Vytautas Magnus University

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Established in 1922 (re-established in 1989) and ranked as the TOP 700 university in the world (QS World University Rankings), Vytautas Magnus University is one of the most liberal and modern academic institutions in Lithuania, boasting an exciting history, nurturing and continuing deep-rooted traditions, playing a leading role in not just Lithuanian, but also the entire Baltic and European int...ellectual and cultural sphere. The academic community of VMU is united by the idea of artes liberales, i.e. the classical university of liberal arts. Warm, honest interaction and liberal humanist spirit always follow and provide strength to the community.
Throughout its short but exciting history, Vytautas Magnus University has been faithfully nurturing and continuing its distinguished traditions. What sets this university apart is its willingness to organize studies, scientific research and life of the community in a different way. Intellectuals from Lithuania and abroad have participated in the reestablishment of VMU and defined its goals, which are pursued to this day. Here, utmost importance is given to honesty, tolerance and dialogue, while the forerunning principles are liberal and democratic.
Creativity, progress and development of national culture are all brought into sharp focus here. From the very first days of the university’s re-establishment in 1989, the experiences of Western universities have been an important influence. VMU was the first Lithuanian institution of higher education to offer Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral degree studies. Modern conception of the model first used by Harvard University has been implemented here. VMU differs from other Lithuanian universities in the freedom it gives the students: they can choose and design their own study schedule.
The VMU community – students, lecturers, graduates – is united by the idea of artes liberales, i.e. the classical university of liberal arts. Warm, honest interaction and liberal humanist spirit always follow and provide strength to the community. This spirit is nurtured by Collegium Artes Liberales, a club that was re-established in 2011. The club already held a discussion on liberal arts that received a significant amount of attention. Soon afterwards, philosophy students’ scientific association Agora challenged the academic community to a debate, which was titled The Freedom at the University – Where Is it?
As an institution, university is highly important to the state. For the members of the academic community, it serves as the hotbed for science, improvement and communication. It is not just an institution of higher learning; it is much more. It is the perfect embodiment of the freedom and the autonomy which the humanity had first achieved a thousand years ago when the first university was opened and helped people learn to live as a community adhering to the ideals of this kind.
Classical liberal arts universities are the labs of modern life, educating bold young people who are not afraid to experiment and are on their way to becoming professional contributors to their own country’s future. A classical university is not governed by pragmatic matters. Formulas do not apply here. This is the space for young people to develop critical thinking and become more open-minded. This is where the country’s future is built. Such is the Vytautas Magnus University of today.
Vytautas Magnus University keeps in step with the ever-changing world: renews itself, adapts to the demands and generates new ideas. The university encourages discovering other cultures and nurturing the public spirit. Special attention is paid to aspects more and more appreciated in the constantly changing planet – the maturation of ideas, expression of personality, communication, partnership. This allows VMU to remain an important and significant source of intellectual thought in Kaunas, Lithuania, Europe and the world.
Vytautas Magnus University is oriented towards humanist culture. Broadly themed subjects ensure that the studies offered are not narrow or restricted to specialty subjects. The university strives to remain the hotbed for intellectual sophistication and civil consciousness, rigidly adhere to its set of values and actively participate in the life of universities around the world.
The primary mission of Alma Mater is to uphold humanist culture, avoiding limitations of narrow, highly specialized studies, and remain the hotbed for intellectual sophistication and civil consciousness.
VMU is a community-oriented institution of science and studies which provides liberal conditions of education, develops partnerships, actively participates in the city life and contributes to the development of culture and science worldwide.
Re-established in 1989, Vytautas Magnus University has shown that it always aims to serve the nation and be open to the world. Thus, following these principles of freedom, independence and openness, the university is a place where students become independent creative thinkers.
The inception of Vytautas Magnus University coincided with the birth of Lithuanian statehood. Having declared the country‘s political independence on February 16th in 1918, the key figures of Lithuanian enlightenment considered it a high priority task to establish a University of Lithuania. Four years later, the University of Lithuania was opened and remained the only Lithuanian school of higher education during the interwar period. Since its very first years, it remained a vitally important hotbed for cultural, scientific and modern national ideas. When the 500th anniversary of the death of Grand Duke Vytautas Magnus was commemorated in 1930, the University of Lithuania was renamed to honour his name and the occasion.
The university was unique during the interwar period due to its free spirit, eventful and exciting social life, a nurtured sense of community. Most of the famous contemporary intellectuals, highest ranking Lithuanian officials and government figures studied here. Vytautas Magnus University was also the place where the most famous scientific and cultural movements of the period were founded. Since its first years, the university has been following a liberal studying policy and paying exceptional attention to liberal arts and social sciences, acknowledging their role in uniting the nation, fostering its historical memory. To this day, the values of VMU remain the same – modernity, partnership, liberal and communal thoughts.
The Soviet government closed down the university in 1950, but some of its faculties served as a foundation for other schools of higher education: Aleksandras Stulginskis University, Kaunas University of Technology and Lithuanian University of Health Sciences. Thanks to emigrants, the academic tradition of VMU not only survived, but also kept developing for long years until restoration of independence. In 1989, the university was re-established in a collective effort of Lithuanian and emigrant scientists. At the time, it was the first autonomous school of higher education in the country.
The Statute of University legitimated the principle of academic freedom and the unity of science and studies. It also introduced three levels of studies, awarded by Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral degrees¸ which then were a novelty in the country. What also separated the university from its Lithuanian counterparts was its use of modern studying concept, based on the model established by Harvard University. The concept is unique because it gives more preference to wide-spanning, general university education as opposed to narrow and heavily specialized studies. This allows to focus more on universal, versatile education and the needs of modern society.
Vytautas Magnus University has set itself the task of putting people and their personal dignity first, which entails recognition of their achievements and individuality; showing openness to, and toleration of, various cultures and worldviews; achieving leadership positions in research and teaching of the humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and biomedicine; developing international networks and intercultural communications; fostering international studies in the Lithuanian language; becoming relevant to challenges facing world universities; and promoting innovative research and modern teaching.
The University is proud of its creative and enthusiastic community – these are students and academics who feel free to communicate as equals, cooperate and not only share what they know but also generate new knowledge.