VMU Birthday Celebration Introduces Student Well-Being Program

On February 17, as students celebrated Vytautas Magnus University’s (VMU) birthday, the year 2025 was declared the Year of Student Well-Being. On this occasion, a new mentorship program, “Peer-to-peer,” was officially introduced, aiming to strengthen student connections and foster a sense of community by providing peer-to-peer support.

At the opening event, VMU Vice-Rector for Studies, Dr. Simona Pilkienė, greeted students and the entire university community. “There are many celebrations, but not many where so many young people gather with such energy. We started celebrating VMU’s birthday last week, we continue today, and I hope this joyful spirit stays with us throughout the year. Today is for you and about you,” said Dr. Pilkienė, sharing in the excitement of the festive atmosphere.

The announcement of the Year of Student Well-Being was not just symbolic—it also encouraged a deeper look at the challenges students face and possible solutions. This was reflected in the conference “Student Well-Being – A Mission (Im)Possible?”, where not only was the rhetorical question explored, but also real measures were discussed to enhance student well-being at the university.

Speakers included: Paulius Vaitiekus, President of the Lithuanian National Union of Students (LSS), who spoke about student financial well-being, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rytis Pakrosnis, a psychologist at the VMU Psychology Clinic, who presented findings from VMU’s student psychological well-being monitoring, and Gustė Žukauskaitė, VMU Student Well-Being Coordinator, who explored the most direct path to fostering a sense of community.

In the second part of the conference, human rights expert Prof. Dr. Jonas Ruškus, LSS Vice President Ieva Vengrovskaja, psychologist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rytis Pakrosnis, and mentorship program mentor Meda Maročkinaitė discussed whether student well-being at the university can truly be ensured and how to guarantee that students receive all the support they need.

LSS Vice President Ieva Vengrovskaja was pleased to see a diverse audience, including future students, university staff, and both academic and non-academic personnel.
“What was discussed today is essential not only for current and future students but also for those involved in decision-making at this university,” she emphasized.

During the event, participants competed in a university-themed quiz, with the winners earning the title of VMU Experts. In the evening, a musical performance was given by first-year VMU Music Academy students Elvina Milkintaitė and Gabrielė Kuliešiūtė.

Addressing the gathered audience, VMU Rector Prof. Dr. Juozas Augutis expressed his joy that VMU can celebrate its birthday twice a year—on February 16, marking its original establishment in 1922, and on April 28, commemorating its 1989 re-establishment after the university was closed during the Soviet era.

“Celebrating a birthday that coincides with our country’s birthday is truly special. And celebrating the university’s birthday means celebrating all of our birthdays. I am proud that despite its long history, VMU remains young—thanks to its students and faculty. Age does not matter; what matters are thoughts and the spirit of the heart,” said Prof. Dr. Juozas Augutis.

Presenting the student well-being and mentorship program “Peer-to-peer,” VMU Student Well-Being Coordinator Gustė Žukauskaitė expressed her excitement about the establishment of this new position at the university. “The role of Student Well-Being Coordinator covers everything related to student well-being—psychological and emotional health, personal effectiveness and motivation, various academic matters and study planning, as well as career opportunities and professional development.” Additionally, students can seek support or advice from program mentors, who will help them find solutions or direct them to specialized assistance.

During the event, Ieva Gaižutytė was recognized for submitting the winning idea for the VMU Student Well-Being Program logo. Based on her design, the official logo was created and will be used in communications, social media, and student well-being initiatives.

The VMU birthday celebration concluded with cake, birthday songs, and an evening party featuring DJ Viltė, wrapping up a day dedicated to student well-being and community spirit.

For more information about VMU student well-being or to register for a consultation, visit here.