“Being honest with Cypriots will help you make new friends”

Anastasiia Puha, a student of Diplomacy and International Relations // Erasmus+ traineeship in Cyprus

Most universities include internships in undergraduate study programmes. This is necessary for the student to gain skills and experience in work and to understand the field of activity. Information is needed from the people working with it (not only from textbooks or teachers).

Since I am an international student, I decided that I wanted to practice in an international environment and visit a new country. VMU (VDU) opportunities helped me with this, namely, Erasmus+ traineeship which opened new possibilities and experiences for me.

After a lot of searching and many letters to companies, I got an offer from a company in Cyprus. This is how my journey into the world of finance and the incredible country of Cyprus began.

Well, let’s first talk about the uniqueness of the Erasmus+ traineeship programme. Erasmus+ traineeships is an internship programme in another country. This programme allows you to gain experience and skills from the company as well as discover the world of new countries, features, and people.

What makes this programme special is that you receive a scholarship that depends on the country where the company is based. However, students should show their motivation and persistence to learn new skills to take advantage of this opportunity!

Now let’s back to my incredible trip to Cyprus, a country of wonderful colors, exclusive culture, delicious food, and open people. The peculiarity of Cyprus is its weather and the sunny people who live there. I guarantee you that you will never be stranded on this island, because it is simply not possible. People of any age know English and will happily help a tourist or expat. Thanks to the Erasmus+ traineeship, I received a new family, this time – a Cypriot family whoever is so worried about me, rejoices in my victories and waits for my return. They showed me all the incredible, colorful places and food, and invited me to local festivals.

After my eloquent story about Erasmus+ and Cyprus, here are some tips for both:

To participate in the programme, you must be motivated and show good academic results. Don’t be afraid to participate in student conferences or projects; it will help you with your skills and provide additional motivation.
Choose the company and country you like, as only your motivation and desire for self-development will help you get closer to victory.
Cyprus is a multinational country but there are very delicate topics that should not be touched upon until you get to know each other better. Their historical and military conflicts should be bypassed and studied in the historical museums on the territory.
The best seafood and fish can be found on the coast, and souvlika (meat) – in the capital Nicosia. Be sure to go to the local tavern and play bingo
Be prepared for sincerely open people who are interested in every little detail. Being honest with Cypriots will make you new friends.

“Sharing is Caring” Event: Helping Students Make Kaunas Their New Home

On August 30th, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) held its 3rd “Sharing is Caring” event, where more than 100 new exchange and full-time students gathered to find kitchen, hobby, and study essentials, as well as other useful items to start their new life and academic year in Kaunas.

As part of the Orientation Days, the “Sharing is Caring” event showcased a variety of items, including kitchen utensils, electronics, books, sports equipment, hobby materials, stationery, cleaning tools, umbrellas, mirrors, hangers, and more. The event also featured a lottery where registered participants, selected by a random number generator, won great prizes such as table lamps, a hairdryer, an electric kettle, a rice cooker, a drying rack, and other unique finds to make their new homes cozy.

Earlier, during May and June, former exchange students and graduates donated new or gently used essential items for the new cohort of students. All items were collected and stored in the dormitory storage rooms over the summer. Clothes, shoes, and bedding were donated to homeless people at the “Ateik” day center of the Kaunas Archdiocese Caritas in July.

The event was organized as part of the DON@ Donation Opportunities for Newcomers project, which aims to support the integration of students with fewer opportunities and improve their living conditions by fostering mutual support, inclusion, and sustainable development. We sincerely thank the International Cooperation Department, the Student Affairs Department, the dormitory administrations, and our dedicated volunteers for their invaluable assistance in making this event possible.

The DON@ project started in September 2022 and will last until October 2024 from the program Erasmus + KA220-HED – Cooperation partnerships in higher education.

Learn more:

May 2024 – The DON@ Project’s Multiplier Event focuses on Student Integration

February 2024 – The DON@ Project is Entering Its Final Phase

January 2024 – DON@ Project: Fostering Reciprocal Help Among International Students and video

August 2023 – DON@: International Students Embrace “Sharing is Caring” Event and video

Opportunities for studies or traineeship abroad

Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) International Cooperation Department invites all university students to use the opportunities for studies or traineeship abroad.

Additional competition for VMU bilateral exchange and Erasmus+ studies (in non-EU/EEA countries).

Submit your applications by 30 September.

Competition for the Erasmus+ traineeship grants in all of world countries.

Submit your applications by the 30 of September.

On September 12th, 3 p.m. we invite you to join the online presentation (in English) and learn more about study and traineeship opportunities. Click here to join.

NOTE! An additional Erasmus+ competition for studies in EU/EEA countries will NOT be announced for the spring semester of the AY 2024/2025. The main competition for the AY 2025/2026 (autumn and spring semesters) will be announced in February, 2025.

More information.

Beyond Boundaries: Interdisciplinary Learning in T4EU Summer School

The Transform4Europe university alliance recently concluded a successful three-day summer school, the (Co)happiness Lab, organized by Vytautas Magnus University, a partner within the alliance, from August 27th to 29th. The program attracted 21 students representing nine partner universities, fostering a rich intercultural environment that allowed participants to experience diverse cultures and gain valuable skills in navigating interdisciplinary and intercultural programs.

The summer school showcased a dynamic mix of lectures, hackathon, workshops, excursions, and creative activities, all centered around exploring the concept of happiness from multidisciplinary perspectives, including psychology, philosophy, politics, and more. The interactive format, particularly the hackathon where teams tackled happiness-related challenges and presented their solutions, was highly praised by the participants. The integration of leisure activities further enriched the learning experience, allowing for deeper engagement with the subject.

The interdisciplinary approach, where a single case or problem was examined through the lenses of various disciplines, from anthropology and neuroscience to political science, provided a unique opportunity for in-depth study. The combination of lectures, group work, and project presentations with expert feedback was particularly effective.

Students delved into the theory of happiness from various fields and also explored ways to create it for themselves, the people around them, and society. The event included not just theoretical sessions but also creative and interactive activities, such as the hackathon on happiness, where teams solved challenges and presented their ideas to a commission of experts who provided valuable insights.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants has prompted plans to continue this format and potentially adapt it into a university course. The success of the (Co)happiness Lab underscores the effectiveness of its innovative approach to teaching and learning, and its legacy is likely to inspire future programs within the Transform4Europe alliance and beyond.

Solemn meeting of the VMU Senate. Presentation of the Honorary Doctorate regalia to Prof. Irina Pilvere

Prof. Irina Pilvere. LBTU picture

Chair of the Senate of Vytautas Magnus University, Prof. Ričardas Krikštolaitis, and Rector, Prof. Juozas Augutis, kindly request the honour of your presence at the solemn meeting of the Senate, where Professor Irina Pilvere will be awarded the VMU Honorary Doctorate. The event will take place on 27 September at 3 p.m. in VMU Aula Magna (7 Gimnazijos St., Kaunas).

Beyond Boundaries: Interdisciplinary Learning in T4EU Summer School

Registration for Transform4Europe Course Offer at Bachelor Level

The university network Transform4Europe invites students to choose its track courses for bachelor students which aim to train a new generation of young Europeans who will work together across disciplines and acquire digital, intercultural and entrepreneurial skills. This training enables you to actively shape the necessary transformation processes in Europe. Most of the courses are conducted online.

The Transform4Europe Alliance gives you the opportunity to incorporate a succinct programme – a European-oriented Bachelor Track that leads to a certificate with up to 24 ECTS – into your studies.

All the selected courses are recognised at your university either as part of your main field of study or alongside as additional elective courses.

The Transform4Europe Track consists of common core modules on the topics of:

Knowledge Entrepreneurship;
Languages & Intercultural Competencies;
European History, Politics, Culture, Law, Economy.

Also, you select the track according to your needs and interests from 3 optional challenge-based tracks:

Digital transformation
Environmental transformation
Societal transformation

Once you graduate and complete the Track, you receive a certificate testifying the completion of a Transform4Europe Bachelor Track under the challenge-based track or cluster title.

What are additional benefits for students?

Exchange ideas with students from other academic disciplines.
Gaining and developing European competences in a narrower relevant subfield.
Increase your career opportunities by unique profile development.
Increase future research and career opportunities in interdisciplinary fields.
Networking possibilities with students from other European universities.
Subsidised international mobility.

Autumn/Winter Semester 2023

In the list below, please pick the institution at which you would like to attend a course and proceed as advised.

University of Trieste

Course start: 23 September 2024 (check for each course)
Registration Period: until 6 September 2024
End of Teaching: 21 December 2024 (check for each course)
End of Exams: 21 February 2025 (check for each course)

Saarland University

Course start: 14 October 2024 (check for each course)
Registration Period: TBC – 15 September 2024
End of Teaching: 07 February 2025 (check for each course)
End of Exams: 31 March 2024

University of Primorska

Course start: Check for each course
Registration Period: 15 July – 25 August 2024
End of Teaching: Check for each course
End of Exams: Winter examination period: 14 February 2025

Universidade Católica Portuguesa

Course start: 6 November 2024
Registration Period: until 15 October 2024
End of Teaching: 12 December 2024
End of Exams: 11 December 2024 (final presentation), 12 December 2024 (exam)

List of modules and registration:

A list of modules and a registration form can be found here.

For more information please contact sd@vdu.lt

Open Competition for University Fee Reductions

Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) has launched an open competition for university fee reductions for autumn semester of the academic year 2024/2025. The purpose of the competition is to achieve the mission of socially responsible university by reducing social exclusion, creating appropriate financial conditions for VMU students to be accommodated and (or) study (taking into account different social (material) situations, study results and (or) accommodation in the dormitory) and increasing engagement in the activities implemented by the University community, encouraging the choice to study at the University, promoting the pursuit of the highest academic achievements and active participation in the University activities.

Applications are open from September 2^nd, 2024, to September 22^nd, 2024. University fee reductions for autumn semester of the AY 2024/2025 may be granted at a rate of up to 100%. There are three different types of fee reductions:

SOCIAL TUITION FEE REDUCTION, and this reduction may be granted to students in full-time first and second cycle studies and integrated studies:
- who are currently in a difficult social/financial situation or are Ukrainian refugees;
- whose grade point average of the last semester (for first-year students – the admission score) is not less than 8 (eight).
TUITION FEE REDUCTION RELATED TO COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, and this reduction may be granted to students in full-time first and second cycle studies and integrated studies (only those in their second and subsequent semesters):
- whose grade point average of the last semester is not less than 8 (eight);
- who were actively engaged in research, artistic, sports, civic, and social activities at the University during the last semester.
ACCOMMODATION FEE REDUCTION, may be granted to students in full-time first, second, and third cycle studies and integrated studies who live in the dormitories of the University, taking into account:
- the student’s difficult social/financial situation or are Ukrainian refugees;
- the type of the dormitory or room in which the student lives (NOTE:Students who live in a single-occupancy dormitory room shall not be entitled to the Accommodation Fee Reduction).

University fee reductions may be granted in the following order of priority to:

orphans, students being no older than the age of 25 and for whom were granted custody or guardianship until adulthood or who have lost both of their parents (both of the parents have passed away);
students with disabilities;
students from families with three or more children, provided such children are minors, are studying in general education, or, being no older than the age of 25, are studying in a formal vocational training programme or at the higher education institution.
Ukrainian refugees, students who has official refugee status in Lithuania and their one or both parents are currently serving in the Ukrainian army, were killed during the war, or in the territory where their lived is in ongoing military action or it was occupied, also other difficult financial or social situation that students are facing now as a result of ongoing war in Ukraine.

If students want to apply to SOCIAL TUITION FEE REDUCTION or ACCOMMODATION FEE REDUCTION by the given the social (material) status, students must provide following documents for the competition:

orphans: original documents of the death certificates of your mother and father, with official translations to Lithuanian or English languages with the translator’s stamp attached;
students with disabilities: original document, which proves your disability with official translations to Lithuanian or English languages with the translator’s stamp attached;
students from the families with large number of children:
- original certificate of family composition with official translations to Lithuanian or English languages with the translator’s stamp attached;
- original documents / certificates from kindergartens/schools/universities and others education institutions which proves student or school pupil status with official translations to Lithuanian or English languages with the translator’s stamp attached.
Ukrainian refugees: document which proves Ukrainian refugee status in Lithuania and (optional) one of these documents:
- document which proves that one or both parents are currently serving in the Ukrainian army;
- one or both parents were killed during the war in Ukraine (death certificate);
- document which indicates that student lived in a territory where now is ongoing military action or currently is occupied;
- other documents, which indicates difficult financial or social situation, that students are facing now because of ongoing war in Ukraine.

If students want to apply to TUITION FEE REDUCTION RELATED TO COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, they must provide documents from the University units or organisations with university status that confirm their involvement in research, artistic, sports, civic, and/or social activities at the University during the last semester.

Students who are willing to apply for free exemptions, has to complete an electronic application form in Student self-service portal:

log in to the VMU Student self-service portal using your personal login provided by the University;
select the Applications in the menu box and click on the Requests button;
select the application category Fees exemptions and compensations, click Tuition / Accommodation fee exemption by the means of competition (form F-006), complete the form, attach (upload) documents, which prove social (financial) status of the family, together with official translations to Lithuanian, English or Russian languages with the translator’s stamps attached and submit it.

Applications are open from September 2^nd, 2024, to September 22^nd, 2024. Results of the open competition will be published by October 10^th, 2024, by personally informing students about it by an email being sent to the VMU email address.

Tuition fee and accommodation fees exemptions shall be awarded by taking into account all the support granted for the student by VMU, awarded scholarships, granted exemptions and (or) size of the fees paid for the University and given the support and (or) scholarships awarded from the State budget funds, private legal or natural persons.

More information:

For New VMU Students: the “Sharing is Caring” Event is Back!

We’re excited to invite all new full-time international and exchange students to our “Sharing is Caring” event. You will find a wide range of items left by former students – completely free! From kitchenware and electronics to study materials, leisure items, household goods, and more.

Date: August 30, Friday
Time: 17:00 – 18:00
Location: Baltija Dormitory, Vytauto pr. 71, Kaunas

In case of rain, the event will be held in the orangery; follow the arrows to get there. If the weather is good, we will organize the event outside at the entrance.

Registration

By registering, you’ll enter the lottery for a chance to win some exciting prizes!

Why you should come:

Join a culture of sharing and save on expenses!
Discover essential and useful items for your life in Kaunas, all for free (gently used or new)
Win unique items in our lottery (at 17:30)
Connect with fellow exchange and full-time students and make new friends
Contribute to reducing waste and lowering CO2 levels
Enjoy refreshing drinks

Check out previous events:

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us: at ganna.tron[eta]vdu.lt or yuliia.matiiuk[eta]vdu.lt

See you!

Training on ATLAS.ti for VMU Researchers

Vytautas Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute invites Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) researchers to a methodological training on powerful software for qualitative research ATLAS.ti.

Date:
- Session 1 – 24 October 2024 at 14:00.
- Session 2 – 25 October 2024 at 14:00.
Duration of the workshop – each session/90 minutes (2 academic hours).
Language – English.
Format – online workshop via Zoom.
Please register to the workshop here. All registered participants will receive a Zoom link to the workshop a few days before the training.
Certificates will be issued after the training.
Participants should have basic knowledge of Windows/Mac, and a personal computer with ATLAS.ti Windows/Mac installed (demo or full version). The free version can be installed on your computer from here.

Instructor: Ivana Radivojevic, ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH.

About the workshop

Outline of sessions:

Day 1: Introducing ATLAS.ti, creating a project, coding data (manually and with AI tools), and writing memos
Day 2: Exploring data with AI tools, creating networks, exporting reports, and retrieving results

Brief description of training

Introduction: Learn how to harness the power of ATLAS.ti to facilitate your qualitative research! This training will take you through all the steps of using ATLAS.ti, from setting up a project and analyzing different kinds of data to retrieving findings and exporting different kinds of outputs. This course teaches the main functions of ATLAS.ti Windows/Mac as well as a model-driven data analysis system with an emphasis on the description of the participant’s point of view, the generation of relationships between data units, and the interpretation process.

Methodology: The course contents will be taught through a live online discussion of the various aspects of using ATLAS.ti. Participants can interact in real time with the instructor to ask questions (using the camera and microphone of the computer and/or by writing in the chat). Each class will also have brief intervals for participants to practice applying the different contents being discussed. The instructor will provide a project with which participants can practice using ATLAS.ti. Following each class, participants will receive the class slides and a practical exercise where they can spend more time practicing with their own research project. In addition to this, each participant will receive an official ATLAS.ti certificate.

Learning objectives: 1) Participants will learn the methodological principles of ATLAS.ti, 2) Participants will learn the fundamental functions and procedures of ATLAS.ti, and 3) Participants will learn how to use ATLAS.ti in data analysis with a focus on data integration, organization, and constant documentation of the research process.

More about the trainer: Ivana Radivojevic, ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH. Ivana has a degree in psychology, and she is a PhD Candidate in Organisational Behaviour/Human Resources at IE University. She is the Project Manager at ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH, where she creates and provides training for users and coordinates the user support team. She conducts research on organizational behaviour in the new world of work, and she has published numerous articles in top academic journals, such as Organization Studies, Journal of Organizational Behaviour, and The Qualitative Report.

For more information about the workshop please send email at vki@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).