University of Lithuania's 90th anniversary Atnaujinta: 2012-02-15 17:21:17

University of Lithuania: Freedom of Research and Creativity

After the dawn of Lithuania’s independence in 1918, the country’s intellectuals considered establishing a Lithuanian university as one of their most important objectives. Thus the University of Lithuania opened its doors in Kaunas on 16 February 1922, following the reorganization of the Program of Higher Education. The interwar period saw this institution become a place of projects for the future, where the country’s elite was nurtured and the most prominent contemporary scientific and cultural unions were formed. The teaching staff included renowned Lithuanian and European intellectuals, philosophers, and high-ranking government officials. It was a liberal and modern university, unique in its free and communal spirit, close student-teacher relations, and its commitment to preserving the country’s culture, historical memory, and critical thought.

The university enjoyed considerable autonomy in its first days. It could function freely and independently, which is why its structure changed numerous times: new faculty offices and departments were established. On 3 September 1924, the Division of Agronomy and Forestry at the University of Lithuania was combined with the Dotnuva Technical School, which resulted in the founding of the Academy of Agriculture.

When the 500th anniversary of the death of Grand Duke Vytautas Magnus was commemorated in 1930, the University of Lithuania was renamed to honour his name and the occasion, and is known today as VMU. In the winter of 1940, VMU supported the re-establishment of Vilnius University: faculties of Humanities and Law were moved from Kaunas to Vilnius.

However, the newly founded university often suffered as a hostage of political games. During the Soviet era, the occupiers sought to destroy not only the cosmopolitan academic system, but also the freedom of thought and conscience it fostered.

After the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania, on 21 August 1940 VMU was renamed the University of Kaunas and the Faculty of Theology-Philosophy was closed down, along with almost all student organizations. Repression of teachers and students began soon afterwards.

In 1941, the bravest university lecturers and students took part in the June Uprising, saving about 2,000 prisoners and declaring the restoration of independence. Before long, the Provisional Government of Lithuania restored Vytautas Magnus University’s name. In spite of this, its activities were severely restricted by the occupying Nazi government. On 17 March 1943, most of the university’s facilities were taken over by the German Wehrmacht and studies were suspended, just like in other higher education schools in Lithuania. Lectures were held almost in secret. 

In the summer of 1944, when the second Soviet occupation was approaching, almost an entire third of the country’s academic community moved to the West, where it continued the moral war against the Soviets. They opened schools in refugee camps, published books and newspapers, and urged fellow Lithuanians to preserve their distinctive national identity. Right until Lithuania’s re-declaration of independence in 1990, the Diaspora worked to make the world take notice of the dramatic situation in the occupied country, raised hopes for the future, developed its visions and supported the tradition of a liberal university.

The Soviet Union occupied Lithuania and, on 11 November 1944, VMU was renamed the Kaunas State Vytautas Magnus University. In the autumn of 1950, the USSR Ministry of Higher Education in effect abolished the university by splitting it into the Kaunas Polytechnic Institute and the Kaunas Medical Institute. However, the reorganization did not suppress the struggle for freedom: students in Kaunas protested against the enforced totalitarian regime by anti-Soviet demonstrations (at the city’s cemetery during the All Saints Day in 1956 and after Romas Kalanta’s public self-immolation in 1972).

The academic tradition and the memory of a free university persevered and was kept alive right until 1989. That was the year when the joint efforts of local and emigrant Lithuanian scholars and the Reform Movement of Lithuania resulted in the re-establishment of Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas. After the restoration of independence, the university’s descendants – the Kaunas Polytechnic Institute, the Kaunas Medical Institute and, later, the Academy of Agriculture – became universities.

The University of Lithuania can also be seen as the origin of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, which emerged from the Vilnius Faculty of the Kaunas Polytechnic Institute, and the universities of Klaipėda and Šiauliai, which were formed from the faculties of the Kaunas University of Technology.

In the period of its existence the University of Lithuania had become the vital centre of Lithuanian intellectual and cultural life, which encouraged creative pursuits and critical thinking, ideas of multiculturalism, and openness to the world. Professors were always looking to educate not just their students but the public as well. This is where the first research centres and academic traditions emerged, the first Lithuanian textbooks were published, and the personality of a constantly inquisitive young person who is capable of independent thought was supported. Later the university’s divisions served as the basis for the current higher education institutions known as the Aleksandras Stulginskis University, the re-established Vilnius University, the Kaunas University of Technology, and the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.

University of Lithuania. History tree 1922-2012.

Past Events

February 15, Wednesday

10 a.m. Historical Presidential Palace, Kaunas (Vilniaus Str. 33).
Press conference dedicated to the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the University of Lithuania. Participants include rectors of Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas University of Technology, Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education and Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.

5 p.m. Kaunas National Philharmonic (Sapiegos Str. 5).
Celebratory meeting of the Senates of Kaunas universities More information about the events is provided by Janina Masalskienė (j.masalskiene@vkt.vdu.lt), phone +370 37 327960.

February 14, Tuesday

12 p.m. VMU Faculty of Economics and Management (K. Donelaičio Str. 28, 4th floor lobby).
Unveiling of Independence Act Signatory Jonas Smilgevičius’ commemorative stele

2 p.m. VMU Aula Magna (Gimnazijos Str. 7).
Celebratory meeting of VMU Senate which will mark the Day of Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence and the university’s 90th anniversary

• Awarding of VMU Honorary Professor’s regalia to Prof. Viktorija Skrupskelytė
• Awarding of VMU Honorary Doctor’s regalia to Prof. Rein Raud
• Presentation of Independence Act Signatory Jonas Smilgevičius’ scholarship
• Awarding of VMU Honorary Scholarships

More information about the events is provided by Rasa Laurinavičiūtė (r.laurinaviciute@vkt.vdu.lt),
phone +370 37 327960, +370 650 25236.

February 10, Friday

4 p.m. VMU History Hall (K. Donelaičio Str. 28).
Presentation of biographical book in the memory of botanist Professor Liudas Vailionis
More information about the event is available here (in Lithuanian).

February 9, Thursday

1 p.m. VMU Vaclovas Biržiška Reading Room (K. Donelaičio Str. 52, Room 218).
Book presentation of Atsiminimai apie Joną Jablonskį (Memories about Jonas Jablonskis), dedicated to Jonas Jablonskis, Honorary Professor of the University of Lithuania
More information about the event is available here (in Lithuanian).