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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

Apply Now: Online T4EU Science Communication Courses for PhD Students

On 23, 29 and 31 October, PhD students are invited to attend online T4EU Science Communication Courses.

The Science Communication Courses will equip participants with the tools to effectively communicate their research to the public. Delivered through online workshops between October 2024 and July 2025, each course will be provided by a different partner within the Transform4Europe (T4EU) alliance, focusing on key aspects of science communication.

The initiative aims to increase both the creation and consumption of scientific content, making it more accessible to global audiences. By improving communication skills, academics and students can better present their work to the public, fostering a greater understanding of science worldwide.

The Science Communication Courses will begin with the ‘Around Writing Series’, a series of 3 workshops open to the participation of any PhD student belonging to any university of the Transform4Europe Alliance. The first edition of this series is dedicated to three foundational and initiation topics around writing.

Application Deadline: 21 October via this registration form.

Calendar
Session #01 | 23 October – Wednesday, 4-7.30 p.m.*
Session #02 | 29 October – Tuesday, 4-7.30 p.m.
Session #03 | 31 October – Thursday, 4-7.30 p.m.
*Lithuania time

More information

International industrial hemp business event “Cannabis Hub.LT 2024”

International industrial hemp business event “Cannabis Hub.LT 2024” is being organized by the Centre for Business and Social Partnership at the VMU Agriculture Academy and the Association of Industrial Hemp Growers, Processors and Business Innovators on 8–9 November 2024

“Cannabis.Hub.LT 2024” is a traditionally organized annual international hemp business conference , which will include a hemp business exhibition. The theme of this year’s conference: “The Contribution of the Industrial Hemp Business to the Development of Restorative (Regenerative) Agriculture and the Circular Economy in Rural Areas”. Everyone interested in fiber hemp business opportunities, legal regulation and support of this business, and the latest technological achievements are welcome at the event.

The themes of the exhibition:

  • Construction using hemp composite materials;
  • Certified seeds of industrial hemp and modern cultivation technologies;
  • Organic fertilizers, plant protection products and bio stimulants;
  • Equipment and technology for drying and storing industrial hemp products;
  • Fiber hemp products (food, cosmetics, etc.);
  • Selection, research and consultancy services of industrial hemp;
  • Other.

Attendance at the event is free.

Organizer

Improving the viability and competitiveness of high added-value by-products from berries

An Operational Group from Lithuania called InoBerry aimed to improve the viability and competitiveness of high added-value by-products from berries. The project, which ended in 2023, tested and promoted a model which combines technological and commercialisation processes. It is based on sustainable management techniques as well as cooperation, creating links between farmers for more efficient production.

The partnership, led by Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), included six berry producers, a second university, and a consulting company. The project took place in Kauno apskritis, a county in the centre of Lithuania, and the idea was to develop a model which could support berry production in all other regions.

The production of berries in Lithuania has been steadily increasing in recent years. Audrone Ispiryan, one of the participating farmers, explains why the project was so important:

Previously, farmers lacked knowledge about innovative production technologies and laboratory research that could enhance the added value of their berries. There was also a lack of awareness regarding commercialisation opportunities for by-products, which made it challenging for them to compete in both local and international markets. The project aimed to address these gaps by fostering collaboration between farmers and scientific institutions.Audrone Ispiryan

The berry producers were strongly involved in shaping InoBerry’s outcomes. As the farmers already have a deep understanding of their farm management and production processes, this ensured that the innovations developed were practical, sustainable, and beneficial for both the farmers and the broader agricultural community.

The project activities were carried out over four years. The first key phase was to conduct an in-depth analysis of the berry farming sector; this involved both technological assessments and market studies to determine the most viable products and their commercialisation strategies. The next phase was to conduct field tests and collect data to evaluate the new techniques and management models. The tests were carried out on numerous farms across different regions to ensure the new methods could be scaled and adapted to different areas, farm sizes, and types.

Innovative technologies were tested which enabled farmers to diversify their product ranges. An example is ‘supercritical CO2 extraction’, which is used to extract oil from berry seeds after juicing, without the need for chemicals. The process not only adds value to what was previously considered waste, but also allows farmers to produce high-quality, natural oils that can be used in cosmetics and nutraceuticals. They also introduced cooperative management techniques that encourage shared resources, equipment, and knowledge among farmers.

As a result of these investigations, the project partners produced an innovative, sustainable management model for the production and commercialisation process of high added-value by-products from berries. Sustainability is an important part of the model, as it ensures the long-term success, resilience and competitiveness of farms by focusing on environmentally friendly practices, efficient use of resources, and innovative marketing strategies, to create additional revenue streams for farmers. This in turn enhances the social and economic well-being of rural areas. The model was disseminated to berry producers across Lithuania as part of the project activities via conferences, demo-days, social media and more.

Another of the participating farmers, Daiva Filistovic, shared her experience:

The model has truly transformed the way we approach berry farming. We’ve been able to significantly reduce waste and improve our production efficiency. We are now producing higher-value products and have better access to markets, which has increased our profitability and made our farm more sustainable for the future.Daiva Filistovic

Related info

This Operational Group was one of the 73 Operational Group projects with a stand at the Innovation exhibition during the EU CAP Network conference ‘EIP-AGRI Operational Groups: Innovation in practice’ which took place 6-8 May 2024, in Estoril, Portugal

The EU CAP Network will organise two events in 2025 linked to the topics that this Operational Group dealt with:

  • Workshop on ‘Circular Bioeconomy – Valorisation of by-products’ in March 2025
  • Workshop on ‘Innovation in logistics to improve the position of farmers in a supply chain’ in May 2025

Ensure you are signed up to Innovation & knowledge exchange | EIP-AGRI newsflashes to hear the information as soon as calls are released.

VMU community invited to an open introductory baseball practice

Are you dreaming of trying out baseball, but haven’t found the opportunity to do so? We offer you a great opportunity from the VMU Sports Center and the Kaunas Baseball Club ‘Lituanica’!

We invite the entire VMU community — students, staff, and alumni — to an open introductory baseball practice with the coaches of the Kaunas region baseball club ‘Lituanica’ at the baseball field in the VMU President Valdas Adamkus Sports Center (Studentų g. 9A, Akademija, 53361 Kaunas district).

The open introductory baseball practices will take place on two days — September 23 and 25 — so you can choose the day that is most convenient for you. The practices will start at 5:00 PM.

Registration required

Ass. Prof. Dr. Antonio Comparetti visited VMU AA for Erasmus+ training, strengthening research cooperation and promoting mobility between Lithuania and Sicily

Within Erasmus+ inter-institutional agreement between University of Palermo (Sicily, Italy) and Vytautas Magnus University, Antonio Comparetti, Associate Professor of the University of Palermo – Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences and Departmental coordinator of this agreement, visited again Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA), from Monday 22 to Monday 29 July 2024.

During his mobility period, he carried out the following training activities, according to Erasmus+ Agreement Staff Mobility for Training:

  • visit of Laboratory of Fertilizer Spreading Machines, guided by Prof. Egle Jotautiene;
  • visit of Laboratory of Crop Sprayers, guided by Prof. Egle Jotautiene;
  • visit of Laboratory of Progressive Agricultural Engineering, guided by Prof. Egle Jotautiene;
  • visit of Laboratory of Agricultural Machines Technological Process Research, guided by Prof. Egle Jotautiene and the PhD student Andrius Grigas (whose supervisor is Prof. Dainius Steponavicius);
  • visit of Biogas Laboratory, guided by Prof. Kestutis Navickas;
  • visit of Environmental Research Laboratory and Laboratory of Chemical and Biochemical Research for Environmental Technology, guided by Prof. Laima Cesoniene and the Junior researcher Dr. Kiril Kazancev;
  • visit of Water Engineering Laboratory, guided by Lecturer Raimundas Baublys.

During his mobility period, Prof. Antonio Comparetti also strengthened the profitable and friendly research cooperation between University of Palermo and Vytautas Magnus University, as well as he promoted student and staff mobility between the two involved institutions, within the above Erasmus+ agreement.

 

Visit of Laboratory of Fertilizer Spreading Machines: test bench for fertiliser spreading and centrifugal fertiliser spreader for spatially variable rate application of granular biofertilisers.

Visit of Laboratory of Crop Sprayers: wind tunnel used for studying the spraying of herbicide or pesticide mixture.

Visit of Laboratory of Progressive Agricultural Engineering: VERIS Multi Sensor Platform, MSP 3150, used for measuring and mapping apparent soil Electrical Conductivity (EC), soil organic matter and pH.

Visit of Laboratory of Agricultural Machines Technological Process Research: test bench used for growing Hydroponic Wheat Fodder (HWF), in presence of Andrius Grigas, Antonio Comparetti and Egle Jotautiene (from left to right).

Visit of Biogas Laboratory: vertical minidigesters (left) and horizontal biodigester (right) used for Anaerobic Digestion (AD) process.

Visit of Laboratory of Chemical and Biochemical Research for Environmental Technology, in presence of Antonio Comparetti (left) and Kiril Kazancev (right).

Visit of Water Engineering Laboratory: river basin model for forecasting erosion, sedimentation and river meander development.

Methodological Training on Meta-Analysis

Methodological Training on Meta-Analysis: an Introduction and an Overview of Advanced Topics

Session 1 (October 2, 3 – 5 P.M.): meta-analytic process, research questions, searching, coding, statistical integration.

Session 2 (October 8, 3 – 5 P.M.): heterogeneity, moderation analyses and advanced topics.

Language – English.

Duration of the workshop – each session/90 minutes lecture + 30 minutes Q&A (2,5 academic hours).

Format – online workshop via MS Teams. Please register for the workshop here.

All registered participants will receive MS Teams link to the workshop a few days before the training.

Certificates will be issued after the training for participants who attend all two sessions. No prior knowledge of the topic is necessary.

Trainer: Dr. Gunnar LemmerPhilipps (University Marburg, Germany), Department of Psychology, section: Psychological Methods. Gunnar has been giving lectures and seminars on statistical methods for several years. He has been working with meta-analyses for a long time in the field of psychology and is the author and co-author of several publications of research using meta-analyses.

Training will be moderated by V. Kavolis Institute Project Expert dr. Gintarė Pocė.

Description of the training

Meta-analysis is a statistical method for the combination of multiple quantitative studies on the same research question. Our training will cover the entire meta-analytic process.

At the beginning of session 1 of our training, we will get to know the structure of the meta-analytic process. We will then deal with meta-analytic research questions, searching for relevant studies, and coding relevant studies in terms of study characteristics and effect sizes. At the end of this session, we will get to know meta-analytic models for the integration of the effect sizes of the included studies (i.e., fixed effect model and random effects model).

Session 2 will start with methods for the analysis of heterogeneity of effect sizes. In order to be able to explain heterogeneity, we will then deal with meta-analytic models (e.g., mixed effects model) and meta-analytic methods (e.g., meta-regression) for moderation analyses. This session will also give a short overview of more advanced topics like three-level-meta-analysis and meta-analytic path models.

For more information about the workshop, please send an email to vki[eta]vdu.lt.

The workshop 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). The funding programme is the “Excellence in Universities Initiative” (No V-940).

Innovative Teaching Competition

All VMU lecturers are invited to apply for the first-ever “Teaching Innovation Competition”, which will award cash prizes to the winners.

The competition is organised in order to promote pedagogical innovations and their application in the study process, to provide an opportunity to share best practices and to improve the quality of the University’s studies. University lecturers can participate individually or in a group. The deadline for applications is 25 October.

The winners will be selected by a jury of VMU faculty, staff, students and social partners. Each winner can receive a cash prize of up to EUR 1,000 for one teaching innovation, and the winners will be announced at the VMU’s “Quality 360°” event on the occasion of the World Quality Day, on 14 November.

There are two ways to enter the competition:

1. By filling in the Teaching Innovations Application Form yourself.

2. Nominated by a colleague, academic department, study committee or others by completing the nomination form. The nominated teacher(s) will be contacted by the organisers. Nominated lecturers participate in the competition by completing the Teaching Innovation Application Form.

Applications are welcome in six categories:

– Active teaching methods;

– Digital learning technologies using artificial intelligence;

– Innovations for assessing student achievement;

– Encouraging Entrepreneurship;

– Inclusive and personalised teaching methods

– Co-teaching and co-creation.

Applications will be accepted until 25 October.

The award amount per teaching innovation is up to EUR 1000.

Teaching innovation application form.

Nomination form for a colleague. 

Awarded lecturers are invited to publish a short summary of the teaching innovation and a video for publicity, as well as to share the innovation with their colleagues, to provide training for the University community, etc.

The competition is organised by the Study Quality Unit of the Department of Studies. The awards are funded by the VMU Teaching Innovation Promotion Fund.

It is planned to organise the competition annually in the future.

We kindly invite teachers to apply or nominate colleagues!

If you have any questions, please contact: kokybe[eta]vdu.lt