VMU Alumni Perspective: Liberal Arts, Personal Growth, and AI

Students and alumni gathered for a dynamic discussion titled “Liberal Arts: Navigating Careers, Personal Growth, and the AI Era,” exploring the role of liberal arts education in career development and personal growth in today’s AI-driven job market. This event, held as part of VMU Connection Day on November 8, took place during Alumni Day, marking 35 years of VMU’s commitment to the liberal arts approach. This philosophy emphasizes student freedom to design their own academic paths, pursue a broad education, and explore subjects beyond their chosen fields.

The discussion adopted a hybrid format, allowing alumni and students from around the globe to join. Participants connected online from the USA, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and other countries, while onsite attendees included representatives from Ukraine, China, Georgia, India, Japan, and many more.

The event opened with Vice-Rector Vilma Bijeikienė:

“We are very happy to have alumni and students from all around the world here at our university. This year, we have first-year students from 45 different countries – that is truly incredible, and we are grateful that you chose our university. This year, Vytautas Magnus University is taking on the Presidency of our European university alliance, “Transform4Europe.” On this occasion, we published a “slow reading” essay by the Polish writer and philosopher Krzysztof Czyżewski, which encourages us to sit, reflect, and think deeply about values, motivations, and life’s goals. I’ll share a brief quote from him that I hope inspires you to consider the fundamentals of your own journey: “You cannot possess utopia, but you can build a bridge toward it. You just need to stay true to the vision and keep your attention focused, so as not to lose the trail left by the messenger of courageous thoughts.” I truly wish for all of you to have courageous thoughts, and together, through your friendships and networks, to bring those greater ideas to fulfillment.”

Afterward, speakers – alumni from different years, programs, and countries – shared their experiences with the audience online and in the Senate Hall.

VMU alumna Nigar Yahyazada from Azerbaijan, a graduate of the Sociolinguistics and Multilingualism Joint Master’s program and currently an English teacher at Karabakh University and an IELTS instructor, discussed the employability skills that a liberal arts education provides. She highlighted the importance of skills like critical thinking, communication, research, and project management.

“My education at VMU didn’t just give me a master’s degree – it shaped my entire career,” Nigar shared. “The skills that employers value in a liberal arts education include problem-solving, cultural awareness, and leadership. There are some misconceptions about liberal arts, with people saying it’s less practical or offers limited career options. My response is that a liberal arts education provides highly transferable skills across various fields.”

Reflecting on her studies across three different countries, she added, “It taught me how to connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures, which is especially helpful now in cross-cultural work environments and in teaching IELTS to students from various nationalities.”

VMU alumna Meiqi Zhang from China, who completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s studies in the Performing Arts Solo Piano program at the VMU Music Academy (2018–2024), recently began her PhD at the VMU Education Academy. Her research focuses on the philosophy and social competence of musical aesthetics education in higher education. During the discussion, she shared her perspective on the topic “How Does a Liberal Arts Education Help You Find a Job in Today’s Market?” and highlighted essential skills like critical thinking, learning adaptability, and effective expression, all crucial for professional interactions in today’s workplace.

“The significance of liberal arts,” Meiqi explained, “is that it emphasizes the role of people in the world, focusing on human experiences. Liberal arts education not only helps us understand social realities as objectively as possible but also uses imagery and logical inference to move us and inspire reflection. The purpose of education is to enable independent thinking, fostering personal opinions and sound judgment. Education cultivates creativity to generate new ideas, advance societal progress, and promote human development.”

Maka Berulava from Sakartvelo, an alumna of the International Politics and Development BA program (2023), also holds a Master’s in Russian and Post-Soviet Politics from University College London. She is currently pursuing her second master’s in the Future Media and Journalism program at VMU, assisting at the Andrei Sakharov Research Centre for Democratic Development, and collaborating with a groupmate on their own NGO project.

Speaking on the topic “Liberal Arts and Personal Growth,” Maka emphasized the value of participating in diverse extracurricular activities, drawing from her own experiences. She has volunteered at the Lithuanian Red Cross, attended conferences, participated in a summer school, and served as the Young Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Lithuania.

“I realized that meeting professionals and having the chance to talk with high-ranking individuals like diplomats and lecturers truly broadens your perspective,” she shared. “Your scope of thinking expands only when you’re exposed to new contacts and diverse ideas.”

She also encouraged students to take advantage of language learning opportunities, noting the intensity of VMU’s language programs. “Language courses at VMU are very intensive – you have them every day with just one day off. It’s an incredible opportunity to improve your language skills quickly,” she advised.

Dmytro Zlenko, a third-year MEM/MBA student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, originally hails from Ukraine and holds a B.A. in Environmental Science and Ecology from Vytautas Magnus University. His academic focus is on helping corporate and academic institutions transition to low-carbon models, with a broader view on issues like energy interdependence.

Dmytro shared memories of his extracurricular activities at VMU, including his involvement in ESN events, faculty-led activities, volunteering, and sports. He emphasized the lasting impact that connections and networking opportunities at university can have, encouraging current students to make the most of these relationships during their studies, as they can create long-term benefits.

Ukrainians Tetiana Abramtsova, Kateryna Strutynska, and Valeriia Burlachenko, former VMU students with degrees in Political Science, share a passion for raising political awareness. Believing that science and art are the ideal combination for spreading ideas, knowledge, and activism, they launched the Utopia Club Podcast in March 2024. Tetiana initiated the project, and Kateryna and Valeriia soon joined to promote political awareness and civic engagement.

“In this podcast, we explore social and political issues in a simplified way,” explained Tetiana Abramtsova. Reflecting on her student experience, she shared, “My studies coincided with COVID-19 and the onset of the Russian war against Ukraine. It wasn’t the ideal student experience, but despite all the challenges, we launched the podcast. I believe that when you start to understand politics, you start to understand the world. I wanted to share what I’ve learned with other young people, and that’s how the podcast took shape. We already have six recorded episodes on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.”

Valeriia Burlachenko highlighted that friendship was one of the greatest values she gained during her time at VMU. Speaking about the podcast, she said, “We strive to create a high-quality product and share more information about politics and political cultures.” During her studies, Valeriia was actively involved in extracurricular activities, including the Academic Club of Political Scientists. Alongside Kateryna Strutynska, one of the first guests on the podcast, she organized several events on Ukrainian diplomacy and human rights abuses, providing a platform for people to share personal stories of torture and captivity in Russia. Kateryna Strutynska added, “We broke the silence. We uncovered abuses and highlighted the importance of international collaboration to protect each individual’s dignity and well-being.”

The team invites everyone to listen to the Utopia Club Podcast and encourages anyone interested to consider joining as a future guest.

Az-Zahra Helmi – IISMA Awardee at Vytautas Magnus University, 2023. As an IISMA alumna from Vytautas Magnus University, Az-Zahra has developed a profound interest in building networks across borders and disciplines. She is committed to advancing public health and fostering global collaboration through research, advocacy, and empowerment.

Speaking on the topic “Liberal Arts and Personal Growth: Reflect, Grow, Aspire. How Do Past Experiences Define What’s Ahead?”, she emphasized the importance of adaptability and resilience – skills she honed during her semester in Lithuania. “My critical thinking skills and empathy have strengthened as I consider today’s pressing global issues,” she said. “I encountered many challenges, but my resilience grew, and the analytical skills I developed through the liberal arts helped me to process and learn from each experience.”

Lakshya Dave from India, an alumnus of the Applied English Linguistics MA program (2022), specializes in the Fintech and Web3 sectors.

Dave shared his perspective on how AI influences career opportunities:

“All the creative ideas we discussed during the session are coming from liberal arts people. In the past, if you wanted to create a proper podcast, you needed to hire a video editor, someone to handle content creation, and experts for YouTube marketing and more. But now, AI allows you to do all of this on your own. AI gives you a blank slate  –  a platform where you can fill it with your ideas. Liberal arts gives you that same blank slate, allowing you to explore and develop a wide range of concepts. AI offers a kind of superpower, enabling you to dive into areas you might not have been familiar with. It’s like having AI as your best friend, helping you navigate unknown territories.”