Teaching visit in the Palermo University by “Erasmus+” teaching mobility program

Professor Eglė Jotautienė and assoc. professor Antanas Juostas from Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety visited the University of Palermo (UNIPA) the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF) by “Erasmus+” teaching mobility program (Staff Mobility for Teaching). Universities has close collaboration in ERASMUS+ visits exchange and participation at International Conferences. We are very thankfull to Erasmus+ Department coordinator Dr. Antonio Comparetti from Palermo University for a smooth and fruitfull organization of the visit.

The University of Palermo (UNIPA) is an acknowledged public academic institution in Central-Western Sicily. Its 5 Schools (Medicine and Surgery; Polytechnic; Law, Social and Economic Sciences; Base and Applied Sciences; Humanities and Cultural Heritage) and 20 Departments cover the most important domains of scientific and technological knowledge. The University offers about 122 (1st and 2nd cycle) degree study programs, 44 Specialisation Schools and 23 PhD programs.

Eglė Jotautienė presented the study programs and mobility of ERASMUS+ possibilities in Vytautas Magnus University of Agriculture Academy and lectures on topic „Innovative technologies in agrimachinery”. Antanas Juostas presented the lectures on topic “Automatic steering and telemetry systems in agriculture: GPS fundamentals, correction signals, driving modes, Telemetry systems in agriculture and yield mapping handling and data management”. Bachelor and master degree students paid big interest on the topics presented during the lectures.

During Palermo University visiting time were taken a possibility to participate in seminars and lectures held by Palermo University lectors. Such a lectures has given an opportunity to think about new organization style of the studies, various teaching methods, communication culture and altitude between teachers and students. The visit has given an opportunity for exchanging the ideas

on future education and research cooperation’s, improving the academic relations between departments and establishing the background for future collaboration in the area of the research, common projects, student’s mobility and enhancing the studies direction towards the research results utilization to business.

Eglė Jotautienė, Antanas Juostas

Visit to University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, AUSTRIA

Kęstutis Navickas professor of the Institute of Energy and Biotechnology Engineering institute (faculty of Agricultural Engineering) visited Institute for Environmental Biotechnology of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Austria) in the period of 07-11.10.2019.

During this visit K. Navickas participated on a joint IEA Bioenergy Task 43 and BioEast Initiative Workshop „Bio-hubs as keys to successful biomass supply integration for bioenergy within the bioeconomy“. Discussions with bioenergy experts about sustainable and reliable biomass supply in a form of bio-hubs for bioenergy within the broader scope of bioeconomy and mobilizing sustainable biomass supply and increased value added along the value chain. BioEast Initiative foresee that the gathered knowledge and shared experience will contribute to the improvement of sustainable biomass mobilisation for energy purposes, notably in the BioEast macro-region.

ERASMUS+ teaching visit in East Sarajevo University and attendance in Symposium

Lecturer Otilija Miseckaite (Institute of the Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Water and Land Management) with the support by Erasmus+ teaching programme visited East Sarajevo University, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercegovina. She presented the lectures and the possibilities for exchanges studies at Vytautas Magnus University. During the stay at the East Sarajevo University the possible cooperation in research, the inter-university cooperation within the framework of the Erasmus + program established and strengthen the scientific cooperation were discussed with Vice-Dean Marko Gutalj, Pof. Dr. Vesna Milic and etc.

The University of East Sarajevo was established on 14 September 1992. In accordance with the Bologna process, which implementation started in 2006, the University was renamed into the University of East Sarajevo and since the academic 2007/08 it has become the integrated university, legal body consisting of 17 organizational units – 15 faculties and 2 academies, have approximately 13,000 students.

After visit at East Sarajevo University, Otilija Miseckaite attended the 10th International Agriculture Symposium „Agrosym 2019“ held on 3-6th October 2019. “Agrosym 2019” – the most important scientific event dealing with agriculture and rural development in the Balkan area. It is also a great scientific platform for the exchange of knowledge and good practices related to agriculture, food, rural development, environment and forestry. The 10th edition of the International Agriculture Symposium “Agrosym 2019” received more than 900 abstracts from around 80 countries across the world.

Researchers Erasmus visit at University of East Sarajevo

Assoc. prof. dr. Anastasija Novikova from the Research Institute for Bioeconomy and assoc. prof. dr. Daiva Šileikienė from the Institute of Environment and Ecology visited the University of East Sarajevo during the 30 of September – 4 of October. They met the main representatives from the International Department and Faculty of Agriculture. Researchers shared their experience in preparation of research projects and discussed the possibilities of future scientific collaboration during the meetings. Assoc. prof. dr. Anastasija Novikova and assoc. prof. dr. Daiva Šileikienė visited the main laboratories of the Faculty of Agriculture on soil, water quality research, which works with different analysis methods. We also were acquainted with the new laboratory equipment received by the Science Foundation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. There was possibilities to the visit and stay at the Faculty of Agriculture of University of East Sarajevo will serve as the continuation of cooperation between the faculties of the host and home universities.

Visit to Slovakian Agriculture University in Nitra

Prof. Astrida Miceikienė from the Research Institute for Bioeconomy (Faculty of Bioeconomy development) visited Slovakian agriculture university in Nitra on 30/09/2019 – 04/10/2019. She came to this University for teaching visit and participated in the celebration of 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Faculty of Economic and Management. This events attended 480 guests from 16 countries, 30 partner faculties and university and 27 business partners http://www.fem.uniag.sk/en/news-reader/items/celebration-of-the-60th-anniversary-of-the-foundation-of-the-fem-sua-nitra/

Astrida Miceikienė taught master students on the topics of tax and taxation of Lithuania and EU. During the visit the professor met with the researchers from the Faculty of Economics and Management, guests of the Faculty and discussed opportunities for cooperation. She presented study programs of the Faculty of Bioeconomy development and the possibilities for exchanges studies at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy. During the stay at the Faculty the possible cooperation in research, the inter-university cooperation within the framework of the Erasmus + program establish and strengthen the scientific cooperation were discussed with Dean of the Faculty prof. Elena Horska. Astrida Miceikiene was presented research fields at Faculty of Bioeconomy development, projects and research journals.

Training visit to Czech University of Life Sciences Prague and attendance in the international conference

In September 16-20, 2019 professors PhD Algirdas Jasinskas (Vytautas Magnus University, Agriculture Academy, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering) and Kęstutis Romaneckas (Vytautas Magnus University, Agriculture Academy, Faculty of Agronomy) visited Czech University of Life Sciences Prague according to the programme ERASMUS+ training.

The main objectives of visit were the increase of professional skills in scientific analytical and study spheres through technological-technical and environmental evaluation of technologies and analysis of new methods of soil remediation and mitigation of erosion. Besides, principles of Precision agriculture and methods of fields censoring will take part in this training visit. Also to attend international scientific conference with presentations: TAE 2019 – 7th International Conference On Trends In Agricultural Engineering; to grow up the relations with scientists and teachers in Czech Republic for future collective scientific and study projects development; to increase skills in English during training visit.

In scientific conference professors presented two oral presentations. Two articles were published in materials of conference (CA WOS Conference Proceedings). In free time, professors made sightseeing in wonderful places of Prague.

The following are a few photos of a visit to Czech University of Life Sciences and Technologies in Prague.

ERASMUS+ teaching visit in Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Hassan II

Lecturer Otilija Miseckaite (Institute of the Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Water and Land Management) with the support by Erasmus+ teaching programme visited Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco. She presented the lectures and the possibilities for exchanges studies at Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy. During the stay at the Institute the possible cooperation in research, the inter-university cooperation within the framework of the Erasmus + program establish and strengthen the scientific cooperation were discussed with Director Ali Hammani and Deputy Director of Partnership and Development Cooperation Sanaa Zebakb. .

The Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary (IAV) is a multidisciplinary polytechnic center for biological and earth sciences and technologies. It uses an integrated approach to higher education, training, and scientific research to serve agricultural and rural development. IAV comprises six schools located on two campuses in Rabat and Agadir: agronomy, veterinary, agro-food industry, horticulture, topography, and rural engineering. It has more than 320 professors and researchers, 180 technical staff, several research laboratories, and a veterinary teaching hospital. IAV offers masters and doctoral training in engineering, veterinary, water resources management, ecosystem management, and horticulture, among other subject areas.

Otilija Miseckaite also attended the 5th Interregional CIGR conference on “Challenges of Water Mobilization and Soil Conservation on Better Adapting to Climate Change” held on 10-13th September 2019, and joined session at 2nd conference of the Pan Afarican Society of Agricultural Engineering on the topic “Role of Agricultural Engineering in Meeting the Challenge of Global Food Security”.

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Events

Visit to the General ICOM Conference “ICOM Kyoto 2019: Museums as Cultural Hubs: the Future of Tradition“

The Head of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy Museum and Bioeconomy Development Faculty of Business and Rural Development Research Institute Lecturer Dr. Rasa Pranskūnienė was awarded the Lithuanian Council for Culture Education Grant and has visited the General ICOM Conference “ICOM Kyoto 2019: Museums as Cultural Hubs: the Future of Tradition“ and has made the oral presentation „Back to the future of museum education“.

The ICOM (International Council of Museums) General Conference, held every three years, provides an important opportunity for ICOM members to share experiences, future prospects, and advance expertise and leadership in the field of cultural heritage and museums. In 2019, this event was hosted in a city famous for its cultural traditions: Kyoto, Japan. The theme of ICOM Kyoto 2019 General Conference was “Museums as Cultural Hubs: The Future of Tradition.” In recent years, museums around the world have begun to think more seriously about how better to contribute to society. Amidst the many global political, economic, and social changes taking place around the world, and with the underlying issues of climate change, poverty, conflict, natural disasters, human rights, and the environment, it is becoming more and more urgent for museums to consider how they might contribute to building a peaceful and sustainable future. More than 4500 participants from 120 countries and regions gathered in Kyoto to discuss and exchange ideas and experiences.

Training visit to Wageningen University & Reasearch

On 26-30 August 2019, lect. Asta Bendoraitytė from Research Institute for Bioeconomy (Faculty of Bioeconomy Development) visited Wageningen University & Reasearch as Erasmus+ training visit.

During the visit, A. Bendoraitytė participated in the summer school “Risk Analysis and Risk Management in Agriculture: Updates on Modelling and Applications” (3 ECTS) organized by Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS). During the training, the theories concerning risk analysis and risk coping strategies were analysed and proficiency with software tools was developed. Course covered both conceptual and methodological issues of the risk management. Multiple trends in agricultural risks were discussed and included topics related with the need to cope with risk in agriculture and uncertainty&risks; price and production risk, including price dynamics and price volatility; asymmetric information and moral hazard; risk coping strategies (including both – in-farm and off-farm strategies). Courses were presented by prof. Miranda Meuwissen (WUR), assist prof. Yann de Mey and assist prof. Fabio Santeramo. During the practical sessions, econometric models and stochastic simulations were used to measure risk and evaluate the possibility to use various risk coping tools.

Students, teachers and representatives from agriculture sector from more than 10 different countries participated in the training course. They all shared their experience dealing with risk in agriculture, outgoing research and agreed to meet in future conferences and showed interest for future collaboration.