Admission to PhD studies at VMU AA

Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) has a distinct advantage which is connected to its young, promising doctoral students. Ph.D. studies at VMU open up unique possibilities for academic research and studies, which contribute to the development of a future generation of highly qualified specialists. Graduates of doctoral studies of VMU are capable of conducting independent scientific research and experimental (social, cultural) development, not to mention solving hot-button issues of Lithuanian, European and global science.

Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) offers doctoral studies in 8 fields of research in natural, social, technological and agricultural sciences. Until the end of August, applicants can choose 5 fields (table below).

Research Area	Research Field	Dates of admission of documents
Natural sciences	Ecology and Environmental Science	01 07 2022 – 24 08 2022
Agricultural sciences	Agronomy	01 06 2022 – 26 08 2022
Agricultural sciences	Forestry	01 06 2022 – 26 08 2022
Social sciences	Economy	01 07 2022 – 30 08 2022
Social sciences	Management	01 07 2022 – 30 08 2022

The application for admission to doctoral studies and scanned copies of the necessary documents are provided online.

The application will be registered, when all necessary parts of Admission to doctoral studies in online system will be filled in. The application is considered not to be registered if all the necessary documents or information is not provided.

SOCIAL SCIENCES

ADMISSION TO THE ECONOMICS PH.D. PROGRAM

ADMISSION TO THE MANAGEMENT PH.D. PROGRAM

NATURAL SCIENCES

ADMISSION TO THE ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PH.D. PROGRAM

Admission rules
List of the dissertation topics and possible supervisors
Application form
Payment for document registration
Regulations of doctoral studies in Ecology and Environmental science field

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

ADMISSION TO THE AGRONOMY PH.D. PROGRAM

ADMISSION TO THE FORESTRY PH.D. PROGRAM

More information about PhD studies at VMU Agriculture Academy

Contacts for more information

Research and Innovation department
VMU AA Universiteto str. 8A, Building IV, Room 202, 53341 Akademija, Kaunas district
Phone: +370 37 752 254
E-mail: monika.brimaite@vdu.lt

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

#StudentsTalk: My Ambition is to Get a World Class Education in Agriculture

Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) is not only a space for studies and research, but also a space for creation, discussions, explorations, where cultural diversity and each innovative idea play an important role. The Academy would not have been this active, creating and improving as it is today, if courageous, eager students waiting to see the wide world would not study here. Realizing the importance of communion, we want to get to know these amazing students. We are interested in their experience in choosing studies in Lithuania and studying here at VMU Agriculture Academy.

Rogers Kudi Otia, Agri-food business management student, shared his experience about choosing studies in Lithuania and his journey here at VMU Agriculture Academy.

– Why did you choose to study at VMU Agriculture Academy?
– Firstly, my ambition is to get a world class education in agriculture or related field. Secondly, the diversity of my chosen study programme and lastly a high position of VMU at world ranking in terms of international students.
–What activities, study or practical experience at VMU Agriculture Academy was or is the most memorable for you?
–The most memorable thing is the opportunity to meet students with different backgrounds and perspectives. Besides that, I also do not want to forget about the help which I received from my lecturers through out my study time at VMU Agriculture Academy.
–What did you know about Lithuania before coming here?
–To be honest, I knew very little about Lithuania before coming here. I knew the cost of living is not high comparing to other European countries. I also knew that Lithuania is located in the northern or eastern Europe. I was familiar with religion, population, language – just the basics about the country.

Rogers Kudi Otia is open to share his student experience and answer questions on social media for those who are interested in studying at VMU Agriculture Academy. Contact Rogers on:
Facebook
LinkedIn

International scientific conference BALTTRIB’2022

International scientific conference will take part at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) on 22-24 September, 2022. It is organized by the scientists of VMU AA Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical, Energy and Biotechnology Engineering.

Conference topics:

Friction and wear of friction pairs in agricultural, transport and industrial machinery
Lubrication
Micro- and nano-scale tribology
Tribochemistry
Bio-tribology
Environmental issues in tribology
Surface science and coating engineering
Tribology in metal processing
Simulation of tribological processes
Experimental methods in tribology

Key dates:

31 May 2022 – Abstract and registration form submission.
15 June 2022 – Notification of acceptance.
15 July 2022 – Submission of papers.
10 August 2022 – Notification of papers acceptance.
31 August 2022 – Registration fee payment.
10 September – Presentation of conference programme
22-24 September 2022 – Conference

REGISTRATION

Conference invitation and more information

Conference website: www.balttrib.info

Contacts:
+370 37 752263
balttrib@vdu.lt

Applications for the Autumn Intake 2022 are extended

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 a European Capital of Culture 2022 – Kaunas – located in the center of Europe may be the perfect combination for You.

Your lifetime adventure can start now with VMU Agriculture Academy.

Autumn Intake 2022/2023 study programmes:

Application deadlines (extended):

July 16th – For Applicants from EU Countries, Sakartvelo, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Foreigners currently residing in Lithuania.

July 25th – For Applicants from Ukraine.

APPLY HERE

Information about Application and Admission Procedures | VMU

Information about scholarships | VMU

Rules for admission 2022 | VMU

Are you curious about what it is like to study at the Vytautas Magnus University? How is student life or housing in the City of Kaunas?

Get answers to your questions by chatting with our students, staff, and alumni. Ask your questions, read their blogs, and explore more about VMU and Kaunas!

Chat with our students | VMU

Contact person at VMU Agriculture Academy: International Coordinator Ekaterina Makrickiene ekaterina.makrickiene@vdu.lt +370 37 752 200

More information about VMU Agriculture Academy study programmes

Application for Accommodation for New International Students of 2022/2023

Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) has opened an application for new incoming international students for accommodation in the dormitories of VMU during the academic year 2022/2023 or just the Autumn semester. Please note, that this application is open only for new (first year) incoming full-time, Erasmus+, Bilateral or other international exchange students of Vytautas Magnus University. Other, higher year students, who are currently not living in the dormitories of VMU, would be allowed to reserve one of the rooms for the new academic year only starting from August 16th, 2022.

IMPORTANT:  the application is open only for students, who have already signed their Learning Agreements (Erasmus+, Bilateral Exchange or Visiting Students) and  Agreement of Studies (full-time Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students) (for more information about signing it, please contact International Cooperation department)

In order to reserve a place of residence in one of the dormitories of VMU, all new incoming first-year international students must follow this procedure:

NEW INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OF VMU

learn about our dormitories, its’ location, price for accommodation services, living conditions, etc.;
create a personal account on the online accommodation system (Accommodation for others). Exchange students may use their Username / Password that they created when applying for their exchange studies at VMU; Full time Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students may use their Username / Password that they created when signing their Agreement of studies.
log in to the online accommodation system (Accommodation for others) with your personal credentials (username and password) and reserve one of the places from the provided list on Accommodation in Student Rooms (Number of places in the dormitories is limited, however, the list is constantly updated, therefore it is recommended to check it regularly).
receive an e-mail with confirmation of your reservation. This e-mail means, that room of your choice will be reserved for your arrival until 31st of August, 2022;
receive a second e-mail in the middle of the August with instructions on how to sign your electronic Agreement for Accommodation, sign it, and move into the dormitory no later than by   31st of August, 2022 (if you are planning to move-in after the 31st of August, 2022, you shall contact Student Centre by sending an e-mail to studentas@vdu.lt and inform about your intended date of arrival. In all cases you will have to pay accommodation fees starting from 1st of September 2022, otherwise your room reservation will be cancelled).

IMPORTANT: please note, that Residents will be allowed to move into their reserved rooms only starting from August 18, 2022.

FOR NON-VMU STUDENTS

Other, non-VMU, students could apply for accommodation in the dormitories of VMU:

In dormitories, which are located in Kaunas (Nr. 2) and Akademija (Nr.5), Kaunas dstr. – only starting from October 1st, 2022.
In dormitory, which is located in Vilnius (Nr. 6),only starting from August 1st, 2022.

For more information please contact:

Student Centre (Student Affairs Department)
Phone +370 37 751 175
E-mail studentas@vdu.lt

QS Rankings: VMU – the Most International University in Lithuania

In the latest QS World University Rankings, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) is confidently positioned among the most international universities in the world, while among Lithuanian universities it is the absolute leader.

This year, the increase in the international student ratio has surpassed the results of the ranking in 2021 – the number of foreign students studying at VMU has increased by as much as 53%. VMU is ranked 389th among all universities in the world, and this is by far the best result the university has ever achieved. VMU’s international faculty ratio is also improving every year.

When comparing Lithuanian universities, QS World University Rankings provides data that the amount of attention per student is growing fastest at Vytautas Magnus University – the faculty/student ratio has increased by as much as 17%.

Employers’ feedback on the university and its graduates has also been improving the university’s reputation for three years in a row. According to the survey results, the reputation of VMU among current and potential employers of university graduates has risen by as much as 38%.

In 2022, when the total number of ranked universities in the QS World University Rankings increased to 1,422 (adding 124 new universities), VMU’s position has risen. Overall, from 2018 to the present day, VMU’s position in the ranking table has been growing steadily – over the last 5 years it has increased by as much as 25.4%.

***

The QS World University Rankings is considered one of the most authoritative rankings of higher education institutions. It stands out from other ranking systems in that it tries to show the university as a whole – it focuses not only on academic performance and output, but also on the scale of the culture, innovations, openness, and accessibility of the university, as well as the assessment of the student’s relationship with the teaching staff. When assessing higher education institutions in the world, the ratio of international staff and international students is also an important criterion in this ranking: this allows universities to be open to international experts and assessments.

It is not enough for a higher education institution to provide data about itself to be included in the QS World University Rankings database. A university is included in the ranking only when it is positively rated by a certain percentage of the academic and employer community. The survey of employers and academics is conducted by QS World University Rankings themselves.

ERASMUS teaching visit to Alaaddin Keykubat University

The visit under the ERASMUS+ teaching mobility programme of assoc. prof. dr. Raimundas Rukuiža took place at Alaaddin Keykubat University at Alanya (ALKU) on 20-23 June. Main partners at ALKU were assoc. prof. Derman Vatansever Bayramol, head of the Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering and lecturer dr. Fatma Aydin Unal from the Faculty of Engineering. R. Rukuiža , associate professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical, Energy and Biotechnology Engineering at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA), gave the lectures for integrated group of ALKU MSc and PhD students, and young scientists under the topics of engineering materials testing outline, surface processing and investigation methods, tribological research methodology and equipment. VMU Agriculture Academy study and research facilities and the possibilities for ERASMUS+ exchange studies at VMU AA were also presented. The MSc and PhD students, and lecturers expressed great interest in the ERASMUS+ exchange programme for performing the study and research exchange at VMU AA, using the facilities of engineering and tribotechnical materials equipment. It was agreed that soon as the ALKU students together with their supervisors will prepare the specimens and apply for ERASMUS+ grant, the students will be accepted at Tribological Laboratory of the Faculty of Engineering of VMU Agriculture Academy.

The possible cooperation in research were discussed with the ALKU partners: Derman Vatansever Bayramol, dr. Fatma Aydin Unal and İsmail Topcu. The colleagues from Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department of ALKU are interested in cooperation in the fields of piezoelectric actuators performance improvement, ceramic powder coatings and mechanical wear metal surfaces.

The ALKU partners were also invited to participate in international tribology conference BALTTRIB 2022, which will take place at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy on 22-24 September 2022.

“Erasmus+” mobility visit: the LANDNET workshop in North Macedonia

The 13th International LANDNET workshop took place from 25 to 27 May in Skopje, North Macedonia. The workshop was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (UN FAO REUT) in partnership with the University St. Cyril Methodius in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, and the Delegation of the European Union.

The event brought together representatives from governments and the private sector, NGOs, universities and research institutes from Europe and the Central Asia region to discuss on land tenure topics such as land consolidation, land banking, state land management, land abandonment and land market development.

Dr. Giedrius Pašakarnis, lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Land Management and Geomatics, at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA), took part in the seminar, taking an advantage of the opportunity provided by Erasmus+ programme funding.

On the first day of the workshop, the focus was on land banking instruments and the launch of a new UN FAO initiative on capacity development for land consolidation and land banking. Lecturer dr. G. Pašakarnis shared with the participants his experience on how the Department of Land Management and Geomatics of VMU AA educates future land consolidation projects professionals.

On the second day of the event, the focus was on the introduction of land consolidation in North Macedonia with presentations in the morning and a field trip to land consolidation project areas in Bitola municipality in the afternoon. It is important to mention that back in 2017, lecturer dr. G. Pašakarnis, as an international expert working for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, advised the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of North Macedonia on the selection of the areas in which it would be the most feasible to start land consolidation projects, where the municipality of Bitola was selected as one of the most suitable candidates.

The participants of the seminar were impressed by the results of the 336 ha land consolidation project in the Egri cadastral area, Bitola municipality: implementing land consolidation project, project planners were able to consolidate land parcels so that the average parcel size has increased from 0.38 hectares to 1.30 hectares, the fragmentation of land has been reduced from 874 to 260 parcels, a new roads and irrigation infrastructure was developed, and in the end, all participating farmers in the area have been very happy with the project results.

Consolidated fragmented land parcels in Ergi, Bitola municipality

Developed a new irrigation infrastructure

Developed a new rational road infrastructure

Landowners and farmers were very satisfied with the land consolidation project results

On the final day of the seminar, the focus was mainly on the reduction of abandoned land. After the seminar, lecturer dr. G. Pašakarnis visited the University St. Cyril Methodius in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering where dr. Marijana Lazarevska, Vice Dean for Science and International Cooperation, dr. Gjorgji Gjorgjiev, Lecturer, and dr. Zlatko Srbinoski, Dean of the Faculty, presented the study programmes, the research facilities and the students’ work.

VMU Agriculture Academy has signed a cooperation agreement with the University St. Cyril Methodius in Skopje, Faculty of Civil Engineering, so from now on lecturers and PhD students can go on short-term Erasmus visits. The faculty lecturers invited VMU Agriculture Academy researchers to collaborate on research in water engineering, road and civil engineering, environmental protection, geodesy and geoinformation technologies, to participate in Erasmus+ researcher mobility programmes and to submit scientific articles to their journal “Scientific Journal of Civil Engineering”.

Lecturer dr. Giedrius Pašakarnis with dr. Marijana Lazarevska, Vice Dean for Science and International Cooperation of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and lecturer dr. Gjorgji Gjorgjiev

Lect. Giedrius Pašakarnis

VMU Agriculture Academy scientists visited the University of Life Sciences in Lublin

May 31–June 2 dean of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA), Faculty of Agronomy associate professor dr. Aida Adamavičienė and associate professor of the Department of Plant Biology and Food Sciences dr. Živilė Tarasevičienė visited the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, under the “Erasmus +” staff teaching mobility programme.

During the visit, scientists from VMU AA gave lectures to students and introduced them to study opportunities at VMU. Possibilities of cooperation in joint research and project activities were discussed with fellow researchers.The organization of student exchanges and lecturers’ visits was discussed with representatives of the administration. During the visit a meeting was also held with representatives of the food industry company “Lubella”, where the possibilities of cooperation were discussed.