Free Online Webinar “Customs Duties and Their Impact on Global Trade Dynamics”

VMU Agriculture Academy Faculty of Bioeconomy Development invites you to join a free webinar on 20 February 2025, at 15:00 (EET, Lithuania time zone) to explore the importance of customs duties in global trade and stay updated on the latest regulatory changes.

You will also find out why it is worth joining the MBA programme “Customs Process Management”. The application for foreign candidates is already open at vytautasmagnus.dreamapply.com. MBA “Customs Process Management” has received a positive decision for the EU Customs Recognition Certificate and is awaiting the official certificate. This means that you will be able to hold a Master’s degree from an EU-certified MBA programme, which will have a positive impact on your career.

What to expect in a webinar?

The MBA students Mantas Rimašauskas & Donatas Butrimas will share their insights on the situation of car imports in the EU.
Partnership assoc. prof. Anthony Buckley will discuss how the new US import tariffs pose a challenge to trading partners.
The Head of the Committee assoc. prof. dr. Erika Besusparienė will present the MBA “Customs Process Management“.
Live question and answer session with speakers.

Date: 20 February 2025

Time: 15:00 (EET, Lithuania time zone) The planned duration of the webinar will be approximately one hour.

Format: Online Webinar via TEAMS

Language: The webinar is held in English.

REGISTRATION

The link to join the TEAMS platform before the webinar will be sent to the email address provided during registration.

Join, explore, and become part of the MBA community!

Teaching aid, research paper competitions and awarding nominations of VMU AA employees are announced

We invite the employees of the VMU Agriculture Agriculture to participate in the competition of teaching aid and research papers, sharing with the community the significant work done and celebrating the achievements.

The winners will be awarded at the festive commemoration of the Day of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence, which will take place in the Hall of VMU Agriculture Academy central building (Studentų str. 11, Akademija, Kaunas distr.) on March 12. 1 p.m.

TEACHING AID COMPETITION REGULATIONS

Follow the approved regulations: REGULATIONS.

Teaching aid (TA) competition is organized to initiate the sharing of experience in the development and use of advanced teaching methods and TAs among the teachers among the teachers at the VMU Agriculture Academy; to accelerate the development and use of TAs and innovative teaching techniques; to encourage the teachers to develop and improve TAs and apply them effectively in their teaching activities.

The competition is open to employees at the VMU Agriculture Academy and their teams who have developed new TAs and applied them in teaching the students at the VMU Agriculture Academy.

Entries can be submitted under the following headings:

Teaching publications (textbooks, course books, lecture notes, descriptions of laboratory work and exercises, other teaching publications (> 50 pages), published in print or electronic form);
Visual aids (instruments, tools, laboratory and display benches, mockups, models,
collections of objects studied, videos, poster sets, and other tools);
Methods of organizing studies and other TAs (integrated provision of supporting teaching aids for the study subject, implementation of distance learning, implementation of other innovative study methods, etc.).

The application shall be accompanied by an extract of the minutes of the academic unit Council or a committee authorized by it, along with a recommendation, and a copy of the TA (or its location) and a description of it.

The TA description shall specify the following:

Name of TA;
Author(s)’ details (name, surname, faculty, institute, department, position, title, academic title and scientific degree, telephone number, email address);
Purpose of the TA (study programme, study subject, topics within the study subject structure);
Relevance (need, previous development of similar tools, etc.);
Methodological compatibility with independent studies (possibilities for active learning and innovative study methods using the TA);
Innovation (innovation in the presentation of course material) and scientific approach (use of the latest scientific information and tools, possibilities for student involvement in research);
Visual quality of the knowledge presented and quality of the publication design (intensity of use of visual elements, strong aspects of the publication design);
Other benefits.

Candidates’ documents for the competition shall be submitted to the coordinator for the administration of studies in the Administrative Group of the VMU Agriculture Academy dr. Rasa Čingienė (by email rasa.cingiene@vdu.lt or at VMU AA central building room 237) by 15 February.

A maximum of 3 prizes will be awarded per heading. Prizes are awarded to first-place winners, and certificates of appreciation are awarded to second and third-place winners. The prize fund shall be allocated by the Chancellor of the VMU Agriculture Academy.

Contact for more information: dr. Rasa Čingienė rasa.cingiene@vdu.lt, +370 682 22874, +370 37 752107, VMU AA central building room 237.

RESEARCH PAPER COMPETITION REGULATIONS

Follow the approved regulations: REGULATIONS.

Research paper (RP) competition is organized to encourage the teachers, researchers, and PhD students at the VMU Agriculture Academy to conduct research and disseminate the results thereof in the scientific journals of the international level or other publications, to contribute to a higher international competitiveness, enhancement of the scientific, social and economic environment of Vytautas Magnus University and of the whole country; to select, promote, and reward the best researchers and research groups at the VMU Agriculture Academy.

The competition is open to teachers, researchers, and PhD students of the VMU Agriculture Academy.

Entries can be submitted under the following headings:

research group category (the number of authors of a submitted research paper shall be between 2 to 4, and each publication shall be authored by at least two authors from the research group participating in the competition);
international researcher’s category (a researcher working on a research project in collaboration with researchers from other countries);
category of the young researcher (researchers with a doctoral degree, no older than 40 years old by the application deadline), doctoral student or their team.

The RP competition is open to collections of scientific output on a common topic for the last 2 calendar years, which may include:

scientific monographs, parts of scientific monographs, scientific studies;
patented scientific production, registered plant and animal varieties;
scientific articles;
oral presentations at plenary sessions of international scientific conferences (the conference program shall be presented).

The RP shall be submitted to the competition together with the following:

Extract from the minutes of the Council of the academic unit or a committee authorised by it, with a recommendation, which shall include the title of the submitted RP, the author(s) and the creative contribution that shall be assessed in proportion to the number of authors or on the basis of a joint declaration signed by the authors.
A brief description (up to 1 page) of the research paper or collection of the scientific production, indicating the title of the RP, the components of the submitted scientific paper or parts of the collection of the scientific output, the coefficient of contribution, and highlighting the most important aspects of the RP that are relevant to the competition.
Information about the author(s) of the RP (name, surname, position, scientific degree, scientific achievements).

The competition is not open to winners of the previous year’s RP competition.

Candidates’ documents for the competition shall be submitted to the Scientific Activity Coordinator dr. Algis Kvaraciejus (by email algis.kvaraciejus@vdu.lt or at VMU AA central building room 227) at the VMU Agriculture Academy by 15 February.

A maximum of 5 prizes will be awarded to the winners of the RP competition: a maximum of 3 prizes shall be awarded in the 1st category and 1 prize in the 2nd and 3rd categories each.

Contact for more information: dr. Algis Kvaraciejus, algis.kvaraciejus@vdu.lt, +370 37 752350, VMU AA central building room 227.

THE SUBMISSION OF NOMINATIONS

Follow the approved regulations: REGULATIONS.

The Nominations are an incentive tool to encourage the involvement of the employees and students of the VMU Agriculture Academy in further development of the quality of studies, research and scientific services, the creation of a motivating working environment, and fostering of culture and values.

Nominations are open to employees (or a group of employees) and students of the VMU Agriculture Academy who have an impeccable reputation. The employee or student who has violated the VMU Code of Academic Ethics and/or work discipline shall not be eligible for the Nomination.

Types of the VMU Agriculture Academy Nominations and the Nomination criteria:

Nomination “Scientific Recognition of the Year” is awarded to a member or group of members of the community of the VMU Agriculture Academy for receiving significant national and/or international awards for research and experimental development (R&D) activities. One candidate is submitted by each academic and non-academic division.
Nomination “Project of the Year” is awarded to a member or group of members of the community of the VMU Agriculture Academy for a study/research/science dissemination project that was successfully implemented in the previous calendar year and a significant impact on the region, country, or society on a national and/or international scale. One candidate is submitted by each academic and non-academic division.
Nomination “Starting Researcher of the Year” is awarded to students and other members of the academic community at all levels of the VMU Agriculture Academy, except those holding a doctoral degree, for their active scientific research activities and results of scientific achievements. The Nomination may be awarded to the same member of the academic community once every three calendar years. One candidate is submitted by each academic division.
Nomination “Employee of the Year” is awarded to an employee of the community of the VMU Agriculture Academy who is indirectly involved in activities related to studies and research, for significant initiatives for the development of the VMU Agriculture Academy, outstanding diligence and loyalty to the VMU Agriculture Academy. The Nomination may be awarded to the same member of the community of the VMU Agriculture Academy once every three calendar years. The candidates are submitted by the administration, academic, and non-academic divisions of the VMU Agriculture Academy.
Nomination “National Partnership of the Year” is awarded to a member of the community of the VMU Agriculture Academy for the establishment, development, and expansion of close and significant national cooperation with social and business partners, taking into account the importance of the cooperation, the support provided by the partner, or any other significant achievements at the VMU Agriculture Academy. The Nomination may be awarded to the same member of the community of the VMU Agriculture Academy once every three calendar years. The candidates are submitted by the administration, academic, and non-academic divisions of the VMU Agriculture Academy.
Nomination “International Partnership of the Year” is awarded to a member of the community of the VMU Agriculture Academy for the establishment, development, and expansion of close and significant international cooperation with social and business partners, taking into account the importance of the cooperation, the support provided by the partner, or any other significant achievements at the VMU Agriculture Academy. The Nomination may be awarded to the same member of the community of the VMU Agriculture Academy once every three calendar years. The candidates are submitted by the administration, academic, and non-academic divisions of the VMU Agriculture Academy.
Nomination “Teacher of the Year” is awarded to a member of the academic community of the VMU Agriculture Academy whose main job functions are related to the VMU Agriculture Academy, for the following results: students’ objective satisfaction with the taught subject, advanced pedagogical activity, work with the Erasmus+ students, resources used for the taught subjects, innovative approach in teaching, teacher’s activity and partnership with other study and research institutions, promotion of study programmes at the VMU Agriculture Academy among pupils and the public, and supervision of students’ research papers. The Nomination may be awarded to the same teacher once every three calendar years. The Nomination may be awarded to the same teacher once every three calendar years. One candidate is submitted by each Faculty.
Nomination “Student of the Year” is awarded to a first-, second- or third-cycle student at the VMU Agriculture Academy for significant achievements in learning, research, organizational or social activities. The same student may be nominated once during the entire study period. One candidate is submitted by each Faculty, taking into account the opinion of student representatives.

Divisions submit candidates for nominations to the head of the VMU Agriculture Academy Administrative Group dr. Laima Skauronė (by email at laima.skaurone@vdu.lt or at VMU AA central building room 237) by 15 February.

The number of nomination winners is fixed: Scientific Recognition of the Year, Project of the Year, Starting Researcher of the Year, Employee of the Year, National Partnership of the Year, International Partnership of the Year – one winner in each category. Teacher of the Year, Student of the Year – four winners in each category.

Contact for more information: dr. Laima Skauronė, laima.skaurone@vdu.lt, +370 615 21559, +370 37 752278.

The VMU Agriculture Academy Teaching aid competition is organized according to the regulations approved by the VMU Agriculture Academy Chancellor’s order on January 26, 2024.

The VMU Agriculture Academy Research paper competition and the VDU ŽŪA Nomination Submission and Awarding Process are organized according to the regulations approved by the VMU Agriculture Academy Chancellor’s order on January 30, 2025.

Announcement of ERASMUS+ contest for studies and traineeships for 2025-2026. Turn the adventure into an experience!

The ERASMUS+ study and traineeship competitions are open for the autumn and spring semesters of the academic year 2025-2026. There are as many as 4 different opportunities for international mobility.

Would you like to study in an EU/EEA country?

Take part in the competition by filling in the online selection form by 3rd of March 2025 (23:59).

The link to the questionnaire and more information about the ERASMUS+ contest for studies in EU/EEA countries.

Would you like to study in a non-EU/EEA country?

Take part in the competition by completing the online selection form by 3rd March 2025 (23:59).

The link to the questionnaire and more information about the ERASMUS+ competition for studying outside the EU/EEA.

Would you like to go on a traineeship in any country of the world?

Take part in the competition by filling in the online application form by 28 February 2025 (23:59): https://epasirasymas.vdu.lt -> Outgoing-Application for Erasmus Student Traineeship

More information on the ERASMUS+ Traineeship Call.

The selection process for the study exchange competitions is open to all VMU students, and for the international traineeship, also to future graduates.

Each student will be informed of the results of the selection process by email. The results of the selection process will also be published on the VMU website.

Find out more about study exchange and traineeship opportunities

More information:

VMU Agriculture Academy presents a new dual-degree program “Aquamatics”: a sustainable future – in the hands of highly knowledgeable specialists

How to address the challenges posed by climate change – this thought is relentlessly discussed in the minds of those shaping a sustainable future. To create harmony between resource use and the needs of humanity, highly educated specialists are required. In response to this need, Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) presents a new dual-degree Master’s program in English, “Aquamatics”, created in collaboration with the Silesian University in Katowice, Poland.

Knowledge delivered by professors from three universities

Raimundas Baublys, a lecturer at the Department of Water Engineering at VMU Agriculture Academy Faculty of Engineering, junior researcher, and one of the creators of the “Aquamatics” program, reveals that this program is unique in that it combines natural and engineering sciences, which provides greater opportunities for graduates to view current environmental protection issues and problems in a much broader and deeper way, addressing both theoretical and practical water management issues by linking environmental protection, engineering, and sustainability.

“This enables graduates of the program to be highly educated specialists. The program is structured so that VMU provides knowledge in engineering and the necessary skills, while Silesian University professors deliver knowledge in biology and natural sciences and develop practical skills through hands-on activities,” says Raimundas Baublys. He adds that the dual-degree program stands out in that students spend one semester studying at another university involved in the program’s creation.

“In our case, students in this program study their second semester at Silesian University, and students from Silesian University enrolled in the program come to Vytautas Magnus University to study engineering modules in the third semester. Finally, students prepare and defend their final theses at the university they enrolled in. It is also worth mentioning that some modules are taught by professors from the University of Trieste in Italy, which further enhances the program’s uniqueness. The program is taught in English, which might seem like an additional challenge to some, but given that students will gain knowledge and skills taught in English by professors from three universities, we view this as another aspect of the program’s distinctiveness and versatility. Graduates will be able to apply their skills in the international market,” says Raimundas Baublys.

Raimundas Baublys, a lecturer at the Department of Water Engineering at VMU Agriculture Academy Faculty of Engineering, junior researcher, and one of the creators of the “Aquamatics” program

Water protection and sustainable development challenges – in the hands of graduates

Students of this program will be able to contribute to scientific projects carried out at the universities during their studies by selecting a topic for their final thesis. “Most of the ongoing projects are international, so participating in these activities will allow students to familiarize themselves with the principles of implementing international projects, expand their connections with foreign scientists, and, most importantly, their final thesis will be directly focused on current and future challenges, which, through scientific research, students will be prepared to solve. Moreover, if students want to delve deeper into their chosen topic, they will have all the opportunities to extend their research in doctoral studies, which opens even greater opportunities for both the student’s personal development and contributing to global scientific progress,” says the researcher, adding that graduates of the “Aquamatics” program will be well-prepared to contribute to solving current water protection and sustainable development challenges.

Graduates will face an international job market

Graduates of the “Aquamatics” program will be able to work in institutions that form and implement environmental policies: government and municipal institutions (Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Department under the Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Agency under the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, municipal administrations), as well as in the environmental and water management sectors as project planners and construction project managers, in the aquaculture sector, or, seeing new opportunities and niches in the market, they may even start their own businesses, applying their knowledge and implementing the latest technologies aimed at solving the newest challenges.

The group of creators of the international study program Aquamatics

“Of course, the education provided by this program will not only allow graduates to present themselves as specialists on the national market but also position them as highly knowledgeable specialists able to enter the international job market, presenting themselves as capable of solving challenges not only on a national but also an international level. With the changing climate and the increasing number of climate-related challenges, the demand for specialists in this field is rapidly growing, so graduates of this program will be well-prepared to contribute to solving these challenges,” says the researcher.

Looking for environmentally friendly solutions for a sustainable future

As creating a sustainable future becomes an increasingly common need and necessity, graduates of the “Aquamatics” program will not only be knowledgeable about the conservation of biodiversity and the responsible use of natural resources, but they will also contribute to the creation of a sustainable future. By studying modules such as Hydrology and Hydrogeology, Water Resource Management and Modeling, graduates of this program will be able to assess both surface and groundwater resources and their sustainable use in industry, production, and agriculture, where optimizing the use of water resources is becoming an increasingly urgent issue at both national and global levels.

“Focusing on these global changes, the “Aquamatics” program includes a module on Climate Change Crisis Management. Studying these and other issues, the anticipated modules such as Restoring Damaged Water Systems, Fish Resources, and Aquaculture, as well as delving into Hydraulic Structures and Hydropower, will be particularly beneficial. By applying remote sensing for environmental monitoring and agriculture, along with reliable data analysis, students will be equipped to make sustainable, eco-friendly decisions.This fosters the promotion of responsible consumption and production,” lists the researcher, highlighting the benefits provided by the “Aquamatics” program.

The exhibition “Postcards” by photographer S. Gečas at VMU Agriculture Academy library.

On February 1st, an exhibition of artistic photography titled “Postcards” by Severinas Gečas, a third-year student at the Kaunas Applied Arts School, winner of the “Living Earth Thoughts” competition, product photographer, and head of the company “35 Kadras,” will open at the Vytautas Magnus University Agricultural Academy (VDU ŽŪA) library (Studentų St. 11, Akademija, Kaunas district).

“Photography on film is not digital photography, because the photos have a soul, they speak, further emphasizing the spirit of Šilutė city and its history. My goal was to bring artistic photography to the Minor Lithuania region. With this exhibition, I aim to highlight the uniqueness of Šilutė’s architecture and show each viewer what they might otherwise overlook in their everyday life. The idea for the exhibition originated in the context of the centenary of the incorporation of the Klaipėda region into Lithuania. The aim was to commemorate the centenary and promote Šilutė as the capital of the ethnographic region of Minor Lithuania among other Lithuanian cities,” says photographer S. Gečas.

Visitors to the exhibition will have the chance to see the main architectural landmarks of Šilutė city, but from a completely different perspective, offering a fresh look at many of them.

The photographs on display at the exhibition will be available for purchase.

The Kick-off Meeting of the Erasmus+ project “Bumblebees for Natural Pollination” [BUMBLE-NAP]

The Kick-off Meeting of the Erasmus+ project “Bumblebees for Natural Pollination” [BUMBLE-NAP] (2024-1-TR01-KA220-VET-000254015) took place on January 29–30 in Serik, Türkiye.

The project is coordinated by Antalya Serik Kaymakamlığı (Türkiye) in collaboration with Aydın Adnan Menderes University (Türkiye), Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori Regionale Umbria (Italy), Stara Zagora Institute of Agriculture (Bulgaria), and Vytautas Magnus University (Agriculture Academy Department of Environment and Ecology). The project duration is two years, with an expected completion date of November 30, 2026.

The project aims to raise awareness of the harmful effects of pesticides on human health and the environment, train participants in bumblebee breeding and application technologies, promote sustainable agricultural practices and new business opportunities, and increase consumer awareness of bumblebee-assisted food production. By reducing chemical use in agriculture, the project seeks to encourage the production of healthier and more environmentally friendly crops while contributing to biodiversity conservation.

During the Kick-off Meeting, partners discussed key activities, including the development of an interactive online training and education platform, the creation of educational materials in five languages, hands-on training in greenhouses, and the dissemination of project results at various events.

The Serik district in Antalya province is a significant agricultural hub, particularly for greenhouse farming. With its favorable Mediterranean climate and fertile soils, the region produces a variety of vegetables and fruits, including tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, avocados, bananas, turnips, and carambolas. During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to gain first-hand experience by visiting a bumblebee propagation facility and commercial greenhouses.

The project findings are expected to support the development of international training resources for farmers, technical personnel, and other stakeholders. This initiative aims to promote bumblebee pollination in greenhouses, reduce pesticide and hormone use, and enhance consumer awareness of natural production methods. Furthermore, the project aligns with the EU Green Deal objectives by promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, healthy food production, and biodiversity conservation.

The next international project meeting will take place in Perugia, Italy, in June 2025.

Third Transnational Partners Meeting of the Erasmus+ project “The digital Blue Career to overcome the Carbon Crisis – Innovations in Aquaculture Curriculum” [DiBluCa] at the Dubrovnik University

The third partner meeting of the international Erasmus+ project “The Digital Blue Career to overcome the Carbon Crisis – Innovations in Aquaculture Curriculum ” (DiBluCa, No. 2023-1-LT01-KA220-HED-000154247) was held on January 21–22 at the University of Dubrovnik (Croatia).

During the meeting, the curriculum, which was developed by researchers from the University of Dubrovnik and the University of Thessaly, was discussed, and the educational materials were analysed and further developed. The overarching objective of the project is to prepare a higher education and training program that is aligned with the future needs of the aquaculture sector, as well as comprehensive educational materials that address the impact of climate change on aquaculture. The initiative will also entail the creation of an e-learning platform comprising interactive modules, complemented by a handbook and an e-book, which will be available in English and the partner countries’ languages.

The educational modules are to encompass a range of topics, including the impact of climate change on water quality, breeding and biotechnology in aquaculture, shifts in feeding practices, adaptation of aquaculture systems, the influence of climate change on the environment and diseases, and preventive measures. The dissemination of these educational materials will be conducted during events in the partner countries, with the objective of sharing project results and best practices. These results are of particular significance for Ukraine, as they will contribute to enhancing the quality of education in the domain of aquaculture and assist the country in addressing challenges in the aquaculture sector that have been exacerbated by the war.

The second day of the meeting included a technical visit to the University of Dubrovnik’s Laboratory for Mariculture, located in Bistrina, Malostonski Bay, the largest production area of the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) in the Mediterranean. Since 2023, the laboratory has operated a new hatchery for growing juvenile European flat oysters, which have the capacity to adapt for the breeding of other mollusk species. This ensures a steady and high-quality supply of juveniles for the local mollusk industry. Additionally, the laboratory participates in educational programs, such as “Most za znanost,” which introduces schoolchildren to mollusk ecology and breeding, thus contributing to the dissemination of marine biology knowledge.

Meeting participants engaged in deliberations concerning strategies for dissemination, the initiation of pilot training sessions within each participating nation, the organization of dissemination events, and a range of additional organizational and project-related matters. The project partners include the following institutions: Balikesir University (Turkey), the University of Dubrovnik (Croatia), the National Odesa Technological University (Ukraine), the University of Thessaly (Greece), and the coordinator, Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania).

The final project meeting is scheduled to take place in September 2025 at Balikesir University (Turkey), where an international conference dedicated to the dissemination of project results will be held.

The project implementation period is from November 1, 2023, to October 31, 2025.

BOVA meeting took place at VMU Agriculture Academy

The BOVA meeting held on January 16–17 at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) Agriculture Academy covered a range of key developments for the network, which unites agricultural universities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. During the meeting, the BOVA financial report for 2024 was presented and approved, signaling the network’s financial transparency and planning. The approval of funding for 12 short courses, with four of them hosted by VMU Agriculture Academy, marked a continued commitment to providing advanced education opportunities in agriculture, forestry, and veterinary sciences.

The meeting also focused on strategic matters, such as the discussion and development of a new BOVA strategy and the 2025 action plan. This forward-thinking approach is designed to strengthen collaboration among the member institutions and enhance the impact of BOVA’s educational offerings and research initiatives.

Additionally, BOVA’s 30th anniversary conference the planning, which promises to be a significant milestone for the network was initiated. Established in 1996, BOVA has been integral in promoting educational exchanges, research collaborations, and the development of joint programs across the Baltic region. Its involvement with the NOVABA program from 1996 to 2000, focusing on master’s-level courses, laid a strong foundation for its current work.

Since the establishment of the BOVA secretariat in 2002, largely supported by the K&A Wallenberg Foundation, the network has continued to thrive. The secretariat, which is now managed by the member universities, including Estonian University of Life Sciences, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, VMU Agriculture Academy, and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Veterinary Academy, coordinates various activities such as joint research projects, short courses, and the creation of collaborative networks in the agricultural sector.

Through initiatives like these, BOVA continues to contribute to the advancement of higher education and research in agriculture and related fields across the Baltic states and beyond.

Webinar. E-commerce: friend or foe?

Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of online shopping? Yet e-commerce poses many challenges not only in the EU but worldwide. The rise of companies like Shein and Temu, offering inexpensive products or that often fail to meet EU product standards and safety regulations and the staggering speed with which the number of e-commerce imports increases, has made e-commerce reform a highly debated topic. How should the EU address safety concerns? How does e-commerce impact the level playing field for EU companies? What would the removal of de minimis mean in practice?

The webinar will explore the following issues:

Why is e-commerce a problem: volumes and lack of checks
The EU UCC Reform response to the e-commerce problem
Practical challenges and potential consequences of EU’s proposal
Alternative proposals

REGISTRATION

Select the option in the registration form > CKC/LCPA Member
It is recommended to use VMU email for registration.

If you want to receive news about webinars and other activities, VMU staff can connect to CKI platform. You do not need to pay anything, as the VMU pays membership fee and the number of staff is not limited. Here are the instructions on how to get CKC membership.

1. Find the website

2. Click on the ‘Join CKC’ button in the upper right corner.

3. Fill in the application form using a personal VMU email.

In the section ‘Type of Membership’ choose Company or Organization and then option ‘Apply and pay after receipt of an invoice’ (no payment should be done).

At the end press the ‘Send’ button.

4. Users should receive automatic replies about their registration.

5. After receiving application forms I will manually (not immediately) grant access and send a link to set up a password.

Using this link, users can come up with their password and enjoy communication on the CKC forum.

If you or other users will have any questions, please contact me by email community@customsknowledgeinstitute.org.

Erasmus+ blended intensive programme “Wildlife Management and Conservation in Human Altered Ecosystems” implemented at the Faculty of Forestry and Ecology

In November of 2024 Erasmus BIP “Wildlife Management and Conservation in Human Altered Ecosystems” has been implemented at the Faculty of Forestry and Ecology of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA). This programme introduced participating students to currently relevant topics of wildlife management and conservation in forest and agricultural ecosystems.

There were 31 students from 9 universities participating in the program: students from Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technology, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Karelia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), University of Agriculture in Krakow (Poland), Brasov University of Transylvania (Romania), Shota Rustaveli State University of Batumi (Sakhartvelli), L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Kazakhstan), University of Lodz (Poland) and Polytechnic Institute Unilasalle (France).

The programme consisted of theoretical and practical training, including online lectures and a week of face-to-face training at the Faculty of Forestry and Ecology. The intensive programme included discussions moderated by the lecturers, independent learning and presentations by the students, as well as study tours to the European Bison Reservation in Dzūkija National Park and an educartional hunt at the VMU AA educational hunting site.

The programme provided students with a deeper understanding of wildlife management in different socio-economic contexts in a wide range of northern and southern European countries: the management of large predator populations (brown bears, wolves) and conflicts with society, the role of wildlife populations in forest ecosystems and agriculture. It also touched upon the very important aspects of wildlife population management in the context of climate change in fire-affected ecosystems.

The content of the programme and the expertise of the lecturers allowed students to gain knowledge and practical experience of contemporary wildlife population management in different regions of Europe, including EU protected species (e.g. the impact of human disturbance on alpine populations in regions of high tourism intensity and the management of non-significantly abundant indigenous game, as well as the management of invasive animal species).

The course included an educational excursion to the Čepkeliai State Reserve and a cultural programme at the Dzūkija National Park Visitor Centre. The cultural programme ended with a tasting of Dzūkija national dishes.

The practical experience of educational hunting was an exceptional part of the course programme. According to the students’ feedback in the questionnaire, this was the most significant event of the programme, an exceptional opportunity to see hunting areas in Lithuania and to get acquainted with the traditions of Lithuanian hunters. According to the students’ expressions of gratitude, it was an experience they will remember for a long time and impressions they will share when they return to their universities.

The programme was taught by 5 lecturers from the VMU Academy of Agriculture (Prof. Dr. Gediminas Brazaitis, Dr. Michael Manton, Dr. Artūras Kibiša, Dr. Renata Špinkytė-Bačkaitienė and Doc. Mindaugas Bakševičius) and 6 professors from partner universities – Dr. Edgars Dubrovskis (Latvia), Dr. Mari Hautala (Finland), Prof. dr. hab. inż. Michał Ciach (Poland), Prof. Dr. Ovidiu Ionescu and Darius Hardalau (Romania), and Prof. Dr. Charles Ruffner (USA).

The main outputs of the programme were student presentations on the wildlife population management system in their country and presentations on topics prepared by the lecturers in advance, in groups of 4-5 students.

The Erasmus BIP programme was organized and coordinated by dr. Jolanta Stankevičiūtė, assistant professor of the Department of Forest Sciences and dr. Monika Medikienė, International coordinator of VMU AA.

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.