of autumn announces that it is the time to embark on learning, growth and travel, to step into the beginning of new goals and opportunities, the time to accept new challenges, make meaningful connections and awaken the potential that lies within you. Ignite the spark of enthusiasm and build a successful year of study and education. Let the journey that begins today be a time for the fulfillment of ideas and set goals as we all work together to create a green, sustainable and rich Lithuania! Vivat Academia!

Chancellor of the VMU Agriculture Academy, prof. dr. Astrida Miceikienė

New Academic Year with Kaunas Universities

Vytautas Magnus University will greet the new academic year together with Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and Lithuanian Sports University. On September 1st, Friday, you are welcome to attend joint festive events.

This year, the event will start at 12 p.m. with Holy Mass at the Kaunas Cathedral Basilica of the Apostles St. Peter and Paul (Vilniaus g. 1), followed by a joint oath-taking ceremony in the courtyard of the Historical Presidential Palace of the Republic of Lithuania (Vilniaus str. 33) at 2 p.m.

Later, the students will march towards Independence Square, led by the KTU brass band The BrassBees. The main event of the celebration will take place here and will be crowned by a festive concert featuring the joint university choir and the singer GJan. At 3.30 p.m., VMU community is invited to enjoy a glass of wine in the lobby of the Great Hall.

Detailed program of the celebration:

12 p.m. Holy Mass at the Kaunas Cathedral Basilica of the Apostles St. Peter and Paul (Vilniaus g. 1)
2 p.m. Participants of the festive procession gather in the courtyard of the Historical Presidential Palace of the Republic of Lithuania (Vilniaus g. 33)
2–2.15 p.m. Students’ speech/oath.
2.15 p.m. Procession of the universities’ community (we depart from the courtyard of the Historical Presidential Palace, walking down Laisvės Alėja to Nepriklausomybės Square).
3 p.m. Festive concert at Nepriklausomybės Square featuring the joint choir of the universities and GJan!
At 3.30 p.m., VMU community is invited to enjoy a glass of wine in the lobby of the Great Hall (S. Daukanto g. 28)

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.

More information

Student Registration into Study Subjects for Autumn Semester 2023

The first stage of the autumn semester 2023/2024 registration for lectures, seminars and laboratory works is on 25-29 August. At this stage, the registration is open:

For full-time and part-time students of bachelor and integrated studies (excluding 1st year students)
For full-time and part-time students of master studies
For full-time students of professional studies
For part-time free-movers
For part-time exchange students

Registration of first-year undergraduate and full-time students will take place on 31 August.

Enrolment will be performed online only, having connected to VMU Students’ Self-service Portal at: https://studentas.vdu.lt.

A username is: name.surname (lowercase, Latin alphabet letters only) and a password.

If a student has forgotten the password, he/she can set up a new one at the site: https://support.vdu.lt/. Instructions are available here.

ENROLMENT INTO STUDY SUBJECTS

STUDY SCHEDULES

Postdoctoral internships at VMU AA: Call for applications for funding

The Lithuanian Research Council, promoting the development of the system of internships for young scientists after doctoral studies and raising the scientific qualifications of interns, announces a call for proposals for the projects of posdoctoral studies.

Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) invites applications for postdoctoral internships and do an internship at VMU AA in the fields of agriculture, life sciences, business and public management or engineering sciences. Applications for postdoctoral internships are submitted to the Research Council of Lithuanian. Applications for postdoctoral internships are submitted until September 30.

The purpose of postdoctoral fellowships is to promote the development of the system of postdoctoral internships for young scientists and to raise the scientific qualifications of interns (these projects must not aim to create specific products for the market and increase the scale of commercial and technology transfer).

According to this activity, a postdoctoral trainee is understood as a researcher who has a PhD degree awarded by a Lithuanian or foreign research and study institution, and for whom no more than 5 years have passed from the date of the award of the PhD degree to the date of submission of applications specified in the invitation (this period does not include pregnancy and maternity leave, paternity leave or leave to take care of the child until the child turns 3 years old) and carrying out scientific research work provided for in the project. The intern must go to a foreign science and study institution or research center, laboratory, company, institution, library, archive, expedition, etc. for internship.

More information about call for applications for financing postdoctoral internship projects (application process, evaluation procedure, etc.) at Research Council of Lithuania website.

Contact at VMU Agriculture Academy:

Ingrida Ignotaitė
Tel. (8 37) 752 377
E-mail ingrida.ignotaite@vdu.lt
Universiteto str. 8A, Akademija, LT-53341, Kaunas distr.

BIC offering student internships for 2023-2024

Bio-Based Industries Consortium (BIC) is offering some motivating internship placements for the academic year 2023-2024. The students will be guided and supported by BIC staff and be in contact with them and other stakeholders during their assignment.Not only will students be part of the team, they will also receive a specific project to work on. More details about projects and application process can be found here. The BIC team looks forward to welcoming some interns to Brussels, and sharing our knowledge and work in the bio-based industries with them.

Registration for Conference on Innovative Teaching Methods

On 26-27 September, conference Inno-Methods for Quality Curricula will be held in Trieste, Italy. During the event, workshops, a roundtable discussion and the T4EU Innovative Teaching Awards will also be held. Lecturers and researchers are invited to register as speakers at the conference, attend workshops and improve their skills. Application deadline is 15th of August.

Up to 10 teachers per partner university are invited to participate. Researchers, PhD students and staff who are potentially interested in the conference are also very much welcome to attend.

Transform4Europe Alliance will cover the speakers’ travel, accommodation, and substinence expenses.

Digital technologies have transformed the learning ecologies of higher education systems and offer new opportunities to create innovative quality curricula to deal with societal challenges.

Against this scenario, the “INNO-METHODS for quality curricula” conference intends to promote reflection on innovative teaching and quality curricula, share innovative teaching approaches enhanced by digital technologies and build a shared perspective for the T4EU Alliance.

The following topics will thus be explored and discussed:

What competences does the T4EU Alliance intend to foster in students? Which educational purposes are pursued?
How can T4EU monitor quality and innovation in innovative curricula?
What Innovative Curriculum Design methodology can the T4EU Alliance adopt?
What is the role of HE institutions in boosting the adoption of innovative teaching strategies for a joint educational offer?
What INNO methods and tools may foster innovation and support the digitalization of educational programmes within the Alliance?

The final workshops will capitalize on the proposed ideas and methods, and engage participants in developing a set of recommendations to promote innovative teaching within the T4EU alliance.

According to the organizers, the Trieste Conference will be an opportunity for mutual exchange and enrichment, thanks to the participation of professors and experts from the whole T4EU Alliance, as well as of international experts. External invited international experts will include Prof. Paul Ashwin from Lancaster University, and Dr. Daniela Casiraghi, member of METID at the Politecnico di Milano. More external experts will be invited.

Two workshops will also be held during the conference: Smart Learning Design and Identification of Common Guidelines to promote Teaching Innovation across the T4EU Alliance. Additionally, a roundtable discussion will be organised on INNO-METHODS from the Alliance – Experiences from T4EU teachers who implemented INNO-methods.

On September 26th, winners of the Innovative Teaching Award will be announced during a dedicated prize-giving ceremony.

More information

Program

Registration

The Study Model at VMU Enables Students to Design Their Own Study Path

If we had to name a university with the most diverse range of offerings, it would be Vytautas Magnus University, which is currently the most comprehensive university in Lithuania – students have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of study programmes, spanning across as many as 14 groups of study fields (by comparison, there are 17 available throughout Lithuania).

Dr. Simona Pilkienė, Vice-Rector for Studies at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), is delighted that the university offers a study model that is highly attractive and popular in the USA, and is the only one of its kind not only in Lithuania, but also in the Baltic States.

Artes liberales – from philosophy to engineering

Why did we mention the abundance of study fields? It is an essential prerequisite for fostering interdisciplinarity and striving for more effective synergy between different areas of science.

“The concept of artes liberales is often understood narrowly or incorrectly because many people associate the Latin term with the liberal arts and humanities. In reality, however, artes liberales is an educational concept that aims to provide individuals with a comprehensive education, rather than a narrow and highly specialised one, through the study of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary subjects.

VMU Vice-Rector for Studies Dr. Simona Pilkienė

The uniqueness of this concept lies in the student’s role in the study process and the opportunity to personally design their own study path. While this concept is widespread in the USA, it is not as popular in Europe and is usually applied only to a very small part of studies, such as a single programme or faculty, rather than being implemented university-wide. The study model implemented by VMU is the only one of its kind in both Lithuania and the Baltic States,” explains Dr. Pilkienė.

She says that society has been greatly affected by the COVID pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and other unpredictable global events, which have led to the realisation that only individuals with a comprehensive education will be able to succeed in an ever-changing labour market and society, and that interdisciplinary knowledge and skills are the key to all future decisions.

“So, the concept of artes liberales has regained relevance. And for us, it is relatively easy to overcome these challenges because we have years of experience offering exactly this kind of studies, whereas specialised universities are facing issues in transitioning to interdisciplinarity and preparing graduates capable of handling unpredictable challenges,” says the Vice-Rector of VMU.

She is delighted that VMU is able to effectively implement artes liberales: of the 17 groups of study fields available in Lithuania, the University offers 14 (except for health sciences, veterinary sciences, and public security).

When challenges turn into opportunities: gaining international recognition

Recalling the merger of three universities four years ago, when Aleksandras Stulginskis University and Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences merged with VMU, Dr. Pilkienė asserts that it was an unprecedented case:

“Regarding this matter, the experience of foreign countries could not be of much help to us, as there has never been a simultaneous merger of three universities. Nevertheless, we successfully overcame a challenging period in which we had to unify the study process and the approach to quality, and implement the concept of artes liberales in all study programmes.”

According to the Vice-Rector, from today’s perspective, launching programmes with a new concept and simultaneously ensuring a high-quality completion of studies for students who previously enrolled in the former universities seems like a mission impossible.

“I am therefore very delighted that the universities managed to merge successfully in such a short time. What’s more, the restrictions that existed at the time actually turned out to be opportunities. For instance, we were not allowed to run the study programmes of the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, so we had to create new ones in a very short time. Now, we see that this was the reason for our breakthrough in teacher training,” says Dr. Pilkienė.

The largest teacher training centre in Lithuania

Drawing on the experience of foreign partners and the concept of artes liberales, the university has developed unique study programmes for training the next generation of teachers, which have gained international recognition.

“The university has become the largest teacher training centre in Lithuania. It has more than 1,300 students, trains teachers from all branches of education at all three study levels, and admits around 500 teachers each year for further training or retraining.

We have also received international recognition – VMU is the only university in Northern and Central Europe and one of the 50 universities in the world to offer the International Baccalaureate Studies (IBS) and the UNESCO Educational Certificate Studies,” says the Vice-Rector.

Dr. Pilkienė notes that engineering, agriculture, and forestry programmes have also been reorganised into innovative and interdisciplinary programmes.

“We prepare graduates who not only have expertise in their field, but also have the ability to communicate in foreign languages and make timely and informed decisions in complex situations. We achieve this through the concept of artes liberales, which allows students to modify their study programmes, choose minor studies, and thereby broaden their horizons,” says Dr. Pilkienė.

VMU also dedicates attention to the little ones: educational researchers are developing and implementing educational innovations in the university’s kindergarten “Mažųjų akademija” (Academy of the Little Ones) and in the “Gifted” centre, where gifted and talented children from all over Lithuania are educated using a methodology developed in collaboration with partners from Israel.

International cooperation will continue to grow

Another distinctive feature of VMU is its internationality. “VMU is arguably the most international university in Lithuania in terms of student numbers and activities. Around 20% of the students studying here come through exchange programmes and various study programmes,” says the Vice-Rector.

She says that it is precisely the concept of artes liberales studies that creates opportunities for students coming from other countries to choose courses offered by different academic units and study together with young people from both Lithuania and abroad. Teachers also enjoy the excellent working conditions.

“We have around 15–18% of foreign teachers and this number is steadily growing. Together with nine other European universities (Saarland University in Germany, University of Alicante in Spain, University of Trieste in Italy, University of Silesia in Katowice in Poland, Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’ in Bulgaria, Catholic University of Portugal, Jean Monnet University in France, University of Primorska in Slovenia, and the Estonian Academy of Arts), and an associated member – Mariupol State University in Ukraine, we have established the European University Alliance Transform4Europe, whose goal is to create a future European university without borders or restrictions,” explains Dr. Pilkienė.

“Processes are underway: joint programmes are already being carried out, joint courses are being taught, and teachers are being exchanged. In addition, our students, together with those from the 10 other universities in the European University Alliance, study modules designed to develop competences for European challenges. These modules consist of 15–24 credits, and upon successful completion, students receive a certificate recognised by all partner universities. We also regularly organise mobility weeks for students and teachers, as well as creative workshops,” says Pilkienė.

The Vice-Rector expresses her delight – over the past years, the university has become a reliable international partner, entrusted with the responsibility of shaping European higher education policy, which is a truly significant step, and the competences of university teachers and researchers in this field are particularly important.

She firmly believes that VMU’s internationality will continue to grow as the chosen activities and strategy become part of the daily routine, inseparable from other activities.

Studies are inseparable from dialogue with business

Dr. Pilkienė says that VMU maintains a constant dialogue with business representatives: “We organise business breakfasts. The opinions of business representatives and changes in the labour market are important to us as integrating business into the study content is one of the aspects of improving our studies.”

The university currently has more than 500 partners from the public and private sectors and more than 4,300 internship positions, where students undertake internships and, in many cases, remain employed.

According to the Vice-Rector, social partners contribute to the development of students’ practical skills by delivering lectures, providing opportunities for practical training in companies, solving specific company case studies and providing solutions, and participating in business and student hackathons.

In certain fields, partners work cooperatively; for instance, at VMU’s Faculty of Engineering, a business cluster comprising agricultural engineering and technology companies such as Dojus agro, Lytagra, EWA, Ivabaltė, and others has been established. These companies organise laboratory work and internships in their infrastructural facilities, participate in the preparation, improvement, and marketing of study programmes, organise and finance student traineeships, and award scholarships to students.

“We understand that businesses are interested in the swift preparation of employees. For certain specialities, vocational education or additional courses may indeed suffice. However, when looking at the long-term perspective and considering what makes a good employee, every employer will say that a good employee is capable of communicating in at least one foreign language, but preferably two or three. Moreover, a good employee is someone who can make prompt decisions in uncertain situations and work in a team. And this requires interdisciplinary knowledge, which can only be acquired through university studies,” affirms the Vice-Rector of VMU.

Dr. Pilkienė asserts that it is precisely VMU that is capable of preparing specialists of the highest level today: “Studies based on the concept of artes liberales are a distinctive feature of VMU not only in Lithuania, but also in the Baltic States. It emphasises interdisciplinarity, internationality, and the highest level of student individualisation.

In the recent international university assessment, one distinctive aspect was highlighted – VMU provides the most extensive range of opportunities for students. And it’s true – we are the higher education institution that has the most to offer to those who choose to study here.”

Provides opportunities for people of all ages to study

VMU provides opportunities for every bachelor’s or master’s student to choose from 50 minor study programmes, enabling them to study two study programmes simultaneously and gain an advantage in the labour market.

The university also offers the Entrepreneurship Academy’s internationally acclaimed Minded programme, which develops entrepreneurial competences and the creative thinking and problem-solving skills crucial for the future labour market, all while using innovative study methods.

Moreover, VMU offers the Academia Cum Laude individual study programme, which allows motivated bachelor’s students to go beyond their main studies, delve into their personal study topics, and work with top-level scientists, researchers, or renowned artists recognised as authorities in their fields.

The Vice-Rector is delighted that today the university offers not only a wide range of studies but also a diverse array of activities. “We have developed a lifelong learning ecosystem: we have a kindergarten, a centre for gifted children, a VMU school and classroom network, the World Lithuanian University, and we conduct all levels of university studies, as well as qualification courses, courses for the public, and other learning activities.

There is no other university in Lithuania with such a broad profile, offering people of all ages the opportunity to choose what and how to study. And we can ensure all of that,” says Dr. Pilkienė.

Article by news portal Delfi.lt