News

Durham University announces Global Grand Challenges Studentships

2025-12-05T14:13:54+02:00

Durham University launches The Global Grand Challenges Studentships (Hunt-Raymond GGC Studentships). This call is for research and researchers aligned to SDG13: Climate Action, for projects that aim to address issues associated with climate change and building a more resilient global future.

Amount: Payment of full yearly tuition fees (home and overseas rate). Tax-free yearly stipend [UKRI-matched; 2026 value to be confirmed (2025 entry £20,780.00)]
Year of entry: October 2026.
Number of awards available: Five.

Eligibility

1st or 2:1 undergraduate degree, or relevant comparable experience;
A strong academic record and research potential;
A research proposal for a high-quality and manageable PhD project that can be completed within the funded period of 3.5 years, with potential impact in the areas of SDG13: Climate Action;
Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary proposals and supervision are encouraged;
International applicants must meet the University’s entry requirements (e.g. IELTS requirements) with the potential for an ‘unconditional academic offer’ by the deadline.

You are not eligible to apply if you meet one of the following:

are currently a registered doctoral student;
are in receipt of/or expecting to be in receipt of any other funding, e.g., from a national government, research council or charity;
are expecting to be in full-time work during the term of the studentship, if your studentship application is successful.

For more information, click here.

Arqus Launches Second EMI Seminar on Effective and Inclusive Assessment

2025-12-05T13:00:57+02:00

Arqus announces the second webinar in its English-Medium Instruction (EMI) Seminar Series for the academic year 2025–26, which is run by Maynooth University. The topic of this year’s series is effective assessment in English-taught programmes and classes. Titled “Inclusive assessment in EMI: Linguistically accessible and diversified”, this webinar will be delivered by Alicia Salomone and Ludmila Kalasnikova from the Universidad de Chile. It will take place online on Thursday, 11 December 2025, from 12:00 to 13:00 (CET).

This webinar will introduce “language-light” assessment approaches that are designed to reduce linguistic demands on EMI students while preserving content-focused academic standards. Participants will explore practical alternatives to traditional written assignments and learn how small intentional adjustments can meaningfully enhance fairness and inclusion in EMI contexts. Grounded in strategies developed for the EMI professional development course at the Universidad de Chile, the webinar will provide concrete, adaptable techniques that educators can implement across a wide range of disciplines. By the end of the session, participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own assessment practices and identify opportunities to design assessment tasks that are more accessible, equitable and linguistically inclusive.

Speakers

Professor Alicia Salomone is a full professor in the Department of Literature at the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities and currently works as the director of the International Office at the Universidad de Chile’s Rectory. She holds a PhD in Hispanic-American literature from the Universidad de Chile and a master’s in global Englishes from the University of Southampton, along with a TESOL certificate from Trinity College London. As head of the university’s internationalisation strategy, Alicia has led key initiatives to enhance students’ global learning experiences and academic careers by promoting international cooperation and intercultural awareness. Her research interests include internationalisation of higher education, language policy and contemporary Hispanic-American literature with a focus on identity, migration and cultural memory.

Ludmila Kalasnikova is the EMI programme coordinator at the Online Education Office under the Vice-Presidency of Information Technologies at the Universidad de Chile. She holds a master’s in education from Daugavpils University and a master’s in applied linguistics from the University of Southampton, along with CELTA and TKT certificates. In her current role, Ludmila is responsible for developing and implementing a professional teacher training course related to the internationalisation of curriculum. Her research interests include EMI methodology, the role of English as a lingua franca in higher education and the design of EMI teacher professional development programmes.

Participation in the webinar is free, but registration is required. For registration, click here.

VU Innovation Fund’s Call for Proof-of-Concept Activities Focuses on Sustainable Development and Green Transition

2025-12-04T09:15:06+02:00

The call to finance proof-of-concept activities of the R&D solutions created at ��vlog�� aims to facilitate the commercialisation of R&D solutions developed at the University. When participating in this call, the university community members who have developed an R&D solution with possible commercial potential but still lack technological maturity for successful commercialisation can increase the value of the R&D solution.

With the 2026 call, we continue supporting such university-created R&D solutions that contribute to one or more of the 17 goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and/or to the European Green Deal, which focuses on the implementation of the green transition and climate neutrality in the long run.

Vice-Rector of ��vlog��, Prof. Ginataras Valušis, emphasises that this Innovation Fund call is an important tool to strengthen the maturity of solutions developed at the university and promote their real impact.

“Innovations created at the university often start with a bold idea that needs an additional boost to become applicable in business or to meet the needs of society. By allocating funds for the development of technological maturity of R&D solutions, we encourage initiatives that are likely to reveal the potential for the applicability of science-based ideas, while taking into account the aspects of environmental, social and economic sustainability. The latter are important for the university, as the university and its community consistently and purposefully seek to contribute to sustainable development, creating a society that is responsible for the environment, society and the region,” says the Vice-Rector.

The application deadline is the 6th of February, 2026. The sum of 5,000 to 20,000 EUR can be awarded to one application. Duration of application activities – 12 (18) months. Selected applications will be financed at the beginning of 2026.

More information about the university’s Innovation Fund call can be found on the intranet.

If you have any questions about this call, please contact the Innovation Office for more information: or by phone 8 5 2687017.

VU Scientists Aim to Develop a Biosensor to Enhance Cancer Diagnostics

2025-12-04T06:03:00+02:00

Prof. Valdas Šablinskas. Photo from personal archive.

��vlog�� (VU) scientists are working on a project that may advance cancer diagnostics. In order to develop highly sensitive biosensors, one of the most effective methods in material science is applied – Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering, SERS. The project is led by Professor Valdas Šablinskas from the Institute of Chemical Physics at VU Faculty of Physics.

“The goal of the project is to develop a controllable and scalable plasma nanotechnology to fabricate plasmonic nanomaterials-enhanced SERS sensors for low-cost, rapid, sensitive, and reliable detection of cancer spectroscopic biomarkers. Partners in Taiwan, employing strongly ionised gases, have developed a new method for producing surfaces that amplify the Raman scattering signal more effectively than conventional plasmonic surfaces. At the beginning of December, the plasmonic surfaces required for this project have already arrived from Taiwan and are ready for the studies,” VU Prof. V. Šablinskas says.

The SERS method, using plasmonic surfaces obtained from Taiwan, will enable much more precise analysis. The Raman scattering spectrum is directly linked to the molecular vibrations. The frequencies of these vibrations depend on the strength of the chemical bonds within the molecule and the atoms that compose it, providing valuable insights into molecular structure.

“This method is particularly valuable for the study of biological tissues, as all biological cells are composed of molecules. When molecules are adsorbed onto a metallic substrate or the surface of metal colloidal nanoparticles, conditions can be formed for the excitation of surface plasmons that, in turn, enhance Raman scattering. Surface plasmons arise when light interacts with the free electrons on a metal surface, causing fluctuations in their density. If the frequency of the light wave coincides with the oscillation frequency, resonance occurs. This resonance produces an intensified electromagnetic field at the metal surface, greatly increasing the Raman scattering of the nearby molecules. Using such surfaces can amplify the Raman signal by up to tens of millions of times, providing highly sensitive and accurate insights into the structure of the molecular systems under study,” Prof. V. Šablinskas explains.

The Lithuania-Taiwan project “Plasma-Engineered Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Sensors for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Cancer Biomarkers” is being conducted by physicists Prof. V. Šablinskas, Dr Rimantė Bandzevičiūtė, Dr Sonata Adomavičiūtė-Grabusovė, together with Dr Martynas Talaikis from VU Life Sciences Center and Prof. Arūnas Želvys from VU Hospital Santaros Clinics and National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST).

VU Researchers to Contribute to Creating Advanced Solutions for Combating Smuggling Balloons

2025-12-03T06:44:41+02:00

At the end of October, the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation announced a EUR 1 million programme to find a solution to combat smugglers’ balloons entering Lithuania’s territory, and on Monday, the chosen solutions were revealed. One of those was a solution proposed by ‘IT Logika’ together with ��vlog��, ‘Integrated Optics’, and ‘Arx Polaris’ – a smart airspace protection system (IOEAS).

‘Today, we are awarding three solutions that come the closest to practical implementation; they were submitted by ‘IT Logika’, ‘Teltonika’, and ‘Dangaus Šviesos’,’ said Edvinas Grikšas, Minister of the Economy and Innovation, on Monday.
As reported by the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation, the first stage will conclude with each enterprise receiving EUR 100 thousand, and at the second stage, a call to further develop the ideas will be announced.

The focus of the system created by VU, together with the companies, is on fixed-wing aircraft that can operate at high altitudes and on fast, low-altitude aircraft. An integrated laser-optical sensor would allow targets to be detected and recognised at any time of day, and a high-power laser could safely shoot down multiple balloons during the same flight. Object trajectory prediction and recognition would be carried out using artificial intelligence algorithms. Real-time information would be provided by DBOX drone base stations, radars, and other geographically distributed sensors.

‘We are pleased that enterprises have recognised the experience and expertise of ��vlog�� researchers, which will enable us to strengthen interdisciplinary and inter-institutional cooperation by developing a solution which is currently crucial for the public,’ said Prof. Rimantas Vaicekauskas, Director of the Institute of Computer Science of VU Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics.

The ‘Teltonika EMS’ consortium, consisting of ‘ADV Defense’, ‘Quantum Systems’, and ‘Defsecintel’, intends to create an autonomous airspace and border surveillance and protection system that will operate 24/7 to detect and identify air threats – balloons and drones – around the clock, and when necessary, destroy targets. Using Lithuanian-made takeover drones, the system would combine sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles, and control centres to create a single operational view which would be gradually transmitted to Lithuanian institutions.

The consortium represented by ‘Dangaus Šviesos’ is set to develop ‘Dobis’ – a dirigible-based balloon interception system. This system would integrate various technologies to bring down illegal balloons to the ground in a safe manner.

A renowned scholar of linguistic nationalism from New Zealand visits ��vlog��

2025-12-02T11:12:01+02:00

From 1–9 December, the Faculty of Philology at ��vlog�� is hosting Alexandar Maxwell, a distinguished researcher of linguistic nationalism, visiting under the ERASMUS+ programme. He is an Associate Professor at Victoria University of Wellington and has published extensively on linguistic nationalism, the history of linguistic ideologies, the history of everyday life, particularly nationalised sexuality, and the social history of clothing. He also publishes pedagogical articles about teaching history.

His broader interests concern nationalism and cultural history in the Habsburg, Romanov, Hohenzollern, and Ottoman Empires, as well as their successor states. He is the director of the Antipodean East European Study Group.

We invite you to attend the associate professor’s lectures:

1 Dec. 17.00: “Linguistic Panslavism in the Habsburg State Apparatus”, room 314AB;
3 Dec. 9.45: “Vladimir Putin, Normative Isomorphism, and the Language/Dialect Dichotomy”, Institute of International Relations and Political Science at ��vlog��, 303 room;
4 Dec. 17.00: “The Myth of Circassian Beauty: Chauvinism, Racism and Sexual Fantasy”, room 118 (Krėvės);
5 Dec. 15.00: “Restoring Polylingual nationalism to East-Central European Historiography: Hungary as a case study”, Room 314AB;
8 Dec. 17.00: Debate “Limits of linguistic agnosticism” (with researchers from the Faculty of Philology at ��vlog��, Assoc. Prof. Vladimir Panov and Assoc. Prof. Vuk Vukotić), “Donelaitis” room;
9 Dec. 17.00: “National Uniforms, Sartorial Sovereignty, and Democratisation”, room 314AB.

The Arqus Rectors’ Council met in San Servolo

2025-12-01T11:43:55+02:00

The University of Padua hosted the 17th meeting of the Arqus Rectors’ Council at the campus of Venice International University on San Servolo Island, marking the beginning of a week of significant events. The Rectors of the Arqus universities convened for two days, during which they held a retreat and a formal Rectors’ Council meeting to discuss and shape the mid- to long-term direction of the Alliance.

Among the principal items on the agenda, the rectors examined the strategic and financial framework for the Alliance’s next phase. They also considered the possibility of establishing a legal entity for Arqus, a step that would have strengthened its institutional identity and supported long-term sustainability. The meeting also provided an occasion to introduce Paloma Fernández Torres, who assumed her position as the new Arqus Secretary General on 1 October.

In addition, preparations for the 2026 Arqus Annual Conference at Maynooth University were reviewed, with discussions highlighting its connection to the forthcoming Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. A dedicated session also explored the role of the Alliance’s associate partners – Durham University and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

These key meetings of the Rectors were followed by a meeting of the Task Force established to prepare the next Erasmus+ funding application, as well as meetings of the co-leads of the various working groups to plan the remaining months leading up to the completion of their objectives.

Venice International University is a unique consortium of 23 universities and research institutions from around the world – including the University of Padua – with an autonomous campus located on San Servolo Island, in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon.

��vlog�� Launches a Call for Young Researchers

2025-11-28T12:03:33+02:00

��vlog�� (VU) launches a call “My First Research Team” for young researchers to apply for group leader positions. The programme offers an opportunity for 26 young scientists to establish their first independent research group and implement an original research project. The expected start date of project activities is no later than 1 September 2026.

Selected researchers will receive a fixed-term full-time appointment of up to three years and will receive funding of up to EUR 350,000. The grant will cover salaries of the group leader and team members as well as project implementation costs. Group leaders will be expected to carry out a research project related to Lithuania’s Smart Specialisation priority fields (priorities can be found here).

Eligible candidates should hold a PhD obtained within the past seven years (till application deadline). This period does not include maternity, paternity or parental leave, or long-term sick-leave. Eligibility criteria - by the application deadline, candidates must not have acted as principal investigators of projects funded by the Research Council of Lithuania under the measures and programmes listed in the call.

Applications will be assessed based on scientific achievements and potential, quality, originality and feasibility of the proposed research, and its compatibility with the research activities and infrastructure of the chosen Faculty at VU. Evaluation will also consider evidence of scientific excellence, mentoring, expert engagement and dissemination of results.

Applications are submitted electronically till 20 January 2026 15:00 CET. Applications received after deadline will not be evaluated.

Personal data will be processed solely for the purpose of informing you about the call, related events and evaluation of proposals, and retained no longer than 1 September 2026. Consent may be withdrawn at any time.

Information day on the call and application form to be held on 10 December 2025 14:00 CET via Teams.

More details on the call are available here.

16th International Scientific Conference “Creativity and Culture 2025”: A Place Where Science and Art Meet

2025-11-28T06:57:48+02:00

The 16th International Scientific Conference “Creativity and Culture”, held in Kaunas, stood out not only for its interdisciplinary content, but also for its form – creative workshops led by professional artists accompanied scientific presentations. An event organised by the “Cultural Industries and Innovations” research group at the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics of the Kaunas Faculty of ��vlog��, in collaboration with the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts, discussed how culture can become a powerful force for positive change. Artists, students, and cultural professionals from Lithuania and other countries who participated in the programme shared new ideas and established important scientific and cultural cooperation contacts.

Dialogue between science and art

Organisers of the event “Creativity and Culture”, Prof. Dr Virginija Jurėnienė (Kaunas Faculty of ��vlog��) and Prof. Jonas Audėjaitis (Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts), unanimously agree that this year’s conference took a qualitatively new step forward. According to them, a new stage began two years ago, with cooperation between the Kaunas Faculty of ��vlog�� and the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius Academy of Arts, which provided an opportunity to combine art management with creativity and led to the project’s main strength: interdisciplinarity.

Prof. Virginija Jurėnienė pointed out that the connection between art and technology is growing stronger than ever, so modern creators need to be strategists, managers, and people who understand artificial intelligence tools, innovations, copyright risks, and even blockchain technologies.

Prof. Jonas Audėjaitis emphasised that the conference format, which encouraged the emergence of new ideas and dialogue between representatives of various disciplines, helped create a platform where everyone could express their opinions and views, and in return, gain knowledge from the experiences of other participants.

Not only scientific papers, but also creative processes

The highlight of this year’s conference was a five-day creative workshop with international mentors Sarah Simblet, Donatas Inis, Ismini Samanidou, Monika Žaltauskaitė-Grašienė, Gideon Rubin and Petras Lincevičius. This part included both practical experiments and conceptual discussions. The creators’ works were displayed in public spaces in Kaunas and at an exhibition in Panemunė Castle. The event organisers’ idea to combine scientific presentations with practical activities fundamentally changed the approach to traditional scientific conferences.

In an interview published before the conference began, the artist Ismini Samanidou (Greece and the United Kingdom) emphasised the importance of counterweight in a rapidly changing world. “I often speak about the importance of looking back to look forward”, she said, talking about how textiles can help create new connections between people.

In her report, the cultural policy expert Cristina Farinha (Portugal) analysed the signs of a crisis in cultural cooperation – market pressures, global turbulence, restrictions on the mobility of artists – and called for the search for fairer and more sustainable models of cultural partnership. Another keynote speaker at the conference, the director of the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, Arūnas Gelūnas (Lithuania), spoke about cultural memory. According to him, it is culture and art that give people resilience, even in difficult times.

What made this year’s conference stand out?

The 16th International Scientific Conference “Creativity and Culture” is currently the only conference in Lithuania that directly links scientific research to artistic practice. It spread the message to universities, researchers, and professional artists that it is possible not only to analyse scientific achievements, but also to exchange ideas directly through the creative process. During the conference, cultural professionals from various countries and fields had a unique opportunity to participate in interdisciplinary projects and establish long-term cooperative ties. A total of 30 artists participated in this interdisciplinary project, and 50 speakers from Lithuania, Mongolia, Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Latvia, Italy, Ukraine, Romania, and other countries gave scientific presentations.

The solemn closing ceremony of the conference marked another significant milestone in the week-long joint journey of scientists and artists. On November 22, the event participants gathered at Panemunė Castle, visited an exhibition of artworks developed during the creative workshop, toured the castle premises, and enjoyed a concert of Baroque music.

The culture and politics expert Cristina Farinha was delighted that it was a very inspiring and unexpected event, providing an opportunity for scientists and artists to socialise and get to know each other. “I was very surprised by the exhibition. Usually, the work done in creative workshops does not yield such results. It’s more about processes, and ultimately what you see is the great potential that comes when several people work together”, C. Farinha shared her thoughts.

This year’s conference undoubtedly strengthened international dialogue between scientists and artists, provided an opportunity to work with international mentors, and emphasised the importance of creativity in an interdisciplinary environment. The organisers of the global meeting hope that the ideas generated during the week-long event will inspire long-term projects that will help initiate cultural change not only in Lithuania but also abroad. “Does such an academic and creative platform have growth prospects? “Definitely!” claims the scientist C. Farinha.

The 16th International Conference “Creativity & Culture” (CC2025) has received financial support from the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT), agreement No S-MOR-25-24.

Twelve Horizon Europe Postdoctoral Fellowships to be Implemented at VU

2025-11-27T14:06:26+02:00

The results of the 2024 call for proposals for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships under the EU's Framework Programme Horizon Europe were especially favourable to ��vlog�� (VU), with funding allocated to 12 out of 19 proposals submitted. Ten more proposals that received high evaluations from international experts have been added to the two postdoctoral fellowship projects selected to be funded during the main EC competition, namely the Dr Lukas Waltenberger (Faculty of Medicine, MF) Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship and Dr Owen Gohori (Kaunas Faculty, KnF) ERA Fellowships projects. The funding of the projects was made possible by the new mechanism for reallocating EU funds, which allows some of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funds to be channelled to Horizon Europe.

At the Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology of the Faculty of Physics (FF), Dr Mindaugas Šarpis, supervised by Dr Ramūnas Aleksiejūnas, researches the means of identification of short-lived exotic hadrons (rare subatomic particles of a non-standard quark composition). These rare subatomic particles form in high-energy processes, and their discovery depends on how accurately particle trajectories are analysed. Improving methods help differentiate the signal from background noise and provide new data on the principles of the material’s structure.

Dr Orlagh Woods is a research fellow at the Institute of English, Romance and Classical Studies of the Faculty of Philology (FlF). Her research focuses on the way literary narrative creates images of reproductive health and somatic experience. The project aims to explore how literary texts reflect societal changes and how individual experiences become politically and culturally charged. The fellowship is supervised by Prof. Eglė Kačkutė-Hagan.

Dr Silvia Peterssen Fernández, research fellow at the FlF Institute of Foreign Languages, researches the construction of the topic of abortion in European media. Supervised by Dr Liudmila Arcimavičienė, the research fellow examines both linguistic solutions and communication strategies that shape public opinion and may influence the direction of political decisions. The analysis aims to demonstrate how the same topic may be framed differently depending on the national context.

At the Institute of Biotechnology of the Life Sciences Center (GMC), Dr Jaroslaw Chilimoniuk will enhance understanding of the formation of amyloid protein structures. Cryogenic electron microscopy and machine learning methods will aid in a more accurate determination of the types of aggregation emerging in the course of neurodegenerative diseases and how to detect them in early stages. The fellowship is supervised by Dr Vytautas Smirnovas.

Supervised by Dr Inga Griškova-Bulanova at the GMC Institute of Biosciences, research fellow Dr Justina Šidlauskaitė will examine the way controlled breathing techniques affect brain activity of people experiencing burnout. The project encompasses both an analysis of neurophysiological processes and an assessment of changes in mental state, leading to an understanding of how such interventions can be applied in practice.

The postdoctoral fellowship project of Dr Angela Chinhengo to be implemented at the FF Laser Research Center (supervised by Dr Mantas Grigalavičius) aims to investigate whether radiofrequency fields can strengthen the effect of alpha particle therapy and reduce its side effects. Dr Grigalavičius will also supervise the research of Dr Amit Shakya aimed at developing a novel photonic crystal fibre sensor. In the future, such ultra-sensitive optical technology may serve as an important tool in early cancer diagnosis.

Research in economics and social development is also diverse, with as many as three projects implemented at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (EVAF). Dr Sisay Demissew Beyene’s research will focus on the effects of international trade on sustainable development indicators in Sub-Saharan Africa. This analysis encompasses economic, social, and environmental aspects of the region, which is often overlooked in international research. This will be the second ERA Fellowship project to be implemented by Dr Beyene at EVAF. Currently, the research fellow is implementing the project Investigating Energy-Environment-Economic Growth Linkage for Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa (EEGLS) (fellowship supervisor – Dr Algirdas Bartkus), the objective of which is to examine the links between energy, environment, and economic growth, as well as the impact of their interaction on sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr Muhammad Adeel Munir, supervised by Dr Viktorija Cohen, will research the resilience of agri-food supply chains to crisis in search of data-driven ways for them to function more efficiently when facing wars or pandemics. Meanwhile, Dr Robert Rybski, specialising in sustainable finance, will research whether green and sustainability-linked bonds can become a new means to engage society in climate change decision-making (fellowship supervisor – Dr Tomoyuki Hashimoto). The project links analysis in economics, law, and politics, opening new fields for research opportunities in this area.

The mechanism for reallocating ERDF funds opens up the opportunity to implement international-level research to a significantly larger number of researchers and fortifies the University’s position in the European Higher Education Area. Researchers from various regions – European, African, and Asian countries – will take up postdoctoral fellowships at VU. In turn, such diversity contributes to the continually increasing internationality of the research environment at the University, bringing together different experiences, points of view, and methods.

Currently, VU is awaiting the results of the 2025 call for proposals for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships, where a record number of 37 proposals was submitted. The next call for proposals is planned to be announced by the EC in April 2026. Researchers who submit their proposals will also be eligible for funding with ERDF funds reallocated to Horizon Europe.

The list of all projects being funded:

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships

Innovative Methods for Understanding Blunt Force Trauma Patterns to Assess Conflicts in Past Times (IMPACT), No. 101200197, research fellow – Dr Lukas Waltenberger, fellowship supervisor – Prof. Rimantas Jankauskas (MF)

Retail Sovereign Green, Social, Sustainability and Sustainability-Linked Bonds as Public Finance Tools Implementing Environmental Constitutionalism (ReGreenConstitution), No. 101212025, research fellow – Dr Robert Rybski, fellowship supervisor – Dr Tomoyuki Hashimoto (EVAF)

Development of a Novel Multi-Helical Dual-Faced Photonic Crystal Fiber (MHD-PCF) Sensor for Early-Stage Cancer Detection via Surface Plasmon Resonance and Reflectance Spectroscopy (MHD PCF SPR Sensor), No. 101211155, research fellow – Dr Amit Shakya, fellowship supervisor – Dr Mantas Grigalavičius (FF)

ERA Fellowships

Tourism Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Community Tourism Development (TSE_SCTD), No. 101244223, research fellow – Dr Owen Gohori, fellowship supervisor – Prof. Virginija Jurėnienė (Kaunas Faculty)

Pentaquark Hunt by Applying Neutral Track Over-Constraint Method (PHANTOM), No. 101244743, research fellow – Dr Mindaugas Šarpis, fellowship supervisor – Prof. Ramūnas Aleksiejūnas (Faculty of Physics)

The Effect of Alpha Emitters and Radiofrequency Fields on Cancer Cells in Culture (TEARF), No. 101244622, research fellow – Angela Chinhengo, fellowship supervisor – Dr Mantas Grigalavičius (Faculty of Physics)

Repro-Fiction: Synthesising Literature and Reproductive Healthcare (REPROFIC), No. 101244691, research fellow – Dr Orlagh Woods, fellowship supervisor – Prof. Eglė Kačkutė-Hagan (Faculty of Philology)

Abortion in European Mainstream News Media: A Feminist Critical Socio-Cognitive Discourse Study (DARE), No. 101244447, research fellow – Dr Silvia Peterssen Fernández, fellowship supervisor – Dr Liudmila Arcimavičienė (Faculty of Philology)

Cracking the Code of Amyloid Polymorphism:Integrating CryoEM and Machine Learning to Unravel Impact of Small Aggregation Modulators on Amyloid Fibril Polymorphism (AMI-CryoML), No. 101244706, research fellow – Dr Jaroslaw Chilimoniuk, fellowship supervisor – Dr Vytautas Smirnovas (Life Sciences Center)

Neuromodulatory Effects of Controlled Breathing (CB) Interventions on Executive Functions (EF) and Mental Well-Being in Burnout Disorder (NEURO-BURN), No. 101244756, research fellow – Justina Šidlauskaitė, fellowship supervisor – Prof. Inga Griškova-Bulanova (Life Sciences Center)

Resilient Agri-Food Supply Chains: A Data-Driven Approach (Supply Chain), No. 101244608, research fellow – Muhammad Adeel Munir, fellowship supervisor – Dr Viktorija Cohen (Faculty of Economics)

International Trade and Sustainable Development Pillars in Sub-Saharan Africa: a Comprehensive Approach (ITSDPs), No. 101244517, research fellow – Dr Sisay Demissew Beyene (Faculty of Economics)

Historical Act of Patronage: Swedbank Donates EUR 10 Million to the ��vlog�� Foundation to Foster Lithuania’s Progress

2025-11-27T11:25:38+02:00

Swedbank is donating EUR 10 million in financial support to the philanthropic ��vlog�� (VU) endowment fund. The donation will be used to establish the ‘Swedbank Sub-Fund for the Promotion of Sustainable, Long-Term Country Advancement’ within the VU Foundation. This contribution doubles the capital managed by the VU Foundation to EUR 20 million.

‘Striving to be an advanced society is a goal that unites us all. Today, together with ��vlog��, we are taking another step towards building Lithuania as a strong and future-oriented State. We believe that our joint efforts will provide additional momentum contributing to the progress of the entire country,’ said Inga Skisaker, CEO of Swedbank Lithuania.

The Swedbank Endowment Sub-Fund established within the VU Foundation will support initiatives that have a sustainable and lasting impact on Lithuania’s social, economic, and cultural development. The investment returns generated by the endowment capital will be used to finance a broad range of activities and initiatives.

‘This unprecedented act of patronage by Swedbank demonstrates a belief in the importance of science and studies for society, as well as confidence in ��vlog��. This cooperation reflects a shared responsibility to the State and society, as the support will be directed toward addressing the issues crucial to today’s societal development, as well as responding to future challenges. It is a responsible investment in the future and potential of higher education, and at the same time, the impetus for the implementation of important scientific ideas,’ said VU Rector Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas.

Of the support provided, the majority, EUR 9 million, will be directed to the sub-fund’s endowment capital. Up to EUR 1 million may be used earlier within the scope of the activities of the sub-fund.

‘This substantial support from Swedbank marks a significant breakthrough in the history of philanthropy in Lithuania. It represents the joint commitment of two trusted organisations to an ambitious goal – a stronger Lithuania. This initiative creates new opportunities for students, researchers, and society as a whole, encouraging innovation and sustainable national growth. At the same time, such examples motivate Lithuania’s philanthropic community to mobilise around education and science in the country,’ said CEO of the VU Foundation Justinas Noreika.

This philanthropic partnership of exceptional importance will contribute to the growth of the VU Foundation’s social capital. Swedbank, one of the largest and most respected financial institutions in the country, will strengthen the VU Foundation’s governance structures: representatives of Swedbank will join the Sharers and the Investment Board.

VU Physicist Dr Mažena Mackoit-Sinkevičienė Awarded Baltic Women in Science Fellowship

2025-11-26T06:19:50+02:00

Dr Mažena Mackoit-Sinkevičienė. Photo by Andrius Baranovas

Dr Mažena Mackoit-Sinkevičienė, a scientist from the Faculty of Physics at ��vlog�� (VU), has been awarded the Baltic Women in Science fellowship, within a programme co-organised by the Baltic National Academies of Sciences and National Commissions for UNESCO. A researcher has been awarded a 2025 fellowship in the category of Doctor of Sciences in Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Technology. The €7,000 fellowship recognises her scientific achievements and supports further research.

The joint award ceremony for the Baltic laureates will take place on Thursday, 27 November at 13:00 at the Latvian Academy of Sciences in Riga.

“For me, this award is not only an honour, but it’s also a celebration of my contribution to science. Lithuania has talented women scientists, and I am proud to be part of this community. I sincerely thank my colleagues in the Quantum Optics Group – working with you is both a privilege and a true pleasure. Finally, I am deeply grateful to my family for their constant support and belief in me. Without you, this journey in the field of quantum science would not have been possible,“ says Dr M. Mackoit-Sinkevičienė.

Her research advances the frontiers of quantum technologies. She investigates how vortex-shaped light interacts with atomic particles – work that opens new possibilities for precision control of light in atomic media. Her ongoing study explores the use of ultra-cold atomic systems (optical lattices) to generate spin-squeezed quantum states, enabling measurements with far greater accuracy than conventional techniques. By optimising atomic arrangements to improve the efficiency of generating these states, her research represents an important step toward next-generation quantum sensors and clocks.

She places strong emphasis on promoting science and enhancing scientific communication. As Vice-President of the Lithuanian Physical Society, she oversees national initiatives that foster the growth and internationalisation of the physics community. She is one of the co-authors of Lithuania’s Quantum Technology Roadmap and serves on the Board of the Lithuanian Quantum Technologies Association “Quantum Lithuania”.

The mission of the Women in Science Baltic Fellowship is to showcase scientific achievements, raise the visibility of women in science, and inspire the next generation of talented students to pursue careers in science. Established in 2024 by the Academies of Sciences of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, in cooperation with the UNESCO National Commissions of all three Baltic States, the fellowship supports outstanding young women scientists in their pursuit of excellence.

International Conference at VU Explores the Intersection of Digital Humanities and Jewish Studies

2025-11-25T08:57:05+02:00

On 17–18 November, the Faculty of History at ��vlog�� (VU) hosted an international conference dedicated to examining the evolving relationship between Digital Humanities (DH) and Jewish Studies.

According to the main organiser, Dr Tomasz M. Jankowski, the rapid expansion of DH over the past decade has reshaped academic research worldwide. “Digital Humanities has become one of the most dynamically developing academic fields,” he noted. “Yet, despite numerous initiatives, its integration into traditional humanities remains only partial. With this conference, we wanted to address not only what makes Jewish Studies digital, but also what makes Digital Humanities Jewish.”

The event focused on three themes: experimenting, sharing, and engaging.

Experimenting

DH has always been defined by methodological innovation – through the creation of new digital tools or the adaptation of techniques from other fields. These methods matter not only for the results they generate but also for their capacity to broaden scholarly imagination by enabling new ways of reading images, mapping geolocated objects, or analysing large textual datasets.
As Dr T. M. Jankowski emphasised, “The techno-progressive and sometimes counter-cultural ethos of radical DH resonates strongly with many intellectual currents within Jewish Studies.”

Sharing

DH promotes new forms of collaboration through shared repositories, open datasets, and FAIR principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable). However, openness also brings practical and epistemological challenges.

“If DH is about dissolving disciplinary boundaries,” Dr T. M. Jankowski remarked, “we must ask whether the category of ‘Jewish’ still functions as a meaningful framework when knowledge becomes increasingly modular, networked, and digitally distributed.”

Engaging

The introduction of DH often creates tension between innovating academic methods and expanding societal impact. Are audiences outside the university more ready for digital transformation than institutions themselves? The conference examined how digital repositories, museums, libraries, and archives can promote more profound citizen engagement and transform public interaction with cultural heritage.

The conference was jointly organised by ��vlog�� and the University of Wroclaw. The organising committee members were:

��vlog��: Tomasz M. Jankowski (head), Prof. Jurgita Verbickienė, Dr Sergii Gurbych, Dr Kseniya Tserashkova.

An Article by VU IIRPS Researcher Dr Gražina Bielousova Has Been Published in the Prestigious Journal “Women’s Studies International Forum”

2025-11-25T07:45:05+02:00

An article by Dr Gražina Bielousova, a researcher at the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of ��vlog�� (VU IIRPS), entitled “What remains: Crisis, neoliberal capture, and care among Moldovan feminists”, has been published in the prestigious journal “Women’s Studies International Forum”. The publication is part of a broader study covering five Eastern and Central European countries experiencing Russian aggression or the threat thereof.

The study examines how left-wing feminists in five countries in the region perceive their social and political role in the face of the threat of Russian aggression. The author emphasises that both leftism and feminism are often considered “foreign” in this region – leftism is associated with the Soviet past and suspicion of Russia. In contrast, feminism is often associated with a perceived Western influence. Nevertheless, the focus on inequality and social inclusion raised by these ideologies remains highly relevant.

“Feminists operating in these tensions feel the need to clearly articulate their contribution to state-building, community care, and structural justice—both for themselves and for society,” says Dr G. Bielousova.

The author emphasises that Moldova is one of the least researched countries in Europe. The information available about it usually appears as “crisis statistics”: gender-based violence, poverty among women, migration, vulnerable work, etc. Therefore, this study aims to move beyond the crisis discourse and view Moldovan women as active political actors, rather than merely recipients of support. There is still a lack of discussion in the academic field regarding Moldovan women as decision-makers who theorise their own social reality.

The article argues that Moldova is not only a country in crisis but also one that is often associated with crisis. This view reflects the broader experience of Eastern Europe, which historian Ivan Berend calls “derailed history”. “In Western and regional discourse, Moldova is often constructed as a ‘failed state,’ a weak democracy, a moribund economy, or a fragmented society. However, this image ignores the energy of civil society, informal care networks, local women’s movements, and their ability to use Western support for their own purposes, rather than just implementing externally designed programs,” says the author of the article.

The article also examines the dual role of non-governmental organisations in Moldovan feminism. Dr G. Bielousova argues that, on the one hand, NGOs provide women with the opportunity to formalise their activities, obtain funding, develop long-term projects, and thus achieve more visible and stable social change. Formal status allows them to both cooperate with and confront institutions, and to have feminist work more recognised and integrated at the inter-institutional level. However, the logic of funding often depoliticises feminism: most support is allocated not to advocacy or structural change, but to service provision, turning organisations into “firefighters” of social problems rather than analytical critics of their causes. In addition, donors set priorities and performance indicators that do not always correspond to the needs of local women and require that the results achieved be easily “accounted for”. However, much of the care work at the heart of feminist activism cannot be captured in reporting tables – it therefore remains invisible to funders but is essential to the community itself.

Overall, this study contributes to efforts to incorporate the perspectives of Eastern and Central Europe into international left-wing feminist debates, where the region often remains invisible or is perceived solely through the lens of Russia and the Soviet Union. This is particularly relevant in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, as global left-wing narratives often adopt Russian rhetoric about “anti-colonial struggle,” thereby indirectly silencing the voices of feminists in the region.

From Cavities to Prosthetics: 640 Young Patients Treated Free of Charge at the Angelė and Sigitas Kazlauskas Pediatric Dentistry Center

2025-11-24T08:51:45+02:00

The Angelė and Sigitas Kazlauskas Pediatric Dentistry Center, recently opened at the Faculty of Medicine of ��vlog�� (VU), has become an important resource for children who often lack access to dental care. It provides free dental treatment, prioritising children from socially disadvantaged families and care institutions.

During its first six months, the Center has already treated 640 children from across Lithuania. According to its director, Prof. Vilma Brukienė, it has the capacity to assist twice as many young patients: ‘We aim to reach an even wider range of children, including those from socially vulnerable families, as well as Ukrainian and other migrant communities. Such opportunities exist because many students from foreign countries complete their clinical practice here and can communicate in German, English, Turkish, and even Persian,’ explained Prof. Brukienė.

Prof. Vilma Brukienė, Director of the VU Angelė and Sigitas Kazlauskas Pediatric Dentistry Center. Photo credit: Faculty of Medicine

Among the Center’s first patients were children under the care of the Order of Malta, some of whom visited a dentist for the very first time in their lives. According to Jurgita Čičelienė, Head of the Children and Youth Programme at the Order of Malta Relief Organisation, some children received extensive treatment: ‘For example, for some young patients, as many as four teeth were treated in a single day. The Center’s dentists not only provided treatment but also instructed children in proper oral hygiene, demonstrating that dental care can be both painless and stress-free’.

Nevertheless, these cases are only part of the challenges faced by the Center’s specialists and fourth- and fifth-year Faculty of Medicine students completing their clinical practice there. They frequently encounter cases far more complex than those typically seen in children of this age: they have already treated all permanent teeth of a ten-year-old, managed advanced caries, and performed procedures generally reserved for older patients.
Student Ula Linkevičiūtė notes that some children have such poor oral hygiene that even dental nerve treatment becomes necessary. ‘These children didn’t fully understand the seriousness of the procedure – at such a young age, they shouldn’t need nerve treatment.’

Another dentistry student, Benas Ilekis, recalls discovering unfinished dental work that required urgent attention. Meanwhile, intern Ugnė Dulskaitė was surprised when a six-year-old’s recently erupted permanent teeth were so severely affected by cavities that only the roots remained – such teeth need to be extracted and later replaced with prosthetics.

Despite these challenges, Prof. Brukienė emphasises that the students’ enthusiasm and skill in working with young patients allow them to successfully navigate even the most difficult situations.

‘There have been instances when caregivers warned us that a child would not allow any dentist to examine them and was extremely afraid. In such situations, general anaesthesia is usually unavoidable. Nevertheless, our students have been able to engage with every child, and sedation has not been required for any patient,’ asserted the Professor.

The newly established Angelė and Sigitas Kazlauskas Pediatric Dentistry Center offers a wide range of services, including oral disease prevention, professional hygiene, caries and root canal treatment, prosthetics, extractions, and more. For complex cases requiring highly specialised care, the Center provides financial support to ensure children receive the necessary treatment as quickly as possible.

VU Žalgirio Clinic. Photo credit: VU

The Angelė and Sigitas Kazlauskas Pediatric Dentistry Center is located at Žalgirio Clinic, a branch of VU Santaros klinikos (VU Hospital) at Žalgirio g. 117, Vilnius, 2nd floor, Room 234. Children can be registered for treatment by phone: +370 5 272 8243, email: , or via the online registration form.

The Center currently funds high-quality treatment materials and equipment and intends to invest in even more advanced technologies soon to ensure that children receive the best possible care.

For more information on the VU Angelė and Sigitas Kazlauskas Pediatric Dentistry Center, please visit this link.

Young VU Physics Faculty Scientists Contribute to Research Opening New Photopharmacology Possibilities

2025-11-24T06:40:47+02:00

Manvydas Dapkevičius ir Justas Lekavičius. Photo from a personal archive.

Scientists from ��vlog��’s (VU) Physics Faculty, led by Dr Karolis Kazlauskas, have contributed to an international study published in the prestigious journal “Nature Communications”. Cooperating with colleagues from Barcelona, Spain, and other countries, they demonstrated a non-invasive optical method for controlling the heart rhythms of tadpoles. The breakthrough is expected to open new possibilities in photopharmacology – a field of science that uses light to control biological processes.

Importance of Lithuanian Connections

The idea for the groundbreaking research originated with researchers at the Institute of Materials Science in Barcelona. As the project gained momentum, they needed specialists to study new photosensitizers – molecules capable of absorbing near-infrared (NIR) light, generating long-lived triplet states, and transferring the energy they accumulate to other functional molecules.

During this process, the idea was to use photosensitizers to control reversible photoisomerisation reactions. These occur in modified azobenzene organic compounds, which are known for their distinctive light response. What makes them even more special is that during photoisomerisation – when a molecule changes its structure under light exposure – they become chemically and biologically active.

As it happened, Lukas Naimovičius, a student from Dr Kazlauskas’s group, was doing an internship in Barcelona at that time. He reached out to his team back in Lithuania, initiating this international collaboration.

“Prior to that, we’ve worked together on multiple projects and published several papers. In this particular case, we were invited to contribute our expertise by performing specific photophysical measurements to evaluate the properties of new photosensitizers and their suitability for photopharmacological applications,” says master’s student Justas Lekavičius, one of the article’s authors.

His colleague, doctoral student Manvydas Dapkevičius, notes that the research team was highly international. Co-authors came from Japan, the USA, Spain, Turkey, and Sweden. This global scope added a special dimension to the entire process.

“The research was coordinated by colleagues from Catalonia’s Institute of Materials Science in Barcelona. Our main task was to understand the mechanism of photosensitised isomerisation. The work involved intensive collaboration – for example, we received the molecular compounds that undergo isomerisation from Japan, while Turkish scientists created one of the sensitisers we used,” he recalls.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

The research stood out not only for its international scope but also for its interdisciplinary nature. It brought together physicists, chemists, biologists, and bioengineers. The researchers admit that people in these disciplines often “speak different languages,” so one of the most interesting challenges was finding a common vocabulary.

“There’s a certain distance between us that we’re working to bridge. We primarily communicate with chemists because we require specific compounds with desired properties from them. However, we mainly care about function, while chemists also think about structure – after all, it is them who have to synthesise such molecules,” says Lekavičius.

Interestingly, the project evolved and expanded significantly over time, with more scientists joining. Initially, the goal was to verify whether light radiation could actually affect the compounds being studied. However, after observing successful fundamental results, colleagues in Barcelona decided to expand the research scope and demonstrate its practical applications, thereby giving the project even greater scientific and practical significance.

“At first, we didn’t even plan for the project to reach such a broad scale. But everything went well, and when biologists joined the research, they conducted experiments with tadpoles. In all, the research started two years ago, and our work took several months, during which there were many unsuccessful attempts,” says Dapkevičius.

The results obtained by physicists were used in the second part of the work to show that photosensitised isomerisation can modulate a living organism’s heart rhythm. This was done using a new modified azobenzene compound capable of affecting heart activity. The methodology was successfully validated in tadpole experiments.

The scientists emphasise that the Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology (FNI) conducts a wide range of research. A significant portion of it isn’t related to the life sciences, so the opportunity to engage with this field through their work added a special charm and a new experience.

“Usually, our research seeks to answer fundamental questions – what is a compound’s emission quantum yield, how does energy transfer occur in organic compounds, or how can light change their chemical structures. These properties are rarely studied in biological systems, so it was exciting to find a direct connection with living organisms,” says Lekavičius.

A Reminder to Be Ambitious

The research with Barcelona colleagues isn’t the first for FNI scientists, and it certainly won’t be the last, as international collaboration has become an integral part of modern science.

“One of the main drivers of such collaboration is students who go abroad for internships. This research is a clear example of that. It’s very gratifying to contribute to such initiatives because working with colleagues from various fields gives you a real sense of scientific community. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to get involved in incredibly interesting topics,” says Lekavičius. Both he and Dapkevičius are just beginning their scientific careers.

According to them, being a part of such an experience is incredibly motivating and inspiring for reaching higher goals. They also urge others not to be afraid to pursue what might seem impossible at first glance.

“It’s good to know that publishing in a high-level journal isn’t such an impossible mission after all. It adds self-confidence. Foreign colleagues often note that VU scientists sometimes aim too low. We need to be more ambitious and bolder,” Dapkevičius is convinced.

The research was conducted as part of the Republic of Lithuania’s Ministry of Education, Science and Sports “University Excellence Initiative” program, under an agreement with the Research Council of Lithuania (No. S-A-UEI-23-6).

Arqus Knowledge Pills: Rethinking Peace Beyond the Human

2025-11-20T11:18:14+02:00

What if peace were not just a human affair? Can we still believe in pacifism? Explore these questions and rethink the very meaning of peace in the latest episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast with Maximiliam Lakitsch (University of Graz).

On the 43rd episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills, Maximilian Lakitsch, a senior scientist at the Department of the Foundations of Law (Global Governance Section) at the University of Graz, explores how environmental realities are inseparable from political and social dynamics and how truly sustainable peace must include the non-human world as an active participant.

This episode discusses the understanding of peace that evolves across cultures and time, why it should be seen as an ongoing process rather than a final state, what role Europe plays in peacekeeping today, and Maximilian Lakitsch’s idea of strategic optimism, a realistic outlook that acknowledges today’s challenges as opportunities to find more effective and inclusive paths towards peace, rather than reasons for despair.

Listen to the latest episode here.

1.2% Personal Income Tax Support: The Public Allocated Over €50,000 to the VU Foundation

2025-11-20T06:33:36+02:00

As November progresses and the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI) publishes the final results of the allocation of 1.2% of personal income tax (PIT) for donations, it has become clear that the ��vlog�� (VU) Foundation received strong public support this year – a total of €50,847 was donated.

Most of the funds went to named endowment subfunds, which collected €22.4 thousand. They are followed by the unrestricted endowment fund, which attracted €9.7 thousand, while third place in terms of support went to the VU Culture Centre ensembles, which this year received over €7.4 thousand.

Detailed report of the received support by purpose:

VU Foundation Named Sub-funds: €22,419

• R. Grušnienė Sub-fund for the support of VU Department of Ancient and Medieval History: €20,102

• Jonas Kazlauskas (1930–1970) Sub-fund for the support of philological research: €1,294

• Šiauliai Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts Sub-fund for supporting VU Šiauliai Academy: €836

• Algis Petras Piskarskas (1942–2022) Sub-fund for supporting laser physics research: €187

VU Unrestricted Endowment Fund: €9,699

VU Culture Centre: €7,446

• Song and Dance Ensemble: €3,589

• Choir Gaudeamus: €1,005

• Chamber Orchestra: €905

• Choir Virgo: €628

• Drama Theatre: €581

• Folklore Ensemble Ratilio: €384

• Wind Orchestra Oktava: €226

• Lindy Hop Dance Group: €128

VU Faculty of Medicine: €2,201

• Faculty Endowment Sub-fund: €2,201

VU Faculty of Physics: €1,991

• Young Physicists’ School Fotonas: €1,809

• TETI Ferroelectric Laboratory: €182

VU Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences: €1,968

• Faculty Endowment Sub-fund: €1,002

• Centre for Nanotechnology and Materials Science: €966

VU Life Sciences Center: €1,926

• Center Endowment Sub-fund: €882

• Zoological Museum: €547

• Zoological Museum Endowment Sub-fund: €497

VU Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics: €1,820

• Faculty Endowment Sub-fund: €1,136

• Academic Vytautas Statulevičius Scholarship (DMSTI): €684

VU Health and Sports Centre: €1,013

• Women’s Basketball Team: €940

• Men’s Football Team: €74

VU Faculty of Economics and Business Administration: €205

• Faculty Endowment Sub-fund: €205

VU Faculty of Law: €88

• Faculty Endowment Sub-fund: €88

VU Institute of International Relations and Political Science: €28

• Institute Endowment Sub-fund: €28

Other: €43

The VU Foundation sincerely thanks the donor community for its growing trust. We invite you to continue this tradition next year – your support directly contributes to the University’s long-term scientific, cultural, and community initiatives. Detailed instructions on how to allocate support to the VU endowment fund, academic or non-academic units, named subfunds, or other purposes can be found here.

We would like to remind you that, following amendments to the Charity and Support Law, residents can no longer allocate 1.2% of PIT to budgetary institutions or recipients without a non-governmental organisation (NGO) status – including ��vlog�� (company code 211950810). We invite you to direct your 1.2% PIT contribution to the ��vlog�� Foundation (company code 304222713) or to other VU community organisations that meet the eligibility requirements for support.

First Lady of Lithuania and the First Gentleman of Slovenia Visit VU LSC

2025-11-18T13:12:19+02:00

On 18 November, the ��vlog�� Life Sciences Center (VU LSC) welcomed two distinguished guests: the First Lady of Lithuania, Diana Nausėdienė, and the First Gentleman of Slovenia, Dr Aleš Musar, accompanied by members of the Slovenian and Lithuanian delegations. The visit highlighted the growing international interest in Lithuania’s achievements and leadership in the life sciences sector.

The delegation was received by the Director of VU LSC, Dr Arvydas Lubys, together with the Advisor for International Relations, Prof. Eglė Lastauskienė and the Head of Communications and Marketing, Kristina Černiauskienė. During the meeting, VU LSC representatives presented an overview of the Center’s research priorities, study programmes, and its growing role in supporting start-up development within the life sciences ecosystem.

The guests also expressed particular interest in how VU LSC fosters partnerships between academia and industry. Dr A. Musar also expressed interest in the historical connections between Slovenian and Lithuanian universities, highlighting the importance of long-standing academic traditions as a foundation for future collaboration.

The visit concluded with a tour of several laboratories. The guests were introduced to the genome editing laboratory led by Dr Stephen Knox Jones Jr., followed by the microfluidics laboratory of Prof. Linas Mažutis. The program ended at the Cryo-Electron Microscopy (CryoEM) facility, where Dr Giedrė Tamulaitienė guided the visitors through the advanced research infrastructure.

The visit not only strengthened scientific ties between Lithuania and Slovenia but also underscored VU LSC’s role as a leading regional hub for world-class research, talent development, and innovation.

Students’ Victory in Morocco: ��vlog��’s Kinetic Theatre Wins Best Performance Award at an International Festival

2025-11-18T07:48:06+02:00

At the Tangier International University Theater Festival FITUT 2025, the ��vlog�� (VU) Kinetic Theatre play “Replika” (directed by Andrius Pulkauninkas) won the award for Best Collective Performance. The festival, which took place from November 3 to 7, brought together 12 universities from 9 countries. The amateur theater troupe of ��vlog�� (VU) students was recognised alongside many troupes from art academies – future acting professionals.

According to Kotryna Jančauskaitė, a member of the troupe and a VU alumna, participating in the international festival strengthened the troupe’s creative experience and confidence in their artistic direction: “On stage, we felt a common pulse with audiences from different countries. We are bringing back inspiration and confidence in what we are creating in Vilnius.”

“FITUT is more of a European event in Morocco than a local Moroccan one: this year, troupes from Italy, Portugal, Montenegro, Poland, France, Spain, and Lithuania participated, while Africa was represented by Egypt and two Moroccan troupes. We have worked long and hard with “Replika”, so we are delighted that these efforts have been recognised with an award. To be honest, we were hoping and expecting to win in one of the categories, as this is a serious competition. This recognition confirms the high standards and international visibility of our troupe, while also honourably representing ��vlog�� and Lithuania, strengthening the image of a modern, technologically advanced country. This is particularly important in the current geopolitical situation,” says Andrius Pulkauninkas, director of the play and head of the Kinetic Theater at VU.

The play “Replica” explores the relationship between humans and artificial intelligence through movement, sound, and visual solutions. By creating copies, mutations, and hybrid bodies, it raises questions about identity, originality, and the influence of technology on life.

VU Kinetic Theater is an interdisciplinary student troupe that has been operating at the VU Cultural Center since 2015. The collective brings together students from various fields of study who share a common desire to create theater based on the synthesis of movement, sound, and image. The theater actively participates in international university theater festivals in Europe and beyond, representing not only VU but also the contemporary Lithuanian creative scene.

On December 12, the performance “Replika” will be part of the VU Cultural Center’s Christmas performance series. Tickets are here. A 20% discount applies to VU students and staff.

What Do the Sea, the Stars, and the University Have in Common for VU Students?

2025-11-17T07:42:43+02:00

What connects ��vlog�� (VU) with Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis’ symphonic poem The Sea, cents, and stars? As it turns out – quite a lot, according to VU students. To mark the International Students’ Day on 17 November, we asked them to share their favourite places on campus, their most memorable university moments, and what being part of VU means to them.

Studies evoking The Sea by Čiurlionis

James Iain McLean, a student of the Languages and Cultures of the Nordic and Baltic Sea Region programme at the Faculty of Philology, chose Čiurlionis’ composition The Sea when asked which piece of music best describes his studies.

‘Of course, Čiurlionis himself was an extraordinary figure as both a musician and a painter, and that resonates with me because I have a classical music background. At the same time, the work itself is a perfect metaphor for university studies: they are vast and full of interwoven motifs that fade and resurface at different moments,’ said the Master’s student.

For Thilina Ranmal Angunna Gamage, a Software Engineering student at Šiauliai Academy, university life feels like ‘On Top of the World’ by Imagine Dragons: ‘As a true Imagine Dragons fan, I think this song perfectly captures my university experience: it conveys the energy, the challenges, and the sense of achievement you feel when studying in a new country and building your future step by step.’

Miglė Gutauskaitė, who studies Business and Law at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, associates her studies with ‘Labas rytas’ by Biplan: ‘Both because of the vibe and because that song is inseparable from the VU Students’ Representation.’

When asked which phrase they associate most strongly with the University itself, many students mentioned the long-standing VU motto ‘From here the way leads to the stars’ (Latin Hinc itur ad astra).

‘It perfectly reflects how VU encourages you to be ambitious, to grow, and to believe that your goals are within reach,’ said T. R. A. Gamage.

For medical student Afoma Deborah Afobunor, VU brings to mind a line from Carl Gustav Jung: ‘I am what I choose to become’. ‘It reminds me that ultimately I shape my own destiny, and every day at VU brings me one step closer to achieving my goals.’

Afoma Deborah Afobunor. Personal archive photo

Experiences at VU and the power of community

What are the most memorable moments that stand out for students?

‘A particularly memorable experience for me was the training session held six months ago by the VU Club of Young Energetics in Antalieptė, right next to our Club’s Energy Museum. ‘In the evening, we gathered with alumni and listened to stories about how the Club was founded, how it evolved with different people, and how such a strong community was built. As a VU student and Club president, it was special for me to see how traditions have endured, understand my place in the community, and contribute to its continuity. That evening left a deep impression on me and reinforced just how important community is in a student’s life,’ recalled Justas Norkus, a student at the Faculty of Physics, where he studies what he calls ‘the most fun subject – physics’.

Justas Norkus. Personal archive photo

For A. D. Afobunor, one of the most memorable moments was the start of the academic year: ‘On 1 September, I helped welcome international students. I loved taking part in the traditional VU parade down Gedimino Avenue, meeting new students, and being able to encourage them. Looking back, it felt surreal – I used to be just like them: nervous but excited to begin my studies at VU.’

According to Šiauliai Academy student T. R. A. Gamage, one of his most memorable moments happened during his first weeks at the University: ‘At that time, I knew only a few people. A group of Lithuanian students invited me to join a tour of the Academy and then go for a coffee together. That simple act of kindness made me feel welcome immediately. That’s when I realised how warm and supportive the VU community really is.’

From the SCIC to the Cents Room

Students’ favourite spots on campus are tied not only to leisure and community but also to architecture. Medical student A. D. Afobunor particularly enjoys the Scholarly Communication and Information Centre (SCIC): ‘I love the building’s architecture and style. If I didn’t live so far away, I would go there every day. I also really like the new Medical Science Centre – it’s a very nice and well-designed building.’

For Software Engineering student, T. R. A. Gamage, his favourite place at Šiauliai Academy is the Cents Room, whose walls are covered in 157,130 coins as decoration. Here, according to the student, you can have a good time, meet friends, relax, and enjoy yourself.

J. I. McLean, who studies the Languages and Cultures of the Nordic and Baltic Sea Region, is especially fond of the Centre for Scandinavian Studies: ‘Ironically, I study there despite not speaking any Scandinavian language. Still, the Centre feels like a truly cosy academic home for me. Every day I feel even happier with my choice of studies,’ he said.

M. Gutauskaitė admits that since her first year, she has spent almost all her breaks on the same bench near the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration: ‘I don’t know how or when it happened, but it became a sort of ritual – coffee in my hand, a podcast in my headphones. Sitting there, you get to see some really lovely moments (including squirrels!),’ shared the student.

As J. Norkus notes, being a VU student means having the courage to try, fail, and grow: ‘It’s an opportunity to discover your strengths, meet interesting people, and experience what it means to grow not only academically but also personally – to learn from experience, laugh at your mistakes, and celebrate every small victory.’