VMU to Celebrate 30th Reestablishment Anniversary
In the spring of 1989, thanks to the efforts of scholars in Lithuania and abroad, Vytautas Magnus University was re-opened: the first independent higher education school in what was still Soviet-occupied Lithuania. On Wednesday 24 April, 4 p.m., VMU will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its re-establishment: the festivities will be held at the VMU Great Hall (S. Daukanto g. 28).
The celebration programme will include the premiere of documentary film ‘A Free-Thinking University’ directed by VMU Assoc. Prof. Rytis Zemkauskas and a discussion entitled “Challenging the Established Practices”.
The new film will not have a conventional historical narrative. It focuses on individual perspectives and actions taken in order to shape the modern identity of the Republic of Lithuania. It is the story of a university which has most faithfully mirrored the dreams of the reborn Lithuanian state. 30 years of VMU – 30 years of Lithuania and its successes and setbacks.
In the era of Sąjūdis (initially, the Reform Movement of Lithuania) soon before and after the collapse of the USSR, Lithuanian and emigrant scientists were united by a common goal: to revive and modernize the University of Lithuania in Kaunas, which was founded in 1922, later renamed after Grand Duke Vytautas the Great, and eventually closed down by the Soviets in 1950. The united community sought to build a university which would eradicate the Soviet mentality, institutional culture, and hierarchy-based management from higher education, while simultaneously paving the way for a more accelerated development of a Western academic culture.
The work on re-establishment began on 26-28 April 1989 in Kaunas, during the international scientific conference The National Concept of a Higher Education School and the University of Kaunas. The event concluded with the declaration of the Act of Re-establishment of VMU: this was the first step taken by the Lithuanian and emigrant scientists, which subsequently led to their further cooperation in the university’s development.
Later, in December 1990, the VMU Statute was adopted, which formally established not just the university’s autonomy, academic freedom, and integrity of science and studies, but also the three levels of studies (BA, MA, PhD), which was unprecedented in Lithuania at the time. Ever since the first days of its rebirth, VMU has given special attention to the teaching of foreign languages. These traditions have been going strong to this day.
VMU Rector Prof. Juozas Augutis is certain that the history of the university is inseparable from the history of the country and its people: over the course of three decades, VMU has become a symbol of Lithuania’s intellectual and cultural life.
“I think that the conditions of academic life available at the university could be transferred to the public or political life. A university is not just a space of education: thanks to the values upheld while organising the community life here, we also attract organisations and people from the outside. I believe that something that truly has value can only be created with free will and great enthusiasm. It is not always just knowledge and logic that lead us to the truth. We should not forget to follow our values and an open-hearted understanding of experience”, the Rector said.
VMU became the first higher education school in the Baltic region to organize studies based on the principles of liberal arts: the ideas that support personal freedom of students and foster the responsibility of creating one’s own individual study schedule, working on creative projects, and promoting critical thought.
On the eve of the 30th re-establishment anniversary, Vytautas Magnus University has a recently expanded community: in 2019, it has been joined by the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences (LUES) and Aleksandras Stulginskis University (ASU), which became the VMU academies of Education and Agriculture, respectively.
The celebration of Vytautas Magnus University’s 30th re-establishment anniversary will take place on Wednesday 24 April, 4 p.m., at VMU Great Hall (S. Daukanto g. 28, Kaunas). The event will start with the premiere of documentary film ‘A Free-Thinking University’ and the discussion “Challenging the Established Practices”.
On Friday 26 April, 2 p.m., a festive meeting of VMU Senate will be held at the Aula Magna (Gimnazijos g. 7).
Prof. Ričardas Krikštolaitis Attended Energy Conference in Brussels
On 5-6 November, Prof. Ričardas Krikštolaitis, the head of VMU Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, attended the international conference Central European Day of Energy 2018 (CEDE) organized in Brussels, the headquarters of the European Commission. The event was organized by Central Europe Energy Partners (CEEP) in cooperation with the DG Energy of the European Commission and partners, including Vytautas Magnus University.
The main aim of CEDE was to consolidate a regional energy platform that reflects the region’s perspective on the development of the European energy policy and highlight the accomplishments and challenges faced by regional stakeholders in the implementation process. 143 participants attended the conference: stakeholders from European institutions, national administrations, energy and energy intensive companies, academics, experts and journalists.
The conference revealed that Central Europe has managed to achieve meaningful results in international cooperation in the field of energy. The main reason for the success is the increasing infrastructural interaction and integration of markets. Furthermore, a lot of progress has been made in the synchronisation of the Baltic states with the Continental European Network. Also, as a result of liberalization processes and the legal system, international trade has been growing dynamically as well.
Speakers at the conference included the Vice President of the European Commission for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of ITRE Committee Jerzy Buzek, representatives of Litgrid, ENTSO-E, Transelectrica, EU Stream, ROMGAZ and other companies and organizations from Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and other countries. The event was divided into three parts dedicated to energy in the Central Europe and the sectors of electricity and gas.
VMU is a partner of the conference organizers, the Central Europe Energy Partners.
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VMU to Host Annual UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Conference
For the first time in the Baltic States and the Northern Europe, the Feature Conference of Global Media and Information Literacy Week will be held at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) in Kaunas, Lithuania on 24-25 October. The event, the 8th Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue (MILID) Conference, will welcome about 300 participants from all over the world, including leading experts from the USA, France, Great Britain, and other countries.
Conference speakers will discuss the changing media environment, the influence of the media on social and political processes, and the competences and skills necessary for sustainable social, cultural, economic and political development of the world. The aim of the event is to promote international cooperation in the development of media and information literacy (MIL), support the role of academic institutions and their relations with other organizations, establish new partnerships, and stimulate discussions on these issues in the public sphere for the advancement of a smart, creative, and sustainable civil society.
“Over the last 40 years, which have been very dynamic in the context of the media, communications, and social change, UNESCO was one of the first international organizations to take on leadership in the development and promotion of international dialogue on MIL issues. From the Grunwald Declaration of 1982 to the Riga Recommendations of 2016, UNESCO has been inviting countries, organizations, creative industries, educational, scientific and cultural institutions to unite and cooperate in MIL networks and implement projects and initiatives”, one of the conference organizers, head of VMU Dept. of Public Communication, Prof. Kristina Juraitė, explained.
The conference is organized by UNESCO, Vytautas Magnus University, University of Latvia, and the national commissions for UNESCO in Latvia and Lithuania. Both VMU and University of Latvia are members of the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue (MILID) Network. The guest speakers at the event will include Prof. Sonia Livingstone from London School of Economics and Political Science (UK), Dr. Carl Heath (Sweden), Prof. Paul Mihailidis (USA), Prof. Divina Frau-Meigs (France) etc.
The theme of the conference, and of the entire Global MIL Week 2018, is Media and Information Literate Cities: Voices, Powers, and Change Makers. Discussions and paper presentations will focus on education of media and information literacy in the Baltic states, MIL as mediator between cultural industries and the city, the transformation of information needs in the cities, privacy and bullying online, the impact of digital environments in the age of misinformation, the role of MIL in the struggle for gender equality and women’s empowerment, the fight against hate and intolerance etc.
“The academic community has been given the rather important role at the forefront of the media and information literacy movement, which promotes the need for MIL in a sustainable, civil and democratic society. For this reason, this annual conference is primarily an opportunity for Lithuanian scientists to join international media literacy networks, get acquainted with the latest scientific studies and develop relevant research in the future”, Prof. Juraitė said.
Three years ago, the professor and other VMU scientists conducted a study on media literacy in Lithuania. The study, titled “Education of News Literacy: How to Understand Media?”, involved two public surveys where questions were answered by 15-17 year old pupils and adults (from 18 years old) respectively. The results demonstrated that the more educated individuals tend to assess online content more critically and verify the veracity of the news. The experts also prepared guidelines for the Lithuanian media policy: they proposed to review the methods of promoting and sponsoring journalism, with more focus on public interest, and to reassess the teaching of media literacy at schools.
This year VMU has strengthened its relations with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization: the university has opened the UNESCO Dept. of Media and Information Literacy, which conducts MIL research: analyses media consumption, media policy, citizen participation and empowerment trends, and MIL education initiatives. The department also aims to develop MIL competences of students and educators and disseminate information on these issues in Lithuania and internationally.
“This acknowledgement is a result of long cooperation with UNESCO and other international organizations in the field of MIL research and studies. In their development of media research, VMU scientists have been actively involved in UNESCO-initiated MILID and GAPMIL networks and the activities of international scientific associations ECREA, ICA, BAMR, and AABS”, the head of VMU Dept. of Public Communication explained.
According to Prof. Juraitė, the UNESCO conference should be of particular interest to scholars of a wide variety of fields, including communication, journalism, education science, sociology, politics, public administration, arts, creative industries and other areas, as well as education and media policymakers, NGOs, businesses and start-ups.
The 8th annual UNESCO Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue (MILID) Conference will be held on 24-25 October in Kaunas, at VMU Great Hall (S. Daukanto g. 28) and VMU Centre for Research and Studies (V. Putvinskio g. 23). On 26 October, the participants will attend further events in Riga organized by the University of Latvia.
Rector Congratulates VMU on New Academic Year
Vytautas Magnus University’s Rector Prof. Juozas Augutis congratulates the university community, the students and the employees, with the beginning of the new academic year.
Dear community,
The recent period has been filled with tension and changes for the university and its people. However, one tradition never changes: the celebration of the new academic year.
September 1st is an occasion to distance ourselves from daily professional worries and to immerse joyfully into the festivities whose main participants, students and lecturers, mark the day of knowledge and science. Knowledge and science are what unites the academic community, the university, and us.
I invite everyone to be optimistic, trust yourselves, attend the celebration together with VMU colleagues and students, and share not only the knowledge of science but also the positive spirit all through the year.
Let’s begin together, on September 1st.
Rector
Apply Now: Baltic Summer University
This summer Vytautas Magnus University is hosting the Baltic Summer University (BSU): a variety of courses to boost professional skills, learn some Lithuanian and other languages, experience different cultures and meet new people. Registration is still open to all courses except in natural sciences and the Summer Internship Programme.
Baltic Summer University at VMU, which opens in July, will offer a variety of summer courses depending on the students’ interests and needs: up-and-coming musicians will be taught by award winning masters and will perform at the closing ceremony of BSU; those willing to understand why the Baltics are the best summer destination and learn about their culture, art, society, politics and economy should choose the Summer School for Baltic Studies. This year, BSU will have guest lecturers from Latvia and Estonia. Next year it will expand its activities to other Baltic countries and move around them for a more immersive experience.
“Vytautas Magnus University has almost 20 years of experience working in the field of Baltic Studies, sharing its experience in world-renowned networks and collaboration projects, as well as attracting people to learn about Lithuanian language and culture at the University’s oldest summer school. Being confident about our excellence in the field of Baltic Studies, we have come up with the idea to convene professionals from other disciplines to Baltic Summer University and its specialized predecessor, Summer School of Natural Sciences”, the VMU Vice-Rector for International Relations Prof. Ineta Dabašinskienė explained.
52nd ESReDA Seminar on Critical Infrastructures: Enhancing Preparedness & Resilience for the security of citizens and services supply continuity
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On the 30th – 31st May 2017, ESReDA (European Safety, Reliability & Data Association) in collaboration with Lithuanian Energy Institute and Vytautas Magnus University (Department of Mathematics and Statistics) organized the 52nd ESReDA Seminar on Critical Infrastructures: Enhancing Preparedness & Resilience for the security of citizens and services supply continuity (Kaunas, Lithuania).
ESReDA is an international non-profit association grouping 35 member organizations, comprising companies from different industries, research organizations and universities working within the safety and reliability field. ESReDA aims to promote the development and exchange of data, information and knowledge through the promotion of Project Groups (PG) on subjects related to Reliability, Safety and Data Analysis. The dissemination of the knowledge is made by organizing seminars twice a year and publishing the most important results of the Project Groups. (http://www.esreda.org/)
Critical Infrastructures Preparedness (CIP) and Resilience is a major societal security issue in modern society. Critical Infrastructures (CIs) provide vital services to modern societies. Some CIs’ disruptions may endanger the security of the citizen, the safety of the strategic assets and even the governance continuity. In order to report on the most recent developments in the field of the CIP & resilience Modelling, Simulation & Analysis (MS&A) and the availability of the relevant data, ESReDA held its 52nd Seminar on the following thematic: “Critical Infrastructures: Enhancing Preparedness & Resilience for the security of citizens and services supply continuity”.
18 technical papers were presented covering five topics (5 sessions):
- Emergency & Risk Management;
- CIP & Safety Issues;
- CIP & System Safety Engineering;
- MS&A – Natural threats & CI’s Resilience;
- MS&A – Preparedness, Vulnerability & Resilience.
Speakers shared their scientific knowledge and experience issued from areas of Critical Infrastructures Preparedness and Resilience. Different sectors were covered, such as: energy, transport, communication, civil protection, maritime-ports and nuclear reactors.
The technical programme included plenary presentations by leading academics, scientists and risk managers. Speakers shared their scientific knowledge and experience, stimulating our thoughts and getting across methodologies and applications in different areas of Critical Infrastructures Preparedness and Resilience. Plenary presentations were given by:
- Darius Labanauskas, Head of National Security and Crisis Management Unit
(Office of the Government, Lithuania), - Artūras Petkus, Head of Strategic Analysis Division, NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (Lithuania),
- Jurga Lazauskienė, Head of division of Bedrock Geology, Lithuanian Geological Survey, under the Ministry of Environment (Lithuania).
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Besides, a specific Round Table Discussion on Cyber Security was organised – invited speakers shared their experience in the field leaded by the fruitful discussions:
- Vytautas Butrimas, Subject Matter Expert, Research and Lessons Learned Department, NATO Energy Security Center of Excellence (Lithuania),
- Marius Celskis, Information Security Manager, the Lithuania Electricity Transmission System Operator LITGRID AB (Lithuania).
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47 participants from 11 EU countries (Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and United Kingdom) contributed through their presentations, discussions and expertise in establishing the state-of-the-art in the field. The seminar proceedings and the presentations will be available on ESReDA website in compliance with ESReDA politics of free dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge (http://www.esreda.org/).
Contact
General Secretary of ESReDA
Doc. Inga Žutautaitė, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Vytautas Magnus University
inga.zutautaite@vdu.lt
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VMU is Leading University in Region by Internationality
In the latest QS World University Rankings 2018, Vytautas Magnus University was ranked among the top 3 per cent universities of the world. VMU once again proved to be the leading university in Lithuania by its internationality and was ranked by QS as one of four best universities in the country.
VMU was ranked “401+” in all six categories of the QS ranking: academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, faculty students, international faculty, and international students. Compared to last year, the university’s results were improved in five categories.
“Out of about 26,000 universities currently in the world, we performed among the top 3 per cent. This is a significant achievement for Lithuanian universities, as the GDP portion for education is just 1.3 per cent; for comparison, it is 2.2 per cent in Estonia. International rating experts say that all countries with universities in the top 1,000 can be proud of their higher education schools. Over the recent years in Lithuania, VMU and three other universities have belonged to this group of “the best”. QS ranking confirms yet again that VMU–as a classical, wide-spanning liberal arts university–is visible and recognized globally. As the most international university of Lithuania and the region, we will continue to cooperate in various areas with our partners and remain active participants in global processes”, Prof. Ineta Dabašinskienė, VMU Vice-Rector for International Relations, said.
