The graduation season is just around the corner, when St Johns’ Church and other venues chosen for the official diploma-awarding ceremonies will be filled with the joyful bustle of graduates. As we approach this celebration, please be reminded that you are welcome to wear a VU cap during the ceremony.

‘The student cap is a special symbol for all students. It is a distinctive sign that allows us to identify with our Alma Mater even more and carry forward the spirit of studenthood with determination. By wearing the cap, we show that we are part of the Vilnius University community, which embraces and cherishes the University’s traditions and values,’ President of VU SA Klėja Merčaitytė said.

The end of the academic year celebration is an excellent opportunity to remember our academic roots and show our pride in the VU community. The cap distinguishes VU graduates from those of other higher education institutions and also helps maintain a uniform and recognisable style. Moreover, it is also a much more comfortable option for summer graduation ceremonies.

The VU cap is a symbol that reflects the academic spirit of VU, respect for knowledge, and community spirit. The cap was one of the most important signs of belonging to the academic community of the University, which the Jesuits founded in the 16th century. It reflected a student’s dedication to scholarship, the pursuit of knowledge, and respect for the University. These shared values have inspired the revival of the tradition of student caps today.

VU caps and other merchandise are available from the online shop and at the physical VU merchandise store at Šv. Jono g. 12, Vilnius (entrance from Pilies Street).

The Research Council of Lithuania seeks to create favourable conditions for students of Lithuanian research and higher education institutions to become acquainted with the international academic environment that encourages student involvement in scientific research. At the same time, students are given the opportunity to present their academic interests, establish connections with international student communities and researchers, and foster international cooperation. To support this goal, the Council reimburses the expenses of students participating in summer school programmes abroad.

Eligibility – Bachelor’s and Master’s level students whose weighted average grade for all subjects taken in the most recent semester is not lower than 8.0 (on a 10-point scale).
At the time of application and throughout the summer school period, students must have a valid study agreement with Vilnius University.
Summer school period – The start and end dates of the summer school programmes are determined individually by the institutions organising the programmes. Therefore, they may not coincide with the summer holiday periods of Lithuanian or foreign higher education institutions.

Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty, Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics continues the series of seminars initiated by Professor Vladas K. Gronskas, dedicated to analyzing sustainable state development in the context of a mixed economy.

The fifty-first seminar will take place on June 3, 2025, at 13:00. The link to join the seminar online via Microsoft Teams online platform. Seminar Topic: Assessing Sustainable Agriculture in the EU/Baltic Countries Using Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) and EUROSTAT Data Using Stakeholder’s View.  Language of the presentation will be English.

The seminar will discuss the evaluation of sustainable agricultural development in the Baltic countries in the context of EU strategies such as the Green Deal and Common Agricultural Policy. We will explore how environmental, economic, and social indicators – such as soil health, water use, and biodiversity can be assessed using the TOPSIS method to support evidence-based policy and practice.

About the speaker

Dr Ahmad Bathaei is a researcher at the Lithuanian Center for Social Sciences, Institute of Economics and Rural Development. He holds two doctoral degrees: a PhD in Economics from the Lithuanian Center for Social Sciences and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, focused on the economic assessment of agricultural sustainability in the Baltic States, and a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, with a specialization in agile and sustainable supply chains in the Iranian automotive industry.
His interdisciplinary research includes sustainable development, circular economy, supply chain resilience, and the application of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. Dr. Bathaei has collaborated on international research projects and published widely in high-impact journals. His recent work explores the potential of digital transformation in enhancing circularity and sustainability in manufacturing and global supply chains.

On behalf of the organizers,

Prof. Habil. Dr Remigijus Čiegis

On 20 June, 2025 (Friday) the VU Kaunas Faculty will hold the graduation ceremony for the class of 2025 at the Kaunas Lutheran Holy Trinity Church (Muitinės Str. 8a).

The event will also be streamed live via Kaunas Faculty YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

The Faculty courtyards will be open for guests of the ceremony from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Family members, friends and lecturers are invited to congratulate the graduates after the diplomas are awarded and are welcome to take photos in front of the Sundial or the VU KnF photo wall at the Linden Courtyard.

Photographs and video recordings will be made during the event.

PROGRAMME

From 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM the diplomas will be awarded to:

- Graduates of the full-time Bachelor programmes: English and Another Foreign Language (Swedish), Audiovisual Translation, and Lithuanian Philology and Advertising;
- Graduates of the Master programmes: Audiovisual Translation, Public Discourse Linguistics, and Lithuanian Literature and Creative Writing.

From 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM the diplomas will be awarded to:

- Graduates of the full-time Bachelor programmes: Applied Systems of Finance and Accounting, and Economics and Management;
- Graduates of the Master programmes: Marketing and Sales Management and International Business Management.

We look forward to seeing you at the ceremony.

*Graduates unable to attend the event may collect their diploma from the Dean’s office. Please contact the Study Department by phone: +370 37 422 523 or by e-mail   for an appointment to collect the diploma during summer time.

Join us for an informal discussion on how a well-known taste can become a powerful communication and marketing tool. The practitioners will answer the moderator's (and your) provocative questions, share proven recipes for starting a business and talk about their ambitions to conquer international markets with Lithuanian flavours.

And most importantly, you'll find out whether šaltibarščiai really belong in Lithuanian cuisine. What is the difference between the ones our ancestors enjoyed and the ones we now enjoy at our mothers' houses?

“We founded Lucci Bakery as a family bakery. We are true food enthusiasts: it's not just about taste, it's about what people put in their mouths. We wanted to create a place where we could share our values, our love for quality food and fulfil our dream of owning a private business,” says Eglė Lučinskienė, a founder of the Italian bakery “Lucci Bakery”, and a graduate of the Business Administration programme at VU Kaunas Faculty.

“Lithuanian vegetables on foreign markets are becoming a story about clean nature, responsible farming and deep traditions rather than just a product. Our aim is not only to sell, but also to convey the values that are encoded in every product,” Tadas Žirgulis, a Commercial Manager at “Kvedarų ūkis” Ltd., a graduate of the Bachelor's degree programme in Economics and Master's degree programme in Marketing at VU Kaunas Faculty, is convinced.

“Borscht (hot or cold) is one of the oldest dishes in our region. One version of borscht, batviniai, has been associated with Lithuanian gastronomic identity for almost 400 years. The cold version of borscht has been called Lithuanian since the early 19th century. We have a unique dish, and I am very happy that šaltibarščiai is such an important element of Lithuanian gastronomic identity even today, in the 21st century,” says Prof. Rimvydas Laužikas, a heritage communication researcher, historian, archaeologist, professor at the Faculty of Communication of Vilnius University, and a member of the Evaluation Commission of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.

The discussion will be moderated by Martynas Radzevičius, a business development and marketing professional, lecturer and researcher in digital marketing, sales and risk management at VU Kaunas Faculty

Encourage each other to take part and invite the students – the content of the event relates to many study programmes, and it is worth introducing foreign students to traditional cuisine.

🥣 A tasting of traditional šaltibarščiai with Prof. Rimvydas Laužikas.
📅 28 May 2025, 11:15 am
📍 Muitinės str. 12, Linden Yard
🎟 The event will be held in Lithuanian.

The defence of the Bachelor’s and Master‘s Theses is open to the public. All those interested are welcome to attend.

The defence in the English language of the Bachelor's study programme:

English and Another Foreign Language (Swedish) on 2 June 2025 at 10:00 EEST, at V. Žulio auditorium.

Audiovisual Translation on 9 June 2025 at 11 EEST, at A. Ružės auditorium

The defence in English of the Master's study programme:

International Business Management on 2 June 2025 at 10:00 EEST, at auditorium No. 5.

Audiovisual Translation on 9 June 2025 at 11 EEST, at A. Ružės auditorium

Good luck to the undergraduate and graduate students. See you at the graduation ceremony on June 20 (we will share more detailed information about the graduation ceremony soon).

The Institute of Languages, Literature and Translation Studies invites to an online lecture "The Role of Cultural Magazines in Propaganda" by the guest lecturer Paula Sekača from Liepaja University, Latvia on 27 May at 13:45. The lecture will be held in English. Link to join the lecture on Teams. 

About the speaker

Paula Sekača, Masters degree in Writing Studies (Liepāja University), currently doing PhD in Language and Literature Studies (RTU Liepāja academy). PhD title "Nazi Propaganda Narratives in Cultural Magazines in Latvia (1942–1944)". Teaches Basic German (in-dept and as a foreign language), Text Analysis, 20th Century and Modern German Literature, German Culture and History for bachelors in European Language and Culture Studies program, and Digital Humanities for masters in Writing.

The event is organised by Assoc. Prof. Dr Eglė Keturakienė, the Institute of Languages, Literature and Translation Studies.

"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.