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Erasmus+ Traineeship Competition

The competition is open for Erasmus+ students or recent graduate traineeship grants for traineeships in the EU/EEA. The application deadline is January 31, 2025.

(Application is OPEN every month!)

The placement period is from 2 to 4 months. Recent graduate traineeship must end – a year after graduation.

Note! For recent graduate traineeship applications must be submitted and students must be selected while the applicant is still a student at VMU.

You can only apply for one traineeship place – multiple mobilities are not possible.

Selection

All VMU full-time degree students who have not used more than 10 months of their Erasmus mobility (study/traineeship) period are eligible for the Erasmus grant.

Selection documents (Documents must be submitted online):

For student traineeship (traineeship during student’s year of studies):

• Filled-in application form „Outgoing-Application for Erasmus Student Traineeship“ (must select EN language to find the form).
• Confirmation by the company or organization (obligatory).

For recent graduate traineeship (application must be submitted during the last year of studies):

• Application form „Outgoing-Application for Erasmus Recent Graduate Traineeship “ (must select EN language to find the form).
• Confirmation by the company or organization (obligatory);
• Recommendation by a faculty member (obligatory).

The priority in the selection is given to:

• students whom traineeship is an obligatory part of their study programme;
• students who have never been Erasmus traineeship students before.

Selection criteria:

• student’s motivation;
• good knowledge of the language which will be used during the traineeship;
• student’s work, study, traineeship, participation in international/academic projects, and social activities experience in Lithuania and abroad;
• conformability between the chosen traineeship and the student’s study programme;
• study results (first-year MA students should attach a transcript of records of their BA/MA degree to the application form).

More information

Students Invited to Attend T4EU Week in France

Jean Monnet University, partner of the Transform4Europe (T4EU) Alliance, invites students of VMU and other T4EU universities to take part in the T4EU Week in Saint-Etienne, France on 19-23 May. Application deadline is 16 February.

According to the organizers, T4EU Week is a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in an enriching academic and cultural experience. The program features eight diverse courses, exploring fascinating topics such as biology, law, history, architecture, linguistics, sustainable development, and ecological transformation.

Participants are requested to choose three courses they wish to attend from the following:

1. Bio Design: from nature optimisation to human design & nature inspired biomimetic surfaces for biomaterials design;
2. Passing Design: Facilitating Innovation Through Design;
3. Ancient design, Modern ideas;
4. Design: Thinking differently, designing together;
5. Designs in the European Union: Legal aspects;
6. Design and language: The role of words in creating forms and meanings;
7. Designing Organizations to address Societal Challenges in Territories (DO-INACT);
8. Design for Ecological Transformation: Laboratory for [living] Tree [as]Architecture.

Limited scholarships are available to cover travel and accommodation expenses.

As an added bonus, T4EU Week coincides with the annual Fest’U festival, promising an unforgettable cultural experience alongside the week’s academic offerings.

Program of T4EU Week

Registration

More information is provided by email at Transform4Europe@vdu.lt.

 

VMU Connections Will Unite Pupils, Students, and Graduates

On 8 November, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), celebrating its 35th re-establishment anniversary this year, will host a unique event: VMU Connections, in which pupils, students, graduates, and business representatives will unite for a common goal: to meet, talk, and share knowledge, experience, and career opportunities.

This is the first time the university will host an event of this format, bringing together current and former VMU students, the university’s community, as well as future students—school pupils—in one space. Each group will be provided unique content relevant to their current stage in life. Pupils will receive guidance on finding their career path, students will be presented with initial job opportunities, and graduates will have the chance to return to the university and inspire others by sharing their experiences. For businesses, VMU Connections serves as a platform where companies and organizations can directly meet young talent, introduce their company, and connect with future professionals.

Inspiring success stories

During the event, pupils will be able to participate in the special programme Matuokis Profesiją (Try Out a Profession), where they will be able to meet with the university’s community and graduates. Former students will share their experience, speak about their career paths, and provide valuable advice on how to find a future career. Pupils will meet and hear success stories from Jonas Lekšas, Živilė Mediekšienė, Julijus Grickevičius, Vaida Matijošaitė, Vytautas Valaitis, Mantas Karanauskas, and other VMU graduates.

“I am observing the evolution of VMU and I’m fascinated by the university’s renewal and ability to keep in step with the times. As I return to VMU, I’d like to speak about the university I discovered and the legends I had heard about it. At the same time, I’d like to provide advice on how to make better use of one’s time at the university, whose impact reaches further than just the chosen profession”, Julijus Grickevičius, culture expert and communication specialist, notes.

Živilė Mediekšienė, a graduate of VMU Agriculture Academy and Marketing and Communication Project Manager at Agrokoncerns Group, has also shared her own experience: “Participation in Try Out a Profession is also a great opportunity for me to revisit memories of my study years, which I still consider one of the most beautiful stages of my life. I’d like to inspire pupils to aim for more than just the basics—because all the extra experiences and accepted challenges can pave the way for many more opportunities and help find one’s true potential”.

Jonas Lekšas, a sports commentator for TV3 Group, basketball journalist at Krepsinis.net, and VMU law graduate, remembers the anxiety about the future that he felt as a pupil: “There was a lack of information and a shortage of interesting examples around me. The main question was, “What kind of uninteresting job will I have to do to make money? I had a dream but I really didn’t think it was possible – to work in a job that I love. As it turns out, everything is possible, and it’s made easier with the right examples and information. So I’m glad that I have the opportunity to share my story and, who knows, maybe I’ll help someone start the journey toward their dream”.

Having returned to work at VMU after completing his studies here, Vytautas Valaitis, a freelance operator, producer, and video editing director, emphasizes that the university had a significant influence on his development both as a person and as a professional: “VMU provides the freedom to not limit oneself just to the subjects of the study program: you can choose additional courses, languages, or minor studies, and discover the things that interest you. It’s not just an academic space but also the place where you can experiment, participate in various communities, and fulfill yourself. This freedom allowed me to develop my activities alongside my studies, to discover important connections and even to find my future wife”.

Career opportunities for students

The Career Day, dedicated to the students, will provide the opportunity to get acquainted with representatives of over 30 companies and organizations, such as Kauno Grūdai, Rovaltra, Užimtumo Tarnyba, Hoptrans, Citco, Evolution, and others. At the career fair, students will have the chance to find out about the latest trends in the job markets, establish important connections and even attend in-person job interviews.

“The VMU Connections event is a great platform both for the students and the employers, which provides a unique opportunity to establish meaningful connections and discover future specialists”, says Daiva Ulkienė, Selection Manager at Baltec CNC Technologies. “The Career Day and fair allow us to meet with the future specialists in person, to listen to their expectations, and to introduce them to the possibilities that we offer”.

“Participation in VMU Connections is a great chance for us to meet with talented and motivated students who not only seek their first career opportunities but also wish to find employers who care about the growth and development of their employees. Our company aims to attract ambitious people who can contribute to our success and growth. Such events make it possible for us to not only introduce ourselves and our values, but also to directly communicate with future specialists, listen to their expectations, and introduce them to career opportunities in our organization. We invite students to come because this is a unique chance to meet the employers, learn about the job market trends and, possibly, discover one’s own career path”, Irena Aleksiūnienė, Human Resources Manager at Kauno Grūdai, notes.

Raimonda Liutkė, Human Resources Specialist at Hoptrans, which is another participant of the VMU Connections event, one of the key values at the company is cooperation: “The Career Day provides the opportunity to establish an open, sincere, and sustainable connection with students. We hope that this connection will combine the mutual desire to share and exchange not just experiences, knowledge, and perspectives, but also opportunities.

Festive concert

VMU graduates will not only share their experiences with the pupils but also will remember their study years and meet with their course mates and old friends during the Alumni Day. The VMU Connections event will culminate with a festive concert for the entire university community dedicated to the 35th re-establishment anniversary of VMU. The concert will feature the most popular songs of the 1990s.

Performers at the concert will include the VMU Chamber Orchestra (Chief Conductor Vytautas Lukočius), representatives of VMU Music Academy’s Jazz Department Adrijus Kudaba (guitar), Deividas Pileckas (keyboard), Julijus Sipavičius (percussion), and soloists Justinas Lapatinskas (graduate of VMU Music Academy) and Vytautė Tamutytė (student of VMU Music Academy). 

The programme will include songs by bands Antis, Foje, Rondo, Poliarizuoti Stiklai, Rebelheart, and Kardiofonas, as well as the most popular compositions by performers Kastytis Kerbedis, Ovidijus Vyšniauskas, Vytautas Kernagis, and Eurika Masytė. 

More information and full program: vdu.lt/jungtys

New Academic Year With VMU

On 2 September, we invite the community of Vytautas Magnus University to celebrate the beginning of the school year in Kaunas and Vilnius. Let’s celebrate science, new beginnings, and a promising time of the year and life!

In Kaunas we will start at 2:00 PM by gathering at the Monument of Vytautas the Great. Here, you’ll enjoy a memorable university welcome, followed by a procession to the Student Square. There, you’ll be invited to sway and enjoy a concert by VDU Music Academy lecturer Mantas Jankavičius.

Those who wish to attend the Holy Mass at 12:00 PM should meet at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul (Vilniaus St. 1).

In Vilnius the academic year opening celebration will begin at 10:00 AM at VDU Education Academy (T. Ševčenkos St. 31, foyer).

Please note that the event will be photographed and/or filmed, so you may appear in event photos or videos that could be published in various media outlets. 

Fourth International Scientific and Practical Conference “Trends and Challenges in European and National Criminal Policy”

VMU Faculty of Law to Open Exhibitions to Mark the Baltic Way

The third exhibition at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) Faculty of Law, dedicated to the memory of the Baltic Way – an important historical event of the unity of nations and the path to democracy is open March 4-31, 2024. The exhibition, is organized implementing the EU project „Remember Bacha“ (no.101089965, CERV-2022-CITIZENS-REM, European Remembrance,) which seeks to scientifically analyze the work of outstanding citizens in the fight against totalitarianism, as an example of Europeanism and intensive work for a better society, a memory of the fight for freedom and a balanced society.

The exhibition will be open at VMU Faculty of Law (Jonavos g. 66, Kaunas, on the first floor corridor). This exhibition is related to the important event of Lithuanian history and its democracy- Lithuanian Independence Restoration Day. The exhibitions will be open March 4-31, 2024.

A total of 58 photographs capturing selected moments from the three Baltic states (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) will be shown to the public during the exhibitions.

In addition, to commemorate this important historical event, we invite to watch a short film created by the project promoters.

The exhibition is open and free of charge to everyone and open during the weekdays and Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Call for papers – international scientific-practical student conference “Contemporary law trends and perspectives”

Registration form 

Registration for the Freedom to Create 2024 Conference for Students

VMU invites you to participate in a student conference “Freedom to Create” which will be held on May 3rd, 2024. The conference is dedicated to to the anniversary of the re-establishment of Vytautas Magnus University and to the concept of artes liberales. The conference will take place at the VMU Multifunctional Science and Studies Centre (V. Putvinskio g. 23, Kaunas).

Undergraduate, graduate and exchange students of all fields of study are invited to deliver their presentations, present their creative work and/or moderate one of the conference parallel sessions. Presentations can be made individually or in a group with other students.

Registration is open until 22 March. Registration form.

“This year, as the re-established VMU marks its 35th anniversary, we dedicate the conference to the artes liberales study model, which was integrated into Lithuanian higher education with the re-establishment of VMU, and we invite students to discuss how VMU’s artes liberales model, through individualised and interdisciplinary study choices, liberates students’ creativity and innovation, fosters their leadership and entrepreneurship, develops empathy, responsibility, and intercultural awareness, provides them with the competencies to think broadly, and assists in developing an idea from inception to a successful outcome,” says Assoc. Prof. Vilma Bijeikienė, Vice-Rector for Communication at VMU.

The Topics of the Conference:

• University as a Space for Creation and Art 
• Possibilities and Limits of Freedom
• Creativity and Technology
• Innovative Solutions for Business and Social Challenges
• Nature in the Hands of a Scientist
• Languages, Cultural Diversity, and Human Values
• Sustainable Development in Education
• Sports and Wellness
• Political Contexts and Media Space

Keywords of the conference: Artes Liberales, Interdisciplinarity, Creativity, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Multilingualism, Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Types of Presentations and Time:

• Oral presentation (should not exceed 15 min.)
• Poster presentation
• Presentation of creative work (a performance with a presentation not exceeding 15 min., or an exhibition)

Conference Languages: Lithuanian, English and other languages taught at the university.

A presentation summary (200 to 250 words) in Lithuanian or English is required on the registration form.

Authors of selected presentations will be notified by 10 April. Conference programme will be announced by 22 April.

The papers will be evaluated by the Conference Scientific Committee.

More information

VMU Faculty of Law PhD student was awarded a scholarship from the Max Planck Institute

VMU Faculty of Law doctoral student Ugnė Urbšytė participated in the fellowships competition for doctoral, postdoctoral and senior researchers, organized twice a year by the Max Planck Institute for the study of crime, security and law. After evaluating the doctoral student’s previous scientific activities, study results and dissertation project, Ugnė was awarded a scholarship from the Max Planck Institute, and will be conducting her research on dissertation topic ”Challenges to the implementation of EU legal acts in the national legal system by criminalizing preparation for and attempt to commit a criminal offence” in Freiburg, Germany in March. During the independent fellowship, doctoral student will have the opportunity to use institute’s library resources, participate in lectures and conferences, and engage in discussions with other scientists.

Dr. Ramunė Jakštienė was granted a postdoctoral scholarship for the research project “Possibilities of improving the response to the persecution of an intimate partner by means of criminal law”

On December 21, 2023  by order of the chairman of the Lithuanian Science Council no. V-691 dr. Ramunė Jakštienė was granted the competitive funding for a postdoctoral fellowship.

Project title – “Possibilities of improving the response to the persecution of an intimate partner by means of criminal law”. The duration of the fellowship is 2 years.

This is the second time R. Jakštienė is granted a postdoctoral fellowship at VMU Faculty of Law. Both times the supervisor of the postdoctoral research is Prof. dr. E. Gruodytė.

During the fellowship, Ramunė will continue the research in the field of domestic violence. Stalking is one of the most misunderstood and understudied forms of intimate partner violence, even though it is quite common and has a significant negative impact on victims. The criminalization of stalking is a clear trend in the EU. However, in Lithuania, the criminal justice response to this pattern of violence is not adequate enough. Several relevant legislative changes have recently been adopted, but their impact on prosecution is still unclear.

Therefore, the purpose of this research project is to determine specific solutions of Lithuanian legal acts and their implementation, how to strengthen the response of criminal law to the persecution of an intimate partner. These results would have implications for both practice and research. They can be a source of legal regulation and practice modifications to ensure appropriate prosecutions. They can also offer more effective protection for victims of violence, ensure the proper implementation of the state’s international obligations, and stimulate a wider academic debate on intimate partner persecution. It is planned to carry out a qualitative study in order to determine the problematic aspects arising from the application of criminal liability for the persecution of intimate partners in Lithuania, to identify specific instruments of criminal law that can improve the response to these crimes, and to make proposals on the appropriate way of their implementation. Part of the project will be carried out during an internship visit to a foreign scientific institution.