Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
“Vytautas Magnus University. Memory, People, and Ideas” surveys the university‘s road from 1922 onwards—its development out of the Higher Studies Program and its founding, growth, and closing; the continuation of its ideas in exile and its reestablishment in 1989; and its present-day reality. It is an illustrated narrative about a free university educating a free human being.
Citation preview
VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY
Kaunas, 2008
VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITYM e m o r y , P e o p l e a n d I d e a s
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 4
ISBN 978-9955-12-370-5
© Vytautas Magnus University, 2008
UDK 378.4(474.5)(091) Vi322
Photos: Kaunas County Public Library, Lithuanian Emigra-tion Institute, M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, Vy-tautas Magnus University; private archives of Algirdas Avi-žienis, Rita Bajorinaitė-Daugelienės Andrius Būda, Deima Steponavičiūtė, Marius Tavoras, Vijolė Višomirskytė, Asta Ambrasaitė, Lina Auškalnienė, Mindaugas Kavaliauskas, Henrikas Kudirka, Jonas Petronis, Vladas Urbonas, Alvydas Vaitkevičius and Aušra Vinciūnienė. Designer: Birutė Mockutė. English language editor: Mykolas Drunga.
5 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
009 | A Free University for a Free Lithuania
055 | Loosing Freedom...
059 | ... But Keeping Hope Alive
065 | The University Reborn
099 | The University‘s Present...
151 | ... And Future
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 6
7 |
{
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
The university embodies a nation‘s progress, advancement, and creative thought.
Thus when on February 16, 1918 Lithuanians declared their political independence and began creating their state institutions, the scholars among them saw the establishment of a Lithuanian university as one of the most important tasks ahead. And when in 1919 Lithuania lost its historical capital Vilnius, it fell upon the second-largest city, Kaunas, to serve as the country‘s political, economic, and cultural center for the next twenty years.
It was here that Lithuania‘s intellectuals first organized a program of higher education that gave rise to the university. Initially, the Lithuanian Ministry of Education under Juozas Tūbelis did not approve the program because of its high costs; therefore, the organizers had to rely on their own efforts and the help of private donors. To this end they founded a Society of Higher Education which was formally recognized on Decem-ber 27, 1919 and which appealed to the public for moral and financial support in creating a Program of Higher Studies, to be supervised by the Ministry of Education.
F O R A F R E E L I T H U A N I A
Professors of the Program of Higher Studies (Autumn 1921).Program Founder Professor Zigmas Žemaitis.
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 8
}
This Program was officially launched on January 27, 1920, in the Educa-tion Ministry Auditorium (now belonging to Maironis Gymnasium). Headed by one of its prime organizers, mathematics professor Zigmas Žemaitis, it consisted of six departments (Humanities; Law; Natural Sci-ences; Physics and Mathematics; Medicine; and Technology) and had an enrollment of 522 students. Even though the teaching staff received onlysymbolic remuneration, they included some of the foremost Lithuanian intellectuals of the time; among them were Mykolas Biržiška, Vincas Čepinskis, Pranas Dovydaitis, Juozas Eretas, Tadas Ivanauskas, Augusti-nas Janulaitis, Vladas Lašas, Petras Avižonis, Pranas Mažylis, and Stasys Šalkauskis.
Higher Studies Program Building, now Maironis Gymnasium.
9 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 10
11 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
In response to the growing demand for a publicly financed, fully-fledgeduniversity, the Program of Higher Studies was reorganized, broadened, and pursuant to a resolution of the Council of Ministers designated as the University of Lithuania on February 16, 1922. This is considered to be theUniversity‘s official founding day.
The University‘s Statute was unanimously passed by Lithuania‘s Con-stituent Assembly on March 24, 1922. It provided for the establishment of six faculties (departments): Humanities; Mathematics and Natural Sciences; Medicine; Technology; Law; and Theology-Philosophy. In 1927the latter came to be regulated by a concordat between the Republic of Lithuania and the Holy See, whereby the Faculty of Theology-Philosophyreceived the status of a pontifical college; juridical independence from theLithuanian government; and the right independently to award degrees.
From the very beginning the University of Lithuania was a dynamic and largely self-governing institution of higher learning. Its statute allowed it a high degree of autonomy. As an independent institution of the Lithu-anian state, it was fully funded by the latter and only formally subject to the Ministry of Education.
The resolution whereby the Lithuanian Cabinet of Ministers chaired by Prime Min-ister Ernestas Galvanauskas established the University of Lithuania in Kaunas.
Published in Pranas Čepėnas, “Lietuvos universitetas 1579-1803-1922”, Chicago, 1972.
| 12
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
13 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
The governance of the University was entrusted to several institutions.The Council, comprised of the honorary professors, faculty professors, associate professors, and some assistant professors, decided on the most important university issues and elected the rector, prorector (proctor), and secretary. The Senate, consisting of the rector, prorector, secretary, and faculty deans, was the executive institution; it approved the university budget while the Rector represented the University, presided over the Senate and Council, implemented their decisions, and together with the Economic Service oversaw and managed University buildings, grounds, and inventory.
Lithuanian President Antanas Smetona (second left) at VMU‘s 10th anniversary celebration.VMU Main Building. VMU Physics and Chemistry Building at Linksmakalnis.University of Lithuania reading room (1928).View of Linksmakalnis from the Nemunas river bank.VMU First Building.
| 14
}
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
The University Statute gave each faculty the right to act independentlyon matters relating to appointing or dismissing teaching staff, admittingstudents, and awarding degrees. Representatives of all the faculties made up standing bodies including the Regulations Committee, the University Court, the International Intellectual Cooperation Committee, the Library Committee, and the Academic Health Indurance Fund.
On June 7, 1930, in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the death of Ancient Lithuania‘s most popular leader, Grand Duke Vytautas the Great, the University of Lithuania was renamed Vytautas Magnus University and received a new Statute.
Decree on Changing the Name from University of Lithuania to Vytautas Magnus University.From “Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto įstatymai”, Kaunas, 1934.
15 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
| 16
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
17 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
During the entire interwar period of national independence it was a vi-tally important center of Lithuanian cultural, scholarly, and civic life as well as a fountain of modern intellectual thought. Most of the country‘s political and cultural leaders were associated with it, either as teachers or as students.
For example, the country‘s first and third president, Antanas Smetona,was an occasional associate professor in the Humanities Faculty; and the list of famous professors included Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis, Juozas Tu-mas-Vaižgantas, Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas, Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius, Balys Sruoga, Pranas Dovydaitis, Mykolas Römeris, Petras Leonas, Mykolas Biržiška, Vaclovas Biržiška, Viktoras Biržiška, Stasys Šalkauskis, Tadas Ivanauskas, Kazimieras Būga, Jonas Jablonskis, to mention several of the most important Lithuanians.
VMU students in a lecture hall (1937).Near the VMU Physics and Chemistry Building at Linksmakalnis (1937).
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 18
PROF. DR. BLAŽIEJUS ČĖSNYSUniversity Vicerector
PROF. ENG. KAZYS VASILIAUSKASDean of the Faculty of Technology
PROF. PETRAS RAUDONIKISUniversity Secretary
PROF. VINCAS ČEPINSKISRector of Vytautas Magnus University
PROF. PETRAS LEONASDean of the Faculty of Law
PROF. VLADAS LAŠASDean of the Faculty of Medicine
PROF. VINCAS KRĖVĖ-MICKEVIČIUSDean of the Faculty of Humanities
PROF. ZIGMAS ŽEMAITISDean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
PROF. DR. POVILAS JAKUBĖNASDean of the Faculty of Evangelic Theology
PROF. DR. PRANAS KURAITISDean of the Faculty of Theology-Philosophy
19 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
This list of native professors was complemented by a distinguished rosterof foreigners, including the Swiss linguist Alfred Senn (Alfredas Sennas), the Swiss literary scholar Joseph Ehret ( Juozas Eretas), the Latvian-Ger-man ethnographer Eduards Volters (Eduardas Volteris), the German-born German professor Horst Engert, the French-born English instruc-tor Raymond Schmittlein, the Nordic multinational philosopher Vasily Sesemann (Vosylius Sezemanas), and the Russian cultural historian Lev Karsavin (Levas Karsavinas). All of these foreign-born scholars as well as those born in Lithuania had received their own education at non-Lithu-anian universities, usually in Germany, Switzerland, France, and/or Rus-sia, thus giving VMU a truly international flavor.
Professors of VMU faculties (1930).
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 20
PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF HUMANITIES • 1930
PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY • 1930
PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE • 1930
21 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
It did not take long for VMU to educate dozens of students who soon became leaders of Lithuanian public and cultural life, both in the country itself and later in exile. A short list of them would include the historians Adolfas Šapoka, Zenonas Ivinskis, Juozas Jakštas, and Vincas Trumpa; the philosophers Antanas Maceina and Juozas Girnius; the economist Domas Cesevičius; and the writers Salomėja Neris, Bernardas Brazdžionis, An-tanas Vaičiulaitis, Kazys Boruta, Antanas Gustaitis, Jonas Aistis, Antanas Miškinis, Henrikas Nagys, Juozas Grušas, Antanas Škėma, Vytautas Mačernis, and Henrikas Radauskas.
Professors of VMU faculties (1930).
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 22
PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES • 1930
PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY-PHILOSOPHY • 1930
{Professors of VMU faculties (1930).
23 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF EVANGELIC THEOLOGY • 1930
PROFESSORS OF THE FACULTY OF LAW • 1930
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 24
{
{
From the student newspaper “Studentųdienos” 1938, Nr. 11, p. 5.
From the book “Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas:Antrųjų penkerių veikimo metų(1927. II. 16 – 1932. IX. 1) apyskaita”,Kaunas, 1933.
25 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 26
From the student newspaper “Studentų dienos” 1937, nr. 5.
„It is so easy to study in this faculty. All you have to do is to pass 25 exams and you can do this during the last year.“
27 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
„It is so easy to study in this faculty. All you have to do is to pass 25 exams and you can do this during the last year.“
| 28
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
29 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
Here are some statistics. During nearly two decades of independence between both world wars VMU had seven rectors and produced 3,790 graduates. In 1922 it had 1,168 students taught by 102 teachers; in 1931 there were 4,475 students instructed by 220 teachers, the latter number growing to 490 by 1937.
The interwar VMU was unique in its spirit of intellectual liberty; thelively interaction among its faculty and students; and its varied and vigor-ous community life.
The university‘s studies policy was quite free-wheeling. For example, inthe four-year program of the Humanities Faculty, a student had to pass a total of 25 exams, and he or she could do so at times of their own choos-ing. It was possible to take all exams in the last year.
There was a student union responsible for helping students with theiracademic and financial problems. It was founded in 1925, and its officers(one per 100 students) were elected each year after fall registration. Thestudent union ran an academic athletic club, an academic tourist club, a student reading room, and the university chorus; promoted communica-tion with foreign students; and published a biweekly newspaper, Lietuvos studentas.
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 30
VMU especially prided itself on its numerous student corporations (known as fraternities or sororities in the United States). These were or-ganized along faculty, regional, and/or ideological lines. The following ori-entations were represented: moderate Nationalist (the neo-Lithuanians), Roman Catholic (the ateitininkai), Peasant Populist (the varpininkai), and Social Democratic (the žaizdrininkai and aušrininkai). The competi-tion among these student organizations had a pronounced political flavor,especially prior to 1930.
Students and teachers were active in organizing and taking part in cel-ebrations of both state and academic holidays as well as in carrying out the public manifestations that gave Kaunas city life so much of its color and vibrancy.
The city‘s cultural life was unimaginable without VMU students. Forexample, they were the first to champion the Lithuanian literary avant-garde Keturi vėjai (The Four Winds) movement in its quest to create anew, vibrant, and modernist literature.
University professors in their turn sought to impart knowledge not only to students but to the larger society as well. They held public lectures, andtownspeople had the right freely to audition university courses.
An increasingly important role in public education was played by the University Library with its ever expanding collections. In 1927, for ex-ample, more than 30,000 people visited the library reading rooms.
31 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 32
Biology students visiting Professor Tadas Ivanauskas (third left) at his house (1939).
{ {
Geology practice in Papilė (1939).
33 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
The writer Kazys Binkis meeting with students in Anykščiai (ca. 1937).
A lecture by Professor Jonas Vabalas-Gudaitis (1935).
{ {
{
}{
From A. Pakalniškis‘s “Studento dienoraštis”, Chicago, 1978.
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 34
35 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
| 36
}VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
Besides attending to studies, VMU students divided their time between official functions and rest-and-relaxation (ca. 1935 to 1937).
37 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
„What we liked most were the lovely approaches to the Jiesia river, the steep wooded banks, the green open spaces. Sometimes we‘d take a steamer to Kulautuva or further“.
{What we liked What we liked „„What we liked „What we liked „„What we liked „What we liked What we liked What we liked
{
| 38
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
From O. Maksimaitienė‘s “Atsiminimai”, Vilnius, 1966.
39 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
| 40
{
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
VMU student excursions throughout Lithuania (1937).
41 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
| 42
{
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
Snapshots of VMU life (1934-1937).
43 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 44
{
VMU student IDs, records, and passes (1933-1937).
45 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 46
47 |
{
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
From the book “Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: Antrųjų penkerių veikimo metų
(1927. II. 16 – 1932. IX. 1) apyskaita”, Kaunas, 1933.
O N T H E 1 0 t h A N N I V E R S A R Y
of VMU‘s establishment
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 48
49 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 50
}
From the greeting of the State Music School.
51 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 52
53 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
1930 was a fateful year for the university. On the one hand, it received its present-day name of VMU; on the other, it got a new statute that consid-erably changed is nature to reflect the increasingly authoritarian politicsof the Nationalist government. The University lost much of its previousautonomy; the rights granted to the Council and Faculties were curtailed; the number of Departments was slashed; and the rector, prorector, and professorial staff were henceforward, upon the Senate‘s recommendation,appointed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania. This situationlasted until 1940.
VMU diploma, given February 10, 1944 and signed by Rector Professor Julijonas-Gravrogkas and Technology Faculty Dean Associate Professor Adolfas Damušis.
| 54
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
55 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
When in October 1939 Lithuania regained control of its ancient capital, Vilnius, both the government and the scholars set about resuscitating the ancient University of Vilnius (which from 1921 to 1939 had functioned as the Polish Stephen Bathory University). In this endeavor the help of VMU proved invaluable: in January 1940 it transferred its Humanities and Law faculties to Vilnius, and in September 1940 the Mathematics and Natural Sciences faculty followed suit.
Meanwhile, the summer of 1940 saw the occupation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union, i.e., the replacement of Lithuania‘s semi-democratic na-tional independence with a Communist Russian-controlled dictatorship. This resulted in the closing of the Faculty of Theology-Philosophy and left VMU with just three faculties: Civil Engineering, Technology, and Medicine. On August 21, 1940 it was renamed University of Kaunas, and the activities of all its student corporations and associations were prohib-ited.
The students, however, did not disband; most of them joined the under-ground; some helped organize the 1941 June Revolt against the Soviets and persished in it; and some students and professors took positions in the 1941 Provisional Government which gave the University back its name of VMU and restored the faculties of Theology, Philosophy, Tech-nology, Civil Engineering, and Medicine.
But soon the Provisional Government was disbanded by the new occupy-ing power, Nazi Germany, which in 1943 shut down the whole university.
L O O S I N G
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 56
1 9 2 2
1 9 5 0
57 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VMU renewed its operations when the Nazis were replaced by the re-turning Soviets in the fall of 1944; two years later the latter again named it Kaunas University. Many students joined the anti-Soviet resistance, taking up leadership positions in the forces that fought a hopeless guerilla war against the Communists from 1945 to 1952.
In 1950 the university was shut down by the Soviets for good and re-mained so for nearly 40 years. At the same time some of its faculties gave rise to the following still extant institutions of higher learning: the Kaunas University of Technology; the Kaunas University of Medicine; the Lithuanian University of Agriculture; and the Lithuanian Veterinary Academy.
The Soviet occupation regime tried to transform Kaunas into a closedindustrial city devoted at best to the technological, medical, and agricul-tural sciences and bereft entirely of the social sciences, the humanities, the theology, and the philosophy in which the nation‘s historical memory and the traditions of a free university had been embodied.
| 58
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
59 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
These traditions were nurtured and fostered in exile. As World II drew to a close and the second Soviet occupation approached, the greater part of Lithuania‘s academia fled to the West. Even as they dug out from under the rubble in post-war Germany, VMU professors, in concert with their Latvian and Estonian colleagues, succeeded in running an independent Baltic University at Pinneberg near Hamburg from 1946 to 1949.
While living largely in displaced-persons camps, the erstwhile professors and students reconstituted their former corporations or created new aca-demic societies as they hoped to return to VMU in a liberated Lithuania.
Eventually, with the hardening of the divide between the democratic West and the Communist East and the intensification of the Cold War, the displaced persons‘ dreams of returning to a freed Lithuania evapo-rated; yet the academic exile community never forgot its commitment to keep the spirit of a Lithuanian university alive.
. . . B U T K E E P I N G H O P E
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 60
61 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
After 1950 the strongest Lithuanian academic contingent in exile found a home in the United States and spearheaded an organized revival of schol-arly life there. For instance, Lithuanian language, literature, and history were researched and taught at the University of Pennsylvania; Chicago saw the establishment of the Institute of Lithuanian Studies, the Lithu-anian Historical Society, and the Lithuanian Professors‘ Association; and throughout the United States student organizations such as the Lithu-anian Student Association and various corpororations associated with the Scouts, the Ateitininkai, the Neo-Lithuanians, and the liberal Santara established local chapters.
Furthermore, the Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Science which had ben founded in 1922 in Kaunas was reestablished in 1956 in Rome and continued upholding the traditions of the VMU Theology-PhilosophyFaculty.
In this way a virtual university came into being based on the heritage of VMU. Its old professors, including Vaclovas Biržiška, Ignas Končius, Ste-ponas Kolupaila, Kazys Pakštas, and Stasys Dirmantas, were the honorary members of many student organizations that transmitted the values of the Lithuanian university to students attending American universities.
Colors of the Baltic University at Pinneberg near Hamburg.
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 62
}
Not just students, but alumni as well formed tradition-inspired profes-sional societies. In addition to the humanities scholars, historians, and theologians mentioned above, these societies joined together visual and literary artists, architects, engineers, agricultural specialists, physicians, and lawyers. Some of these societies published their own proceedings and periodicals.
Moreover, their members as well as organizationally unafilliated Lithu-anian intellectuals contributed to a number of new scholarly journals published in the United States and Western Europe; these included the English-language Lituanus, the Catholic-oriented Aidai, the liberal Met-menys, and Mūsų Vytis published by the Lithuanian Scouts Collegiate Division.
Emblems of the Baltic University in Germany.
63 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 64
65 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
When in the late 1980s winds of change began blowing in the Soviet Union and thereby reawakening hopes of Lithuanian freedom, the U.S.-based World Lithuanian Symposia of Science and Creativity, which start-ing in 1989 joined scholars from both sides of the crumbling Iron Cur-tain, were especially significant in stimulating the efforts that ultimately led toward the resuscitation of VMU. These symposia had been initiated by UCLA Professor Algirdas Avižienis, a charter member of the Lithu-anian Scouts Collegiate Division.
In June 1988, shortly after the establishment of Sąjūdis, the ground-breaking Lithuanian reform movement, Avižienis went to Vilnius, where he met with Professors Vytautas Landsbergis, Vytautas Statulevičius, and others to discuss plans for recreating VMU.
From then on support for this idea took off in Lithuania as well, hand in hand with support for the reestablishment of Lithuanian independence.
In Kaunas, the first to broach this issue publicly in print was Professor Alfredas Smailys with his essay “Let‘s reestablish Vytautas Magnus Uni-versity,” published by the then still-Communist Kauno tiesa on July 29, 1988. Other proponents of this idea included the association “Aukuras” and some members of the political and academic establishment not only in Kaunas, but also in Vilnius.
T H E U N I V E R S I T Y
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 66
67 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
As Lithuania was still Soviet-occupied, the road towards the reestablish-ment of both VMU and Lithuanian independence itself was arduous, but it would have been even more arduous had there not been at least tacit support from some influential members of the Lithuanian CommunistParty.
In early 1989 an initiating group organized elections to the Council of a reconstituted VMU; these took place on March 30 with the participation of 120 professors and doctors of science from the schools and institutes of higher education already active in Kaunas. They elected 30 membersto the Council, with Professor Jurgis Vilemas as chairman and Associate Professor Joana Misevičienė as secretary.
During an international conference chaired by Professor Avižienis and held on April 26-28, 1989, the reestablishment of VMU was proclaimed; this was the first joint step of Lithuanian scholars living in Lithuania andabroad. The conference was attended by 272 persons, of whom 20 hadarrived from the United States, Canada, Sweden, Poland, and Germany. They elected a Board (headed by Avižienis and Statulevičius) that gaverise to the new VMU Senate.
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 68 They also founded a World Lithuanian Center for Culture, Science, and
Education with the aim of supporting VMU‘s revival and fostering ties with Lithuanian scholars living abroad. Its first accomplishment wasthe securing of a $15,000 gift from the World Lithuanian Community for the purchase of essential computer and office equipment. Avižienisbrought this equipment to Kaunas in August 1989.
After the reestablishment of VMU had been proclaimed the Board worked to secured its acceptance by the Supreme Council and Ministerial Council of the so-called Lithuanian S.S.R.; this came on July 10, 1989. The Board then chose Vilemas as acting UVM rector and Associate Pro-fessor Antanas Karoblis as vicerector.
69 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 70
71 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
In this way VMU became the first autonomous institution of higherlearning not only in Lithuania but in what then still was the Soviet Union as a whole. The university had to start totally from scratch – itdid not recover any of its previous buildings nor any books from its old library before the Soviets shut it down. Classes were held in three rented buildings.
During the pivotal Sixth World Lithuanian Symposium on Science and Creativity held in Chicago on November 22-26, 1989, 49 scholars from the diaspora were elected to the reestablished VMU Senate; and on December 27, 1989 these were joined by another 49 scholars from Lithuania itself. Professor Vilemas became the first chairman of thenew VMU Senate.
Members of the reestablished VMU Council on the inauguration of the firstacademic year (1989).Inauguration of the first academic year at the Kaunas State Musical Theater(1989).
| 72
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
73 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
On May 24, 1990, upon balloting in both Kaunas and Chicago, the VMU Senate elected Avižienis as the first full-fledged Rector of the reestab-lished VMU. In early August 1990 he and Senate president Vilemas took part in the World Rectors‘ Conference in Helsinki, thereby legitimizing VMU‘s reestablishment in the eyes of the world academic community.
The new school year (1990–1991) began in the fall with the new rector‘sofficial inauguration; and the resurrected VMU gradually reoccupied itsplace in Kaunas city life.
On October 16-21, 1990, a major international scholarly conference called The Baltic Family was organized to foster cooperation among aca-demic institutions of the Baltic Sea region. It drew together more than 50 scholars from universities in Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway as well as Lithuanian scholars from the U. S., Canada. Australia, Switzerland, and Great Britain.
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 74
{
On December 20-21, 1990, the Senate approved the UVM Statute. It was modelled after Harvard‘s as described in Henry Rosovsky‘s The University: An Owner‘s Manual, a book that had just appeared and was brought to Kaunas by Avižienis.
The Statute established VMU‘s autonomy, the principle of academicfreedom, and the unity of research and teaching; it also introduced the idea—then new to Lithuania—that university studies proceed at three levels aiming, respectively, for the bachelor‘s degree, the master‘s degree, and the doctor‘s degree.
This was an important development inasmuch as these VMU principlesconcerning university autonomy and a three-tiered system of studies were also incorporated into the Republic of Lithuania‘s Law on Science and Studies adopted on February, 12, 1991. Rector Avižienis and Prorector for Graduate Studies and Research Vytautas Kaminskas had a big hand in drafting this law.
Inauguration of Professor Algirdas Avižienis as Rector. Professor Avižienis (left) and Professor Romualdas Baltrušis (1990).Holy Mass at the Kaunas Archcathedral Basilica at the begining of the second academic year (1990).
75 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 76
77 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
In the first few years of its reestablished existence VMU was helped con-siderably and in various capacities by professors and lecturers both from other Lithuanian institutions and from abroad. The latter included KazysAlmenas, Liucija Baškauskaitė, Vytautas Černius, Milda Danytė, Živilė Gimbutaitė, Rimas Kalvaitis, Vytautas Kavolis, Msgr. Vytautas Kazlaus-kas, Kęstutis Skrupskelis, Viktorija Skrupskelytė, Julius Šmulkštys, Bro-nius Vaškelis, Arvydas Žygas, and Kęstutis Paulius Žygas.
VMU received a helping hand from many non-Lithuanian professors. They included teachers from Weber State University, Utah; the Universityof North Dakota; and several Scandinavian universities. A particularly significant contribution–in returning the humanities to Kaunas, provid-ing leadership to newly established departments, and organizing doctoral studies–was made by a large group of Vilnius scholars, including Profes-sors Vytautas Kubilius, Juozas Kulys, Vytautas Statulevičius, Laimutis Telksnys, Antanas Tyla, Norbertas Vėlius, Aleksandras Vanagas, Zigmas Zinkevičius, and Antanas Žilinskas.
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 78
79 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{ Students at the newly reestablished university (1991–1993).
Opening of UVM‘s jubilee exhibition at the Vytau-tas the Great War Museum (1990).
VMU Senator Dr. Valdas Adamkus visiting the university (ca. 1990-1992).
{ { {
| 80
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
Professor Algirdas Avižienis (standing) during a UVM Senate meeting (1992).
VMU guests. From the right: Bishop Juozas Preikšas, Culture and Education Minister Dr. Darius Kuolys, Archbishop Audrys Juozas Bačkis, Bishop Sigitas Tamkevičius, Father Professor Antanas Liuima, S.J. (1992).
Concert at the VMU Great Hall by university students (1990).
{ {
{
81 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
Lithuanian Parliament President Professor Vytautas Landsbergis at VMU (ca. 1990-1992).
| 82
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
83 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
| 84
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
{
85 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
Students at the reestablished VMU (ca. 1991-1993).
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 86
T H E V Y T A U T A S M A G N U S U N I V E R S I T Y
C H A I R
Professor Jurgis Vilemas (Acting Rector from 1989 to 1990), Institute of Physical-Technological Problems of Energy, Lithuania
H O N O R A R Y M E M B E R S
Dr. Valdas Adamkus, USAProf. Algirdas Avižienis, USAAlgirdas Brazauskas, LithuaniaProf. Viktoras Butkus, LithuaniaProf. Martynas Yčas, USAProf. Jonas Kubilius, Lithuania Prof. Česlovas Kudaba, LithuaniaProf. Vytautas Landsbergis, LithuaniaProf. Meilė Lukšienė, LithuaniaJustinas Marcinkevičius, LithuaniaProf. Kazimira Danutė Prunskienė, LithuaniaKard. Vincentas Sladkevičius, LithuaniaProf. Vytautas Statulevičius, LithuaniaProf. Edvardas Varnauskas, SwedenSimas Velonskis, USA Prof. Eduardas Vilkas, Lithuania
( M a r c h 3 0 , 1 9 8 9 – D e c e m b e r 1 7 , 1 9 8 9 )
87 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
E L E C T E D M E M B E R S
Prof. Vaidotas Antanaitis, Lithuanian Academy of AgricultureProf. Romualdas Baltrušis, Kaunas Politechnical InstituteProf. Juozas Blužas, Institute of Cardiology Prof. Jurgis Brėdikis, Kaunas Institute of MedicineProf. Feliksas Bukauskas, Kaunas Institute of MedicineAssoc. Prof. Alvydas Butkus, Vilnius UniversityProf. Vladas Gronskas, Vilnius UniversityProf. Aronas Gutmanas, Kaunas Institute of MedicineProf. Leonas Kairiūkštis, Lithuanian Forest InstituteAssoc. Prof. Antanas Karoblis, Kaunas Politechnical InstituteProf. Leonas Klumbys, Kaunas Institute of MedicineAssoc. Prof. Gediminas Kostkevičius, Kaunas Politechnical InstituteAssoc. Prof. Rimantas Marčėnas, Vilnius UniversitetyProf. Stanislovas Masiokas, Kaunas Politechnical InstituteProf. Algis Mickis, Kaunas Institute of MedicineAssoc. Prof. Joana Misevičienė, Vilnius UniversityJurgis Oksas, Kaunas MunicipalityProf. Vytautas Paliūnas, Kaunas Politechnical InstituteProf. Simas Ramutis Petrikis, „LIRA“ InstituteProf. Simonas Pileckis, Lithuanian Academy of AgricultureProf. Liudvikas Pranevičius, Kaunas Politechnical InstituteProf. Algimantas Radzevičius, Vilnius UniversityProf. Kazimieras Ragulskis, Kaunas Politechnical InstituteProf. Alfredas Smailys, Institute of Cardiology Prof. Vladas Stauskas, Lithuanian Institute of Architecture and ConstructionProf. Rimantas Šeinauskas, Kaunas Politechnical InstituteProf. Vytautas Vaičiuvėnas, Kaunas Institute of MedicineAssoc. Prof. Mindaugas Venslauskas, Kaunas Institute of MedicineProf. Povilas Zakarevičius, Vilnius University
| 88
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
89 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
C H A I R M E N
Professor Jurgis Vilemas, Institute of Physical-Technological Problems of Energy, Lithuania (1989–1993);Professor Aleksandras Vanagas, Lithuanian Language Institute, Lithuania (1993–1995);Dr. Simas Ramutis Petrikis, LIRA Institute, Lithuania (1995–1996).
M E M B E R S
Dr. Valdas Adamkus, U.S. Eviromental Protection Agency, USAProf. Kazys Almenas, University of Maryland, USAProf. Vaidotas Antanaitis, Lithuanian Academy of Agriculture, LithuaniaProf. Kazimieras Antanavičius, Institute of Economics, LithuaniaProf. Algirdas Avižienis, University of California, USAProf. Romualdas Baltrušis, Kaunas University of Technology, LithuaniaProf. Audronė Barūnaitė-Willeke, Miami University, USAProf. Liucija Baškauskaitė, California State University, USAProf. Raimondas Bentkus, Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaProf. Vytautas J. Bieliauskas, St. Xavier University, USA Prof. Jurgis Brėdikis, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, LithuaniaProf. Feliksas Bukauskas, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, LithuaniaProf. Antanas Buračas, Institute of Economics, LithuaniaAssoc. Prof. Alvydas Butkus, Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaProf. Viktoras Butkus, Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaProf. Birute Ciplijauskaitė, University of Wisconsin, USAProf. Vytautas J. Černius, Temple University, USAProf. Henry Dauderis, Concordia University, CanadaProf. Vytautas Doniela, University of Newcastle, AustraliaProf. Marija Gimbutienė, University of California, USAProf. Vladas Gronskas, Vilnius University, Lithuania
1 9 8 9 – 1 9 9 6
T H E V Y T A U T A S M A G N U S U N I V E R S I T Y
see page 90 }
{ Declaration on the Reestablishment of VMU, published in a scholarly conference entitled The National Conception of a School of Higher Education and Kaunas University and held on April 28, 1989 in Kaunas.
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 90
Prof. Aronas Gutmanas, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, LithuaniaProf. Eugenijus Janulaitis, Institute of Applied Enzymology, LithuaniaProf. Emanuelis Jarašūnas, California State University, USAProf. Leonas Kairiūkštis, Lithuanian Forest Institute, LithuaniaProf. Rimas Kalvaitis, New England College, USAProf. Edvardas Kaminskas, Harvard Medical School, USAProf. Vytautas Kaminskas, Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaDr. Gintautas Kamuntavičius, Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaAssoc. Prof. Antanas Karoblis, Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaProf. Romualdas Kašuba, Northern Illinois University, USAProf. Dalia Katiliutė-Boydstun, St. Xavier College, USADr. Vytautas Kazlauskas, Radio Vaticana, ItaliaProf. Jolita Kiseliutė-Narutienė, University of Illinois, USAProf. Vytautas Klemas, University of Delaware, USAProf. Antanas Klimas, University of Rochester, USADr. Arvydas Kliorė, California Institute of Technology, USAProf. Leonas Klumbys, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, LithuaniaProf. Vytautas Kontrimavičius, Institute of Ecology , LithuaniaAssoc. Prof. Gediminas Kostkevičius, Kaunas University of Technology, LithuaniaDr. Juozas Krikštopaitis, Institute of Philosophy, Sociology and Law, LithuaniaDr. Vytautas Kubilius, Lithuanian Language Institute, LithuaniaProf. Juozas Kulys, Institute of Biochemistry, LithuaniaDr. Edmundas Kuokštis, Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaProf. Arūnas Liulevičius, University of Chicago, USADr. Bronius Makauskas, Polska Academia Nauk, PolskaAssoc. Prof. Rimantas Marčėnas, Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaProf. Stanislovas Masiokas, Kaunas University of Technology, LithuaniaProf. Ilona Maziliauskienė, Collège Ahuntsic, CanadaProf. Algis Mickis, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, LithuaniaAssoc. Prof. Joana Misevičienė, Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaProf. Juozas Navickas, Boston College, USAProf. Algis Norvilas, St. Xavier College, USAProf. Vytautas Paliūnas, Kaunas University of Technology, LithuaniaProf. Feliksas Palubinskas, Purdue University Calumet, USAAlgirdas Patackas, Lithuanian Parliament, LithuaniaProf. Liudvikas Pranevičius, Kaunas University of Technology, LithuaniaProf. Paulius Rabikauskas, Pontificia Universita Gregoriana, ItaliaProf. Algimantas Radzevičius, Vilnius University, Lithuania
} continues from page 89
91 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
Prof. Kazimieras Ragulskis, Kaunas University of Technology, LithuaniaDr. Janina Rėklaitienė, Purdue University, USAProf. Gintaras V. Rėklaitis, Purdue University, USAProf. Antanas L. Rubšys, USA Prof. Kęstutis Skrupskelis, University of South Carolina, USAProf. Viktorija Skrupskelytė, Oberlin College, USAProf. Alfredas Smailys, Institute of Cardiology, LithuaniaProf. Vytautas Statulevičius, Institute of Mathematics and Informatics, Lithuania Prof. Vladas Stauskas, Lithuanian Institute of Architecture and Construc-tion, LithuaniaAssoc. Prof. Krescencijus Stoškus, Vilnius University, LithuaniaProf. Antanas Sužiedėlis, Catholic University of America, USAAssoc. Prof. Juozas Šatas, Kaunas University of Technology, LithuaniaProf. Rimas Šeinauskas, Kaunas University of Technologys, LithuaniaProf. Rimvydas Šilbajoris, Ohio State University, USAProf. Julius Šmulkštys, Indiana University-Purdue, USAProf. Aleksandras Štromas, Hillsdale College, USAAlgimantas Taškūnas, University of Tasmania, AustraliaProf. Laimutis Adolfas Telksnys, Institute of Mathematics and Informa-tics, LithuaniaDr. Antanas Tyla, Institute of Lithuanian History, LithuaniaProf. Ina Č. Užgirienė, Clark University, USAProf. Rimas Vaičaitis, Columbia University, USAProf. Prof. Vytautas Vaičiuvėnas, Kaunas Academy of Medicine, LithuaniaProf. Rimas Vaišnys, Yale University, USAProf. Vytautas S. Vardys, University of Oklahoma, USAProf. Bronius Vaškelis, University of Illinois, USAProf. Romas Vaštokas, Trent University, CanadaProf. Tomas Venclova, Yale University, USAAssoc. Prof. Mindaugas Venslauskas, Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaDr. Norbertas Vėlius, Lithuanian Language Institute, LithuaniaProf. Romualdas Viskanta, Purdue University, USAProf. Povilas Zakarevičius, Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaDr. Albertas Zalatorius, Lithuanian Language Institute, LithuaniaProf. Zigmas Zinkevičius, Vilnius University, LithuaniaProf. Pranas Zundė, Georgia Institute of Technology, USAArvydas Žygas, Ph. D., Vytautas Magnus University, LithuaniaProf. Kęstutis P. Žygas, Arizona State University, USA
}
| 92
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
From J. Misevičienė‘s article “Omnia principium grave est (Every beginning is hard)“in the book “VytautoDidžiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos katalikų mokslo akademijos 70-metis”, Kaunas, 1993, p. 75-88.
The 1989 Freshman Pledge:
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
93 |
| 94
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
{
95 |
ATM
INT
IS, ŽM
ON
ĖS IR
IDĖ
JOS
Christening the freshmen.
| 96
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
{
97 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
Student frolics at the reestablished VMU.
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 98
99 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
From the early 1990s onwards VMU changed continuously, broadening and deepening both its research and teaching capabilities. Following is a summary of leading developments almost year to year:
In 1992 VMU resumed its tradition of designating renowned Lithuanian and foreign scholars and statesmen as honorary doctors. The first ones to be so designated were Professor Vytautas Landsbergis, the Nobel laureate Czeslaw Milosz, and Ambassador Stasys Lozoraitis.
In 1993 Avižienis was succeeded as rector by another well-known émigré scholar, the literary historian Professor Bronius Vaškelis.
T H E U N I V E R S I T Y ‘ S
| 10
0VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
101 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
Throughout the early-to-mid-‘90s VMU added new courses and pro-grams; the government granted it ownersip of some of its buildings and gave it back the Botanical Gardens as well as other important facilities.
In 1994 VMU was given back the right to dub the most prominent mem-bers of the academic community as honorary professors; the first ones toreceive this title were Jurgis Vilemas and Algirdas Avižienis.
In June 1995 VMU graduated its first masters: for the first time in Lithu-ania, more than 100 students were awarded master‘s degrees.
In 1996 a new VMU Senate was elected; its members chose informatics professor Vytautas Kaminskas to be the new rector. Popular and active, he was reelected in 1999 and 2003.
Professor Maria Gimbutas with the regalia of VMU‘s honorary doctor title (1993).Poet, Nobel Prize winner, University of California at Berkeley Professor Czeslaw Milosz with the regalia of VMU‘s honorary doctorate (1992).
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 10
2
{
1998 saw the celebration of the of the VMU Library‘s 75th anniversary; the opening of a spacious new reading room; and the installation of mod-ern stacks. Although prior to its closing in 1950 the old VMU library boasted of more than 400,000 titles and valuable manuscripts, it had to be built up anew, a task for which it received support from the Open Society Fund, the U.S. Lithuanian Foundation, and Julija and Emilis Sinkiai. Thebulk of library holdings was acquired with the help of private donations from people living in Lithuania and abroad; many books were donated by foreign universities and embassies.
In January 2000 the American-born Lithuanian attorney, translator, and community activist Tadas Klimas became director of the VMU Law In-stitute; he was replaced by attorney and former interior minister Stasys Šedbaras in 2006.
In March 2000 VMU and the Municipality of Kaunas co-founded the Lithuanian Emigration Institute. Its main purpose is to collect, study, preserve, and exhibit the archival materials that constitute the cultural, political, and scholarly heritage of the Lithuanian diaspora, embracing both organizations and individuals. The Institute was organized on thebasis of the Center for Lithuanian Diaspora Studies established by VMU in 1994.
Members of the VMU Reestablishment Senate who worked in Lithuania in 1992.The first class of the reestablished VMU receiving their bachelor‘s diplomas (1992).
103 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 10
4
{
Awarding the regalia of UVM‘s Honorary Doctor title to the Chairman of the Lithuanian Parliament Professor Vytautas Landsbergis; to Lithuanian ambassador to the United Sta-tes and the Holy See Stasys Lozoraitis; and to the poet, Nobel Prize winner, University of California at Berkeley Professor Czeslaw Milosz during the commemoration of UVM‘s Seventieth Anniversary (1992).
105 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
| 10
6VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
The first Rector of the Reestablished VMUProfessor Algirdas Avižienis and the Chairman of the Reestablishment Council and the Reestablishment Senate Professor Jurgis Vilemas receiving the regalia of VMU‘s honorary professorship (1994).
{
107 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
Awarding the regalia of VMU‘s Honorary Doctorate to poet Bernardas Brazdžionis (1994).
{|
108
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
Moments in the life of a reestablished university (1989-1995).
109 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
| 11
0VY
TAU
TO
DID
ŽIO
JO U
NIV
ERSI
TE
TAS
| 11
0VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
Inaugurating the Student Association President (1994).
{{
111 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
After awarding the Honorary Doctor‘s title to President Valdas Adamkus. From the left: Prof. Bronius Vaškelis, Dr. Valdas Adamkus, Prof. Algirdas Avižienis (2002).The Rhetorician Theater greeting the inaugurated RectorProfessor Bronius Vaškelis (1993).
Awarding the Rector‘s regalia to Professor Bronius Vaškelis. From the left: Professor Povilas Zakarevičius, Professor Vaškelis, Professor Vytautas Kaminskas (1993).Awarding the regalia of VMU‘s Honorary Doctor title to filmmaker and poet Jonas Mekas (1997).
{
{
| 11
2VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
Beginning of the Academic Year: Student and Teacher Procession on September 1 (1997).
The inauguration of Rector Professor Vytautas Kaminskas. Fromthe left: Rector Professor Bronius Vaškelis, Kaunas Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius, Senators Professor Leonas Gudaitis and Associate Professor Zigmas Lydeka (1997).
{
{
113 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
Awarding the regalia of UVM‘s Honorary Doctor title to University of Wisconsin Professor Alfred Erich Senn (1999).
The first general meeting of the Lithuanian and Latvian Forumat VMU (third from the left: Latvian President Vaira Vike Freiberga; second from the right: Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, 2005).
| 11
4VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
115 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 11
6
117 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
O N T H E 1 0 t h A N N I V E R S A R Y
of VMU‘s reestablishment
| 11
8VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
119 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
| 12
0VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
121 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 12
2
123 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
2006 witnessed the election of a new rector. In a vigorously contested race, the honors went to economics and management professor Zigmas Lydeka. He came to be assisted by vicerectors Juozas Augutis (science and research), Rimantas Laužackas (studies), and Vaidotas Viliūnas (infra-structure).
A newly-established Public Communications Office answering to Uni-versity Secretary Auksė Balčytienė considerably strengthened the provi-sion of information to internal and external audiences as well as expanded VMU‘s web presence and publishing activities.
On May 2008, a new position of the vicerector for development was es-tablished with Natalija Mažeikienė appointed to it.
As of 2008, VMU had ten faculties: Humanities, Economics and Man-agement, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Catholic The-ology, Arts, Social Welfare, Political Science and Diplomacy and Law. Together they offer more than 70 bachelor and master‘s degree programsas well as 16 doctoral programs. The UVM academic community nowconsists of more than 9,000 students taught by 550 scholars who since the university‘s reestablishment have brought forth 16,000 alumni.
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 12
4
{
Moments of VMU life (2004-2007).
125 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 12
6
{
Moments of VMU life (2004-2007).
127 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
{
| 12
8VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
From E. Vaitkūnienės article “Studentai savo dėstytojus pakvietė į vakarėlį” in “Laikinoji sostinė”, Nov. 9, 2006.
The study season having started with a vengeance and mid-term exams running, the VMU Student Association decided that everybody - students, administrators, and teachers - should get a break and take a breather.
129 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
The study season having started with a vengeance and mid-term exams running, the VMU Student Association decided that everybody - students, administrators, and teachers - should get a break and take a breather.
{
| 13
0VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
VMU community celebrations (2006–2007).
131 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 13
2
133 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
Recognizing the paramount importance of international academic rela-tions, VMU has signed cooperation agreements with more than 80 uni-versities abroad, mainly in Western Europe, the United States, and Japan. It has membership in four international associations and is an individual full member of the European University Association.
Administratively VMU adheres to the principle that decisions must be arrived at collegially with the advice of as many members of the university community as possible.
| 13
4VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
135 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
| 13
6VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
137 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 13
8
139 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 14
0
141 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
The Senate is the highest institution of the university‘s self-governance. It is constituted by 45 to 55 scholars, recognized artists, and students; and it is chosen for a five-year term.
The Council is an institution of public supervision and support; it is cho-sen for four years and has 18 members: four professors chosen by the Senate; the Rector; a student elected by the Student Association; and 12 representatives of various scholarly, cultural, artistic, and business fields.
The Rectorate is a 24-member Rector‘s advisory institution consisting of the rector, the prorector for studies, the prorector for science and research, the prorector for infrastructure, the university secretary, faculty deans, and the heads of other university subdivisions.
The Rector is the university‘s chief ececutive. He is chosen by the Senate for a five-year term and can serve no more than two consecutive terms.
In its Statement of Mission adopted on April 8, 2007, UVM declared itself to be a community-oriented institution of science and learning that provides people with the opportunity to attain a liberal higher educa-tion informed by humanist, Christian, and patriotic values; that fosters scholar, teacher, and student partnerships with other institutions locally and abroad; that actively participates in the intellectual, cultural, and civic life of Kaunas; and that helps shape a future for Lithuania by educating creative, civic-minded, and conscientious citizens who contribute to the development of world culture and scholarship.
In short, UVM‘s overall mission is to foster a broadly-conceived human-ist culture neither limited to nor excluding narrow and highly-specialized studies and to be a beckoning hearth for Lithuanian intellectual and cul-tural life.
| 14
2VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
143 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
| 14
4
{
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
The election of Rector Professor Zigmas Lydeka (center) in 2006.VMU Senate Chair Professor Margarita Teresevičienė ir Rector Professor Zigmas Lydeka during his inauguration (2006).
145 |
{
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
Awarding the regalia of VMU‘s Honorary Doctorate to Professor Emeritus Zygmunt Bauman of Leeds and Warsaw Universities (2007).During a ceremonial meeting of the Senate Charles University Professor Mi-roslav Hoch (left) and Bergen University Professor Orm Överland (center) receive the regalia of VMU‘s Honorary Doctorate, while diaspora Professor Vytautas J. Černius (right) receives the regalia of VMU‘s Honorary Profes-sorship (2007).
| 14
6VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
147 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
| 14
8VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
149 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
| 15
0VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
151 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
Just like twenty years ago the reestablishment of a free university in a free Lithuania seemed difficult if not outright impossible, so today VMU is nothing if not ambitious in looking forward to a time when it is not only a modern, but also a leading institution of higher education that actively participates in the life of world-class universities.
To reach this goal by 2020, 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 leader-ship 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 uni-versities; and promoting novel research and modern teaching.
F U T U R E
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 15
2
153 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
T H A T I S . . .
| 15
4VY
TAU
TAS
MAG
NU
S U
NIV
ERSI
TY
155 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 15
6
FAC
ULT
Y O
F E
CO
NO
MIC
S A
ND
MA
NAG
EMEN
TD
auka
nto g
. 28
FAC
ULT
Y O
F N
ATU
RA
L SC
IEN
CES
Vilei
kos g
. 8
FAC
ULT
Y O
F H
UM
AN
ITIE
SD
onela
ičio g
. 53
EVF GMF
157 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
ASFA
CU
LTY
OF
INFO
RM
ATIC
SVi
leiko
s g. 8
FAC
ULT
Y O
F C
ATH
OLI
C T
HE
OLO
GY
Gim
nazi
jos g
. 7
HMF IF KTF
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 15
8
FAC
ULT
Y O
F S
OC
IAL
WEL
FAR
ED
onela
ičio g
. 52
FAC
ULT
Y O
F A
RT
SLa
isvės
al. 5
3
FAC
ULT
Y O
F PO
LIT
ICA
L SC
IEN
CES
AN
D D
IPLO
MAC
YG
edin
imo
g. 44
MFSGF
159 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
ASFA
CU
LTY
OF
SOC
IAL
SCIE
NC
ESD
onela
ičio g
. 52
FAC
ULT
Y O
F LA
WD
auka
nto g
. 28
PMDF SMF TF
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 16
0
U N I V E R S I T Y
JONAS ŠIMKUS1922-1923
PETRAS AVIŽONIS1925-1926
PRANAS JODELĖ1928-1929
VINCAS ČEPINSKIS1923-1924
MYKOLAS BIRŽIŠKA1926-1927
VINCAS ČEPINSKIS1929-1933
PRANCIŠKUS BŪČYS1924-1925
MYKOLAS RÖMERIS1927-1928
MYKOLAS RÖMERIS1933-1939
161 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
STASYS ŠALKAUSKIS1939-1940
ANTANAS PURĖNAS1944-1946
ALGIRDAS AVIŽIENIS1990-1993
ANTANAS PURĖNAS1940-1941
JUOZAS KUPČINSKAS1947-1950
JULIJONAS GRAVROGKAS1941-1943
VYTAUTAS KAMINSKAS1996-2006
ZIGMAS LYDEKA since 2006
BRONIUS VAŠKELIS1993-1996
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 16
2
Haroldas Benderis 1922 10 14Petras Vileišis 1923 02 24Jonas Šliūpas 1923 02 24Jonas Basanavičius 1923 02 28Jonas Šliūpas 1923 02 28Augustas Niemi 1923 09 28Pranas Mašiotas 1923 12 17Aurelijus Vossas 1924 12 07Petras Vileišis 1926 05 15Kazys Grinius 1926 12 11Samuelis Zochas 1927 05 19Vilius Storasta-Vydūnas 1927 12 16Inozas Lukašekas 1928 06 09Marija Pečkauskaitė 1928 10 05Martynas Yčas 1928 10 28Aleksandras Dambrauskas-Jakštas 1928 12 14Jonas Staugaitis 1929 02 13Povilas Matulionis 1929 06 18Aleksandras Faiduttis 1929 06 26Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas 1929 10 12Janis Endzelinsas 1932 01 19Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis 1932 01 29Aleksandras Dambrauskas-Jakštas 1932 01 29Jurgis Baltrušaitis 1932 01 29Matviejus Liubavskis 1932 01 29Dušanas Fainoras 1932 02 23Mykolas Biržiška 1932 09 23Petras Leonas 1932 09 25Antanas Smetona 1932 10 28Jokūbas Alksnis 1933 02 16Taivo J. Bansdorfas 1934 12 14Teodoras Grinbergsas 1936 02 08Oskaras-Vladislovas Milašius 1936 06 15Jonas Šliūpas 1939 12 11
H O N O R A R Y
163 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
Vytautas Landsbergis 1991 09 18Stasys Lozoraitis 1991 09 18Czeslawas Miloszas 1991 09 18Antanas Liuima 1992 02 07Marija Gimbutienė 1993 01 27Bernardas Brazdžionis 1994 03 09Zigmas Zinkevičius 1994 03 09Antanas Razma 1995 10 18Antanas Rubšys 1996 04 17Adolfas Damušis 1997 03 26Alfonsas Nyka-Nyliūnas 1997 03 26Jonas Mekas 1997 10 30Alfredas Erichas Sennas 1999 03 25Sigitas Tamkevičius 1999 03 25Vilhelmas Einaras Stellanas Hjertenas 2001 05 30Valdas Adamkus 2001 12 18Vaira Vike Freiberga 2001 12 18Vincas Valkavičius 2003 06 25Miroslavas Hrochas 2007 02 21Ormas Overlandas 2007 02 21Zygmuntas Baumanas 2007 04 18
Jonas Basanavičius 1922 03 15Jonas Jablonskis 1922 03 15Adalbertas Bezzenbergeris 1922 10 15Aleksandras Dambrauskas-Jakštas 1922 10 15Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis 1922 10 15Petras Leonas 1933 09 15Algirdas Avižienis 1994 03 09Jurgis Vilemas 1994 03 09Bronius Vaškelis 1998 05 14Vytautas Statulevičius 2000 06 29Vytautas Juozas Černius 2006 12 20
H O N O R A R Y
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 16
4
V Y T A U T A S M A G N U S U N I V E R S I T Y
K. Donelaicio St. 58Kaunas LT-44248, Lithuania
Tel.: +370 37 222 739 Fax: +370 37 203 858
E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.vdu.lt
Vytautas Magnus University, established in 1922 (reestablished in 1989) is one of the most liberal and modern universities in Lithuania, having liberal studies policy, seeking and establishing successful in-ternational relations with other universities all over the world. It is an open university where traditions and innovations meet and compli-ment each other.
In 2008, there were six faculties at the university (Humanities, Eco-nomics and Management, Informatics, Natural Sciences, Social Sci-ences, Catholic Theology) and four institutes (School of Arts, Schoolof Law, School of Social Work, School of Political Science and Di-plomacy). Seventy study programmes were implemented. Number of students exceeded 9000, and the number of teachers and researchers was over 500.
In the future, Vytautas Magnus University is seen as Artes Liberales Uni-versity with its unique system of liberal studies, openness to the world, dissemination of liberal thought and high quality of studies.
165 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
V Y T A U T O D I D Ž I O J O U N I V E R S I T E T A S
K. Donelaičio g. 58Kaunas LT-44248, Lietuva
Tel.: 8 37 222 739 Faksas: 8 37 203 858
El. paštas: [email protected] svetainė: http://www.vdu.lt
1922 m. įkurtas Lietuvos universitetas Kaune išsiskyrė liberalumu, bendruomenės aktyviu dalyvavimu universiteto gyvenime ir valdyme. 1989 m. atkurtame universitete svarbūs kolegišku bendravimu pagrįsti studentų ir dėstytojų santykiai, atvirumas pasauliui, liberalios minties sklaida, modernus požiūris į studijas.
2008 m. universitete veikė šeši fakultetai (Humanitarinių mokslų, Eko-nomikos ir vadybos, Informatikos, Gamtos mokslų, Socialinių mokslų, Katalikų teologijos) ir keturi institutai (Menų, Teisės, Socialinio darbo ir Politikos mokslų ir diplomatijos). Universitete vykdyta daugiau nei 70 bakalauro ir magistrantūros studijų programų, buvo priimama į 16 mokslo krypčių doktorantūrą. VDU akademinę bendruomenė – tai daugiau nei 9000 studentų bei 500 dėstytojų ir mokslininkų.
Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas ir ateityje sieks išlaikyti liberaliąsias stu-dijas, išlikti tikruoju artes liberales, t.y. laisvųjų menų universitetu, skelbti atvirumą pasauliui, skleisti laisvą liberalią mintį ir orientuotis į studijų kokybę.
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 16
6
920
Higher Courses were established in Kaunas
Įkurti Aukštieji kursai Kaune
*
922
Lithuanian University in Kaunas was estab-lished
Įkuriamas Lietuvos universitetas Kaune
*
930
University was rena-med Vytautas Magnus University
Universitetui suteikiamas Vytauto Didžiojo univer-siteto vardas
*
950
VMU was closed by the Soviet government
VDU uždaromas sovietų valdžios
*
989
Vytautas Magnus Uni-versity was reestablished
Atkuriamas Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas
*
990
VMU Statute was passed introducing the system of 3-level studies
Priimamas VDU statutas, įteisinęs 3 pakopų studijas universitete
*VMU became a member of European University Association (EUA)
VDU – Europos universi-tetų asociacijos narys
*
99
Doctoral studies were started
Pradedamos organizuoti doktorantūros studijos
*Tradition of awarding the Degree of Doctor Honoris Causa was reestablished
Atkuriama Garbės dakta-ro vardo teikimo tradicija
*
167 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
992
The first cohort of BAstudents graduated
Išleidžiama pirmoji bakalaurų laida
*
994
Awards tradition of Regalia of ProffessorHonoris Causa was reestablished
Atkuriama Garbės pro-fesoriaus vardo teikimo tradicija
*
995
The first cohort of MAstudents graduated
Išleidžiama pirmoji magistrų laida
*
998
Modern library and rea-ding halls were opened
Atidaryta moderni biblio-teka, skaityklos
*
999
First group of students taking part in the Socra-tes/Erasmus program-me left for their study period abroad
Pagal „Socrates/Erasmus“ mainų programą dalinėms studijoms užsienyje išvyko pirmieji studentai
*
2000
Lithuanian Emigration Institute was established
Įkurtas Lietuvių išeivijos institutas
*
2004–2006
Magna Charta of Eu-ropean Universities was signed
Pasirašyta Didžioji Euro-pos universitetų chartija
*VMU joined the Cam-pus Europae project
VDU prisijungė prie pro-jekto „Campus Europae“
*VMU became a mem-ber of Baltic Sea Region University Network (BSRUN)
VDU – Baltijos jūros regiono universitetų tinklo (BSRUN) narys
*
VYTA
UTA
S M
AGN
US
UN
IVER
SIT
Y
| 16
8
1. Aleksandravičius, E. (2002) Istoriografijos problemos. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir visuomenė. Kaunas, p. 39-54.
2. Alma Mater: mūsų universitetas ir jo studentija (1930), Kaunas.
3. Antanaitis, K. (2002) VDU atkūrimo idėjų raida ir plėtra. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir visuomenė. Kaunas, p. 382-401.
4. Baltic University 1946–1949 (1996). Kaunas.
5. Čepėnas, P. (1972) Lietuvos universitetas 1579–1803–1922, Chicago.
6. Kaminskas, V. (2002) Aštuoniasdešimties metų kelią peržvelgus. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir visuomenė. Kaunas, p. 9-38.
7. Korsakienė, H. (1982) Veidai ir likimai. Vilnius.
8. Kuodys, M. (2007) Nepriklausomos Lietuvos elito kalvė. Univer-sitas Vytauti Magni, Nr. 1 (111). Kaunas, p. 1, 10.
9. Lietuvos albumas (1921), Berlynas.
10. Lietuvos Universitetas 1922. II. 16-1927. II. 16: Pirmųjų penkerių veikimo metų apyskaita (1928), Kaunas.
11. Maksimaitienė, O. (1996) Atsiminimai. Vilnius.
12. Misevičienė, J. (1993) Omnia principium grave est (Kiekviena pradžia sunki). Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos katalikų mokslo akademijos 70-metis, p. 75-88.
13. Pakalniškis, A. (1978) Studento dienoraštis. Chicago.
14. Pivoras, S. (2002) Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto profesoriai ir stu-dentai. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir visuomenė. Kaunas: Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, p. 111-124.
15. Puzinas, J. (1976) Pabaltijo universiteto 30 metų sukaktį minint, Chicago.
L I T E R A T U R E A N D S O U R C E S
169 |
MEM
OR
Y, PEO
PLE A
ND
IDE
AS
16. Serafinas H. (1933) Vytauto Didžiojo mirties 500 metų sukaktuvėms paminėti albumas, Kaunas.
17. Smailys, A. (1988) Atkurkime Vytauto Didžiojo universitetą. Kau-no tiesa, liepos 29 d.
18. Smailys, A. (1993) Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto rektoriai. Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos katalikų mokslo akademijos 70-metis, p. 99-108.
19. Studentas: dvisavaitinis literatūros, mokslo ir kritikos akademinis laikraštis (1928). Nr. 6.
20. Šenavičienė, I., Šenavičius, A. (2002) Universiteto organizavimo pradžia: Aukštieji (vakariniai) kursai. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir visuomenė. Kaunas: Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, p. 74-84.
21. Šenavičienė, I., Šenavičius, A. (2002) Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto struktūra 1922-1950. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: mokslas ir vi-suomenė. Kaunas: Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, p. 85-98.
22. Vaitkūnienė, E. (2006) Studentai savo dėstytojus pakvietė į vakarė-lį. Laikinoji sostinė, lapkričio 9 d.
23. V.D.U. Kalendorius (1937), Kaunas.
24. Vilemas, J. (1989) Lietuvos TSR įstatymo dėl Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto atkūrimo projektas. Kauno tiesa, liepos 5 d.
25. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas: Antrųjų penkerių veikimo metų (1927.II.16–1932.IX.1) apyskaita (1933), Kaunas.
26. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas Kaune 1922-1933: trumpa 10 metų veikimo apžvalga. (1933), Kaunas.
27. Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto strateginis planas 2007–2011 metams (2007), Kaunas.
28. Vytauto Didžiojo universiteto įstatymai (1934), Kaunas.
29. Žemaitis, Z. (1922) Iš Lietuvos universiteto istorijos. Atspindžiai, liepos mėn.
“Vytautas Magnus University. Memory, People, and Ideas” surveys the university‘s road from 1922 onwards—its development out of the Higher Studies Program and its founding, growth, and closing; the continuation of its ideas in exile and its reestablishment in 1989; and its present-day reality. It is an illustrated narrative about a free university educating a free human being.
UDK 378.4(474.5)(091)
Vi322 Vytautas Magnus University. Memory, People and Ideas. Kaunas: Vytautas Magnus University, 2008. Illustr., 170 p.
ISBN 978-9955-12-370-5
Publisher: Public Communications Office at VMU.
SL 1557. 2008. 07. 07 . Number of copies: 1000.Published by Public Communications Office at VMU, K. Donelaičio St. 58, Kaunas, LT-44248.Printed by UAB „Morkūnas ir Ko“ , Draugystės St. 17, Kaunas, LT-51229.
VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITYM e m o r y , P e o p l e a n d I d e a s
