Lithuania’s First STEAM Didactics Centre Opened at VMU

“The future of Lithuania lies in the individuals you educate. They must be technically skilled and aesthetically sensitive. Through that combination of technical knowledge and artistic sensitivity, we will create a brighter future by educating students who can combine mathematics, science, and the arts. This is why STEAM centres are so vital,” said Professor Edmond Saliklis from California Polytechnic State University, during his presentation at the opening of the STEAM Didactics Centre at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU).

The new centre is unique – the first and only one of its kind in Lithuania – designed to be the primary space for education professionals to enhance their competencies and deepen their knowledge in STEAM education. STEAM is an integrated, interdisciplinary model for developing students’ skills, combining science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and the arts.

“Without playfulness, we are robots, but without discipline, we are in chaos. The connection, the threshold between the two, is very important. It’s a way to renew teaching and inspire our students. STEAM has its roots in the Bauhaus school in Germany, where artists, architects, and sculptors combined playfulness with discipline, and their motto was ‘Learn by doing’. This motto is also adopted by my university,” Prof. Saliklis noted.

He shared that when he teaches interdisciplinary courses at California Polytechnic State University, such as architectural and civil engineering, he encourages his students to create so-called artefacts – inventive art objects that are based on mathematical and other scientific principles.

The focus is on people, not the buildings

The opening of the VMU STEAM Didactics Centre took place on Friday, 11 October, at the VMU Agriculture Academy. The event attracted two hundred education community representatives, STEAM Centre leaders and methodologists, representatives of education centres, and teachers. More than two hundred pupils also attended the event, where they had the opportunity to try out 18 different STEAM activities, visit modern laboratories, and listen to success stories.

According to Assoc. Prof. Judita Žukauskienė, Head of the VMU STEAM Didactics Centre, STEAM education integrates subjects from different fields using creativity and team activities, which provide students with the opportunity to not only learn more effectively, but also to get to know themselves better, to experiment, and tackle challenges.

Assoc. Prof. Judita Žukauskienė

“Our Centre has several key missions: to enhance the qualifications and development of current teachers in STEAM areas, to train STEAM educators, which are in short supply, and to offer activities for pupils. Buildings alone are worthless. To fulfill our missions, we have people who will help achieve these goals at the Centre,” said the Head of the Centre.

The Centre plans to hold methodological training, seminars, and workshops to further incorporate innovations into the teaching process. Modern laboratories will foster collaboration among scientists, students, educators, and pupils.

From artificial intelligence and drones to agronomy and economics

“We are beginning to understand the harmony of nature and our place in the world – we do not live in isolated areas, so from the very first steps of learning, sciences should be interconnected. We don’t need to think that this will replace mathematics, English, or physics; no, it’s a way to learn about the environment around us in an integral way, because that is how we live,” VMU Rector Prof. Juozas Augutis emphasised the importance of integrating different sciences during the opening of the Centre.

Prof. Juozas Augutis

“The entire Vytautas Magnus University is engaged in STEAM – it’s not just a separate classroom with some equipment. Pupils and teachers can spread out across various labs and centres, which fill all the spaces, from artificial intelligence to agronomy, from economics to drone technology, from mathematics to engineering,” said the Rector, adding that thanks to a recently signed agreement, doctoral students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will soon come to the university to work with STEAM and assist pupils.

The advisor to the Minister of Education, Science, and Sports on science and general education, Rasa Kulvietienė, also spoke at the opening, wishing everyone success in exploring the mysteries of science and in cooperation. “I wish everyone here to find synergy and cooperation, to foster a culture in which you try to understand each other and use scientific knowledge, but do not forget the most important thing – that it is not only the laboratories that create, but also the people who will gather here to work,” remarked Rasa Kulvietienė.

The future is in the school corridors

During the event, the Mayor of Kaunas District, Valerijus Makūnas, highlighted that collaboration with Vytautas Magnus University has been and remains crucial for the region – a collaboration that led to the establishment of VMU Ugnės Karvelis Gymnasium. “We have signed various agreements to invest in young people choosing teaching as their profession, and it is happening. This is a significant contribution of this university, and I sincerely thank you for it. It’s no secret that our future walks the corridors of schools,” said the mayor.

At the opening of the VMU STEAM Didactics Centre, educators had the opportunity to attend plenary sessions and discussions and participate in two conferences where experts reviewed practical STEAM education solutions and innovative foreign practices for teaching about climate change. Pupils attended a forum on “STEAM Future Perspectives” and practical STEAM workshops.

The event began with a special STEAM performance by VMU students and the Centre’s staff.

More information about the VMU STEAM Didactics Centre.

Erasmus+ Traineeship Competition

The competition is open for Erasmus+ students or recent graduate traineeship grants for traineeships in the EU/EEA. The application deadline is November 30, 2024.

(Application is OPEN every month!)

The placement period is from 2 to 4 months. Recent graduate traineeship must end – a year after graduation.

Note! For recent graduate traineeship applications must be submitted and students must be selected while the applicant is still a student at VMU.

You can only apply for one traineeship place – multiple mobilities are not possible.

Selection

All VMU full-time degree students who have not used more than 10 months of their Erasmus mobility (study/traineeship) period are eligible for the Erasmus grant.

Selection documents (Documents must be submitted online):

For student traineeship (traineeship during student’s year of studies):

Filled-in application form „Outgoing-Application for Erasmus Student Traineeship“ (must select EN language to find the form).
Confirmation by the company or organization (obligatory).

For recent graduate traineeship (application must be submitted during the last year of studies):

Application form „Outgoing-Application for Erasmus Recent Graduate Traineeship “ (must select EN language to find the form).
Confirmation by the company or organization (obligatory);
Recommendation by a faculty member (obligatory).

The priority in the selection is given to:

students whom traineeship is an obligatory part of their study programme;
students who have never been Erasmus traineeship students before.

Selection criteria:

student’s motivation;
good knowledge of the language which will be used during the traineeship;
student’s work, study, traineeship, participation in international/academic projects, and social activities experience in Lithuania and abroad;
conformability between the chosen traineeship and the student’s study programme;
study results (first-year MA students should attach a transcript of records of their BA/MA degree to the application form).

Traineeship grants

For EU and EEA countries:

Country group	Country	Monthly scholarship size
Group I	Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, France, Finland, Sweden, Germany.	824,00 Eur
Group II	Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia.	824,00 Eur
Group III	Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Turkey.	756,00 Eur

For Non-EU/EEA countries:

The application period has ended. Next competition will be held in February, 2025.

The scholarship is 700,00 Eur/month + travel scholarship.

13 and 14 region countries scholarship is 824,00 Eur/month + travel scholarship.

Region 13: Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City State.
Region 14: Faroe Islands, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

Additional travel scholarship (the size is determined by the distance* from Lithuania (Kaunas city) to the location (city) of the practice organization):

Travel distance	Ecological travel (total):	Non-ecological travel (total):
10-99 km	56 EUR	28 EUR
100-499 km	285 EUR	211 EUR
500-1999 km	417 EUR	309 EUR
2000-2999 km	535 EUR	395 EUR
3000-3999 km	785 EUR	580 EUR
4000-7999 km	1 1188 EUR	1 188 EUR
8000 km or more	1 735 EUR	1 735 EUR

Note: travels up to 500 km. must be ecological travels! It means traveling by bus, train, car, etc. Otherwise you will need to submit a form with the reason why you choose to travel non-ecological.

The competition results will be sent to every participant via e-mail.

Note: Application results are published next month (10th of the upcoming month), therefore, the traineeship start date should be at least two weeks after that day. The competition results will be published via e-mail.

More information:

Erasmus+ BIP “Sustainable Use of Natural Resources: autumn course 2024” implemented at the Faculty of Agronomy

The Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Sustainable use of natural resources: 2024 autumn course” has been implemented at the Faculty of Agronomy of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy. The aim of the programme is to develop students’ competences in solving complex natural resource management problems in order to achieve sustainable development goals.

The programme was attended by 20 international students from the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technology, the Estonian University of Life Sciences and the University of Life Sciences in Lublin (Poland). The programme consisted of 2 parts: a virtual component and a physical mobility part. During the virtual component, the students participated in a virtual meeting, during which the theme of the course were developmed and the following topics were revealed: “Main interactions in agroecosystems”, “Transforming global sustainable development goals into national, regional and local community goals”, “A balance between ecosystems and the societal necessity for clean water sources”, “Water in daily life and as an element of the landscape”, “Surface water resources in your country/region: their state, and solutions to improve the situation”, “The state of biodiversity in your country/region: major threats and mitigation strategies”.

The physical mobility part took place from 21^th to 25^th of October. During the physical mobility week students increased their knowledge on soil-crop-environment interactions and green infrastructure, developed their ability to critically assess the situation of natural resource use, and discussed ways to prevent climate change, diseases of civilisation and public health problems.

During the program students went to a study tour, which tool place at the 700 hectare farm „Farmers Circle“. Students had an opportunity to have a closer look on how the organic farm is operated. Students were presented the sustainable principles of resource use through the production of organic beef from the farm’s Angus cows and organic products made from the farm’s organically grown vegetables, fruits, berries and herbs.

The programme was conducted by 8 lecturers of the VMU Agriculture Academy: prof. dr. Vilma Atkočiūnienė, assoc. prof. dr. Ekaterina Makrickienė, prof. dr. Živilė Tarasevičienė, assoc. prof. dr. Povilas Mulerčikas, assoc. prof. dr. Daiva Šileikienė, assoc. prof. dr. Anželika Dautartė, prof. dr. Elvyra Jarienė, lect. Otilija Miseckaitė and 2 lecturers from partner universities – Assoc. prof. Dr. Raimonds Kasparinksis from the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technology and Prof. dr. Agnieszka Jaszczak from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland). The programme was supervised by Assoc. prof. dr. Aida Adamavičienė and Dr. Monika Medikienė. The coordinator of the programme – VMU AA International Coordinator dr. Monika Medikienė.

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.

Workshop on the “Yara” sensor application options

Bioeconomy Research Centre of Excellence (BioTec) invites teachers, researchers, PhD candidates and students to attend a presentation and training session on the Yara sensor, which will showcase the capabilities of this equipment and its application options in scientific research.

Date: November 6th 2024, 11:00-13:00

Place: Rapsų str. 7, Noreikiškės, Kaunas district (VMU AA Experimental Station, Kernza Experiment (VIKING))

Duration: 3 ac. hours

REGISTRATION

This workshop is one of the activities of the project “Development of the Bioeconomy Research Centre of Excellence (BioTec)”. The project is partially funded by a grant (Project ‘Development of the Bioeconomy Research Center of Excellence’ (BioTEC) No. S-A-UEI-23-14) from the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania under the Program ‘University Excellence Initiative’.

The experiment is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, international research and development project “Kernza introduction opportunities in the Nordic-Baltic region” (VIKING) (No TM-23-3).

Join the Alumni Discussion: “Liberal Arts – Navigating Careers, Personal Growth, and the AI Era”

As part of Vytautas Magnus University’s traditional Alumni Day within the VMU Connections Event, we are excited to host a hybrid discussion titled “Liberal Arts: Navigating Careers, Personal Growth, and the AI Era” on November 8th.

This event will unite international alumni and current students to explore the value of a liberal arts education in today’s fast-changing job market. Participants will discuss how a liberal arts background enhances employability, fosters personal growth, and addresses the challenges and opportunities posed by the rise of AI. It promises to be an enriching exchange of insights and experiences for all attendees.

The hybrid discussion will take place on Friday, November 8, from 16:00 to 17:30, both online via Microsoft Teams and onsite at VMU Senate Hall, S. Daukanto g. 28, Kaunas. The event will be conducted in English. Registration is required.

VMU international alumni from various graduating years will share how their liberal arts education helped them overcome career challenges or pivot in their professional journeys. We will also discuss the influence of AI on today’s job market.

For international graduates, this is an opportunity not only to return to the university but also to be heard and stay connected with the community.

For current students, this is a fantastic chance to meet alumni working in various fields in Lithuania and around the world, network, ask questions, and engage in discussions to gain insights about today’s job market and navigating their careers.

The preliminary lineup of speakers for the hybrid discussion “Liberal Arts: Navigating Careers, Personal Growth, and the AI Era” is as follows:

Subtopic: “The Relevance of a Liberal Arts Education and Employability”

VMU alumni Nigar Yahyazada and Orkhan Abdullayev from Azerbaijan, both graduates of the Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism Joint Master’s program, are currently working together at Karabakh University, Azerbaijan.

VMU alumna Meiqi Zhang from China completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s studies in the Performing Arts Solo Piano program at the VMU Music Academy (2018–2024). She has just begun her PhD at the VMU Education Academy, focusing on the philosophy and social competence of musical aesthetics education in higher education.

Subtopic: “Liberal Arts and Personal Growth”

Maka Berulava from Sakartvelo, an alumna of the International Politics and Development BA program (2023), graduated from University College London with a Master’s in Russian and Post-Soviet Politics. She is now pursuing her second master’s at VMU in the Future Media and Journalism program. Currently, she is assisting at the Sakharov Center and working with her classmate on their own NGO project.

Dmytro Zlenko is a third-year MEM/MBA student at the Nicholas School of the Environment and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Originally from Ukraine, Dmytro holds a B.A. in Environmental Science and Ecology from Vytautas Magnus University. His academic focus is guiding corporate and academic institutions through their low-carbon transitions, addressing the broader implications, including energy interdependence.

Ukrainians Tetiana Abramtsova, Kateryna Strutynska, and Valeriia Burlachenko, former VMU students with degrees in Political Science, share a passion for raising political awareness. They believe that science and art are the perfect combination for spreading ideas, knowledge, and activism. In March 2024, Tetiana launched the Utopia Club Podcast, and shortly after, Kateryna and Valeriia joined to promote political awareness and civic engagement.

Az-Zahra Helmi – IISMA Awardee at Vytautas Magnus University 2023. As an IISMA alumna from Vytautas Magnus University, she has developed a profound interest in building networks across borders and disciplines. Az-Zahra is committed to advancing public health and fostering global collaboration through research, advocacy, and empowerment.

Subtopic: “AI vs. Liberal Arts: Navigating Today’s Job Market”

Lakshya Dave from India, an alumnus of the Applied English Linguistics MA program (2022), specializes in the Fintech and Web3 sectors. He is a strong advocate for leveraging AI to drive innovation while considering its potential risks. In his talk, he will share actionable insights on collaborating with AI effectively and provide a perspective on how executives are responding to its rapid advancements.

Ravinthiran Partheepan from India, an alumnus of the Applied Informatics MA program (2022), worked as a full-stack blockchain developer in Malta after graduating from VMU. Later, he left his blockchain position to join a former colleague in building an EdTech startup at SFIE (Netherlands). He is now the CTO of Arkhamm AI and a Senior Machine Learning Engineer at SFIE (part-time).

The discussion is part of the VMU Connections event. Check out the full program here.

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 outlets.

Studying in Korea Opened up a New Career Path

Gabija Saniukaitė, a fourth-year student of East Asian Cultures and Languages at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), realised after her bilateral exchange programme in Korea that her first bachelor’s degree was just part of a long-term learning process. She plans to continue her studies in Pedagogy, proving that authentic experiences abroad can open up new and perhaps unexpected future prospects.

Enjoys challenges

“Studying in Korea allowed me to experience life there and understand whether I could see myself living in that country. I realised that I couldn’t,” said the young woman, who is studying Korean at VMU. Having realised that life in Korea was not for her and that there was little demand for the Korean language in Lithuania, Gabija remembered her old dream of teaching and is now considering enrolling in a Pedagogy programme next year.

Gabija’s interest in Korean culture began in her teenage years while listening to K-pop music. “Generally, I’ve always been interested in cultures and languages that are completely different from ours. I tried learning Arabic and also studied Korean on my own at school. I enjoy challenges. I was also interested in Korean food, culture, and at that time, music,” Gabija laughs, noting that although she no longer listened to Korean pop music, her interest in the culture and language persisted when she enrolled at VMU.

The linguistically gifted student proved her talent in her first year of studies and was soon studying Korean with second-year students. “After the first semester, my teacher, realising I was getting bored in the lectures, suggested I switch to the second year. After passing the Korean language exam, by the next semester, I was studying with the second-year students,” Gabija recounts.

The university offered a surprising experience

It was then that she became interested in the exchange programmes offered by VMU and decided to try her hand in Korea. Gabija explains that although she was already familiar with the culture, it wasn’t her biggest challenge. According to her, there was significant pressure to study at the Korean university, with some students studying throughout the night in 24-hour libraries.

“Of course, it probably depends on the student’s attitude. There were certainly students who had plenty of time for socialising. Nevertheless, the Korean education system is very different and required some adaptation,” says Gabija, noting that she had no language issues as she was well-prepared – in addition to her studies, she had also taken private lessons with Koreans before her trip.

Seoul. Photo by Gabija Saniukaitė

Settled for a year at Seoul University, the VMU student was pleased with the university’s modern infrastructure and that, like in any university campus, everything was within easy reach: dormitories, lecture halls, and shops. “The university itself is situated on a hill, so there was a lot of nature and parks around,” Gabija recounts.

Café culture

According to the young woman, although she had seen and read all sorts of information before her trip, nothing can truly prepare you for such a new stage in life. Like in many Asian countries, Koreans were reluctant to communicate in English, but Gabija was not lacking in knowledge of the local language.

“Seeing the only blonde on the street would attract attention, but they wouldn’t start a conversation themselves. If I began speaking in Korean, they would be surprised and start asking where I learned to speak so well, what I was doing here, whether I was studying or working,” the young woman recounts.

Although Gabija did not have much free time because of her studies, she found time to explore Seoul. According to her, in the modern city of 10 million people, it is certainly possible to find cosy places that have preserved their traditions.

“If you want to escape from the traffic and crowded streets, you can definitely find quiet places. Café culture is very popular in Korea, and each café is very different from the next. But in all of them, you’ll find the Koreans’ favourite drink – iced Americano,” says Gabija, adding that Korea is famous for its desserts, although many Europeans might find some of the main dishes hard to digest.

Gabija Saniukaitė in South Korea. Photo from personal archive

Having spent the last year learning the Korean language, Gabija is now focused on completing her bachelor’s degree and later looks forward to new experiences. She is convinced that students should take advantage of the opportunities offered by the university to challenge themselves, as this may be the only way to discover the path to their dream career.

Visit of VMU AA researcher at the “OpenLivingLab Days” event

Jovita Balandaitė, Junior researcher at the Bioeconomy Research Centre of Excellence (BioTec), participated in the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) “OpenLivingLab Days” in Timișoara, Romania, on September 24th to 27th.

The event highlighted the benefits of developing living labs, their relevance for addressing pressing societal challenges, the importance of such labs for policy making and the management of innovative ecosystems. It focused on how living labs help business and society to adapt to new technologies, discussing possible business models, operational aspects, etc.

We discussed how living labs and society can work together to achieve meaningful systemic change. During the event, speakers and participants shared best practices, explored opportunities for collaboration, and held interactive and research sessions and workshops.

1st T4EU Service-Learning Workshop

The first Transform4Europe Service-Learning workshop will take place between 29 and 30 October at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, in Porto, Portugal, in a hybrid format, online and in-person.

This workshop aims to train academic staff on the design and implementation of curricular Service-Learning (SL), incorporate civic and social justice issues and the Sustainable Development Goals into SL courses, and foster critical reflection on SL experiences.

Service-learning combines educational goals with community service, providing a pragmatic, progressive learning experience while meeting societal needs.

Registration is open until 25 October, via this form.

Programme of the 1st Service-Learning workshop

Call for Applications for Vytautas Kavolis Institute Postdoctoral Fellowships

Vytautas Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute invites early career researchers to submit applications for the Junior postdoctoral fellow position for 2025–2026 (23 months).

The aim of the Junior postdoctoral fellowship is to enhance the scientific qualifications and method competencies of early-career social science and humanities researchers and give them the opportunity to develop an independent academic career.

The call also aims to promote the participation and involvement of early career researchers in international infrastructures, international academic associations, platforms, and research programmes (Horizon Europe, JPICH, COST Action, etc.). It also gives them access to large-scale databases (e.g., LiData Dataverse repository, SAGE, JSTOR), which allows them to broaden the range of topics to be developed and to increase relevance.

Topics for research proposals

Sociocultural identities and transformations (more specifically, demographic processes and population research; cultural and religion studies; ethnicity and identity politics).
Resilient societies and inclusive politics (more specifically, studies on society resilience and welfare; communication processes, governance and politics).
Regional and urban transformations (more specifically, cities and regions: history, self-governance, and politics; communities and critical heritage, urban ecology and sustainability).
Datafication and digital transformations (more specifically, datafication in social processes, digital resilience and new technologies).

Important information about the position

The duration of the postdoctoral fellowship is 23 months. The start date is 1 February 2025, end date – 31 December 2026. Full-time employment contract, work guarantees included accordingly to Lithuanian employment legislation.

Submission of application and documents

Applicants shall submit their documents to the Kavolis Institute administration by e-mail at vki[at]vdu.lt.
The application should be prepared in English.
If you have any questions, please send your inquiry to vki[at]vdu.lt.

Important date

29 November 2024 at 5 PM (CET): call closes (last application date).

Documents

Funding

The fellowship is a part of the project “Strengthening the R&D activities of the Vytautas Kavolis Transdisciplinary Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (SOCMTEP)”. The project is funded by the Research Council of Lithuania and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, Contract No S-A-UEI-23-13 (2023-12-27).

VMU Connections Will Unite Pupils, Students, and Graduates

On 8 November, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), celebrating its 35th re-establishment anniversary this year, will host a unique event: VMU Connections, in which pupils, students, graduates, and business representatives will unite for a common goal: to meet, talk, and share knowledge, experience, and career opportunities.

This is the first time the university will host an event of this format, bringing together current and former VMU students, the university’s community, as well as future students—school pupils—in one space. Each group will be provided unique content relevant to their current stage in life. Pupils will receive guidance on finding their career path, students will be presented with initial job opportunities, and graduates will have the chance to return to the university and inspire others by sharing their experiences. For businesses, VMU Connections serves as a platform where companies and organizations can directly meet young talent, introduce their company, and connect with future professionals.

Inspiring success stories

During the event, pupils will be able to participate in the special programme Matuokis Profesiją (Try Out a Profession), where they will be able to meet with the university’s community and graduates. Former students will share their experience, speak about their career paths, and provide valuable advice on how to find a future career. Pupils will meet and hear success stories from Jonas Lekšas, Živilė Mediekšienė, Julijus Grickevičius, Vaida Matijošaitė, Vytautas Valaitis, Mantas Karanauskas, and other VMU graduates.

“I am observing the evolution of VMU and I’m fascinated by the university’s renewal and ability to keep in step with the times. As I return to VMU, I’d like to speak about the university I discovered and the legends I had heard about it. At the same time, I’d like to provide advice on how to make better use of one’s time at the university, whose impact reaches further than just the chosen profession”, Julijus Grickevičius, culture expert and communication specialist, notes.

Živilė Mediekšienė

Živilė Mediekšienė, a graduate of VMU Agriculture Academy and Marketing and Communication Project Manager at Agrokoncerns Group, has also shared her own experience: “Participation in Try Out a Profession is also a great opportunity for me to revisit memories of my study years, which I still consider one of the most beautiful stages of my life. I’d like to inspire pupils to aim for more than just the basics—because all the extra experiences and accepted challenges can pave the way for many more opportunities and help find one’s true potential”.

Jonas Lekšas, a sports commentator for TV3 Group, basketball journalist at Krepsinis.net, and VMU law graduate, remembers the anxiety about the future that he felt as a pupil: “There was a lack of information and a shortage of interesting examples around me. The main question was, “What kind of uninteresting job will I have to do to make money? I had a dream but I really didn’t think it was possible – to work in a job that I love. As it turns out, everything is possible, and it’s made easier with the right examples and information. So I’m glad that I have the opportunity to share my story and, who knows, maybe I’ll help someone start the journey toward their dream”.

Vytautas Valaitis

Having returned to work at VMU after completing his studies here, Vytautas Valaitis, a freelance operator, producer, and video editing director, emphasizes that the university had a significant influence on his development both as a person and as a professional: “VMU provides the freedom to not limit oneself just to the subjects of the study program: you can choose additional courses, languages, or minor studies, and discover the things that interest you. It’s not just an academic space but also the place where you can experiment, participate in various communities, and fulfill yourself. This freedom allowed me to develop my activities alongside my studies, to discover important connections and even to find my future wife”.

Career opportunities for students

The Career Day, dedicated to the students, will provide the opportunity to get acquainted with representatives of over 30 companies and organizations, such as Kauno Grūdai, Rovaltra, Užimtumo Tarnyba, Hoptrans, Citco, Evolution, and others. At the career fair, students will have the chance to find out about the latest trends in the job markets, establish important connections and even attend in-person job interviews.

Career Day

“The VMU Connections event is a great platform both for the students and the employers, which provides a unique opportunity to establish meaningful connections and discover future specialists”, says Daiva Ulkienė, Selection Manager at Baltec CNC Technologies. “The Career Day and fair allow us to meet with the future specialists in person, to listen to their expectations, and to introduce them to the possibilities that we offer”.

“Participation in VMU Connections is a great chance for us to meet with talented and motivated students who not only seek their first career opportunities but also wish to find employers who care about the growth and development of their employees. Our company aims to attract ambitious people who can contribute to our success and growth. Such events make it possible for us to not only introduce ourselves and our values, but also to directly communicate with future specialists, listen to their expectations, and introduce them to career opportunities in our organization. We invite students to come because this is a unique chance to meet the employers, learn about the job market trends and, possibly, discover one’s own career path”, Irena Aleksiūnienė, Human Resources Manager at Kauno Grūdai, notes.

Raimonda Liutkė, Human Resources Specialist at Hoptrans, which is another participant of the VMU Connections event, one of the key values at the company is cooperation: “The Career Day provides the opportunity to establish an open, sincere, and sustainable connection with students. We hope that this connection will combine the mutual desire to share and exchange not just experiences, knowledge, and perspectives, but also opportunities.

Festive concert

VMU graduates will not only share their experiences with the pupils but also will remember their study years and meet with their course mates and old friends during the Alumni Day. The VMU Connections event will culminate with a festive concert for the entire university community dedicated to the 35th re-establishment anniversary of VMU. The concert will feature the most popular songs of the 1990s.

Alumni Day

Performers at the concert will include the VMU Chamber Orchestra (Chief Conductor Vytautas Lukočius), representatives of VMU Music Academy’s Jazz Department Adrijus Kudaba (guitar), Deividas Pileckas (keyboard), Julijus Sipavičius (percussion), and soloists Justinas Lapatinskas (graduate of VMU Music Academy) and Vytautė Tamutytė (student of VMU Music Academy).

The programme will include songs by bands Antis, Foje, Rondo, Poliarizuoti Stiklai, Rebelheart, and Kardiofonas, as well as the most popular compositions by performers Kastytis Kerbedis, Ovidijus Vyšniauskas, Vytautas Kernagis, and Eurika Masytė.

More information and full program: vdu.lt/jungtys