VMU Will Cooperate with UK and US universities

Lithuanian universities are participating in a new initiative that aims to draw in more talents from abroad who would complete international double degree studies and start a career in our country: in this way, they would strengthen Lithuania’s IT and life sciences sectors. Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), which is participating in the project, has already established successful new partnerships with United Kingdom’s and U.S. higher education schools: Memorandums of Understanding have already been signed with three high-level universities.

“Lithuania may become one of the best places to develop a career in the fields of IT or life sciences: those who complete highest quality study programmes will be able to join international companies. If these companies see that we are preparing strong graduates in Lithuania who stay to work in this market, investors will deem it worthwhile to continue developing research and production in our country”, the VMU Vice-Rector for Communication Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vilma Bijeikienė said, explaining the project’s main goals.

With the help of Cormack Consultancy Group, Vytautas Magnus University has signed Memorandums of Understanding with the University of Keele (UK), the University of Lincoln (UK), and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (USA). Cooperation opportunities have also been discussed with four additional universities of the United Kingdom: Edge Hill University, Glasgow Caledonian University, Lancaster University, and Nottingham Trent University.

According to the memorandums of understanding, VMU and the aforementioned universities intend to cooperate in educational and research activities such as exchange of students, lecturers and researchers, preparation of double-degree BA and MA study programmes, joint research, training, exchange of scientific material etc. The cooperation is focused on the fields of information technology and life sciences.

The project’s idea is based on another successful initiative which has been implemented in the neighbouring Latvia: there, the Project 3000 aims to draw in 3,000 international students who would choose to study IT in Latvia. The country has already established five strategic partnerships with U.S. and UK universities regarding preparation of double degree study programmes and the study programmes are already being implemented.

In Lithuania, VMU has signed one of the first memorandums of understanding under the project with the University of Keele (United Kingdom). The Executive Dean of Natural Sciences at Keele University, Prof. Jonathan Wastling, pointed out that the established cooperation will allow both universities to seek common goals.

“The UK, over quite a long time, has benefited from biosciences as a sector that has really powered growth and innovation. I know Lithuania also has the ambition to grow your biosciences industry as higher percentage of your GDP. I hope that some of the experience we have in the UK and the work we do at Keele can be used to help you fulfill that objective”, Executive Dean of Natural Sciences at Keele University said.

The project has been initiated by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania.