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.

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