VMU Alumni Day 2020: Strengthened Communication with the Alumni

While continuing traditions, on November 13th, 2020, Vytautas Magnus University invited its graduates to remember their Alma Mater. Due to the difficult pandemic situation in the country, Alumni Day was celebrated through the remote communication platforms. The main theme of this day was to emphasize the importance of physical, but not social distance, by remembering the initiative “Mind the Gap”.

This year, not only Lithuanian but also foreign graduates were invited to meet virtually in order to create a closer cooperation and stronger connection with them. For this reason, discussion on the topic “University in Transition: Raising Questions – Sharing Visions” was organized, during which the Assoc. Prof. and Vice-Rector for Communication, Mrs. Vilma Bijeikienė presented University Strategy 2021-2027, that is still in preparation. Alumni and community members were invited to discuss, provide insights and comments on it. Moreover, together with Camille Le Blanc, Coordinator for International Alumni Community, discussion was initiated on how to build an effective collaboration between the University and its alumni.

During the virtual meeting graduates from all around the world shared their thoughts on the importance of feeling of being a full-fledged and constantly remembered member of the community, that would always have an opportunity to return to VMU.

Taking into account opinions, which were expressed during the discussion, as well as alumni requests and observations, it is expected to start expanding the network of VMU ambassadors in the nearest future, by refining possible activities and opportunities, initiating more active dissemination of information in English, expanding the package of benefits for graduates, sharing information on VMU Alumni clubs and ways of joining it.

VMU Vice-Rector for Communication, Mrs. Vilma Bijeikienė has no doubts that graduates are an integral part of the University community, therefore, discovering community connections and ways of communication with them is very important. “I would like to believe, that VMU is not just a stopover in the lives of our students on their career path. We are a part of the learning society, so a lifelong learning and knowledge sharing is a mutually beneficial relationship, which helps graduates to feel that the university is useful to them, and that they are also needed by the university itself”, – said V. Bijeikienė.

“The discussion organised during the Alumni Day, was only the first step in trying to reach our international alumni community, inviting them to join discussion with Lithuanian alumni and looking for common grounds. This meeting allowed us to enjoy a friendly and open communication, to hear expectations and discover new ideas, which could help us plan our future works. Now, our most important task is to create an effective system of communication with graduates, to reach as many university graduates as possible, both in Lithuania and all around the world, and to invite them to join our alumni community”, – Vice-Rector shared her thoughts.

Mr. Andrius Būda, the President of VMU Alumni Club, also supported those thoughts and invited graduates of the University to join VMU alumni clubs.  “Vytautas Magnus University Alumni Club and other alumni organizations, operating at the faculty level, is a great opportunity to continue a close communication and cooperation with your classmates, colleagues, lecturers and the rest of the university, while creating various initiatives, organising meetings, establishing scholarships for students and so on”,  – said the President of VMU Alumni Club, Mr. Būda.

“We understand the importance of maintaining the closest contact not only with Lithuanian but also with international alumni communities, therefore we are currently paying particular focus on renewing the alumni base, planning next year’s activities and establishing communication tools which would help us to reach graduates of VMU, VMU Education Academy and VMU Agriculture Academy, as well as to maintain an effective and trust relationship with them”, – said Mr. Būda.

We invite graduates, who are wishing to become a member of Vytautas Magnus University Alumni Club to fill in the registration form.

If you have any questions, please contact the Coordinator for International Alumni Community, Camille Le Blanc Liederman by an e-mail: camille.le.blanc.liederman@vdu.lt

 

Important Information about the Study Process

Dear community of Vytautas Magnus University,

In response to the increasingly complicated situation in Lithuania due to the risk of COVID-19, based on the recommendations by the Minister of Education, Science, and Sports, the Minister of Health, and the state-level emergency operations manager regarding the remote implementation of the study process by higher education institutions, and after taking into account the proposals by the academic subdivisions of VMU regarding the organisation of studies, the following changes will be introduced in the organisation of studies and work at Vytautas Magnus University:

  • From Monday 26 October, all activities of studies, except for those that require special equipment or infrastructure and except for those that were specified by the subdivisions of studies as required to be completed face-to-face due to practical work, will be conducted remotely.
  • From Tuesday 3 November, all activities of studies, except for laboratory and practical work that requires special equipment, will be conducted only remotely.

This study semester is planned to be completed remotely.

Students who require special software in order to ensure high-quality study process will be provided the pertinent information in the beginning of next week.

We kindly request the non-academic subdivisions to organise the implementation of their principal functions in a manner which enables the assurance of the employees’ safety: to limit the subdivision’s employees’ physical contact not just with the visitors but also with colleagues from other subdivisions as well as unnecessary visits in the University’s other subdivisions or locations. Also, together with the subdivisions’ heads, discuss the possibility of organizing work remotely if the implementation of the job functions does not require arrival at the University and the conditions for remote work are appropriate.

The information will be constantly updated based on the situation. You can also follow the information on a special page of the university’s website.

Competition for Traineeship at non-EU Countries

VMU students are invited to participate in competition for traineeship at non-EU countries with VMU Mobility scholarship.

Students have to submit completed online application form (Application form for traineeship in non-EU/EEE countries) until 15th of November 2020.

Selection criteria:

  • traineeship compatibility with Study programme at VMU;
  • confirmation from hosting organization for acceptance into traineeship programme;
  • motivation;
  • results of studies or research during the last two semesters (for VMU Mobility scholarship GPA should be no less than 8.0);
  • good knowledge of language in which traineeship will be commenced.

Traineeship period starts no earlier than 2020-12-01 and ends no later than 2021-08-31.

Students will be personally informed via e-mail about the results till 25th of November.

Selected students will receive VMU Mobility scholarship. Eligible countries and number of scholarships:

 VMU Mobilitity scholarship

Group of countries[1] Duration of Traineeship Number of scholarships Scholarship
Countries of regions: South Asia, East Asia and Pacific; Middle East; North America; Latin America & the Caribbean 1 – 3 months 10 650 Eur/month
Countries of regions: Europe and Central Asia; North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa 1 – 3 months 550 Eur/month

More information about traineeship programme:

Tomas Mickevičius

International Cooperation Department

Email: tomas.mickevicius@vdu.lt

Phone.: 8 37 327 981

Address: V. Putvinskio g. 23 room 208, Kaunas, Lithuania

[1] https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups

VMU Rector’s Letter to the Community

Dear community,

I would like to thank you all once again for the invaluable contributions you made while working during the difficult period brought about by COVID-19. Ensuring the quality of studies and research under the conditions of the new reality and supporting the community in the virtual world has been a challenge which has demanded a lot of effort from all of us. The beginning of the upcoming academic year will not be as it used to be before. Thus, once again, we will all need to be focused to make sure it is successful.

Since the health of our community’s members is one of our top priorities, the studies during this autumn semester will be organized both remotely as well as in lecture rooms. The following changes have been approved: lectures of all A group subjects as well as lectures where the number of students is 100 or more will be held remotely. All other activities will take place in the university’s spaces, in accordance with safety recommendations. Academic and non-academic staff will work in the university’s spaces until a different ruling is made by the government of Lithuania.

Please remember that events in closed spaces must be organised while upholding the principle of isolated groups, whereas in open spaces a distance of no less than 1 metre must be maintained between participants. If the weather conditions are favourable, events should be planned to take place in the open spaces of the university: the VMU Botanical Garden, courtyards of the faculties, territory of VMU Agriculture Academy etc.

Since a large number of infection cases is related to travel, please avoid or postpone visits to countries that are on the list of those affected by the COVID-19 disease.

I kindly ask everyone to be mindful of the situation and follow the recommendations that help us remain healthy and reduce the risk of coronavirus infection: maintain a safe physical distance during lectures and seminars, sit in every other seat, wear masks, wash hands regularly and, if you feel symptoms of cold or other infectious diseases, stay home.

Just like during the spring semester, we will continue to inform you about further developments (if any) on a special page on the university’s website.

One way or another, I hope that I will see you soon.

Stay safe!

Wishing you a successful academic year,

VMU Rector Juozas Augutis

 

Application for Accommodation for New Incoming Students of 2020/2021

Vytautas Magnus University has opened an application for new incoming international students for accommodation in the dormitories of VMU during the academic year 2020/2021 or Autumn semester.

Please note, that is application is open only for new (first year) incoming full-time, Erasmus +, Bilateral or other international exchange students.

Other, higher year students, who are currently not living in the dormitories of VMU, would be allowed to reserve one of the rooms for new academic year only starting from August 1st, 2020.

For more information please follow information on this site.

VMU Will Hold Graduation Ceremonies

On 1-3 July, Vytautas Magnus University will be holding its graduation ceremonies, bidding farewell to the university’s latest graduates.

On 1 July, diplomas will be awarded to the graduates of the faculties of Natural Sciences, Informatics, Social Sciences, and VMU Education Academy (in Kaunas). Two additional ceremonies will also be held on the same day for the graduates of VMU Faculty of Catholic Theology and VMU Music Academy.

July 1st diploma award ceremonies:

VDU Great Hall

VDU Music Academy

On 2 July, the university will send off alumni of the faculties of Arts, Economics and Management, and VMU Agriculture Academy (faculties of Forest Sciences and Ecology, Bioeconomy Development, and Water and Land Management).

On the final day, ceremonies will be dedicated to the graduates of the faculties of the Humanities, Political Science and Diplomacy, Law, Agriculture Academy (faculties of Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy), and VMU Education Academy in Vilnius.

Regrettably, the celebration will not be open to everyone, the way it was before. Taking into account the state-level emergency situation declared in the entire country due to the threat of the spread of COVID-19, to ensure the safety of the university’s community and their relatives, this year VMU graduate ceremonies will be a bit different than usual.

Vytautas Magnus University’s diplomas will be awarded to the graduates in VMU spaces. However, relatives and friends will be able to congratulate and take pictures with the new alumni outside. They will be able to watch the diploma award ceremony itself live at vdu.lt/graduation on their smartphones and other devices.

We encourage all graduates to bring personal protective equipment. It is recommended for all participants of the graduation ceremony to wear masks and disposable gloves.

The graduates who are unable to attend the graduation ceremony will be able to receive their diploma at their faculty (in five workdays after the ceremony), or at the Department of Studies (after this time period ends).

More information

VMU Support Fund for Students Affected by COVID-19 Outbreak

Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) has started providing support for students who experience financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A special fund has been established for this purpose.

The fund aims to support university students and their families who experience financial difficulties because of the lockdown. The amount of support currently available in the fund is 100,000 euros.

The financial support is allocated for the students from the university’s own funds or collected by legal persons. Some of it was also acquired as support given in the form of  2 percent of the personal income tax.

Forms of financial support for those affected by COVID-19:

  • Tuition fee concessions
  • Accommodation fee concessions
  • Partial reimbursement of expenses on provided services
  • One-time scholarships

A university student who wishes to receive financial support related to COVID-19 has to submit a free-format request to the VMU Rector specifying a valid reason (situation) for allocation of financial support and present the documents that support it (their digital versions), as long as at least one of the following criteria is met:

  • During the period of the lockdown enforced by the government of Lithuania, the student, his parents, or one of his parents lost his job (a certificate from the Employment Services) or experienced a significant reduction of their income (certificates from state authorities regarding insured income for February, March, and April and (or) certificates about payments received from the workplace). The criterion of significant income reduction is valid for applications submitted on 1 May or later.
  • As a result of difficult circumstances related to the measures of prevention or management of the COVID-19 pandemic applied by countries of the world, students who studied or did internships abroad returned to Lithuania (or could not return to Lithuania in time) and incurred additional expenses because of this (documents that prove the expenses: invoices and financial documents that confirm their payment).
  • A student whose parent died from an infection caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) (a document that confirms the death).

Applications should be submitted by e-mail to studentas@vdu.lt until the end of each month. At the beginning of each following month, decisions are made regarding the applications and each applicant is informed about this individually by e-mail.

The decision regarding allocation of support as well as its type and size is made by a special commission which takes into account the available amount of funds allocated for support related to COVID-19, the validity of the application, the situation’s compliance with the requirements, and other funds or support provided by the state, the university, or other natural or legal persons.

Other VMU support for students who experience difficulties related to COVID-19

We would like to remind you that, in order to reduce the negative impact of the lockdown, for the period from 1 April 2020 until 30 June 2020,  Vytautas Magnus University already provides a 25 percent reduction of the accommodation fee for all VMU students who have signed an accommodation agreement with the university. More information available here.

Students who are unable to pay the accommodation fee because of difficult financial situation can postpone the payment until the cancellation of the lockdown in Lithuania (and pay it later in accordance with an individual payment schedule) or divide the due accommodation fee into multiple parts and pay a smaller amount (the remaining unpaid amount of the fee would be paid later in accordance with an individual payment schedule). Students who wish to submit such a request should send e-mail to studentas@vdu.lt.

University may extend the deadline for the payment of the tuition fee or permit its payment in parts for the students who submit applications regarding the financial situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In such cases, the student has to write a motivated request addressed to rector, specifying the reasons why the university should permit him to pay the respective fee in parts, and submit the request to the dean of the faculty in which he is studying.

For more information about support provided for the students, please contact:

VMU Student Centre
Phone +370 37 751 175
E-mail studentas@vdu.lt

Anyone with the means to do so is also welcome to support the students who experience financial difficulties. This can be done by transferring money to a special university account at SEB Bank opened for this purpose, No. LT41 7044 0600 0284 8638, specifying “Parama VDU studentams” as purpose of payment. You can also support the students by submitting 1,2 percent of your personal income tax. More information about this is available here (in Lithuanian).

 

The Library Will Lend Books from April 29

Following the government’s loosening of quarantine requirements, from April 29. The Library will lend books to home on request, remote services will be continued, consultations will be provided  by e-mail: info@bibl.vdu.lt, by phone. The physical premises of the library will not be available.

From April 29. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The university community will be provided  book lending service based on request  in the library catalogue or virtual library. On single publications (request impossible) arrange individually. Completed requests for pick-up will be available in the lobbies of the University buildings: K. Donelaičio St. 52, Kaunas, Studentų St. 11, Akademija, Kaunas region, and Education Academy, T. Ševčenkos St. 31, Vilnius.

Procedure and conditions of lending / returning books. 

  • Come to pick up the ordered books when you receive a confirmation from the library by e-mail about the completed order and arrange the arrival time.
  • Wear protective masks (use hand sanitizer and (or) disposable gloves at the entrance); If there is a queue of students waiting to pick up the books, keep a distance of 2 meters.
  • On entering the building, stop at the marked place (a distance of at least 2 meters must be ensured between visitors and library employee), inform about the requested books, show the document to the library employee. After an employee puts the books you ordered on the table and leaves at a safe distance, pick them up and leave the building.
  • Books can be returned into external self-service device (K. Donelaičio St. 52) at any time. Returned books are quarantined for 72 hours before lending to other user. If it is not possible to return books, loan period is automatically renewed until the end of the quarantine.

It is forbidden to come to pick up / return books if you are running temperature or have symptoms of upper respiratory diseases, acute intestinal infections, etc. (e.g. runny nose, sneezing, difficult breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, etc.) or must be in isolation. Coming is not recommended for persons at risk, over 60 years of age and (or) those with chronic diseases.

Remote services. For studies and research, we invite you to use the Library website‘s one-stop search in various resources (library catalog, virtual library, subscribed databases, research management system (VMU CRIS), Lithuanian Academic e-Library (eLABa) and global academic open access resources). If you would like to read licensed by the University resources, log in remotely (enter your University e-mail login (username: first name, last name; password: e-mail password). You can connect to more than 58 subscribed databases separately using the remote access service. We also recommend using the virtual cultural heritage epaveldas.lt and interactive library portals ibiblioteka.lt.

Relevant news for students writing final theses and other papers. 

More information

Erasmus+ Results for Academic Year 2020/2021

VMU International Cooperation Department has announced the results of the competition for Erasmus+ studies of the 2020/2021 academic year.

List of selected students for Erasmus+ studies for Spring semester of academic year 2020/2021

Selection Criteria*:

  • compatibility of the plan for studies or research at the higher education institution abroad and the study programme at VMU;
  • study results of the last semester;
  • good knowledge of the language which will be used during the studies;
  • student’s motivation;
  • student’s experience in work, studies, placement, international or academic projects and social activities in Lithuania and abroad.

* The selection commission had a right to change the order of the criteria or apply additional criteria.

You can find more information about Erasmus+ studies here.

More information at VMU International Cooperation Department page. 

 

VMU Scientists Created a Tool for Predictions of Coronavirus Spread

The number of infected people in Lithuania could exceed 3,000, while the spread of the virus will only be contained if quarantine restrictions are not significantly loosened for at least two more months. This is indicated by a new interactive mathematical model: a tool which can be used to conduct analysis and make decisions related to COVID-19. The model was created by researchers from Vytautas Magnus University (VMU): Prof. Juozas Augutis from the Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, who is also the university’s rector, and PhD student Justinas Dainauskas from the Dept. of Applied Informatics. Note: you can left-click the graphs presented below to enlarge them.

The model’s parameters can be modified, and the results of calculations are instantly shown in the form of numbers and graphs. Modifiable parameters include the conditions and duration of quarantine as well as various other factors.

The model is stochastic: it is based on the principle of mathematical modelling where random phenomena are considered. The goal of the tool is to recreate (imitate) the processes of infection transmission, detection, and other processes that occur in the society during a pandemic. The model’s parameters or initial data has been collected from international publications and public information provided by Lithuanian authorities.

According to Professor Augutis, the dynamics and extent of the virus infecting the population depend on various conditions, including the infection’s incubation period, the country’s population size, the situation in the surrounding countries etc. However, there are two key factors that decide the course of the pandemic: the basic reproduction number (R0), which shows the transmission rate, i.e. how many other people one sick person can infect, and quarantine: as a measure which determines the efficiency of the fight against the virus. Without a vaccine, quarantine becomes the principal measure of curbing the pandemic.

“The strictness of quarantine and the extent to which its conditions are followed determine the reduction of the transmission rate. When its value is reduced to less than 1, the number of infected persons also starts falling off. The determination of these indicators also decides the accuracy of predictions about the infection’s spread”, the professor explains.

The main part of the model imitates the changes in the number of the infected: starting from the people who arrived from abroad and infected others, spreading the infection further. After quarantine is introduced, if it is observed, a pandemic typically starts to subside, and the likelihood of new people becoming infected decreases every day.

“The principal indicator which the model seeks to identify is the number of people that are infected with the virus at a specific point in time. This is not the same as the total number of detected infection cases which is reported in the media every day. The actual number of people who are sick is significantly higher. However, the number of identified cases is also important: it is the only known figure and can be used to fine down other results of the model. Naturally, it’s important to know – and the model provides this – how many new daily infection cases can be expected and how many infected people will be detected by testing”, Prof. Augutis says.

The modelling begins on 1 March. In the first 20 days, people from abroad returned to Lithuania; it is likely that some of them had the COVID-19 infection. At first, the arriving people were not placed in strict isolation, which resulted in more people getting infected inside the country; at the start of the quarantine, the numbers of infection cases escalated in Lithuania: it is possible that there were about 1,000 of them.

The peak number of total infection cases in Lithuania was likely reached in the latter half of March, when it exceeded 3,000. However, when quarantine was introduced, infections started falling off, which in turn will soon reduce the number of daily new cases. If quarantine is observed for at least two more months, we can expect for the pandemic to be completely contained in Lithuania by early June. According to the model’s results, throughout the entire period of the pandemic, about 1,700 cases will be identified.Fig. 1. The scenario if currently imposed quarantine is observed for two more months

Another important factor is testing, which should be conducted very vigorously during a pandemic. “In two weeks, testing intensified from just 100 tests a day to over 3,000 a day. This number is sufficient to test both the infected people who are symptomatic as well as those who are sent to be tested based on epidemiological studies. That way some of the people who do not show symptoms are also detected”, Prof. Juozas Augutis notes.

Naturally, the results of the modelling are dependent on the input parameters. “The infection transmission rates before and after quarantine are particularly important. Since detailed statistics and research focused specifically on Lithuania have not been conducted yet, we can only partially rely on the statistics of cases in our country. When we were preparing the model, we relied heavily on international publications and reports. The only numbers available for the model’s adaptation in Lithuania are the infection cases from early March until now; however, the model’s results demonstrate that the situation in Lithuania is modelled quite accurately”, Justinas Dainauskas explains.

The created model makes it possible to analyse various situations and scenarios. One of the most pertinent questions at the moment is how much the quarantine restrictions can be loosened in order to alleviate the situation for Lithuanian businesses. If only limited activity by small businesses is allowed and strict safety conditions are followed, while the number of contacts between people does not increase more than twice compared to the current situation, then the containment of the pandemic will continue, but we could expect it to end only in early July.

Fig. 2. The scenario if some quarantine restrictions are loosened now, but most of the restrictions remain in place

If quarantine restrictions are loosened to much, e.g. allowing larger gatherings of people, resuming activities where protecting people from getting infected is difficult, then the pandemic can flare up again.

Fig. 3. The scenario if quarantine restrictions are significantly loosened now and only some of the restrictions remain in place

The interactive mathematical model, which makes it possible to simulate various scenarios, can be found online at https://covid19.vdu.lt/. If you have questions, please send email to juozas.augutis@vdu.lt or justinas.dainauskas@vdu.lt.