Alumni Discussion: “VMU Alumni – The New Generation of Sensemakers”

As part of VMU Connections, we invite students and the VMU community to join a hybrid discussion: “VMU Alumni – The New Generation of Sensemakers”.

This event is a unique opportunity to explore different career paths, hear honest stories from international alumni, and learn how studies, internships, and early career choices shape life after graduation.

The discussion will take place Friday, November 14, from 16:00 to 17:30, both online via Microsoft Teams and onsite at the VMU Senate Hall (S. Daukanto g. 28, Kaunas). The event will be conducted in English, and registration is required.

Students will have the chance to:

  • Learn about diverse career paths across countries and sectors
  • Ask questions and seek advice from alumni
  • Gain practical tips on job searching, career development, adapting to change, managing stress, and turning ideas into action

Meet the Alumni Speakers

Yesui Bayar (Mongolia) – Olympic swimmer and VMU alumna (BA International Politics and Development Studies, 2023). After VMU, she pursued a Master’s at the University of Geneva and now works at IATA, previously at UNECE. Topic: “Sensemaking Through Action: From VMU to International Geneva” – Online

Oleksii Minenko (Ukraine) – VMU alumnus (MA Diplomacy and International Relations, 2019), Dispute Administrator at Phoenix and freelance recruiter/career consultant. Topic: “Inner Balance as Sensemaking: Aikido, Crisis, and the Quiet Return to Self” – On-site

Tamta Kakauridze (Georgia) – VMU alumna (MA International Economics, 2017), Project Manager of the Economics Olympiad in Georgia. Topic: “From Ideas to Impact: Making Sense of Change through Purposeful Action” – Online

Gulkhanim Dunyamaliyeva (Azerbaijan) – VMU alumna (MA Applied English Linguistics, 2022), currently pursuing a second Master’s in Business Logistics. Topic: “From Linguistics to Logistics: Sensemaking Through Change and New Beginnings” – On-site

Olumide Felix Owajoba (Nigeria) – VMU alumnus (MA Social Anthropology, 2023), now pursuing a second Master’s in Social Work. Works at the Lithuanian Samaritan Association in Vilnius. Topic: “Beyond ‘You Can’: Building the Strategy that Unlocks Your Future” – Online

Mostapha Alahiane (Morocco) – VMU alumnus (MA Educational Management, 2025), now an English teacher at Kaunas Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium. Topic: “From Campus to Career: How Being an Active Student Shapes Your Future” – On-site

Azzam Ahmad (Jordan–Bahrain) – Lawyer and researcher, Head of Legal Departments at Euro Workforce and Smart Choice, PhD candidate at Vilnius University, currently on a diplomatic mission with the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in South Africa. Topic: “Building a Career Between Systems and Realities” – Online

This discussion is perfect for students who want to discover career possibilities, get inspiration, and hear practical advice from alumni who have navigated different paths in education, business, diplomacy, and public service.

Don’t miss this chance to explore the many ways your VMU experience can shape your future!

Participate in External Statistics Conference 2026 Data Challenge

We invite students to participate in the External Statistics Conference (ESC) 2026 Data Challenge! This exciting competition, running from 28 October 2025 to 31 January 2026, encourages Bachelor’s and Master’s students from EU universities to showcase their data analysis, visualization, and communication skills.

This year’s theme, “Evolving Cross-Border Dynamics in a Fragmented and Uncertain World,” challenges students to explore policy-relevant topics, such as global trade, financial flows, multinational dynamics, and environmental impacts of cross-border activities. Participants will use datasets from the ECB and BIS Data Portals alongside other publicly available data to develop innovative projects. Winners will present their findings at ESC 2026 in Krakow, with all expenses covered, and receive certificates of excellence!

We also invite (potential) participants to an introductory virtual event where experts from the organizing institutions will present details about the ESC Data Challenge. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the challenge, ask questions, and engage directly with the experts.

Date: Thursday, 20 November

Time: 14:30 Central European Time (CET) – Frankfurt time

Location: Virtual – the meeting can be accessed via Teams using the following LINK

Need help preparing your CV, cover letter, or updating your LinkedIn profile? Try CareerSet for free!

We are pleased to announce that our students and alumni can now try CareerSet for free – a modern tool designed to improve CVs, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles. CareerSet helps evaluate the structure, style, and relevance of your documents for specific job positions and provides personalized recommendations for improvement.

How to join:

  1. Log in using this link

  2. Enter the access code: VDU2025IT

After the free trial period, we will consider purchasing CareerSet as an official tool available to our students and alumni. We would greatly appreciate any feedback, which you can send by December 1st, 2025, to karjera@vdu.lt.

Start using CareerSet today and optimize your career documents for a successful job search!

The University Introduces an Online Student Consultation Registration System

A new electronic system for booking student consultations has been launched at the university. It was created to make it easier and more convenient for students to quickly register for various consultations offered by the university.

Using this system, students can now register for:

  • Career consultations
  • Disability-related consultations
  • Student well-being consultations

The system is designed to be user-friendly – it allows students to easily find the necessary information, choose a suitable time and specialist, and register for a consultation with just a few clicks. This will help students plan their appointments more efficiently and receive the support they need more quickly.

In the future, the system’s functionality will be expanded – students will be able to choose from a wider range of consultation types across the university, making it easier to access assistance in various areas, from academic to personal matters, and to conveniently schedule appointments.

How to register for a consultation?

Log in to the Student Self-Service Portal and select Registration → Consultations from the menu. Choose the desired consultation area, topic, and consultant, as well as the consultation time, then click Register. In the comment field, answer any required questions and click Register again.

We invite all students to try out the new system and conveniently book their consultation times!

We invite you to register for job interviews | VMU Connections: Career Day

Maybe you’re currently exploring your options and ready to start building your career? During VMU Connections: Career Day, we invite you to take part in the Career Fair, where you’ll have the chance to experience a real job interview and apply for an open job or internship position.

Choose the job or internship offer that interests you, don’t forget to bring your CV, make sure to register, come, and test yourself!

When registering, you’ll need to select the company or organization whose interview you’d like to participate in — you can find all their offers below, and the full list of companies participating in the fair can be found here.

Live interviews for open job and internship positions will take place on November 14th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, at S. Daukanto str. 28, Kaunas (more detailed information about the interviews will be sent to participants later).

REGISTRATION

VMU Connections: Career Day

On November 14th, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) will become a meeting place for representatives of different generations. Whether you are a student looking for an internship or your first job, a graduate planning a career change, or a VMU employee eager to gain new knowledge and broaden your horizons – VMU Connections will help you discover all the answers and opportunities.

This year, VMU Career Days, which traditionally combine “Matuokis profesiją” (Try Out a Profession) for school students and VMU Alumni Day for graduates, are expanded with a new element – the event “Quality 360°”, dedicated to World Quality Day. VMU Connections will be a great opportunity for school students, VMU students, alumni, employees, and business representatives to meet, share knowledge and experiences, build connections, and explore career opportunities – all in one place.

Get ready now – starting October 14th, you are invited to join online training sessions, where you can improve your skills and gain knowledge to help you build a successful career. Expert presentations and practical advice will prepare you for the career fair featuring companies and organizations on November 14th.

Online Training Series “Get Ready for Career Day”

CAREER DAY PROGRAMME

During Career Day, you will have the opportunity to make valuable connections and contacts, as well as participate in interviews and selection processes conducted by companies and organizations for real existing job or internship positions. It’s a great chance not only to hear useful information and learn about the opportunities offered by various companies and organizations, but also to discover your desired internship or job position.

Invite participate in the SCCL Mentorship Program 2026!

The Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania is proud to present the SCCL Mentorship Program 2026! A six-month initiative designed to connect ambitious young professionals with senior business leaders from Swedish and international companies in Lithuania.

This one-of-a-kind program offers a distinctive platform for knowledge exchange, leadership development, and cross-generational collaboration. Inspired by Swedish values of openness, trust, and growth, the program provides a space where ambition meets experience, and where future leaders are shaped.


Program Highlights

  • One-to-one mentoring: Each mentee will be paired with an accomplished senior leader for monthly mentoring sessions, creating space for deep dialogue and personal growth.
  • Exclusive community events: The program launches with a kick-off event in January and concludes with a celebratory closing ceremony in June, bringing together all participants for networking, inspiration, and shared learning.
  • Cross-sector insights: Mentees will gain direct exposure to diverse industries, while mentors will benefit from the fresh perspectives and innovative thinking of the next generation.

Why Join?

For Mentees:

  • Accelerate your personal and professional development.
  • Gain exclusive access to senior leaders and the SCCL business community.
  • Enhance your career trajectory with strategic advice, insights, and confidence.

Program Timeline

September – November 15: Applications are open

November/December: Confirmation will be sent out to participants

January 2026: Kick-off event (exact date TBA)

January – June: One-on-one meetings between mentors and mentees, decided individually between the pairs.

June: Closing event (exact date TBA)


Who Can Apply?

  • Mentors: Senior executives, leaders, and experts from SCCL member companies with a passion for developing others.
  • Mentees: Young professionals aged up to 30, pursuing or have finished their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, with 1–5 years of work experience, ambition, and commitment to growth.

Applications

Applications are open until November 15, 2025.

Apply as a mentee: https://forms.gle/P947GZebEV6MUhDk7


The SCCL Mentorship Program 2026 is more than mentorship. It is an investment in people and our members, a catalyst for growth, and a celebration of leadership and ambition. Together, we will inspire, connect, and prepare the leaders of tomorrow.

Students for students: become a mentor who inspires

Vytautas Magnus University (VDU) continues to expand its student mentoring programme “Peer-to-peer”. The aim of this mentoring programme is to strengthen mutual support among students and provide assistance to students who need advice and support in dealing with various challenges in university life that cannot be directly addressed by university departments and/or with whom they do not have an adequate connection (do not know them), thus promoting a sense of community among students and the university.

How the “Peer-to-peer” mentoring programme works: a trained, more experienced student will provide support and/or assistance to a student seeking it. The programme is aimed at students facing wellbeing issues at the university. By interacting with mentors of the same age, students will feel more comfortable and able to express their concerns in an

informal setting, while mentors will be able to suggest possible solutions to the problem or refer (accompany) them to where their problem could be solved.

In order to ensure the smooth running of the programme, a team of motivated mentors who are willing to contribute to the improvement of student life at the university is being assembled.

What kind of mentors are we looking for:

  • Older than first-year students who have overcome academic or social challenges during their studies and would like to help other students feel better, more confident, and safer during their studies at the university;
  • Communicative, willing and able to share their personal experiences with other students.
  • Able to participate in the mentoring programme for the entire academic year (October 2025 – June 2026).

Mentor duties and responsibilities:

  • Listen to the student’s problem and find out as much information as possible;
  • Help and advise if you have the skills and knowledge; if not, work together to find a solution to the problem;
  • Be aware of the opportunities offered by VDU and its partners and refer (accompany) the student seeking help to where their problem can be solved;
  • Contribute to the organization and implementation of activities aimed at enhancing student well-being at the university;
  • Participate in regular meetings and discussions to find new or improve existing ways to ensure student well-being at the university.

Benefits for mentors:

  • Opportunity to help students facing challenges at the university;
  • Familiarization with the university’s structure, system, and staff;
  • Opportunity to make new friends or colleagues;
  • Gain knowledge and skills and apply them in practice in areas related to psychology, intercultural communication, management, etc.;
  • Gain foreign language practice;
  • Active students will be included in various university promotion programmes.

If you want to become a mentor and help ensure the well-being of all VDU students, fill out the registration form by October 17, 2025 (inclusive).

After the registration period ends, the programme coordinator will contact the selected candidates and invite them to motivational interviews. After that, the mentors will undergo the final selection stage – a training program, after which the final team of mentors will begin their work.

More information about the Peer-to-Peer mentoring programme and student well-being at the university can be found here.

Become part of an important international research study!

We invite you to contribute to an important international study! Researchers at the Institute of Sociology at the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences are conducting the research part of the ongoing international project EUROSTUDENT 9 and are currently conducting a student survey.

The survey runs from May 12 to November 30, and its third stage is currently underway. This is a great opportunity to share your experience and contribute to changes in higher education! We invite you to fill out the survey and encourage your friends to participate actively in the study –  every answer is important! The survey link.

The anonymity of survey responses is guaranteed, and all provided information will be used solely for research purposes. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and look forward to your active participation.

If you have any questions, please contact the project’s national policy coordinator Prof. Dr. Salvinija Petrulytė, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology; e-mail: Salvinija.Petrulyte@smsm.lt or PhD student Kamilė Botyriūtė, the Institute of Sociology at the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences; e-mail: kamile.botyriute@lcss.lt.

Register Now: T4EU Strategic Policy Conference – Universities Shaping the Future through Innovation and Global Impact

Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) is pleased to invite you to register for the upcoming Strategic Policy Conference “Universities Shaping the Future: Building Resilient Societies through Innovation and Global Impact.” The conference will take place on October 21-22, 2025, at VMU in Kaunas, marking the conclusion of VMU’s presidency of the T4EU Alliance.

For almost a millennium, universities served as primary hubs for the advancement of intellectual thought and visionary leadership. Today, in the wake of escalating uncertainty and global crises, resilience has emerged as a vital societal asset and personal skill. Consequently, resilience has been chosen as the main axis of action during VMU’s presidency of the Transform4Europe (T4EU) Alliance in 2025, and will be the focal point of this conference. The European University initiative, currently uniting 65 alliances, was introduced to strengthen European higher education institutions and their role in boosting European identity, competitiveness, technological advancement, and overall societal resilience.

The main goal of the conference is to bring together not only academic leaders, experts, and students from the T4EU and other European University alliances, but also high-level European and Lithuanian political figures, global partners, and key stakeholders. Together, they will engage in discussions on resilience from multiple perspectives, including the global and European transformation of democracies, societies, and technologies. Drawing on the expertise and insights generated during the conference, a Policy Paper on Resilience Competency will be finalized and shared.

The conference will delve into a range of topics related to resilience, including Europe’s resilience in a shifting global order, the role of universities as stabilizing forces in democracies and conflict-affected societies, individual resilience in an unpredictable world, the importance of innovation and talent for Europe’s strategic future, and higher education’s contribution to societal renewal.

The conference program will be announced soon.

Registration