Currently, the buildings in the European countries consume about forty per cent of the total energy produced. Forecasting the real estate sector's development, such energy expenditure can become an unbearable burden for the energetics of the region. Therefore, the Council of the European Union (EU) has set a target till 2020 to reduce the amount of energy consumption in the EU by twenty per cent. In order to achieve the stated objectives and encourage the emergence of green building ideas, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) will start to prepare professionals, understanding the importance of energy efficiency of buildings, other technical and economic parameters, affecting the energy consumption, and the quality of the human environment. A new Bachelor's degree study program of buildings' engineering management will be soon established at VGTU.

The satellite "LituanicaSAT-1"of Vilnius University has justified expectations of the scientists and will soon finish its mission. It is expected that the satellite should burn in the atmosphere during the week 24–28 July. The satellite "LituanicaSAT-1" was released into the open space on 28 February this year.

Erasmus keeps getting bigger and better! In 2012-2013 a record-breaking 270,000 students took part in one of the popular EU programmes for studying or training abroad. And the numbers are expected to rise even further in the future as the European Parliament backed the new and improved Erasmus+ programme that kicks off this September. What are the most popular destinations and which students are the most active in the programme?

The European Commission today presents details of a new €100 million "Fast Track to Innovation" (FTI) pilot action and five innovation prizes under Horizon 2020, the European Union's €80 billion research and innovation programme. The FTI aims to support Europe's economy by offering innovative businesses and organisations grants to give a final push to get great ideas to market. The prizes offer a reward for technological breakthroughs of high societal relevance. The initiatives underscore the drive to support innovation in Europe as part of the first, two-year Horizon 2020 work programme. Today's announcement also confirms the €7 billion for Horizon 2020 calls during 2015 and sets out the timetable for applications.

The Research Council of Lithuania proposed five new National Research Programmes (NRPs) to be approved by the Ministry of Education and Science.

School leavers and students of vocational schools who achieved the best results in school leaving exams were awarded at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. They were congratulated by Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius and Minister of Education and Science Dainius Pavalkis.

The European Youth Event final report has now been handed over to the MEPs. Last May, a few days before the European Elections, the European Parliament welcomed thousands of young people from across the continent to Strasbourg to share and discuss their ideas for the future of Europe. The European Youth Event (EYE2014) took place from May 9 to 11 and involved 5,500 young people aged 16 to 30 from across the continent.

Virginija Budiene, Senior Advisor to the President on Education, Science, Culture and Non Governmental Organisations in Lithuania, says that current school-leaving examination system does not meet the realities of the present day and needs reforms. That is how the president evaluated year's 2014 exams.

Participants of the sixth World Lithuanian Economic Forum gathered in Vilnius. The event highlights the importance of education in creating new jobs and development of the state.

Ten films, 28 countries, one prize. Every year the European Parliament awards the LUX prize to the best European film. The contenders for this year's prize have been announced at the 49th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic. Read on to discover which films have are included in this year's selection. The three finalists will be announced at the end of July.