Lets get acquainted: Lithuania

1
Lets get acquainted Lithuania

• Lithuania

2
Where we are?

• Since the 1st of May 2004 we are in the EU. In
  the Centre of Europe, as determined by the French
  National Geographic Institute in 1989, the
  geographical centre of the continent is in the
  east part of Lithuania, 25 km north of Vilnius.
  The Open Air Museum of the Centre of Europe was
  founded there in 1991. Lithuania's land borders
  are with Latvia (610 km), Belarus (727 km),
  Poland (110 km) and the Kaliningrad Region of the
  Russian Federation, former East Prussia (303 km).
   VGTU lays in Vilnius the capital city of
  Lithuania.

3
Whats the area of Lithuania?

• Area 65,200 km2 (larger than Belgium, Denmark,
  the Netherlands or Switzerland).

4
Whats the population of Lithuania?

• Population 3,3 mln. more than 0,55 mln. live
  in Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania.
• Ethnic composition Lithuanians (81,8), Russians
  (8,1), Poles (6,9), Belarusians (1,4), Ukrainians
  (1), Latvians (0,1), Jews (0,1), others
  (0,7). Dominant religion catholic.

5
What language do we speak?

• Official language Lithuanian, which belongs to
  the Baltic group of the Indo-European languages.
  Its roots lie in Sanskrit. Currently, only the
  Latvian language is closely related to it.
  Lithuanian is one of the oldest European
  languages.

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What do we eat?

• Lithuanians like to eat good, tasty and filling
  foods, our ancestors would say "who eats well,
  works well".
• One of the oldest and most fundamental staple
  foods was and is the rye bread. Lithuanians
  consume a lot of potatoes (the most popular
  dishes potatoes dumplings, potatoes cake, potato
  pancakes), meat and its by-products. Milk
  products have been popular since ancient times.
  Wild berries and mushrooms are very often used in
  Lithuanian cuisine, as many people love gathering
  of mushrooms and berries in the forests. Mead
  (midus, honey liquor) and beer (alus) are
  ceremonial and traditional drinks.
• Nowadays in the city there are lots of cafes
  with Italian, German, Irish, Turkish, Chinese,
  Indian and other cuisines of the World.

7
In what currency and how much do we pay?

• Currency Litas (pegged to Euro since February
  2, 2002 at 1 EUR 3,4528 LTL).
• Living expenses from 350 Euro/month
• dinner in a café 6 Euro
• nightclub entrance 5-6 Euro
• beer 2 Euro/0,5 l
• fitness club entrance 10 Euro
• accommodation in a university hostel from 115
  Euro/month

8
Whats Lithuanian economy profile?

• Resources timber, peat, gravel, quartz and
  construction sand, dolomite, clay, limestone,
  brick clay, mineral water.
• Economy light industry, diary and meat industry,
  electrical engineering, machinery, energy
  industry, logistic and other service trades.
• Export textile, chemicals, diary and meat
  products, mineral products, machinery, and
  electrical appliances.
• Import oil, natural gas, machinery, and
  electrical appliances.

9
What about Lithuanian climate and nature?

• Climate between maritime and continental, -4,9
  o C (January) and 17,2 o C (July).
• Lithuania has more than 4000 lakes
• Lithuania is a green pearl of nature being made
  up of more than 4000 lakes and over 700 rivers
  (the longest river is Nemunas total length 937
  km, length in Lithuania 475 km), extensive
  primeval forests (forests cover 30 of the
  Lithuanian territory), mysterious marshes and
  green expanses. Nature parks and resorts are
  spread all over the country in the neighbourhood
  of all the rivers and lakes.
• Lithuanian seaside is famous for sandy beaches
  and dunes
• Lithuania has a natural wonder created by sea,
  wind and man. It is the Curonian Spit - curved
  strip of sandy land that stretches from south to
  north for about 100 km. The west coast is washed
  by the waves of the Baltic Sea, whereas the
  Curonian Lagoon separates the east coast. The
  wind from the sea and lagoon has formed high sand
  dunes, some of which are more than 60 metres
  high. Human activities, like permanent forest
  clearing and removing of reeds between the 16th
  and 18th centuries caused coastal erosion and the
  appearance of travelling dunes, which was stopped
  only in the period between the end of the 18th
  and beginning of the 20th centuries. People
  constructed a fore dune on the seacoast and
  planted the moving dunes.

10
What do we celebrate?

• New Year (January 1)
• Independence Day, Restoration of the Lithuanian
  State in 1918 (February 16)
• Restoration of Lithuanias Independence in 1990
  (March 11)
• Catholic Easter Sunday and Monday (March or
  April)
• International Labour Day (May 1)
• Mother's Day (1st Sun. of May)
• Day of Mourning and Hope (June 14)
• St. Johns Day (June 24)
• Statehood Day, Crowning of Mindaugas in 1253
  (July 6)
• Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15)
• All Saints Day (November 1)
• Christmas (December 25-26)

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Do you kow that?

• From 1392 to 1430, Lithuania was the largest
  state in Europe
• Lithuania reached the peak of its power and
  glory under the rule of the Grand Duke Vytautas,
  at the end of the 14th and the beginning of the
  15th centuries. By the size of its territory,
  Lithuania was one of the largest states in Europe
  at that time. The western border of the Grand
  Duchy of Lithuania was delineated by the Baltic
  Sea, while the eastern border - by the Black Sea.
• Lithuania was the last European country to accept
  Christianity (in 1387).
• Vilnius Historic Centre, the Curonian Spit and
  Kernave Archaeological Site
• are inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage
  List.
• UNESCO declared Cross-mastering and Sacral Arts
  as well as the Lithuanian Song Festival as an
  exceptionally valuable cultural and public
  phenomenon in the context of global culture.
• Lithuanian gold is amber
• Since ancient times amber has been thought of as
  Lithuania's gold. Pieces of amber are still
  washed up on the beaches after a storm.
• Lithuanians are very good basketball players
• Since the 1930 basketball is considered to be
  the national sport of Lithuania. After regaining
  independence in 1990, the national men's
  basketball team has won the bronze medals in each
  of its three Olympic appearances - Barcelona
  (1992), Atlanta (1996) and Sydney Olympics in
  2000. 
•  

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Lets get acquainted VGTU

• Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

13
Do you know that?

• VGTU educates engineering, informatics,
  electronics, aviation, architecture and
  management specialists.
• VGTU offers 10 study programmes in English (7 at
  BSc and 3 at MSc level), which are open for both
  international and domestic students.
• VGTU has the two-tier system 42 (BScMSc) since
  1990.
• VGTU belongs to ERASMUS University Charter.

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Mission of the University

• The mission of the University is to stimulate,
  create and disseminate scientific knowledge,
  latest technologies, and cultural values, to
  educate members of the society, to cherish
  democracy and through such efforts to foster the
  economic growth of the country, competitive
  spirit in the economy, social welfare and peace
  as well as a high quality of life.

15
Governance of the University

• The University has the autonomy for
  decision-making within research and studies as
  well as for organisational and financial
  activities the autonomy is defined by the
  Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, by the
  Law on Higher Education and other laws of the
  Republic of Lithuania and by Statute of VGTU.
• The institution of public supervision is the
  University Council of the University.
• The supreme body of the University academic
  self-governance is the Senate.
• The Rector, assisted by 4 Vice-Rectors and the
  Chancellor, governs the University. The Senate
  elects Rector for the term of five years, for not
  more than two subsequent terms of office.
• In 2002 Prof Dr Habil Romualdas Ginevicius was
  elected Rector of Vilnius Gediminas Technical
  University.

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History of the University

• The origins of the University are in the Vilnius
  evening department of Kaunas Politechnic
  Institute (KPI) established in 1956. In 1960 the
  KPI Vilnius evening department was organised into
  the Vilnius evening faculty of KPI, and since
  1961 became the Vilnius branch of KPI then in
  1969 it was restructured into an independent
  higher school the Vilnius Civil Engineering
  Institute (VISI). On October 31, 1990 by the
  decision of the Restoring Seimas the VISI became
  the Vilnius Technical University and at last in
  1996 it was named after Gediminas, the Grand Duke
  of ancient Lithuania.

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Present of the University

• VGTU comprises 8 faculties Architecture,
  Business Management, Civil Engineering,
  Environmental Engineering, Electronics,
  Fundamental Sciences, Mechanics, Transport
  Engineering and A.Gustaitis Aviation Institute.
• There is also International Studies Centre,
  Institute of Humanities, Centre for Continuing
  Education, Language Centre, University Library,
  Computer Centre, 10 research institutes, 4
  research centres and 19 research laboratories,
  publishing office Technika, 6 hostels,
  recreational facilities, cafés, canteens, clubs
  etc.
• Number of enrolled students in 2009/2010 over
  16600
• Ratio between students and teachers 116

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Model of studies

• There are basic studies (BSc), specialised
  professional studies, Masters degree (MSc) and
  Doctorate studies (PhD) at Vilnius Gediminas
  Technical University.

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Study Programmes in English

• I LEVEL BSc degree
• Building Energetics
• Architecture
• Engineering Informatics 
• Information Systems Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Construction Engineering
• Business Management   
• II LEVEL MSc degree
• Environmental Management and Clean Production
• Industry Engineering and Management
• Investment Management, International Business 

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PhD studies

• Technical sciences -
• Environmental Engineering, Electronics and
  Electrotechnics, Energetic and Thermal
  Engineering, Mechanics, Metrology and
  Measurements, Transport Engineering, Civil
  Engineering
• Natural sciences - 
• Physics
• Humanities -
• Architecture
• Social sciences - 
• Economics, Management

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Research

• Research fields
• RTD and application of construction materials,
  structures and technologies.
• RTD and application of information technologies,
  statistical analysis and methods of modelling
  physical processes.
• Investigation of social, economic and
  technological problems in the process of
  integration into the EU, harmonization and
  restructuring of engineering systems.
• Experimental and theoretical research of
  environmental systems and development of
  environmental protection technologies.
• RTD in architecture and urban planning, systems
  of building and territory planning in the context
  of socio-economic transition.
• RTD in transport system strategy and different
  types of transport.
• RTD and application of technologies of geodesy
  and cartography and methods of measuring physical
  quantities.
• RTD and optimisation of electrical and electronic
  devices.
• RTD of technological processes, mechanical and
  biomechanical systems.
• Evaluation and optimisation of energy supply and
  energy consumption systems.
• Research projects
• Recently over 35 research projects within
  FRAMEWORK 5-6, PHARE, EUREKA, COST etc. are
  running at the University.

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International Relations

• The International Office is responsible for
  co-ordination, development and evaluation of the
  ongoing internationalisation process at the
  University. Although the International Office
  co-ordinates the process international activities
  are very decentralised there are LLP/ERASMUS
  coordinators in all faculties, bilateral
  agreements can be initiated and signed at
  different levels i.e. department, faculty and
  central levels.
• Bologna process is supported through active
  participation in LLP/ERASMUS mobility activities
  and projects.
• The European Commission to Vilnius Gediminas
  Technical University awarded ERASMUS University
  Charter for the time period of 2007-2013. This
  Charter entitles VGTU to apply to the Commission
  for the grant support for Erasmus Transnational
  Projects and to its Erasmus National Agency for
  funding for ERASMUS mobility activities.
• The LLP/ERASMUS programme is well established and
  runs at VGTU since 1999. There are now
  approximately 230 Erasmus agreements with
  European higher education institutions. In
  2008/2009 academic year 492 VGTU students (394
  for studies, 98 for placements) and 113 lecturers
  participated in mobility programme, the numbers
  are increasing every year at least 20 . The
  growing number of exchange students ( about 280
  students in 2008/2009) in all faculties not only
  creates an international atmosphere in the
  classes but also stimulates revising of quality
  standards. The role of incoming foreign lecturers
  is considered as a big advantage for non-mobile
  VGTU students. VGTU is an active partner in a
  number of Intensive Programmes and Thematic
  Networks. European Credit Transfer and
  Accumulation System (ECTS) is used to ensure
  recognition of studies abroad and foster
  mobility.
• VGTU has a number of institutional agreements
  all over the world, participates in international
  programmes (LEONARDO DA VINCI, TEMPUS, FRAMEWORK
  5-6, EUREKA, PHARE etc.), networks (BALTECH,
  ATUBS, IROBALT) and organisations (IAU, EUA,
  EAIE, SEFI, IAUP etc.) in order to promote
  international cooperation and to provide students
  and staff members with interesting opportunities
  of international exchange.

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For our exchange students we offer

• 10 study programmes in English
• Lithuanian language courses free of charge. After
  successful completing of the courses students get
  3 ECTS credits
• University accommodation in the student hostel
• Orientation week, which includes an introduction
  the students to the University and town, which is
  helpful to settle in quickly
• Mentor programme, which means that all our
  incoming students get a supervising Lithuanian
  student usually studying at the same faculty, who
  helps to find themselves in the University
  buildings as well as to arrange the daily needs
• Socio-cultural programme during the whole
  academic year.

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What do our exchange students say about us?

• (Language is non-corrected)
• ERASMUS should be mandatory to every university!
  You have so much to gain and so less to loose! It
  should be like an obligatory subject for
  everyone! Its one of the best life experiences
  one can have! (Miguel, Portugal)
• People of the International Office were very
  friendly and helped me a lot I think it was very
  interesting to come to Lithuania for studies
  because of cultural and social aspects. Studies
  were very good. (Radour, France)
• to choose Lithuania once more and in every case
  conditions of life and prices food are very
  great enjoy everything... love Lithuanian
  dishes I like Lithuanian countryside (Heidi,
  Austria)
• It is a very good experience. The lectures are
  at a high level. The people are very friendly and
  especially the International Office tries to help
  you whenever you have a problem. Lithuania is
  really worth it to be seen (Pia, Austria)
• It is the most exciting and best experience in my
  life. I never regret the decision. (Ralf,
  Germany)
• Teachers are well prepared in English Life is
  very cheap, if you join hostel accommodation.
  There are a lot of cultural events and music
  ones, too... In general people look at you with
  interest, like at all foreigners... Its an
  experience that must be done. And Lithuania from
  inside is better than people can imagine. (Fabio,
  Italy)
• Go to Lithuania, it is a very nice and cheap
  country. It is a perfect place for student. .. It
  is important that VGTU can really make the
  courses what it is offering for students (Jukka,
  Finland)
• Lithuanian girls are wonderful!!! (Simone, Italy)