Lithuanian Diaspora Academy Atnaujinta: 2011-07-21 15:44:10

Contacts in Vilnius

Vida Bagdonavičienė, project coordinator
Žygimantų 5A-6, Vilnius
Phone (+370 5) 261 9191
E-mail v.bagdonaviciene@pvt.vdu.lt
Website www.pasauliolietuviai.lt

Contacts in Kaunas

Rasa Laurinavičiūtė
Public Communications Office
Vytautas Magnus University
K. Donelaičio 58, LT-44246 Kaunas
Phone (+370 37) 32 78 60
E-mail r.laurinaviciute@vkt.vdu.lt
Website www.pasauliolietuviai.lt

The main objective of the project titled Lithuanian Diaspora Academy is to bring together the Lithuanian diaspora, encourage close collaboration in academic projects between Lithuanian emigrants or their descendants anywhere in the world and Lithuania. The project also seeks to attract those interested in Lithuania and its culture. Lithuanian Diaspora Academy's numerous activities include organising courses that continue throughout the year, exchange programmes, internships and traineeships, as well as distance study projects. At the same time, this is an ideological entity open to initiatives by various clubs, associations and communities.

Re-established thanks to the collective efforts of Lithuanian and diaspora scientists two decades ago, Vytautas Magnus University seeks to become the academic nucleus of the entire community of World Lithuanians. The Lithuanian Diaspora Academy seeks to consistently and purposefully introduce the academic diaspora of Lithuanians to VMU's academic potential, promote international recognition of projects implemented and created by Lithuanian and diaspora scientists. The organisation will also look to increase the awareness of Lithuanian scientific research in the international arena, spread Lithuanian culture and language around the world.

In 2010, the summer school project Refresh in Lithuania successfully brought together Lithuanians and their descendants currently living abroad, thus renewing and strengthening relationships with their home country. The annual project is actively engaged in the task of improving the understanding the emigrants have of current affairs and issues in Lithuania.

The courses were held for the second year in a row on July 18 – 30 in 2011, inviting people of Lithuanian heritage (age 18 and older) to participate. For two weeks, the participants attended interesting lectures, visited museums and got to know the everyday life of a Lithuanian student. Trips were planned to the most beautiful places in Lithuania – Rumšiškės, Vilnius, Trakai, Klaipėda, etc. Youth of Lithuanian descendants living abroad are invited to do their professional internship, academic practice or charity work in Lithuania. This is a great opportunity to acquire professional experience, improve language skills and get to know Lithuania better. The emigrants of Lithuanian origin improve their Lithuanian language skills, get familiarised with the country’s culture, traditions, politics and history, and acquire professional experience.

In June-July 2011, the summer internship programme of the Lithuanian International Student Services (LISS) provided fifty young people of Lithuanian origin with a great opportunity to acquire professional experience at various governmental institutions, hospitals, art collectives or non-governmental organisations, improve language skills and get to know Lithuania better. Students are to receive VMU certificates testifying the successful end of their professional internship and the received academic credits. These credits will be accepted accordingly when the students return to universities in the USA or Canada. Expanding on the project's idea, a call for applications has been announced for internship at the Lithuanian Research Studies Center in Chicago as part of the memorial scholarship program of L. and F. Mockūnai.

Vytautas Magnus University is upholding its tradition of remaining open to diaspora and sponsors the international assembly that unites Lithuanian schools in Europe and gathers in Germany, entited Draugystės Tiltas. VMU also holds seminars and scientific conferences dedicated to the issues of the shifting identity of Lithuanian emigrants, projects exploring the heritage of the Lithuanian diaspora.

VMU seeks to foster the culture of the diaspora – it organises book presentations, film premieres and exhibition openings dedicated to diaspora topics, holds conferences and seminars, retains and continues developing relations with diaspora communities.

The video report by Kristijonas Jakubsonas (k.jakubsonas@vkt.vdu.lt) introduces VMU's ambition of becoming a centre for Lithuanian diaspora: