“Cultural diversity enhances the ability to deal with complex situations, as a diverse team tends to approach a problem from multiple perspectives. Of course, differences can be challenging, but their advantages, such as a propensity to innovate or better problem solving, outweigh the disadvantages,” he notes.

Oswald Kolb, Managing Director of Continental Automotive Lithuania and Continental Autonomous Mobility Lithuania, echoes his sentiments, saying that when working with people from different cultures, one has to deal with a variety of different attitudes, but this also means learning from each other continuously.

“This diversity brings with it a variety of working styles, which can sometimes be quite challenging. It often requires more time, but it’s worth it, and it helps you grow professionally and personally,” emphasises Mr Kolb.

An international team means more possibilities
At the Chemistry of Materials Research Group of the KTU Faculty of Chemical Technology, headed by Prof. J. V. Gražulevičius researchers from Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Sakartvelo, Iran, India, Pakistan and Nigeria are working alongside locals. Every year, the team also accepts Erasmus+ bilateral exchange students from France and Spain.

“Despite their cultural and religious differences, they all communicate well in their native languages and English and are completing their PhDs. One student has experience in the synthesis and research of organic compounds with non-linear optical properties. Another is working on quantum chemical calculations. Their experience enriches our research group,” says Prof. J.V. Gražulevičius.

When starting its operations in Lithuania, Continental initially faced a challenge, as the plant was rapidly becoming operational and needed to ensure smooth production. The company not only had to recruit people but also develop their competencies and prepare them for the fast pace of production.

“We have built a strong team of over 800 people from nearly 30 different countries, who are now in Lithuania manufacturing complex, high-value-added products focused on comfort, safety, and the future of mobility. This blend of expertise and cultural perspectives has contributed immensely to our success,” notes Mr Kolb.

Businesses stress that, whether national or global, cross-cultural cooperation is crucial, as all teams are very diverse, and employees often interact with colleagues from different regions.

“Different people, different characters, different strengths and talents make up cultural diversity. We work in 56 countries and have 516 locations, so cultural diversity is what our corporate culture thrives on,” says Mr Kolb.

Focus on family when integrating international staff
In most cases, the university’s ability to find researchers from other countries is facilitated by the long-standing contacts it has established with researchers abroad. Meanwhile, company business representatives say that attracting talent requires developing strategies, building internal skills and using people with experience from different countries to fill gaps.

“We try to select our candidates carefully, sparing no time for detailed remote interviews. In the selection process, we involve trusted researchers from abroad, which helps attract excellent staff a great deal. Informal communication and joint trips to scientific conferences facilitate integration,” says Prof. J.V. Gražulevičius.

When attracting professionals from abroad to Lithuania, employers first identify the main countries where these professionals are prevalent and then adapt their recruitment strategies accordingly. Mr Kolb, representing the company, which is a main partner of KTU WANTed Career Days 2024, says that Continental has developed a relocation package that includes moving expenses, migration support and language courses.

“We are also working with various public institutions to promote Lithuania and Kaunas as living destinations, addressing support needed about education, health services, settlement, and the most relevant questions. These questions become particularly important if the arriving employees have children, so we try to ensure comfortable conditions for the whole family,” says Mr Kolb.

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Linas Svilainis, a professor at KTU and one of the authors of the invention says that the idea to create the device came from the cooperation of KTU and Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) researchers.

Monitoring the physiological status of plants is an important step in protecting plants from harmful effects and achieving better yields. However, existing methods for assessing plant status are damaging to the plant and in many cases require a long wait for results. The new device is non-invasive and uses non-contact ultrasound on an uncut leaf for measurement.

Scientists from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Agri-Food Research and Technology Centre of Aragon (CITA) have figured out how to use ultrasound to assess the impact of drought on plants.

The initial application was for vine trees but later it turned out to be applicable to other plants.

European vineyards are suffering from drought
Vine trees are particularly vulnerable to drought due to their shallow root system and limited ability to extract water from the soil. Vine trees that suffer from water shortages have lower yields. Moreover, drought changes the composition of the grapes produced – it can affect sugar and acidity levels, which determine the quality and taste of the wine. For these reasons, and to avoid the other extreme of overwatering the vine trees, it is necessary to monitor these plants and regulate watering.

European vineyards, which produce more than 50% of the world’s wine, were already suffering from hotter and drier than normal conditions in 2022, putting as many as 18% of European vineyards at risk of drought. This year, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries is also worried, predicting that Spanish wine production will fall by more than 20% compared to last year, due to the prolonged drought plaguing growers across the country.

“The device developed by our team can extract mechanical properties from ultrasound measurements, allowing plant scientists to analyse the physiological state of plants,” says Prof. Svilainis.

The device developed by KTU scientists consists of two transducers, one of which acts as a loudspeaker sending the signal and the other receives it as a microphone. Anything that comes between them changes the signal.

“Based on the change that has taken place, we can determine the mechanical properties of an object, in this case, a plant leaf,” explains Svilainis, a professor at KTU Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

The palm-sized electronic device generates ultrasound, receives signals, and transmits data to a smartphone. Geographic coordinates and photos are attached to the sensor data and sent to the cloud storage. Distribution maps and time graphs of plant traits are generated using cloud computing technologies.

The resonant frequency, thickness, density, and attenuation of the plant can be measured by ultrasound using the instrument. “Researchers from Spain have demonstrated that these measurements correlate with parameters that indicate the plant’s physiological state, namely water potential and relative water content, which are used to assess the drought stress,” adds the professor.

A non-invasive solution for plant analysis directly in the field
“A lot of work had to be done to implement such an idea and make field measurements possible,” says Svilainis.

He adds that although the device is unique, it is not the only one to measure similar plant characteristics. “The difference is that instead of, for example, threading a pressure sensor into a plant trunk, we use a non-invasive, non-contact technology. In addition, it is light, convenient, and results are obtained immediately. Using other devices, the leaves have to be cut and taken to the laboratory, which takes time, but here we can get the results right in the field,” says the KTU professor.

Svilainis is quick to remind that a plant is a living organism, so figuring out how to measure its characteristics in field conditions was not an easy process. The level of substances in it varies depending on air temperature, sunlight, and humidity. “For example, ignoring temperature changes can lead to measurement errors of up to 30 per cent,” explains the KTU professor.

Instead of using traditional thermometers, which are too slow to detect instant temperature changes, he says, the state of the air is measured by using the delay time of ultrasonic signals that travel between transducers. “This delay is used to estimate the speed of sound, which correlates with the air temperature and humidity, and this makes the measurements more accurate without the need for additional sensors,” concludes Svilainis.

The device is now complete, and the result has been presented at several conferences of biodiversity experts. The invention has been granted a Lithuanian patent and the application has been submitted to the European Patent Office, business interest is also expected.

The device is designed for large leaves (more than 3 cm in diameter), which are flat enough to completely cover the transducers, but in the future the invention can be developed further for other plants, disease control, or industrial materials, for example, films measurements.

www.ktu.lt

 

"I learnt about the possibilities offered by the Fund for Teaching and Learning Internationalisation Initiatives early this year," said Jagminas. "This is an exceptional chance to expand your knowledge and engage in global events that open doors to the international scientific community."

Rokas embarked on his first research project on non-compaction cardiomyopathy in athletes after meeting cardiologist Dr Rokas Šerpytis. "When I was working on this study, I didn’t expect it to become a stepping stone into the international arena," recalls the student, who, jointly with his lecturer, decided to present this study at the cardiology congress in Athens. "When we received confirmation that our proposal had been accepted, we were thrilled; however, securing funding for this trip became a pressing concern."

Rokas contacted the Department of the Research and Innovation of the VU Faculty of Medicine, where he received an offer that led to the international initiatives. "Receiving funding is a challenging yet achievable goal, especially if you have the right information," remarked Rokas, who encourages fellow students to take advantage of these opportunities. "Most importantly, applications for funding must be submitted by the lecturer, and it is worth bearing in mind that poster presentations are not funded – such financial support is only available for oral presentations."

The congress in Athens was an enriching academic and personal experience for the student. "It was an extraordinary opportunity not only to gain cutting-edge knowledge in cardiology but also to forge contacts with doctors and scientists from all over the world," added Rokas. "I met professionals from Germany, the USA, Canada, and Italy – these are the contacts that, I believe, will prove invaluable for my future career."

Besides cardiology, Rokas has a strong interest in otorhinolaryngology. Together with Dr Aistė Paškonienė, he was involved in the study on the videonystagmography (VNG) caloric test, which was presented at the international congress in the Netherlands. "Collaboratively, we undertook a pioneering study in Europe, looking at vital signs during a videonystagmography caloric test in young adults aged 18–30. It was a study of considerable importance, so I’m grateful for the chance to present it on an international stage," said the medical student.

Rokas hopes that more students will embrace the internationalisation opportunities available at VU. "This is an outstanding opportunity to enhance research activities, expand your international network, and elevate your professional expertise," concluded Rokas, adding that internationalisation is a key aspect of every professional’s career.

Financial support for such international projects is set to continue, seeking to engage members of the VU community in global academic initiatives. More information on funding can be found here.

www.vu.lt

 

In their work Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty (2012), the future Nobel laureates studied the colonial period. They noted a difference: in some colonies, inclusive institutions were created, while in others, they were not. This divide ultimately determined the subsequent economic growth dynamics of these countries," explains Associate Professor A. Burinskas.

According to him, even during colonization, poor countries where inclusive institutions were established eventually became prosperous. This is a significant reason why former colonies that were once rich are now poor (e.g., countries that were part of the Aztec Empire) and vice versa (e.g., the present-day United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand).

"Where inclusive institutions were created, economic activity was promoted, and society was engaged in economic exchanges. Property rights were guaranteed and protected, the rule of law was implemented, and public goods and services were provided—things that the market economy alone could not ensure. Countries with such institutional structures experienced better economic development.

In contrast, countries with institutions focused on protecting the interests of a narrow elite failed to achieve stable economic growth. As a result, the labor and resources of the majority, exploited solely to serve the interests of a minority, did not create the necessary economic stimulus," says the economist.

According to Burinskas, the Nobel laureates' research also highlights the role of disease prevention in economic growth. In places where diseases were not combated and sufficient investment in healthcare was lacking, economic development was slower. The economists also emphasize the connection between innovation and economic growth.

"It was important that when inclusive institutions were established, property rights were guaranteed, educational institutions were developed, and entrepreneurship was encouraged. All of this contributed to technological progress and overall growth. Although not a panacea, democratic processes were also linked to the creation of inclusive institutions," the expert says.

In his view, this is bad news for the modern Chinese economy: "Historical data shows that a democratic system guarantees greater stability, certainty for future investments, and more balanced national development. Although non-democratic countries can experience rapid growth in the short term, it is more difficult for them to maintain stable growth in the long term. Regarding China, it may struggle to sustain its growth rate even by investing in innovation or new technologies. In the long run, it may become difficult to maintain a stable system that guarantees respect for property rights and ensures freedom for creative and entrepreneurial members of society."

As a positive example, the expert cites South Korea: "A country that was once authoritarian has recently become democratic and experienced an economic boom associated with industrialization, the creation of inclusive institutions, the introduction of innovations, and rapid economic growth."

Associate Professor A. Burinskas emphasizes that creating successful states with effective economies requires the inclusion of a large portion of society in economic exchanges. "Compare the economic growth in the early 20th century, when only men worked in most Western countries, with later times, when women's entry into the labor market provided a significant boost to economic growth. The more people participate in a country's economic life, the greater the impetus for development. Of course, the state's role in creating an effective legal framework for economic circulation is also important. In a successful system, production volumes increase, consumption grows, opportunities arise to establish businesses and create new jobs, advanced and innovative ideas are realized, productivity increases, and so on," recites Associate Professor A. Burinskas.

According to him, this also affects the welfare economy. It is important how the state contributes to the creation and redistribution of wealth—setting market economy rules and standards, ensuring social justice. In Lithuania, EU membership contributed to this, bringing progressive regulation along with it.

"Reflecting on the significance of the Nobel Prize laureates' work today, one can find parallels with Lithuania's current situation. As government and political agendas change, it's worth considering how we will continue to create or improve inclusive institutions ourselves. This requires political leadership. It is essential to understand and decide what our strategic national goals are and how politicians can contribute to creating more inclusive institutional structures that promote innovation and attract new investments (especially as we will soon receive less support from EU funds). These are some of the questions that need to be answered to ensure that institutions contribute to Lithuania's economic growth," concludes Associate Professor A. Burinskas.

The laureates will receive a gold medal, a diploma, and will share a cash prize of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately 0.972 million euros). The Nobel Prize in Economics is officially called the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. This award has been given since 1969 and is considered one of the Nobel Prizes.

Last year, the Nobel Prize in Economics, which marks the end of the awards season, was awarded to Harvard University Professor Claudia Goldin for her work in understanding women's role in the labor market.

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The event aimed to strengthen connections with colleagues from partner universities abroad, discuss opportunities for further collaboration or joint project initiatives, share best practices, and promote internationalization within the university.

Representatives from 19 countries participated, including International Relations Coordinators and faculty members from Malaysia, Taiwan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Thailand, South Africa, Kenya, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Colombia, and a representative from the ATHENA Alliance partner university in Vigo.

The training sessions were led by Rokas Stankevičius, an analyst from the AI agency “Why AI,” while Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ingrida Leščauskienė from the VILNIUS TECH Strategic Partnership Center introduced the system of digital badges.

During the international week, participants gave interactive presentations about their universities, attended lectures, and participated in discussions, creative workshops, and a cultural programme. They shared their experiences in applying modern technologies and appreciated the opportunity not only to learn the theory but also to practically apply various AI tools in their daily work (e.g., ChatGPT, Canva, AI-powered text recognition applications, etc.) and personal lives.

www.vgtu.lt

 

VU’s involvement in the LHCb collaboration
Located in Geneva, CERN is the world’s largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory. Here, scientists conduct experiments on the fundamental particles of the Universe and their interactions. One of CERN’s key projects is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which allows scientists to explore proton-proton collisions and discover new particles and phenomena.

This year, on the initiative of the Lithuanian Particle Physics Consortium, a new CERN LHCb experimental group – LHCb Vilnius – was established at the Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology of Vilnius University. It is headed by Dr Mindaugas Šarpis, a long-time member of the LHCb.

After defending his thesis at the University of Bonn (Germany), Dr Šarpis returned to Lithuania at the beginning of 2024 to pursue research in his home country. During his visit to CERN in early September, the team leader presented VU’s current and prospective infrastructure to the LHCb Collaboration Board and returned to Lithuania with the Board’s positive decision to accept the Faculty of Physics of VU as an official institute for the LHCb experiment.

The significance of the LHCb experiment for VU
This acknowledgment will provide VU with a unique chance to engage directly in one of the world’s leading experiments in particle physics. Students and researchers at the University will have access to the data collected by the LHCb detector and will be able to have a hand in its development. This recognition will also provide VU researchers access to cutting-edge technology and foster international collaboration. In addition, students and researchers from the University will be able to participate in CERN’s internship programmes, high-level training, and conferences, providing them with opportunities to present their research and forge contacts through networking.

The cooperation with CERN not only strengthens VU’s international standing but also unlocks new opportunities for scientific advancement in Lithuania. Having become a member of the LHCb experiment, VU has engaged in world-class research, which will help elevate Lithuania’s profile on the global scientific stage.

Vilnius University is a member of the Lithuanian Particle Physics Consortium, which brings together the country’s particle physics researchers. The Consortium cooperates with CERN and other international organisations to expand the horizons of particle physics research in Lithuania.

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“It seems to me that, as with any other medical professions, people choose the profession of physiotherapy primarily driven by altruism, the desire to help others,” believes Tomas Aukštikalnis (M.D., Ph.D.), Head of the Department of Rehabilitation, Physical and Sports Medicine at the Institute of Health Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University (VU MF). Tomas Aukštikalnis and Ieva Eglė Jamontaitė (Ph.D.), a rehabilitation therapist and assistant professor in the same department, talked to us about what physiotherapy is and how beneficial it is.

Special treatment rather than simple exercise
Physiotherapy is one of the main tools for medical rehabilitation. According to Tomas Aukštikalnis, it is not a simple exercise but a structured, movement-based treatment supported by scientific evidence, providing special physical exercises which should or should not be applied in the case of a specific medical condition. A specialist, i.e. a physiotherapist, assesses the patient’s condition, identifies the impairment using special tests, and makes a physical therapy plan required to restore the impaired function. Through physiotherapy, the correct movement of the body helps to renew, improve and maintain the condition of muscles, bones, blood vessels and other systems of the body.

“Physiotherapy is actually a very broad field. In order to explain how physiotherapists treat patients, they must first consider the age of the patient, their condition or their pathology. For example, in neonatal physiotherapy, it is important to address developmental disorders or the factors that support them, which may be congenital or acquired. In the case of slightly older children, conditions are usually caused by trauma or functional impairment. In the case of adult patients (including the elderly), issues are usually the result of pathologies acquired or accumulated over a lifetime, for example, degenerative joint conditions or cardiological diseases. Physiotherapy should be the "gold standard" for reducing the negative impact of such conditions on daily activities or to prevent any exacerbation,” the rehabilitation specialist explained.

According to Aukštikalnis, the form of physiotherapy will also depend on where it is applied and the task of the physiotherapist. For example, therapeutic physiotherapy can be provided in a medical facility, rehabilitation centre, and palliative and long-term care centres. Sports physiotherapy, whether in a gym or the training of high-performance athletes, involves working with athletes to maximise their performance or to simply keep them in good shape. Working together with the general practitioner, a physiotherapist aims to improve the care given to seriously ill patients or for the purpose of prevention. Exercises that include strength, flexibility, endurance, balance and others, will be selected based on test results and the desired outcome. The physiotherapist will also choose the most appropriate form of exercise –therapeutic exercises in a gym, or the water, or perhaps one to one training.

“There are many areas in which physiotherapy is used. The only thing that matters is to apply it correctly, according to the scientifically based methods or methodological guidelines. This is the only way to achieve the desired result,” the scientist said.

A physiotherapist is an important part of a rehabilitation team
According to Tomas Aukštikalnis, a holistic, biopsychosocial approach is essential in medical rehabilitation, that considers all the patient’s functions and their interdependence. It is very rare that only one function of a patient is impaired.

“If we have an impaired motor function in childhood, it is likely that other developmental disorders will follow. Each case where medical rehabilitation reduces disability, dependence on help from others, and eases the need for daily support or care is a success story. In medical rehabilitation, we work as a team: each member has a clear role and performs actions according to their competence. Although the physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor is at the head of a team, the contribution of each member is essential for the successful rehabilitation of the patient. It is very difficult to single out the contributions made by individual members in a success story. But there is no doubt that the physiotherapist is a very important member of the team,” Aukštikalnis maintains.

When asked about the most common cases where physiotherapists play a key role, the rehabilitation therapist mentioned disease prevention.

“When things are done properly in the right place and at the right time, the significance tends to go unnoticed. This is also the case with the early prevention of diseases. We often think that insufficient daily physical activity leads to the development or exacerbation of one or another condition or pain. I believe that this is the exclusive success story of the physiotherapist, although it is often invisible, because patients recover before things become more serious. When we work with adolescents, we encounter a particularly common pathology – back pain. The most common cause is a functional disorder, where the muscle balance and tone are distorted, and there is an unequal load on the bones, muscles and ligaments,” Aukštikalnis noted.

According to the scientist, in the case of back pain, a physiotherapist can be particularly effective even without other members of the team.

“To avoid back pain, it is important to follow the daily work regime and ergonomic rules: when working at the computer for a long time, do not forget to take breaks, change your sitting position, do some stretching exercises, or simply take a walk for at least a few minutes away from your workstation – not only will your back and tired muscles rest, but also your eyes will rest, and your mind will be more productive after a break in activities,” he concluded.

Restored body – restored creativity
According to Ieva Eglė Jamontaitė, 181 students are currently studying physiotherapy at VU MF, and this autumn 87 first-year students will commence their studies. The researcher believes that young people choose the profession for various reasons.

“Some young people become interested in human anatomy at school, they wish to understand how human bones, muscles, the vascular, nervous and other systems function, and look for answers as to why a person gets sick and how they might be helped. These young people are curious, independent and responsible, they like to analyse things, solve problems and look for answers,” the physiotherapist said.

Others pursue the career of a physiotherapist driven by a strong interest in sport which emerges in childhood or adolescence, an understanding of the benefits of physical activity, and a desire to link their future profession to movement.

“Of course, the choice to study physiotherapy may also have been influenced by a past encounter with a physiotherapist after an injury or illness. Experiencing the course of treatment and understanding the consequences of injuries, such a young person might decide to pursue a career in physiotherapy”.

When we asked what Jamontaitė enjoyed most about being a physiotherapist, she replied: “The opportunity to interact with different people, to involve patients in the rehabilitation process in a way that makes them understand, one of the most important things – their responsibility for their own health. The charm of being a physiotherapist is learning to feel and analyse the signals sent by the body, and being able to work with the patient to celebrate good results, or to look for reasons and solutions if they have not yet been able to achieve them already. Physiotherapy is a very dynamic profession that responds to scientific and technological innovations, so it is important for the practitioner to keep up-to-date with these developments”.

According to Jamontaitė, the rehabilitation process varies depending on the patient – some patients are passive, others try to hold onto wellness as much as possible, some need to be pushed, others need to be slowed down.

“However, we have many more success stories than disappointments. The most memorable case was when, after a knee ligament surgery, a patient from the construction profession said after a physiotherapy programme: ‘Thank you, thanks to the exercises, I realised how I can overcome my technical problems in a construction project.’ In other words, the physiotherapy had "generated" something new in his thinking. So…it can certainly be said that restoring the physical functions of the body can also have a positive effect on creativity and intelligence,” the scientist concluded.

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The idea of the Renovatio Studiorum parade first came to light in 1994 when Prof. Rolandas Pavilionis, the then VU Rector, proposed to Sigitas Sunelaitis, who was responsible for managing the University’s affairs, the idea of organising a University-wide procession along the city’s main street.

Interestingly, the very first parade took place on 16 September to celebrate VU’s 415th anniversary, rather than on 1 September as it does now. The second day of ceremonies concluded with a procession of professors, lecturers, and students along Gediminas Avenue. A year later, in 1995, the march occurred on its current date – the first of September.

The October 1994 issue of the VU journal “Universitas Vilnensis” stated: “a massive crowd of University residents gathered at Žvėrynas Bridge to march past the Seimas towards the central premises of VU. The wind orchestra “Trimitas” led the parade, followed by the Rector, professors, and representatives of the University faculties. The procession assembled in the Grand Courtyard, where the Rector addressed the students to a rousing ovation. Later, the audience enjoyed students’ improvised plays parodying various stages of the University’s history, and the crowd appreciated the folklore ensemble performances.”

A new tradition was established that same year: an annual celebration in the University’s Grand Courtyard. Prior to that, the new academic year used to be welcomed at the Palace of Concerts and Sports in a joint event with other higher education institutions of the capital.

“I then suggested to the Rector that we should try to host the celebration in our stunning Grand Courtyard, and he promptly asked me to determine its capacity. Hell, I thought, I bet it can fit a fair few folk! And so we all gathered in that courtyard,” Sigitas Sunelaitis reflected in the 2017 VU news.
After three years of absence, Kaunas Faculty joined the annual September procession in Vilnius, too – University community members from Kaunas still foster this tradition to this day. The first time the entire VU community went to Kaunas was in October 1999, when a boisterous crowd marched down Laisvės Avenue to the Kaunas Faculty of Humanities on Muitinės Street to celebrate its 35th anniversary.

“That’s already history. This situation unfolded two decades ago. Then, after years of turmoil, when the classical university tradition seemed to become a subject of questioning and new universities started to emerge, Vilnius University resiliently reclaimed its status as the country’s leading institution of higher education. This instilled confidence in Kaunas Faculty that the era of tensions and constant attempts to commercialise and liquidate its assets had come to an end. The Faculty consolidated Vilnius University in the Kaunas Region, establishing itself as a trusted partner for education and research,” recalls Prof. Stasys Albinas Girdzijauskas, former Dean of Kaunas Faculty.

According to Assoc. Prof. Kęstutis Driaunys, former Dean of Kaunas Faculty, every time he has participated in the VU procession has evoked a range of feelings: “First of all, it’s a great opportunity to experience the vastness and diversity of the VU community and take pride in being part of it. I feel a strong sense of unity when I see so many people gathered for a common goal. It empowers you to create positive change and make the world a better place. The enthusiasm and energy of the procession participants never fails to inspire me – it’s a powerful moment of union and determination.”

The 2021 Renovatio Studiorum procession saw even more community members after the incorporation of Šiauliai Academy on 1 January. The first extended parade left a lasting impression on Prof. Renata Bilbokaitė, Director of VU Šiauliai Academy:

“It was a delightful experience to witness a thriving crowd of young people marching through the most beautiful part of Vilnius, advocating for education and reminding us that they have actively chosen to pursue their studies! There was a deep feeling of unity and pride in belonging to this big family: though physically distant, we continue our mission in the region as part of the same genealogical family! City residents and visitors join in the fun and enjoyment while watching the parade. It serves as a reminder to each one of us about the vital role of education in our lives,” says the Professor.

The VU community procession is a unique celebration for University students, staff members, alumni, as well as city residents and guests to mark the start of the academic year. The anniversary procession will take place on 2 September 2024.

www.vu.lt

 

This publication is an original piece by The JoongAng. Written by Tae-wook Kim ().

When I landed in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, 12 hours away from Incheon International Airport, the first thing I saw was a small airport. It was a peaceful city with windmills that could have been described in Cervantes' novel Don Quixote. The bus fare from the airport to the hotel was 1 euro (about 1400 won). I paid the coin and boarded the bus. It was nostalgic, like a childhood scene. Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, was like a scene from a fairy tale. The city was so peaceful that Don Quixote wouldn't have been out of place riding his horse. The buses running along the river were silent, unlike other city buses in Seoul.

Lithuania, a small country with 2.7 million inhabitants, is home to some of the world's most advanced technologies. Laser companies are the main players here. The main advantage of lasers, also known as “light beams”, is “sophisticated processing”. Lithuania holds half of the world market for picosecond (trillionths of a second) lasers. Lasers are an indispensable technology for semiconductor manufacturing. In fact, Korean companies also use ultra-short pulse lasers from Lithuania. Laser processing machines required for semiconductor manufacturing are broadly divided into “nanosecond pulse lasers” and “ultra-short pulse lasers” depending on the pulse width. Ultrashort pulse lasers include picoseconds and femtoseconds (1 trillionth of a second). The advantage of ultrashort pulse lasers is that they allow for ultra-precise processing compared to nanosecond pulse lasers.

One of Lithuania's leading companies, Teltonika, also uses Lithuanian laser technology. The Internet of Things (IoT) market leader made headlines last year when it announced that it was working with the Taiwan Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to develop semiconductor technology. The company announced that it could license semiconductor manufacturing technology and devices developed by ITRI. At the time, foreign media speculated that Lithuania would soon become a semiconductor producer, not just a provider of laser technology.

Semiconductors bring Taiwan's government closer together
What does Lithuania's leading Internet of Things (IoT) company look like? As I pull up to the entrance of Teltonika's headquarters, a 10-minute-long drive from Vilnius city center, I'm greeted by an imposing building. Across the street, the exterior walls of a large building were still under construction. "We are planning to invest 500 million euros to build a semiconductor facility with a land area of 50,000 square meters," explains Viačeslav Jaroševič, general manager of Teltonika in Asia region, as he shows me around. "The pace of our expansion is not keeping pace with demand," said V. Jaroševič. "The growth of Teltonika is driven by the increasing demand for semiconductor lasers."

"The technical cooperation agreement with ITRI consists of three main phases," he said. "Last year, we conducted the first phase, the “feasibility study”. It is a study for semiconductor design, manufacturing, assembly, testing, and production of power modules," he explained. He reaffirmed that Teltonika's ultimate goal is to go beyond providing laser technology to producing semiconductors.

The recent closeness between the Lithuanian and Taiwanese governments cannot be explained without mentioning the cooperation between Teltonika and ITRI. Currently, the organization has a Taiwanese representation in Vilnius, rather than a Taipei representation. Beijing strongly objected to the move, saying it violated the "One China" principle, and in November 2021, Beijing downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania from ambassadorial to deputy ambassadorial status.

The Teltonika-ITRI contract is currently valued at €14 million. Of this amount, €10 million will be funded by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and €4 million by Teltonika. The two sides have detailed plans for four projects, including semiconductor design, manufacturing, assembly and test, and power module manufacturing. This has led to speculation that Lithuania and Taiwan have in mind a future semiconductor alliance like the "Chip 4" (Korea, the United States, Japan, and Taiwan).

Vilnius University is a model of industry-academia collaboration
Next, we visited Light Conversion, a company that is often referred to as Lithuania's laser giant. "Light Conversion was founded in 1994 at the Laser Research Center of Vilnius University," says Martynas Barkauskas, who sits across from me on the ground floor of the company's building in the information area. Together with another Lithuanian company, Ekspla, the company, which started in a university laboratory 30 years ago, Light Conversion is a global market leader in femtosecond lasers. The PHAROS femtosecond laser is the company's flagship weapon for light conversion.

I left the main entrance of the company and headed to Vilnius University. I was curious to see what the university's Laser Research Center, home to a world-class laser company, looked like. Vilnius University is one of the most prestigious universities in Lithuania and Central and Eastern Europe. In particular, the University's Laser Research Center, founded in 1982, is a "laser school" that has produced numerous laser technicians.

When I entered the main entrance of Vilnius University, I was greeted by Prof. Dalia Kaškelytė, the director of the Laser research center. Unlike the stiff atmosphere of a typical research lab, I was impressed by the free-spirited startup atmosphere. Graduate students were sitting face-to-face with their advisors, drinking coffee and chatting. One PhD student said, "Nice to meet you," and laser-etched the journalist's name on a piece of glass when D. Kaškelytė told him he was from Korea.

"The CEO of Light Conversion also studied lasers here and developed his dreams," says Prof. Vytautas Jukna, explaining the importance of the university to reporters. "The university-industry cooperation at Vilnius University Faculty of Physics is excellent. "There is good communication between the faculty and companies, with PhD students being seconded to companies. It's a win-win situation," he said. "Successful industry-academia collaboration creates a natural reshoring of talent," he added. He explained that Lithuanian talents studying abroad are returning home. One such example is Martynas Barkauskas, CEO of Light Conversion. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Vilnius University, he earned his master's degree in The Netherlands. He then returned to Vilnius to study for his PhD, taking advantage of Lithuania's excellent university-industry collaboration system and research institutes.

When asked by the reporter, "What is the secret to "reshoring" talent," the Light Conversion CEO pointed to the excellent facilities at Vilnius University. "The physics laboratories at Vilnius University has the most advanced laser equipment in the world. That's why I came back to my hometown," he said. "When I was doing my PhD, I never dreamed that I would become the CEO of Light Conversion," he said with a smile, explaining that as a graduate student, the company was located across the street from Vilnius University, making it convenient for me to get to and from school.

"Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are perfect for collaboration"
Lithuania is home to many companies that, like Light Conversion, have grown from startups to become an integral part of the Lithuanian economy. Another example is QS Lasers, a startup that may not be a household name globally but is well known in Lithuania. QS Lasers, a provider of picosecond and nanosecond laser technology, was founded in 2018. The main applications of the startup's technology are laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIBS), OLED processing, and medical applications. I visited QS Lasers' headquarters, a 15-minute long drive from the city center. Upon entering the headquarters building, I was greeted by Voldemaras Vanagas. He prefaced his answer by saying that he had just joined the company, but added, "Most of my friends have been dreaming of starting a startup since they were undergraduates, rather than entering the workforce. Of course, they might fail, but I think it's important to try."

The last stop on the tour was the Lithuanian Laser Association (LLA). "We have a guest from Korea, a semiconductor powerhouse," said Dr. Gediminas Račiukaitis, president of the LLA, when he saw the journalists. "Lithuania is a world leader in ultrashort pulse lasers," G. Račiukaitis said, "which makes it an ideal place to work with Korean companies such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, and SK hynix." "There are more than 60 laser companies competing in Lithuania, a country of 2.7 million people. Most of the entrepreneurs studied lasers at Vilnius University," he said, adding that industry-academia collaboration is the key to Lithuania's success.

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"Investing in young talent is an investment in the growth of the country. The supply of highly skilled engineering and technology professionals is crucial for industrial transformation, as well as for high-tech companies and other high value-added sectors. The need for these professionals is also consistently recognised by foreign investors. That is why we are continuing the scholarship initiative for study programmes in demand by business - we are doing everything to increase the number of such talents in Lithuania," said Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of the Economy and Innovation.

Currently, more than 1,000 students who have chosen STEM studies at regional higher education institutions in Alytus, Panevėžys, Klaipėda, Marijampolė, Šiauliai and Utena districts receive monthly scholarships. They are paid for all four years of the bachelor's programme. Students can still apply for a scholarship this year. These scholarships also make an important contribution to increasing the supply of highly qualified engineering and technology specialists in the regions. Higher education institutions work together with the business community to help students successfully integrate into the labour market.

This year, the Ministry has also taken the initiative to attract talented young people into the high-tech field by inviting them to join the Deeptech Entrepreneurship study programme at Vilnius University Business School. EIMIN will fund 7 places for advanced students who want to study this programme in non-state funded places and who commit to work in start-ups after their studies.

The programme, developed in collaboration with the European Organisation for Nuclear Research CERN and the VU Faculties of Mathematics and Computer Science and Physics, provides a broad range of knowledge needed to develop high-tech businesses. Students acquire knowledge and skills in innovation management, the development of technologically advanced products and services, and the creation of technology start-ups. Students who develop their own start-ups during the course also have the opportunity to undertake a study visit to the CERN laboratory.

"The country's technology sector is growing rapidly and we have many strong companies and innovators creating innovations that are recognised worldwide. By investing in the talent and leaders of tomorrow and creating a culture of continuous innovation, we are driving progress in high technology and ensuring Lithuania's competitive advantage," said Neringa Morozaitė-Rasmussen, Vice-Minister of the Economy and Innovation.

The Ministry is also focusing on the promising field of biotechnology and life sciences. This year, the ministry has given doctoral students the opportunity to develop their skills in the field of alternative proteins. This is a fast-growing area where major breakthroughs are expected. Scholarships are available for doctoral students and future researchers to develop their knowledge in the fields of alternative protein sourcing, research and technology, as well as scholarships for internships abroad.

https://eimin.lrv.lt/