VMU VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY MAGNUS VMU VYTAUTAS VMU VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY SITY GNUS UNIVER S MA TA AU VMU VYT VMU VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY VMU VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY budding alchemist* appears at a university, A UNIVERSITY AWhere art and science show you his way To celebrate a blend of diversity, And keep you dreaming awake. Mining for gold, you get something pure: A magic potion of knowledge and passion, So potent, so liberating, so true You feel free to pursue and to ponder... Everyone here is an aspiring mage: Turning their future into a wonder. n the modern context, an alchemist has very little in common with a reclusive scientist who’s working in a shack somewhere and trying to turn lead into gold. Today’s alchemist is a modern man, a philosopher whose Iwork and ideas transcend his own era, and who sees and perceives the world from a much wider perspective. For such a person, even “gold” has a completely different meaning: instead of the pursuit of a noble metal or elixir for eternal physical life, it signifies enlightenment and attainment of useful nuggets of wisdom. Here, gold symbolizes the highest consciousness and an extremely perceptive mind. Where can one find such people today? Indubitably, at the university. Vytautas Magnus University is the magnet which attracts talented individuals from Lithuania and all over the world. Its geographical setting is no less special than its history or mission: Kaunas is the academic and cultural capital of Lithuania. Our location is not only a comfortable vantage point for observation of the world, but also a great launching pad for reaching it. Lithuanian climate is highly favourable to intellectuals: its four seasons are four transformations where peaceful times so suited for contemplation and analysis are periodically replaced by change and movement. People have to keep in constant motion here; after all, movement leads to a life that is not only healthy but also full of intellectual challenges. CONTENTS 10 21 AIR 52 55 WATER Liberal Arts University Doctoral Studies Liberal Studies Environment Innovative Research VMU in Brief Open to the World 56 59 SULFUR Engaged To Multicultural Communication Thinking Different, and Thinking Green as Applied at VMU World Lithuanian University 22 27 MERCURY A Glimpse of History: 60 69 EARTH 25 Years of Reestablished VMU in Kaunas After Lectures VMU Honorary Doctors and Professors Student Organizations Exploring VMU 28 51 FIRE Vibrant City of Kaunas Faculties Places To Discover in Kaunas The Faculty of Arts The Faculty of Catholic Theology 70 79 SALT The Faculty of Economics and Management Scholarships The Faculty of Humanities Non-Degree Studies The Faculty of Informatics Degree Studies: Application and Admission The Faculty of Law International Office The Music Academy Contacts The Faculty of Natural Sciences The Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy The Faculty of Social Sciences 07 THINGS VMU CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE: Develop critical thinking Become more open-minded Find a kingdom of happiness Discover other cultures, languages, religions, societies of the world Make new friends in a warm and honest community 08 Reach a creative mindset Laugh your way to salvation Step back and take a new direction Make your humour work for you Dive into a whole new state of mind 09 AIR Liberal Arts University Liberal Studies Environment VMU in Brief Open to the World Engaged To Multicultural Communication 010 011 LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY From the very first days of the and become more open-minded. university’s re-establishment in This is where the country’s future is 1989, the experiences of Western built. Such is the Vytautas Magnus universities have been an important University of today. influence. VMU was the first Vytautas Magnus University keeps Lithuanian institution of higher in step with the ever-changing education where Bachelor’s, Master’s world: renews itself, adapts to the and doctoral degree studies were demands and generates new ideas. offered. Modern conception of The university encourages discovering studies, based on the model of other cultures, religions, societies of Harvard University, is implemented the world and nurturing the public here. VMU differs from other spirit. Special attention is paid to Lithuanian universities in the freedom hroughout its short but exciting aspects more and more appreciated it gives the students to choose and history, Vytautas Magnus University design their study schedule. in the constantly changing planet – has been faithfully nurturing the maturation of ideas, expression Tand continuing its distinguished The VMU community – students, of personality, communication, traditions. What sets this university lecturers, graduates – is united by partnership. This allows VMU to remain apart is its willingness to organize the idea of artes liberales, i.e. the an important and significant source studies, scientific research and life classical university of liberal arts. of intellectual thought in Kaunas, of the community in a different way. Warm, honest interaction and liberal Lithuania, Europe and the world. Intellectuals from Lithuania and humanist spirit always follow and abroad have participated in the re- provide strength to the community. establishment of VMU and defined Classical liberal arts universities are its goals, which are being pursued the labs of modern life, educating to this day. Here, utmost importance bold young people who are not afraid is given to aesthetics, honesty, to experiment and are on their way to tolerance, dialogue and the ability becoming professional contributors to think independently, while the to their own country’s future. A forerunning principles are liberal and classical university is not governed by democratic. Creativity, progress and pragmatic matters. Formulas do not development of national culture are apply here. This is the space for young all brought into sharp focus. people to develop critical thinking 012 LIBERAL STUDIES ENVIRONMENT ytautas Magnus University’s Vytautas Magnus University also sciences, i.e. the main focus of the distinguishing feature is wide- provides the opportunity for persons university, are readily available. The spanning general university to attend their chosen courses as free library provides both traditional and Veducation, which not only awards listeners. After studies, free listeners online resources in the form of over the graduates with Bachelor’s or receive a transcript of records (list 315 000 printed materials and access Master’s degrees but also raises active of the attended subjects, received to 46 licensed Internet databases members of the society who are able credits and evaluations). containing almost 228 000 full-text to think independently and creatively. documents. It boasts three lending Many VMU alumni do not shy away The university is particularly focused departments and ten reading from learning and improving for all of on the training of researchers who rooms, which have 500 workplaces. their lives. conduct independent research, Resources and services are provided promote experimental development not only in the physical space, Local and incoming international (social or cultural) and seek scientific but in the virtual environment as students have the opportunity to solutions. The university offers PhD well. The library also has a unique study modern and classical foreign studies in 18 different fields of the sector for manuscripts and special languages: Arabic, English, Chinese, humanities, social, biomedical and collections, which preserves the Danish, Estonian, French, German, physical sciences. When Vytautas heritage of manuscripts related to Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Magnus University was re-opened the university and its history, as Latin, Latvian, Lithuanian (for in 1989, it took just four years until well as personal archives and the foreigners), Norwegian, Portuguese, doctoral studies were launched. manuscript heritage of Lithuanian Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Lithuanian From 1993 until 2013, more than 523 arts, literature, culture, history and sign language and three kinds of doctoral dissertations were defended public figures. Greek: Ancient, New Testament in the university. and modern. If there is enough Fast Wi-Fi Internet is available in 95 demand, the old Icelandic and VMU Library is a great place to percent of the university area. VMU Serbian languages are also taught study and research. It is constantly students can get accommodation at here. A large crowd of lecturers improved and tailored to the 3 dorms with more than 900 rooms. who hail from the USA, Italy, France, community’s needs. Scholars and University also provides accessibility- Germany, Japan, Korea and other students receive high quality services friendly studying conditions. Every countries teach their own native here and can find any material in year 3 million litas are handed out languages at VMU. Special courses of the blink of an eye – books and in scholarships for the students, and Lithuanian language are also taught documents on the humanities, over 400 000 litas are allocated for to foreigners at the university. biomedicine, social and physical various benefits. 013 VMU IN BRIEF TUDY FACILITIES STUDIES ARE ORGANIZED BY 10 FACULTIES S The university has 17 buildings in Kaunas and three representative offices in Vilnius, Kharkov and Washington D.C. Arts Modern lecture rooms, computer classes and labs Catholic Theology Library holding over 270 000 books and other publications