These Study Programmes Are Carried out in English and Are Offered to English-Speaking Students As Full-Time Degree Programmes
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CONTENTS VYTAUTAS 02 Liberal Arts University MAGNUS 06 A Glimpse of History UNIVERSITY 10 Wide Variety of Programmes 12 Faculties KAUNAS LITHUANIA 32 Choose Your Programme! 40 Innovative Research WWW.VDU.LT 42 Open to the World 44 Welcome to Kaunas 54 Contacts 1 „arTESLIBERAL L ARTSIBERA ULes“NIV uNIERSITYVERSITETAS >> >> LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY >> LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY Throughout its short but exciting history, Vytautas Magnus University The university is an exceptionally important institution to the state. For has been faithfully nurturing and continuing its distinguished the members of the academic community, it serves as the hotbed for traditions. What sets this university apart is its willingness to organize science, improvement and communication. It is not just an institution studies, scientific research and life of the community in a different way. of higher learning; it is much more. It is the perfect embodiment Intellectuals from Lithuania and abroad have participated in the re- of freedom and autonomy, which the humanity had first achieved a establishment of VMU and defined its goals, which are being pursued thousand years ago when the first university was opened and helped to this day. Here, utmost importance is given to honesty, tolerance and people learn to live as a community adhering to ideals of this kind. dialogue, while the forerunning principles are liberal and democratic. Creativity, progress and development of national culture are all brought Classical liberal arts universities are the labs of modern life, educating into sharp focus. bold young people who are not afraid to experiment and are on their way to becoming professional contributors to their own country’s future. From the very first days of the university’s re-establishment in 1989, the A classical university is not governed by pragmatic matters. Formulas experiences of Western universities have been an important influence. do not apply here. This is the space for young people to develop critical VMU was the first Lithuanian institution of higher education where thinking and become more open-minded. This is where the country’s Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral degree studies were offered. Modern future is built. Such is the Vytautas Magnus University of today. conception of studies, based on the model of Harvard University, is implemented here. VMU differs from other Lithuanian universities Vytautas Magnus University keeps in step with the ever-changing in the freedom it gives the students to choose and design their study world: renews itself, adapts to the demands and generates new ideas. schedule. The university encourages discovering other cultures and nurturing the public spirit. Special attention is paid to aspects more and more The VMU community – students, lecturers, graduates – is united by the appreciated in the constantly changing planet – the maturation of ideas, idea of artes liberales, i.e. the classical university of liberal arts. Warm, expression of personality, communication, partnership. This allows VMU honest interaction and liberal humanist spirit always follow and provide to remain an important and significant source of intellectual thought in strength to the community. Kaunas, Lithuania, Europe and the world. 3 LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY >> L VMU STUDIES ARE ORGANIZED BY IN BRIEF 10 FACULTIES U S > Arts F > Catholic Theology STUDY K > Economics and Management > Humanities PROGRAMMES > Informatics > Law > 36 BA programmes > Music Academy > 58 MA programmes > Natural Sciences > Integrated Legal Studies IN > Political Science and Diplomacy > Studies of Pedagogy (Non-degree) > Social Sciences > Doctoral studies USE L > Website www.vdu.lt/en COMMUNITY > Facebook: www.facebook.com/VMU.International > Around 8000 Bachelor’s and > International Office: www.trt.vdu.lt/EN/ 2000 Master’s degree students > Degree Studies in English: www.vdu.lt/degreestudiesineng > More than 550 scholars and researchers > BA and MA Courses in English: www.vdu.lt/bamacoursesineng > More than 23 000 university > PhD Studies in English: www.vdu.lt/phdstudiesineng graduates (since 1989) 4 LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY >> INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY RECOGNITION MANAGEMENT > Full member of the European University > The Council, an institution of public Association (EUA) observation and care > Member of the European Association for > The Senate, a self-governing body of the International Education (EAIE) university (54 members) > Member of the Baltic Sea Region University > The Rector (since 2006, prof. Zigmas Lydeka) Network (BSRUN) > The Rectorate (21 members) > Member of the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS), etc. COLLABORATIONS STUDY > 17 buildings in downtown FACILITIES Kaunas and nearby AND INTERNATIONAL > Modern lecture rooms, STUDIES computer classes and labs > VMU has 159 partners of the LLP/Erasmus > Library holding over 270 000 books and other program in 28 countries publications or texts > The university has relations determined by > 3 lending departments and 8 reading rooms bilateral collaborative agreements with 75 higher with 437 workplaces education institutions from 28 countries > Computer-assisted language learning lab > One of the 19 member universities of the SANAKO LAB 300 Campus Europae network > Disabled-friendly studying environment – > 8 Master’s degree study programmes in English university spaces, rooms and dorms are adapted and over 500 BA and MA courses delivered in for use by disabled people, while the lecturers English consider the students’ needs and individualize > In 2010, 270 members of academic staff went the learning process abroad and 173 came to VMU from foreign > 95% of university locations are free Wi-Fi universities (wireless Internet) zones > In 2010, 203 VMU students went abroad on > Intranet (internal network) system FirstClass student exchange (participating in LLP/Erasmus, Campus Europae and bilateral exchange programs) 5 A GlIMPSE OF HISTORY >> 6 A GlIMPSE OF HISTORY >> TIMELINE OF MAJOR A GlIMPSE OF HISTORY EVENTS IN VMU HISTORY The inception of Vytautas Magnus University historical memory. To this day, the values 1920 – The Program of Higher Education is established in coincided with the birth of Lithuanian of VMU remain the same – modernity, Kaunas. statehood. Having declared the country’s partnership, liberal and communal thoughts. 1922 – The Lithuanian University is established in Kaunas. political independence on February 16th 1930 – The Lithuanian University is granted the name of in 1918, the key figures of Lithuanian The Soviet government closed down the Vytautas Magnus. university in 1950, but some of its faculties enlightenment considered it a high priority 1950 – Vytautas Magnus University is closed down by the task to establish a Lithuanian university. Four served as a foundation for other schools Soviet government. years later, after the reorganization of the of higher education: Kaunas University of 1989 – Vytautas Magnus University is re-established. Program of Higher Education, the University Technology, Kaunas University of Medicine, of Lithuania was opened in Kaunas. It Lithuanian University of Agriculture and 1990 – The VMU Statute is passed, legitimating studies of three levels at the university. VMU becomes a member of the remained the only Lithuanian school of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy. European University Association. higher education during the interwar period. Soon it became a vitally important breeding Thanks to emigrants, the academic tradition 1991 – Doctoral studies are established. Tradition of granting ground for cultural, scientific and modern of VMU not only survived, but also kept the title of Honorary Doctor is re-established. national ideas. developing for long years until restoration 1992 – The first class of Bachelor’s degree students graduate. of independence. In 1989, the university was 1994 – The tradition of granting the title of Honorary When the 500th anniversary of the death re-established thanks to the collective efforts Professor is revived. of Grand Duke Vytautas Magnus was of Lithuanian and emigrant scientists. At the 1995 – The first class of Master‘s degree students graduate. commemorated in 1930, the University of time, it was the first autonomous school of 1998 – Modern library and reading rooms are opened. Lithuania was renamed to honour his name higher education in the country. and the occasion. 1999 – The first group of students travel abroad for part- The Statute of University legitimated the time studies as participants of Socrates/Erasmus exchange The university was unique during the principle of academic freedom and the programme. interwar period due to its free spirit, unity of science and studies. It introduced 2000 – The Lithuanian Emigration Institute is established. eventful and exciting social life, a nurtured the principle of three level studies and used 2004–2006 – The Great Charter of European Universities is sense of community. Most of the famous a modern studying model based on an signed. VMU joins the project Campus Europae and becomes contemporary intellectuals, highest ranking American concept, which was completely a member of the Baltic Sea Region University Network Lithuanian officials and government figures unique at the time. The concept gives (BSRUN). studied here. Vytautas Magnus University more preference to wide-spanning, general 2008 – The Baltic Graduate School for Social Sciences was also the place where the most famous university education, as opposed to narrow and Humanities is founded by the consortium