Three universities became one of Vytautas Magnus University
Posted date: 10 Jan 2019
2019 January 1 The reorganization of the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences (LEU) and Aleksandras Stulginskis University (ASU) ended with the connection to Vytautas Magnus University (VMU). This is the first step in the restructuring of the university network planned by the Lithuanian Government. On Thursday, a press conference organized by the Government introduced the integration of these universities and other stages. You are welcome to watch the video .
Since the beginning of this year, three universities have officially become a consolidated Vytautas Magnus University, which will be the most comprehensive and will carry out research and studies in the fields of humanitarian, social, physical, arts, biomedicine, technology and agriculture. Integration aims to ensure high quality of studies and science, to reduce the duplication of study programs, to promote interdisciplinary research and to use research and study infrastructure efficiently. After the merger LEU becomes VMU Academy of Education and ASU - VMU Agricultural Academy.
Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis noted that the reform of higher education is one of the most important work of the Government. This reform involves not only merging processes but also the restructuring of funding, quality assurance of services, and the improvement of wages and working conditions. The strengthening of universities has always been the focus of this reform.
“We are delighted with the first official fruit of the reform, and especially that it originated from the universities themselves. It is very important to hear the voice of the university communities in the transformation of this scale, and we have certainly done this in this case - we have revised the Government's proposals in the light of the visions of the universities themselves. I believe that this merger will strengthen the scientific potential of universities, interdisciplinary science and studies, attract more students and improve teacher training in Kaunas, bringing together researchers, researchers and practitioners in the field of education at the VMU Academy of Education, ”said the head of government.
"This connection opens up opportunities for conducting research of a completely different quality and organizing studies that meet the requirements of the time and expectations of the future, providing a wide range of education", VMU Rector prof. Juozas Augutis.
According to the VMU Rector, the synergy of different experiences and competencies enables researchers from the best Western universities to work at first glance in unrelated areas such as humanities and technology experts. In accordance with the objectives of "Society 5.0", studies and research will be carried out in a complex manner, combining interdisciplinary potential in such topical topics as bioeconomy, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, agro-innovation, circular economy, technology law, climate change, sustainable development, teacher training, and others.
“The transformation of the higher education system and network optimization was necessary in the Lithuanian education system. I am pleased to have the opportunity to participate in consolidation processes and to be part of it. All that is happening at the moment is a very big responsibility for all the uniting universities, now the heads of the academies, and the whole community, so there will be a lot of work to do here. It is understandable that this will not be implemented in a short period of time ”, - said Greta Šmaižyt?, President of VMU Student Representation.
New structures of VMU academic and non-academic units have already been approved. The merger of universities changes the situation: optimization of infrastructure, merging of duplicating functions, integration of study programs and faculties. The main purpose of this transformation is to create a system that allows for horizontal cooperation - there will be no separate structures or separate management.
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