2022 – the Year of Lithuanian Universities

To commemorate the centennial of the establishment of the University of Lithuania in Kaunas, The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania declared 2022 the year of Lithuanian universities. This year, numerous events, conferences, and excursions will take place to mark the significance of Lithuanian universities.

The year 2022 is special as it marks the emergence of Lithuanian culture, technology, academic thought and higher education in Kaunas.

The activities carried out in Lithuanian universities at that time contributed to the successful development of Lithuania and accelerated cultural and urbanization processes throughout the country.

Special logo created to mark the occasion

Thanks to the input of universities, not only the education system developed, but also the country’s economy, as well as health and sports system improved. Lithuanian scientific terminology and new branches of science required for the strengthening of the Lithuanian economy and industry were created. The first textbooks in Lithuanian were published and the first Lithuanian research and art centers were established. Moreover, major scientific and cultural movements of the first independence developed and well-known Lithuanian and European intellectuals, philosophers, public figures and highest officials of the country provided lectures to students.

To commemorate this occasion, Lithuanian universities will invite to participate in various events: conferences, lectures, exhibitions, concerts as well as scientific and cultural events. The events are free of charge and open to academic communities and the general public.

All these initiatives will be marked by a special Centennial logo, which is already used by all higher education institutions in Lithuania.

Encourages cooperation

Congratulating the universities, the Minister of Education, Science and Sports Jurgita Šiugždinienė wishes that the year of the universities will encourage universities to work together more, mobilizing both human and financial resources.

“We are a small country, so only by working together can we achieve the highest quality of studies and research, international recognition and success. Therefore, I wish you not to compete with each other, but to collaborate and pursue world-class science and studies. This is also a priority for the government, so the changes and new solutions that are being developed are designed to achieve this goal,” says Šiugždinienė.

Jurgita Šiugždinienė, Minister of Education, Science and Sports (photo by KTU)

According to the Minister, universities have 3 main missions. The first one includes studies that prepare educated, creative and critically thinking graduates, which requires motivated and prepared students, qualified and constantly improving teachers, teaching methods and content, and an international, open and encouraging environment.

“The second mission is to conduct research, and in order to achieve excellence in this area, we need to create the best conditions for attracting and retaining talented individuals. The third mission is the economic and social mission of universities, which includes their contribution to society, meeting its challenges and creating a high value-added economy. Only through collaboration can we achieve synergy and successful realization of these missions. So I invite all universities to unite!” the Minister maintained.

Public lectures and a documentary

According to Rimvydas Petrauskas, the Rector of Vilnius University and President of the Lithuanian University Rectors’ Conference (LURK), the university tradition in Lithuania goes back more than a century, but the University of Lithuania marks a new beginning.

Rimvydas Petrauskas, Rector of Vilnius University and President of the Lithuanian University Rectors’ Conference (LURK) (photo by E. Kurauskas)

“It is the ambition of a young republic to create higher education, cultivate its intellectuals, and foster its unique language and culture. This is still important today. The university became one of the cornerstones of the state. It is important to maintain this view in the present times as well, acknowledging the significance of universities and higher education for the success of countries, and especially small and ambitious countries,” says Petrauskas.

On February 16, three Kaunas universities that emerged from the University of Lithuania – Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) and Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) – will host a solemn event celebrating the centennial of the University of Lithuania and the year of Lithuanian universities. The event will be broadcast live on LRT Television and the lrt.lt website.

At the beginning of the year, a series of Public Lectures have been launched – each month, a different university will host meetings with scientists, historians, political scientists, artists and other inspiring figures.

The culmination of a series of events in 2022 will be marked by a documentary film about Lithuanian universities, which will be broadcast on LRT Television.