Orhun Gürkan is now an Operations Manager at “Concentrix”, a global customer experience services and technologies company, providing support to the world’s best brands. Eight years ago, when he was a Bachelor's student of Business Administration and Management, he deliberately challenged himself by moving nearly 2,000 kilometres away from his home in Turkey to come to Kaunas for his studies. Orhun expected local relations to be different from those he was used to, and his expectations were partly right. Still, in a good way: the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University pleasantly surprised him, and Orhun is convinced that the city of Kaunas is rich in experiences.

“I have chosen Kaunas for Erasmus studies so that I could enjoy a city that is not as big as the capital, but still big enough to enjoy and have activities around,” says a former Erasmus exchange student. “I had many options at first to choose from, but my priority was to live in an environment very different from mine.”

As a naturally social person, Orhun says that he sought new kinds of social interactions. “Everyone at the Kaunas Faculty was so supportive, helpful, and friendly. I got into so many activities and events and met so many people from the University, which was a different experience compared to others I met outside of the University,” says O. Gürkan.

Congratulations to everyone who started their studies at the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University this year! May your first steps in your academic journey be ambitious, and may your years of study be filled not only with knowledge but also with new friendships, inspiring discussions, and creative experiences.
We also congratulate the lecturers, senior students, and staff as they embark on another year of collaboration, discovery, and growth.
We wish you inspiration, cooperation, and success in implementing meaningful ideas!

On 1 September, Vilnius University (VU) will invite students and lecturers of all faculties to start the new academic year with a traditional community march along Gediminas Avenue from the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania to the VU Great Court and a solemn ceremony of RENOVATIO STUDIORUM.

Starting from 29 August, the University will invite all first-year students to the #StudentAUK integration days, which is an excellent opportunity to learn everything about electronic systems, services, studies, leisure opportunities, and life at the University and your faculty, as well as to meet your fellow students, senior students, lecturers, and faculty leaders. This is a great chance to feel part of a big VU community. For more information on all Vilnius University events, please visit this website.

Join our remote lectures, where we will provide detailed information about the most important news that will make it easier for you to start your studies!

• Start at VU: how to use e-services? Friday, 29 August, 10:00–11:00 AM (in English). More information about the lecture can be found here. REGISTRATION LINK for the lecture.
• Explore Everything the University Offers: Services for Students 101. Friday, 29 August, 11:30–13:00 (in English). The remote lecture is intended for postgraduate students. More information about the lecture can be found here. Online link to join the lecture.

Monday, 1 September, 10 AM, the opening ceremony of the academic year at the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University in the Linden Courtyard

10:00 AM–12:00 PM | The Dean’s greetings, the Speed Friending chat game and shakes of academic discussions for students, lecturers and administration staff.
12:30 PM | Departure by bus to Vilnius (the bus will wait in front of Vytautas the Great Church, Aleksoto str. 3) to participate in the traditional VU community march and celebration. REGISTRATION LINK for students, lecturers, alumni and faculty staff wishing to go to Vilnius.
2:45 PM | Ceremonial march of the Vilnius University community along Gediminas Avenue from the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania to the Great Courtyard of Vilnius University.
3:00 – 4:30 PM | Ceremony of the beginning of the academic year RENOVATIO STUDIORUM in the Grand Courtyard, where VU leaders and guests will greet the audience, the first-year students will take their oath, and the beginning of the new academic year will be officially announced.
5:15 PM | Departure back to Kaunas from the parking lot at Cathedral Square. Return to Kaunas is planned for around 7 PM.

FIRST-YEAR MASTER'S STUDENTS MEETING WITH STUDY PROGRAMME COMMITTEES AT THE KAUNAS FACULTY OF VILNIUS UNIVERSITY

Monday, 1 September

• 6 PM | Art Management students’ meeting with the Chairwoman of the study programme committee, Assoc. Prof. Dr Audronė Rimkutė, at the Video Conference Studio (Building IV, Muitinės str. 14, Kaunas);
• 6 PM | International Business Management students' meeting with the Chairwoman of the study programme committee, Assoc. Prof. Dr Ingrida Šarkiūnaitė, at the Auditorium No. V (Building I, Muitinės str. 8, Kaunas).

* Auditorium changes are possible; follow the website for updates.

INTRODUCTION DAYS FOR FIRST-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Tuesday, 2 September

10:00–10:45 AM | Lectio Prima “I Am Proud to Study at VU or From Here We Rise to the Stars” Prof. Dr Virginija Jurėnienė’s lecture on the history of Vilnius University. The lecture will take place at Prof. Vladas Gronskas Auditorium, Building II, Muitinės str. 8, Kaunas
11.00 AM–12.00 PM | First-year students meet with the chairs of the Bachelor's programme committees

• Information Systems and Cyber Security, Assoc. Prof. Dr Ilona Veitaitė – Auditorium No. III, Building II, Muitinės str. 8, Kaunas
• Marketing Technologies, Prof. Dr Dalia Krikščiūnienė – Auditorium No. VIII, Building III, Karaliaus Mindaugo pr. 4, Kaunas
• Economics and Management, Assoc. Prof. Dr Ilona Kiaušienė – Auditorium Vega, Building II, Muitinės str. 8, Kaunas
• Language and Artificial Intelligence Management, Assoc. Prof. Dr Dovilė Vengalienė – M. Biržiška Auditorium, Building IV, Muitinės str. 14, Kaunas

* Auditorium changes are possible; follow the website for updates.

1:00–1:15 PM | What Issues Should Be Addressed to the Study Department? Presented by Indrė Višinskaitė, International Studies Administrator. The lecture will be held at Prof. Vladas Gronskas Auditorium, Building II, Muitinės str. 8, Kaunas
1:15–1:30 PM | International Study Opportunities at Vilnius University. Presented by Livija Grikietis, International Studies Coordinator. The lecture will be held at Prof. Vladas Gronskas Auditorium, Building II, Muitinės str. 8, Kaunas
1:30–2:00 PM | Presentation of the Services and Resources of the Kaunas Faculty Library. Presented by Viktorija Mačiulytė, Senior Librarian. The lecture will be held at Prof. Vladas Gronskas Auditorium, Building II, Muitinės str. 8, Kaunas
2:30–3:00 PM | Student Services: What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do? Advice from career consultants. The lecture will be held at Prof. Vladas Gronskas Auditorium, Building II, Muitinės str. 8, Kaunas
3:00–3:40 PM | Guided Tour around the Kaunas Faculty building complex. The Kaunas Faculty is housed in buildings that have withstood various historical periods. The corridors of the Faculty recall the visit of Emperor Napoleon, the attics are haunted by ghosts, and there are legends of merchants' treasures stored in the cellars. If you are eager to learn the history of the Faculty's foundation, see the most secret corners and hear the legends, visit the Library and auditoriums where you will have lectures, then join the tour.

• The students of Information Systems and Cyber Security, Marketing Technologies, Audiovisual Translation and Audiovisual Translation: Accessibility of Digital Content begin the tour from Napoleon Courtyard (near the Building IV, Muitinės str. 14, Kaunas).
• The students of Lithuanian Philology and Promotion, Lithuanian Philology and Promotion: Studies of Creativity and Digital Rhetoric, Lithuanian Philology and Promotion: Content Creation and Marketing, Finance Analytics, Economics and Management and Language and Artificial Intelligence Management begin the tour from the Lutheran Courtyard (near the Building II, Muitinės str. 8, Kaunas).
• The tour in English begins in the Linden Courtyard.

4:00–5:00 PM | “Dean Without a Filter – Between Walls and Decisions”. Meeting and discussion with the Dean of the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University, Assoc. Prof. Dr Giedrius Romeika. Join an open conversation with the dean of the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University Assoc. Prof. Dr Giedrius Romeika! He will reveal what decisions are being made, what challenges lie ahead, and what goes on behind the scenes of academic decision-making.
5:00–7:00 PM | Barbecue Evening in the Linden Courtyard. The barbecue evening, organised by the VU Students' Representation at Kaunas Faculty, will feature hot dogs and refreshments. *The event is free of charge for members of the Faculty community.

Wednesday, 3 September

7:00–9:00 PM | The Community Dance Party with Folklore Ensemble “Uosinta” in the Linden Courtyard (If it rains, in the Council Hall (Building I, Basement, Muitinės str. 12). The singing, dancing, performing, and never-bored members of the VU KnF folklore ensemble "Uosinta" invite you to join them for fun leisure evenings. Membership in the ensemble means making new friends, having fun, and travelling. You can join “Uosinta” every Monday and Wednesday from 7:00 PM at the Council Hall, Muitinės Str. 12, Kaunas.

Thursday, 4 September

3:00 PM | Orientation competition around Kaunas Faculty and the Old Town.  This is a great opportunity to make new friends and get to know Kaunas through the eyes of students. Start at Linden Courtyard (Muitinės Str. 12).

6:00 PM | Clay ceramics workshop in the student recreation area in the basement of Building III.  After a lively walk, continue the fun conversation while immersing yourself in a pleasant creative activity over a cup of tea. The clay workshop will be led by Raminta Počepavičiūtė, a third-year Economics and Management student.

The activities are organised by the Vilnius University Students' Representation in the Kaunas Faculty.

Friday, 5 September

Vilnius University Students’ Representation (VU SR) invites you to participate in the Integration Festival "Ad astra" in the courtyards of the Vilnius University Central Building.
At the VU Contact Fair, you will have the opportunity to get acquainted with student organisations and leisure and sports clubs operating at VU and participate in various workshops. The VU SR Integration Festival “Ad astra” will take place in the courtyards of Vilnius University (Universiteto g. 3, Vilnius). The event will be closed with a concert by a music band.
There will also be an opportunity to take part in a short tour of the old Vilnius University.

Students and staff of the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University can travel to the Ad Astra festival events by a chartered bus. We leave at 11 AM. The bus will be waiting at Aleksoto Str. 3, opposite the Vytautas the Great Church.
Those wishing to travel from Kaunas to the “Ad Astra” Integration Festival are kindly requested to register, as the bus seats are limited. LINK FOR THE REGISTRATION

11:00 AM | leaving for Vilnius by bus from the parking in front of he Vytautas the Great Church at Aleksoto Str. 3.
1:00 PM | Historical Tour of the VU Library for Students and Staff of the Kaunas Faculty

1:00–10:00 PM | “Ad Astra” Student Activities Festival and VU Contact Fair in the Courtyards of Vilnius University
10:00 PM | Departure Back to Kaunas from the Parking Lot at Cathedral Square. Return to Kaunas is planned for around 11:30 PM. An earlier return is possible upon agreement with the participants.

Current national and global trends show that economics and management studies can become a trampoline for a career, even to the highest positions. You do not have to look far for examples: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, serving his second term, is a doctor of social sciences and associate professor, but he first became known as an economist. The importance of specialists in this field to society is also highlighted by the list of the most influential Lithuanian economists and entrepreneurs that DELFI has published for the past 10 years. The top ten of 2024 is rounded off by another VU graduate – economist, Vilnius University lecturer, and associate professor Marius Dubnikovas. This trend further emphasises the importance of the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University study programmes in preparing future leaders. Therefore, there are no limits in this career field – the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University invites you to join the international market by offering Economics and Management studies in English. This direction opens up excellent opportunities for students who want to pursue both academic achievements and influential positions in business or government.

Economics and management – a combination of skills for decision-making

“Economics as a field of study is not so much a specialisation as it is an area of education that encourages a broad perspective and develops critical thinking and analytical skills, while management is a practical discipline applied in business,” says the scientist at the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics of the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University, Assoc. Prof. Rasa Pušinaitė-Gelgotė. According to her, economists with management skills will always have a competitive advantage in the labour market, as they can both analyse and manage.

The scientist at the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics of the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University, Assoc. Prof. Ilona Kiaušienė agrees with her colleague and says that knowledge of economics, analytical thinking, and the ability to make responsible management decisions are three components that significantly impact young people as they integrate into the labour market and plan their career prospects.

Your journey at Vilnius University BEGINS!

We are happy to welcome you to Vilnius University! In this international student guide, you will find all the important things to consider before arrival and at the beginning of studies, as well as some tips for an easier start. We hope that your time at Vilnius University becomes an unforgettable adventure!

Get Your  International Student Guide HERE. 

On August 25, 2025, an EU-funded project OPUS – Open and Universal Science (No. 101058471), whose main objective was to develop coordination and support measures to reform the assessment of research(ers), is nearing completion. The Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University was one of the 18 partners in this project. The experience of project participants, especially organisations that have piloted various practices for evaluating scientific results using open science criteria, shows that open science dimensions can be integrated into the context of both research-performing and research-funding organisations.

Assoc. Prof. Aurelija Novelskaitė and Assoc. Prof. Raminta Pučėtaitė, the researchers implementing the project at the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University, had the task of offering pilot organisations indicators that would contribute to ensuring gender equality in science by implementing open science promotion processes. In practice, this was not easy, as each organisation had different gender equality and open science policies and implementation plans and differed in the specifics of their activities. Moreover, not all partners wanted to integrate these two areas, even though they are related.

From 10 June to 9 July, the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University was hosting an intensive beginners' (A1 level) Lithuanian language and culture course. World Lithuanians, foreign university students, lecturers and scholars were invited to spend the first month of summer in Kaunas: to learn the Lithuanian language free of charge, to deepen their knowledge about the culture and history of Lithuania and Kaunas in particular, and to establish international contacts with participants from all over the world. This year, 10 participants from Brazil, Scotland, France, Italy and Georgia took part in the course.

The summer course at Kaunas Faculty started with the event "Taste the Language", during which foreign students gathered at the Faculty for the first time. They met the lecturers, introduced themselves and discussed the course programme. The climax of the event was a degustation of Lithuanian dishes. The degustation showcased Lithuanian culinary heritage, living traditions and the cuisine of Lithuania's ethnic minorities, whose dishes are popular and widespread throughout the country today.

From September 2025, six new PhD students will join the academic community of Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University (VU KnF). They will carry out research in the fields of Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Technological Sciences. This reflects not only the diversity of the Faculty's scientific interests, but also its consistent commitment to promoting the advancement of science in both Lithuania and internationally. The new researchers will join the Faculty's high level of interdisciplinary research and active academic community.

Viltė Nausėdaitė, Humanities, Philology,
Giedrė Breiterė, Social Sciences, Management,
Eglė Grigaitytė, Social Sciences, Management,
Ivas Drungilas, Social Sciences, Economics,
Gintarė Košubienė, Natural Sciences, Informatics,
Oleksii Chalyi, Technological Sciences, Computing.

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).