On 10 February 2022 historian Domas Boguševičius held a lecture about the idea of a university in the face of today's pragmatism. It was the first introductory event of VMU World Lithuanian University Symposium. The main goal of these events is to dive into the discussion of scientific, artistic, and creative issues relevant to Lithuania and Lithuanians around the world in advance.
In the lecture D. Boguševičius talks about challenges that arise in and beyond the nowadays university and how to overcome the challenges on the strength of the tradition of Western academic life and experiences of Lithuania and the diaspora.
Video languag: Lithuanian.
The second introductory event of the VMU World Lithuanian University Symposium was held on 7 April 2022.
Remote working and studying between one place where you are physically present, and another where this activity is physically carried out has already become a well-known practice for both staff and students or school learners, as well as refugee and diaspora communities. The main goal of the event was to collect and summarize both the experience of previous years and during the pandemic, as well as the most recent experience of distance learning in the world and in Lithuania.
In the discussion we raised questions: would the creation of virtual university and school twins would make our life safer, cleaner and would we become closer? By maintaining vigilance will we be able to keep in mind the dangers of distance learning? How not to lose touch with physical reality and guard ourselves against the temptations of the virtual world?
The discussion was moderated by prof. Gediminas Karoblis (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
Participants: dr. Darius Klibavičius, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
Prof. Gintautas Mažeikis, Vytautas Magnus university
Domas Boguševičius, Vytautas Magnus university
Aistė Žemaitytė, Vytautas Magnus university
The main goal of VMU World Lithuanian University Symposium introductory events is to dive into the discussion of scientific, artistic, and creative issues relevant to Lithuania and Lithuanians around the world in advance.
Video language: Lithuanian.
The poetry book „Kas buvo užrašyta vakar“ of poet, pastor Valdas Aušra was presented on 16 June 2022. It was the third VMU World Lithuanian University Symposium introductory event where Valdas Aušra and literary critic dr. Ramūnas Čičelis talked about the art of world Lithuanians under pandemic.
The poems in the poetry collection of Valdas Aušra, who lives in the USA, capture the crisis states of humanity surviving the pandemic and the individual's ability to find something to enjoy even in particularly difficult situations. „Kas buvo užrašyta vakar“ tells the reader about what daily life and communion are at a time when many care only about themselves.
Video language: Lithuanian.
Poet, translator and literary critic Marius Burokas will present the Baltic literature annual magazine in English "No More Amber - The Baltic Literary Review" and the project "Vilnius review", which aims to give a space and a voice to Lithuanians writing in the diaspora, the work of emigrants (both in Lithuanian and in English for writing authors).
Together with Marius in the event will participate poet and translator Rimas Užgiris. Language of the event: Lithuanian.
⏰ October 25th. 16:00
🏫 The Valdas Adamkus Presidential Library-Museum (S. Daukanto st. 25, Kaunas)
"In the history of Lithuanian photography, the name of K. Daugėlas (1912–1999) holds a significant place, although he is still better known only among professionals. His work combines different eras and a wide geography - pre-war Lithuania, the great Lithuanian exodus to Germany at the beginning of the second Soviet occupation, and his life as an emigrant in the United States of America. Daugėla opened up a broad spiritual worldview, a positive outlook, an artistic language based on modern expression and Lithuanian identity." – Inesa Kuliavaitė-ČEPAITIENĖ „Kazio Daugėlos vaizdai ir veidai“ (2019, OIKOS)
The exhibition of Kazios Daugėlas's photographs will be presented by exile literature and culture researcher, VMU professor Dalia Kuiziniene.
Language of event: Lithuanian.
⏰ October 26th 18:00
🏫 The Valdas Adamkus Presidential Library-Museum (S.Daukanto g. 25, Kaunas).
The exhibition is organized by Lithuanian Emigration Institute
This year, the University commemorates the centennial of its founding: 100 years ago, the University of Lithuania was established, which was later renamed Vytautas Magnus University. On this occasion, the exhibition “Vivat Universitas Vytauti Magni!” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the university was opened at the VMU’s Rectorate building. Through photographs, it reminds of the life of the university from its foundation, interwar activities to its re-establishment in 1989 and its present-day works.
We invite you to visit this exhibition together with its curator, historian dr. Egidijus Balandis.
⏰ October 27th.
14:00–14:40 in Lithuanian
14:45–15:25 in English
🏫 VMU’s Rectorate (K. Donelaičio st. 58)
Registration for the symposium is required.
Born in Lithuania, Rimantas Vingras initially studied the piano at the Čiurlionis School of Arts, before graduating from the Moscow Conservatory and the College-Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati, USA. He is a pianist of great emotional power and expressiveness whose career has embraced solo and chamber music performance; he also has a depth of experience in the field of accompaniment. Rimantas has given solo performances in China, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, Russia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Lithuania and the USA. As a soloist, he has performed with the London Mozart players as well as the Chamber Orchestra of the Lithuanian Academy of Music. Rimantas has also given numerous chamber music recitals, participating in various festivals in Lithuania, USA and the United Kingdom.
⏰October 28th. 17:00–17:45
🏫 M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art (V. Putvinskio st. 55, Kaunas)
Symposium participants are invited to visit the exhibition together with the artist Vita Zaman (who will also participate in the symposium discussions on the 29th of October ).
⏰ October 28th. 18:00
🏫 V. Putvinskio st. 52, Kaunas
Registration for the symposium is required.
15.00–15.50
Registration
16.00–16.15
Opening:
dr. Kęstutis KĖVALAS, Kaunas Archbishop
Rector prof. Juozas AUGUTIS, Vytautas Magnus University
16.20–17.20
FREEDOM AND ITS FORMS
Moderator
prof. Egidijus ALEKSANDRAVIČIUS, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Speakers:
Domas BOGUŠEVIČIUS, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
University and Freedom of Thought (LT)
prof. Gediminas KAROBLIS, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Lithuania/Norway
Freedom of Expression (LT)
dr. Judita SEDAITIS, New York City College of Technology, USA
Freedom, Tolerance and Liberation (EN)
Rimas ČUPLINSKAS, Graduate of the University of Bonn, Germany
About Freedom and Antifragility (LT)
17.30–18.30
FORMS OF FREEDOM IN THE HISTORY OF DIASPORAS
Moderator
dr. Egidijus BALANDIS
Speakers:
dr. Andriy NAHACHEWSKY, University of Alberta, Canada
Ukrainian Diasporas: Past, Present, and Possible Futures (EN)
dr. Giedrius JANAUSKAS, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
From Street Fights to Organized Action for Feedom: Ambitions of Cooperation Between Lithuanian and Other Diasporas (LT)
18.30
Buffet
9.15–9.55
Registration and morning coffee
10.00–12.00
WHAT CARRIES THE LIGHT WHEN DARKNESS ABOUNDS? THE TRADITION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LITHUANIA IN LITHUANIA AND EXILE (EN)
Moderators:
dr. Daiva Kristina KUZMICKAITĖ, Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania
dr. Ilona STRUMICKIENĖ, Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania
Speakers:
dr. Mykolas DRUNGA, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
VMU Re-Envisioned in the West (EN)
Ann SENN, USA
Carrying the Light From the Lithuanian University to Wisconsin and Back to Kaunas – Legacy of Senns (EN)
dr. Indrė ČUPLINSKAS, University of Alberta, Canada
St. Antanas Institute of Religious Studies – VMU in Žemaitija (EN)
Participants of the discussion:
dr. Judita SEDAITIS, New York City College of Technology, USA
dr. Ramūnas KONDRATAS, Lithuanian Society of Historians and Philosophers of Science, Lithuania
12.00–13.50
Break
14.00–16.00
THE REALITY OF EDUCATION IN THE FACE OF VIRTUALISATION
Moderators:
prof. Gediminas KAROBLIS, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Lithuania/Norway
Domas BOGUŠEVIČIUS, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania
Speakers:
Indrė GRIGARAVIČIŪTĖ, Kongsberg Digital AS, Lithuanian/Norway
Virtual Access to Reality - a Necessary and Inevitable Task? (LT)
dr. Jolita BUZAITYTĖ-KAŠALYNIENĖ, Vilnius University, Lithuania
Lessons From Forced Universal Distant Education: Disembodied Relationships, Collapsed Emotional Containers and Sociophobia (LT)
Participants of the discussion:
Rimantas VINGRAS, United Kingdom
Simona MAČĖNAITĖ, Lithuanian School of South America (PALM)
Dr. Mindaugas NEFAS, VMU Liceum "Sokratus", Lithuania
16.00–16.30
Afternoon coffee
17.00–17.45
Piano recital performed by Rimantas VINGRAS
V. Putvinskio st. 55
18.00–19.30
Vita ZAMAN exhibition "Second Life"
V. Putvinskio st. 52
9.15–9.55
Registration and morning coffee
10.00–10.40
Reflection of previous sessions
Participants:
Rimas ČUPLINSKAS, Graduate of the University of Bonn, Germany, Lithuania
dr. Ilona STRUMICKIENĖ, Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania
prof. Gediminas KAROBLIS, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Lithuania/Norway
10.50–11.50
THRIVING UNDER UNPREDICTABLE CONDITIONS
Moderator
dr. Darius UDRYS, Vilnius University, USA
Speakers:
prof. Saulius GENIUŠAS, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
Productive Imagination and Self-realization in Unpredictable Conditions (LT)
Kristina DRYŽA, Lithuania/ Australia
Finding Certainty in an Uncertain World (EN)
11.50–12.15
Coffee break
12.20–13.50
DISCUSSION
Participants of the discussion:
Eglė MURAUSKAITĖ, University of Maryland, USA
Vita ZAMAN, Gallery "Putvinskio 52", Lithuania
Yuliia HALENKO, Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs, Ukraine
14.00–15.30
Break
15.40–17.00
OPEN DISCUSSIONS:
Forms of freedom at university (Moderator: prof. Egidijus ALEKSANDRAVIČIUS)
Forms of freedom in education (Moderator: Domas BOGUŠEVIČIUS)
Forms of freedom under unpredictable conditions (Moderator: dr. Darius UDRYS)
17.00–18.30
Closing remarks and wine