91桃色

When thinking about the future, many high school graduates weigh their options between seeking a higher education in Lithuania and abroad. Ur拧ul臈 Barkauskait臈, a third-year student at the Life Sciences Center of 91桃色 (VU LSC), is no stranger to such considerations either. It was not until she reached this crossroads herself that a strong homesickness helped her decide.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 feel like my experience is particularly outstanding,鈥� says Ur拧ul臈.

At the age of 15, she moved to a small Danish town in the Central Jutland Region, where she finished a gymnasium and earned her International Baccalaureate diploma. The student claims to have been preparing for this experience since childhood: her parents fostered an international environment, introducing the girl to British and American cultures early on, as well as to the German language.

鈥淓ven though we are all Lithuanians, my siblings and I grew up speaking English at home. I was raised in a family with an open-minded and global perspective,鈥� recalls Ur拧ul臈.

She decided to attend high school in Denmark mainly because her sister was already studying there. Ur拧ul臈 was also fascinated by the country itself, especially its emphasis on the education system. Moreover, she was drawn to the prospect of free education.

Exceptional learning programme

According to Ur拧ul臈 Barkauskait臈, it was the distinctive International Baccalaureate Programme that made a lasting impression on her. The lessons focused on individual learning, research papers, global attitudes, and, most importantly, the practical application of theoretical knowledge.

鈥淔or instance, during our literature classes, we were required to read works by authors from at least three continents and also to ensure that there was a balanced representation of both male and female writers on the reading list. We used to learn from a variety of different sources, including books, articles, podcasts, etc. We were exploring the various ways information is presented in society and how to identify it,鈥� says Ur拧ul臈.

Starting from the 11th grade, the student had the opportunity to connect first-hand to life sciences through laboratory research, where she started exploring the world of microorganisms in fermented products. The opportunity to directly engage with science and the fostered reflective culture, which encouraged her to talk about the steps she took and the objectives she achieved in one task or another, influenced Ur拧ul臈鈥檚 decision to pursue her further studies in life sciences.

鈥淭he exam definitely wasn鈥檛 the be-all and end-all: e.g. the midterms, such as mathematics research, played a significant role in determining the final grade,鈥� says the student.

Apart from the learning programme, she also immensely enjoyed interacting with her teachers from diverse backgrounds and countries, including Canada, the USA, and Namibia: 鈥淚t truly felt as if I had been accepted to an international community committed to self-discovery. That鈥檚 when you come to understand that we have all embarked on the same journey of exploration.鈥� 

From Denmark to the LSC

Although students from the EU can pursue higher education at world-renowned universities in Denmark tuition-free, many bachelor study programmes are conducted in Danish. Nonetheless, language was not the primary factor behind Ur拧ul臈鈥檚 decision to leave Denmark.

鈥淲hen I left Lithuania at a very young age, I had a strong desire to come back here and rediscover the meaning of living in my native country. Upon hearing Lithuanian at the airport, I would feel an instantly strong pull. I was trying to understand what it was,鈥� she says.

The student is set to start her third year of microbiology studies at the LSC this September. According to her, she was most attracted by the study programme, the international atmosphere, and the supportive community that fosters self-expression.

In addition, as a member of the Arqus Student Council, Ur拧ul臈 Barkauskait臈 participated in the panel session on internationalism and was later elected Vice President of this Council. She stressed the major role of the Arqus Alliance in expanding opportunities for student mobility and the quality of education, as well as in shaping the identity of the European Higher Education Area.

Ur拧ul臈 is also the International Students鈥� Affairs Coordinator of the VU Students鈥� Representation, responsible for communicating with incoming students from different countries and organising various international initiatives. She asserts that her international experience enhances her ability to communicate with students, comprehend their needs, and provide better support.

鈥淚t has been a great honour to meet so many supporters of internationalism here. For example, at the LSC, we have a Teams group where members of the teaching staff, researchers, and students from various countries, as well as other internationalists, provide help for those from abroad or just seek to learn about different cultures or discuss topics ranging from Sodra (Lithuania鈥檚 State Social Insurance Fund) to event recommendations. I find it fascinating that we all want to help each other and are looking for a platform to enable us to do so,鈥� says the VU student.

For the time being, Ur拧ul臈 is looking forward to finishing her studies at the LSC while still keeping her international study aspirations alive. Engaged in both the activities of Arqus and the VU Students鈥� Representation, she has grasped the importance of interdisciplinarity 鈥� that is why she does not view studies abroad as emigration.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 see it as leaving the country, but rather as a new experience to share with others,鈥� concludes Ur拧ul臈 Barkauskait臈.