"Samanomis sąmoningi" (Eng. “Conscious in Moss”) – this is the slogan used for the second year in a row to celebrate 17 May – the Day of Partisan Honour and the Unity of Army and Society. This year, "Samaningi kilometrai" (Eng. “Kilometres of Moss”) hikes took place simultaneously in 7 regions of Lithuania: Radviliškis, Tauragė, Kėdainiai, Lazdijai-Alytus, Telšiai, Širvintos, and Utena-Švenčionys. On the initiative of Rima Kubiliūtė, the Head of the Public Relations Group at VU KnF, an international group of faculty representatives hiked in the Lazdijai-Alytus region. According to the organisers, this route attracted the largest number of people – about 700 hikers.

After the opening ceremony at the Simnas Cultural Centre and the honouring of the fallen partisans at the Simnas Cemetery, the participants went on a 12-kilometre hike to the site of the Kalniškės battle. The commander of the General Adolfas Ramanauskas Combat Training Centre Col. Rimantas Jarmalavičius led the hike and shared the stories with the hikers. At the finish line, there was a riflemen’s feast, an exhibition of children's drawings, a gallery of partisans' portraits, and a concert "Songs of the Freedom Struggles" by the pianist Darius Mažintas and the soloist Agnė Sabulytė.

On 30 April, students of the Bachelor's study programme Marketing Technologies, together with the head of this programme, Prof. Dr Dalia Krikščiūnienė, visited the office of Hostinger that is located in Kaunas. The company is a global provider of web development platforms and hosting services, and one of the largest IT sector companies in Lithuania. Hostinger is a special social partner of Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty, having contributed to the development of the study programme Marketing Technologies at Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty five years ago.

“It is a pleasure that we are discovering new opportunities for cooperation in the study process and for students' careers. This visit to the office of Hostinger in Kaunas is not only an introduction to one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Lithuania, but also a real inspiration for the third-year students. Seeing how global digital marketing and technology processes work in the real world gives students a better understanding of where their chosen field is heading. We are glad that Hostinger is not only a social partner of our programme, but also a valuable source of knowledge, internships and career opportunities for a new generation of technology and marketing professionals,” says the head of this study programme, Prof. Dr Dalia Krikščiūnienė.

The faculties of Vilnius University and Vilnius Academy of Arts, located in the Kaunas Old Town, have been developing various academic initiatives for decades and have found new common contact points. One of them is the international scientific conference “Creativity and Culture”, which will take place from 16 to 22 November this year. The conference is aimed at researchers, students, professionals in the culture and creative industries, and all those interested in the theories and practices of creative entrepreneurship and arts and culture management and marketing. The 16th international conference will foster cross-border debate and cooperation and assess the impact of the changing cultural environment on the marketing, management, economics, finance, and politics of the creative and cultural industries. This year, in addition to thematic sessions, engaging workshops with professional artists will also take place.

Creativity is the most valuable market currency

Prof. Dr Virginija Jurėnienė, a researcher at Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty, is convinced that the activities of modern cultural and art organisations require not only creativity, but also competence in management, marketing, the use of AI tools, the application of innovations, and, in particular, the knowledge of the increasingly popular blockchain technology, which makes it possible to foresee the digitalisation tendencies and create innovative solutions.

“Rapid technological progress is a serious challenge for visual artists: copyright protection issues and the feasibility of using the artwork for AI teaching purposes emerge. The problem of digital art management has also not been forgotten, as digital, AI-based artists and their visual art are already present in the art market. Exhibition curators are adapting to such a market. Still, oftentimes decisions need to be based on calculations and arguments, not just hunches,” says Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty researcher Prof. Dr Virginija Jurėnienė.

A new format for discoveries

“This year's conference will allow artists, scholars, and creators to share their unique experiences, insights, and creative solutions, contributing to the development of various cultural processes. Undoubtedly, such a space, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas, will contribute to a broader discourse on creativity and culture in the coming year. The forthcoming scientific conference and workshop will be a space for professionals worldwide to share ideas and creative explorations,” says Prof. Jonas Audėjaitis, the Dean of the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts.

He hopes that this discussion will not only stimulate the development of innovative ideas but also open up dialogue between different disciplines and provide new and innovative approaches to creative working practices and research. Diverse cultural contexts are also expected to allow understanding of how creativity can be applied in social, economic, and ecological contexts.

“Regardless of the participants' field of research or experience, this conference will create a platform where everyone can express themselves and share their views. We hope to encourage young creators and researchers to participate actively in this debate and become problem solvers. This way, the conference will not only enrich the knowledge and skills of the participants but also contribute to the creation of lasting professional relationships that can become valuable resources for future collaborations and the initiation of new projects,” says Prof. Jonas Audėjaitis.

The future lies in interdisciplinarity

Prof. Dr Virginija Jurėnienė, a researcher at the Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty, says that until 2023, a group of researchers from the scientific group “Cultural Industries and Innovations” of the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics at Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty had been organising a separate international scientific conference under the same name. Still, in 2023, the researchers joined forces with the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts.

“The result last year was already excellent and surpassed expectations: the conference has grown in size and interest by combining arts management and art making. This year, the professionalism of our colleagues has allowed us to create a new image and a new conference website. This is particularly important for the overall image of the conference in Lithuania and internationally,” Prof. Dr Virginija Jurėnienė is delighted.

The conference, as a whole, she said, reflects the quality of the neighbourhood cooperation. Equally important, joint organising and scientific committees have been set up, and collaboration has become more clearly regulated.

The organisers are convinced that the international scientific conference “Creativity and Culture” will become an essential event in cultural and academic discourse, stimulating creative initiatives and interdisciplinary collaboration and consolidating strong professional ties. It is hoped that the dialogues and exchange of ideas at the conference will have a lasting impact on the participants and contribute to creative and cultural change both in Lithuania and internationally.

More information can be found here.

On 30 April 2025 at 11.00 Career Consultant and Educator Mr. Vivek Nagpaul will share actionable insights on using techniques to motivate international students and nurture their creativity. He will use his own experience as an international student in the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden and as a teacher working effectively with over 50 nationalities from Europe, Asia and the Americas since 2002. He will share insights on how to successfully teach students from India, the Netherlands and South America.

Mr. Vivek Nagpaul, Founder of EuroAsianNetwork is an international higher education and career management expert with 30 years of multicultural experience in educational business.

The lecture will be held in English. Location of the lecture: Vega auditorium.

More about Vivek_Nagpaul.pdf

On 29 April 2025 at 15:30 Career Consultant and Educator Mr. Vivek Nagpaul will share actionable insights on finding good internships and jobs and starting a business in India, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK which are applicable to Lithuania and other Schengen countries. He will highlight how to build and leverage a network, how to present your unique personality and profile as well as your cultural identity and experience for supporting effective working and doing business across cultures.

The lecture will be held in English. Location of the lecture: 7 auditorium.

More about Vivek_Nagpaul.pdf

We invite the VU Kaunas Faculty community to an egg-decorating workshop as we approach Easter! The workshop will take place on Wednesday, 16 April.

This is an excellent opportunity to unleash your creativity, learn the secrets of traditional Easter egg decorating and have fun together.

The workshop will start during the long break at 11:15.

You can join anytime until 16:30.

The VR Group will provide all the necessary equipment and festive treats.

We look forward to seeing in Council Basement (Muitinės st. 12).

The Research Council of Lithuania is continuing its summer internship competition and announcing a call for the second stage – the submission of student applications – to encourage student involvement in research, strengthen their scientific skills, and support their career in science.

Submission of Student Applications: from 8 April 2025 to 8 May 2025 at 3:00 PM. A student may submit no more than two applications for summer internship positions in the Council’s electronic system at https://projektai.lmt.lt/#login

On 1st April 2025 at 13:45 Southwestern Advantage District Sales Leader Mr. Veiko Tell will hold a lecture about positive attitude and self-talk. The lecture will be held in English. Location of the lecture: Prof. Vladas Gronskas auditorium.

During the lecture, Mr. Tell will share what is considered a positive attitude and what impact it has on our life. The speaker will also shed light on the story you tell yourself about yourself. This lecture discusses ways to enhance self-confidence, improve self-image, and cultivate a problem-solving approach.

About the speaker

Mr. Veiko Tell is a District Sales Leader in Southwestern Advantage. During 20 years with Southwestern Advantage, Mr. Tell has coached over 500 salespeople and numerous sales leaders from different countries.

 Mr. Veiko Tell has experience in sales and leadership in Eastern Europe and Northern America. He is the founder and leader of Southwestern Advantage Lithuanian division. Mr. Veiko Tell has a Bachelor’s degree from Tartu University and later has upgraded his qualification in universities in Estonia and the USA.

Mr. Tell is also a real estate investor focusing on both short-term and long-term rental residential properties. His real estate portfolio that he is running together with his wife includes properties in Estonia and South Spain.