On 20 May, the Faculty of Philology at 91��ɫ (VU) will host the interfaculty academic debate in English, “Discourse and Society”. The event will feature student teams from four faculties: Philology, Philosophy, Law, and Economics and Business Administration.

This debate marks the culmination of the joint university course Academic Debate, which is part of the English Philology programme offered by the Faculty of Philology. The primary aim of the event is to foster critical thinking, enhance interfaculty dialogue, and strengthen engagement and cooperation within the academic community. Participants will apply their skills in argumentation, public speaking, and critical analysis to explore three timely and thought-provoking topics: the impact of technology on social cohesion, the robotisation of the labour market, and the challenges of leadership in contemporary society.

Dr Linara Bartkuvienė, Chair of the English Philology Study Committee, highlights the broader value of academic debate: “Debating is not only a way to apply academic knowledge, but also a reflection of personal maturity and emotional intelligence. It cultivates logical reasoning, critical thinking, and the ability to listen, respond to criticism constructively, and defend one’s position with integrity. Debate is not solely about winning – it is about respectful dialogue, understanding different perspectives, and developing empathy, communication, and inner poise.”

Prof Mindaugas Kvietkauskas, Dean of the Faculty of Philology and ambassador of the event, adds: “Academic debates are a long-standing tradition at many prestigious universities in Europe and the UK, and the VU Faculty of Philology is proud to carry it forward. This format deepens our understanding of contemporary societal challenges and encourages fact-based, logical, and research-informed discussion. “Discourse and Society” offers both an intellectual challenge and a platform for cultivating thoughtful, articulate individuals who can engage in meaningful public discourse.”

The debating students will be adjudicated by an independent panel of experts, comprising professionals in their respective fields: Jonathan P. Herzog, a diplomat from the U.S. Embassy, Mark Pass, a diplomat from the UK Embassy, and Prof Artūras Vasiliauskas, Vice-Rector for Partnerships at 91��ɫ.

The debate will take place on 20 May at 17:00 in the V. Krėvės Auditorium, Faculty of Philology (Universiteto St. 5). The event will be moderated by Associate Professor Liudmila Arcimavičienė from the Faculty of Philology. The debate will be conducted in English. We warmly invite the entire academic community to participate – come watch the debates, support your faculty’s team, and engage in a dynamic event where critical reasoning, public speaking, and interdisciplinary dialogue come together.

The European Council has set out its vision for the future of European Higher Education in a recommendation and a parallel resolution, published on 12 May 2025, which lays the groundwork for the implementation of a joint European Degree label and sets out the next steps towards the possible introduction of a joint European Degree. The Arqus Alliance welcomes this roadmap, in accordance with the  published in October 2024, and reaffirms its dedication to advancing systemic change and fostering a sustainable, inclusive, and high-quality European Higher Education Area.

The European Council’s  sets out the member states’ vision for a joint European Degree label and plans a possible joint European Degree, with three phases to be carried out by 2029:

1. Finalising preparations for rollout (2025–2026),
2. Implementation, monitoring and feasibility studies (2026–2028), and
3. A final decision on the joint European degree (2029).

The Council’s  indicates the criteria for awarding the joint European Degree label. The label would be granted to joint programmes delivered via transnational cooperation between universities from different countries, including at least two EU member states. Guaranteed quality standards across all participating universities would be key: ensuring quality assurance processes are agile, internationalised and fit for purpose, and supporting the implementation of automatic mutual recognition of qualifications.

A joint European Degree would boost the attractiveness and competitiveness of European Higher Education on a global scale. This qualification would be awarded by multiple European universities and automatically recognised throughout the Union. Joint programmes would have to comply with a series of criteria, such as excellence in education, joint course management, student mobility, interdisciplinary and employability, and adherence to European values.

Arqus has supported the potential added value of a European Degree (label), as proved when it coordinated the  from March 2023 to April 2024. EDLab was one of the six policy experimentation projects funded by the European Commission to explore the viability of the implementation of the European Degree label. Three other alliances participated: ENLIGHT, EUTOPIA and SEA-EU.

The EDLab project brought together 13 universities and 35 associate partners. It tested the implementation of European and international joint degree programmes and the European Degree label, with special emphasis on France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. This project provided valuable insights and practical testing to support the realisation of the European Degree vision.

European University alliances are committed to implementing joint study programmes, developing excellent educational integration and promoting mobility and collaboration between Higher Education institutions in Europe.
Their achievement and insights, as well as  EDLab’s proposals, have contributed greatly to the European Commission’s blueprint towards the future awarding of European Degrees as a self-standing qualification and the full internationalisation of the Higher Education system.

Arqus published its comprehensive Position Paper on the European Degree last October, aiming to contribute to the policy debate on the European Degree and the European Degree label after the European Commission’s Higher Education Package was published on 27 March 2024. This paper draws on the conclusions of the EDLab project and the Alliance’s experience. It emphasises the transformative potential of the European Degree label as a benchmark of excellence in joint international programmes and the importance of equitable access, robust funding mechanisms, and simplified quality assurance processes to ensure the success of this ambitious framework across all educational levels.

Arqus celebrates the European Council’s resolution and recommendation, an important step towards the implementation of a joint European Degree label and a possible future European Degree. The Alliance reinforces its commitment to the European Degree, which would facilitate the cohesion between European educational systems, enhance the quality and comparability of degrees, increase innovation in academia, and offer students a more versatile and internationally competitive education.

Read the full European Council’s press release .

Scientific research is a long and meticulous process where human error can be costly and even compromise the intended results. That’s why researchers are constantly seeking ways to involve robots in their work. A recent breakthrough in this area has come from scientists at 91��ɫ’s (VU) Faculty of Physics. Together with colleagues from Catalonia, they have demonstrated that highly complex light conversion studies can successfully be carried out by automated systems. Their achievement was even featured on the cover of the prestigious “ACS Central Science”.

Inspired by the Rise of Artificial Intelligence

Organic optoelectronics is one of the fastest-growing technological fields globally, aiming to use organic materials in the development of electronic and optoelectronic devices. It is estimated that by 2027, the global market for these technologies will surpass 300 billion US dollars. While the term “organic optoelectronics” may be unfamiliar to many, people frequently use devices made possible by it, such as OLED displays, and in the near future, potentially lasers, solar cells, and transistors.

This field is also distinguished by its interdisciplinarity. Research into organic materials and light conversion—carried out in Lithuania by scientists at VU’s Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnology—requires the collaboration of experts in chemistry, physics, and information technology. The research process itself demands extreme precision and care.

As physicist Dr Paulius Baronas explains, each experiment involves numerous variables, and even a minor human error can mean starting the whole process over again. The need to eliminate such risks is what inspired the idea of automating the research process.

“I was inspired by the increasing use of artificial intelligence in scientific research, especially in areas with a large number of variables. One of the most important projects of the past decade has been the attempt to speed up the discovery of new molecules by automating chemical synthesis. Although we live in a digital age, the creation of chemical compounds for medicine or new materials is still largely done using outdated, manual methods. However, successful attempts are already being made to do this in closed automated systems where humans only give tasks to artificial intelligence,” the scientist explains.

An Opportunity to Work More Efficiently and Economically

Dr P. Baronas had the idea that the same principle could be applied to research in organic optoelectronics. He had the opportunity to put this idea into practice during his internship at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Over two years, he and his colleagues built an automated laboratory and successfully proved that this approach is not only feasible but, in many ways, superior to traditional manual methods.

“There are three main advantages: accuracy, speed, and cost-efficiency. In scientific research, results are sometimes difficult to reproduce due to human error. Speed is essential when large-scale studies need to be carried out—something that would be impossible relying solely on human resources. Automated research can also be conducted with much smaller quantities of test materials, which means saving on expensive reagents during large-scale studies,” explains the physicist.

According to him, research automation also changes the role of the scientist. In designing the process, one must critically and thoroughly evaluate each part that could cause inaccuracies, resulting in a deeper understanding of the system under investigation. At the same time, the pressure to flawlessly perform each procedure is lifted, as machines take care of those tasks, allowing researchers to focus on analysing results. The key task becomes the optimisation and testing of the software controlling the system.

Dr P. Baronas notes that while science tends to be conservative and firm predictions are difficult, the growing number of enquiries into the application of this automation system for similar research is encouraging. Automation would allow research to be carried out more cheaply, quickly, and accurately, potentially accelerating technological advancement even further.

“For automation to become the norm in scientific research, I believe we need a new generation of scientists who not only specialise in a narrow field but also have strong programming skills and the ability to apply unconventional engineering solutions. At present, many such talented individuals choose careers in business; bringing them back into science would significantly accelerate progress,” Dr P. Baronas concludes.

The research was conducted within the “Universities’ Excellence Initiative” programme by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania under the agreement with the Research Council of Lithuania (project No. S-A-UEI-23-6).

According to the researcher, addiction to a particular substance develops when the brain’s function undergoes irreversible changes, resulting in the loss of behavioural control. Addiction is diagnosed when at least three out of a dozen or so recognised symptoms are present. The main signs include an intense craving for the substance, trouble staying away from it, ignoring social responsibilities, and losing interest in other activities.

Why do people constantly seek pleasure?

Prof. Vengelienė, who has been researching addiction to psychoactive drugs for over 25 years, explains that it is natural and instinctive – not only for humans but also for many animals – to enjoy pleasurable experiences and seek to repeat them.

The only difference is that, in their natural environment, animals cannot pursue additional pleasures, as they must spend most of their lives searching for food and watching out for predators. ‘For humans, it’s the opposite: they don’t need to spend the whole day looking for food or hiding from enemies, so they can allow themselves to get intoxicated. Although specific plants in nature produce alcohol and may form part of some animals’ diets, animal bodies can break down such naturally occurring alcohol extremely quickly,’ said the VU scientist.

According to her, throughout evolution, our brains have developed so that specific subcortical structures activate automatically in response to environmental stimuli that are essential for survival (such as food) or associated with danger (such as predators). ‘We automatically react to internal signals like hunger and thirst, as well as external stimuli like cold, heat, enemies, or danger. All of these are perceived as threats to life and trigger automatic and uncontrollable responses. In other words, natural rewards and threats control us, not vice versa,’ explained the neurobiologist.

The brain builds connections (i.e. associations) between a beneficial (or harmful) stimulus and related ‘cues’, such as sights, sounds, or smells that remind us of the reward (or punishment). This is why simply walking past a restaurant can trigger a specific craving.

Certain brain areas across all living organisms have a reward system linked to the perception of pleasure. When we engage in activities that promote survival and well-being, neurons release special chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. There are many types of them, each acting differently, but some (e.g. endogenous opioids) directly affect the brain’s reward system. When their concentration increases in these reward areas, we feel pleasure. This is like the brain’s way of signalling: ‘Yes, this action is beneficial, do it more often!’ That is why we enjoy eating our favourite food or hugging a loved one – these are examples of natural rewards.

‘This brain reward system is designed to reinforce behaviours necessary for our survival, like eating. The neural reward pathways are activated when we see food-related ‘cues’. One of the neurotransmitters involved in this process is dopamine. The release of dopamine stimulates the learning process (meaning that stronger associations are formed), ensuring that eating-related actions will be repeated in the future,’ noted the addiction researcher.

The effect of psychoactive substances is several times stronger

The Professor explains that a similar principle applies to psychoactive substances – they are environmental stimuli that control us. And there are both positive and negative stimuli. ‘Negative stimuli make us protect ourselves (for example, run or avoid danger or pain), while positive stimuli encourage us to meet our basic survival needs (consume, eat, reproduce, communicate). Psychoactive substances act specifically on the brain areas that respond to positive environmental stimuli and push us to consume.’

Psychoactive drugs imitate the natural activation of the brain’s reward system, which is associated with the feeling of pleasure, and stimulate the learning process that ensures that the actions linked to their use are repeated. The only difference is that the effect of psychoactive substances is incomparably stronger than the reward we get from satisfying our survival needs.

‘This is why it’s so hard for us to stick to diets – natural rewards control us rather than the other way round. For the same reason, it is challenging for a person with a genetic predisposition to addiction to give up psychoactive drugs, as the same brain areas are activated several times more strongly than they would be by natural rewards. All this explains why willpower mechanisms often don’t work when it comes to avoiding sweets, alcohol, or other substances,’ explicated the researcher.

A glass of alcohol or a dose of some drug becomes the only source of ‘real’ pleasure, while the parts of the brain that would normally warn us of danger seem to switch off. We lose our natural self-preservation instincts; health risks, financial situation, or even family no longer seem relevant to us. Interestingly, some substances, like nicotine, do not even produce a strong sense of pleasure, and once a person becomes addicted, that pleasurable feeling becomes significantly weaker. Still, the ability of psychoactive substances to control our behaviour remains just as strong.

What determines whether a person will become addicted?

Whether someone becomes addicted after using a particular psychoactive substance depends roughly 50% on genetic predisposition and 50% on environmental factors. If someone tries a ‘strong’ substance, it quickly becomes clear whether they have a genetic predisposition or not. However, according to the researcher, it is possible to figure this out even without experimenting with substances. She suggests thinking about how many aunts and uncles in your family tend to use psychoactive substances. If there are any, and especially if at least one of your parents also uses them, it can be assumed that there is a significant likelihood of a genetic predisposition.

Moreover, Prof. Vengelienė explains that certain environmental factors can also increase the likelihood of developing an addiction; these include growing up in an environment where psychoactive drugs are used, experiencing psychological trauma, or using such substances at an early age.

‘For instance, psychological trauma experienced in childhood can significantly alter the neural networks that shape behaviour and reactions to environmental stimuli. Or if someone grows up in an environment where most of the closest people used psychoactive substances, they may come to see such behaviour as completely normal and start using drugs early. In such a case, their brain networks develop very differently compared to someone who has never seen or used drugs. Neural networks can even be affected before birth – in the womb; high levels of stress experienced by the mother or the use of brain-altering medications during pregnancy may also cause changes in the child’s brain activity.’

Still, the neurobiologist points out that no substance causes 100% of users to become addicted. Some psychoactive substances have a stronger and more immediate effect, while others act less intensely, resulting in a weaker effect. Therefore, addiction to one substance can develop faster and affect a larger percentage of people, while addiction to another may develop more slowly and affect fewer individuals. Usually, about 10–15% of people who try psychoactive substances end up becoming addicted, which is one or two out of every ten drug users.

‘For example, if there are 24 students in the classroom and all of them try vaping electronic cigarettes containing psychoactive substances, at least two of them might already be on a dangerous path that could seriously impact their future. Young people who decide to try these substances just for fun need to understand that they may be making a decision that affects the rest of their lives because overcoming addiction is incredibly difficult,’ stated the VU Professor.

The greatest danger comes from mixing substances

When asked which substances should be particularly avoided, the researcher lists some that can cause addiction very quickly: ‘Cocaine, all opioids, nicotine, and all substances belonging to the group of psychostimulants have strong effects and can trigger addiction in a very short time. Alcohol, marijuana, cannabis, and hallucinogens (such as magic mushrooms) have weaker effects – with these, a larger quantity and longer period of use are usually needed for addiction to develop.’

However, according to the scientist, the most dangerous practice is mixing substances. She emphasises that electronic cigarettes are a major issue because, at times, no one knows precisely what is actually in them. Thus, young people who smoke electronic cigarettes of unknown composition are seriously risking their health and even lives.

‘Mixing multiple psychoactive substances – and not just in electronic cigarettes – is extremely dangerous because they affect different neurons, but the same liver enzymes are needed to break them down. When those enzymes are busy processing one harmful substance, they cannot simultaneously neutralise another toxic one. As a result, the body can’t cope with such a load and becomes overwhelmed, leading to poisoning or overdose,’ said Prof. Vengelienė.

Three symptoms that indicate addiction

A key sign that someone is addicted to psychoactive substances is, first of all, a loss of control over use. This means that a person has such a strong urge to use the substance that they cannot resist and end up consuming too much, for instance, starting to drink and being unable to stop. Another thing commonly seen in addicted individuals is the inability to postpone consumption for a later time. For example, a student may have an important exam the next day and should refrain from consuming alcohol today, but is unable to delay it until after the exam.

The third sign of addiction is neglecting social obligations or losing interest in alternative activities. The individual becomes indifferent to their social environment: family, work, or the harm they cause to others.

‘When a person abandons all social commitments and alternative interests because the substance is stronger than natural rewards, it means they have succumbed to its control – the stronger reward has overpowered the weaker natural one,’ explained the expert.

Long-term use of psychoactive substances causes structural changes in the brain (e.g. neuronal death), especially in the areas responsible for decision-making, learning, memory, and behavioural control. Because of these changes, it becomes increasingly difficult for people to control their addiction despite the negative consequences.

Support from the social environment is the best treatment

According to the scientist, overcoming addictions has little to do with willpower or inner strength but rather depends on a person’s willingness to seek treatment and the application of a combined treatment approach.

The main challenge in treating addiction is helping the individual regain control over their behaviour, as this ability is severely impaired in people with a substance use disorder.

‘For example, for someone struggling with addiction, it is several times harder to resist alcohol than it is for a healthy person to stick to a diet. Saying to such a person, ‘just stop drinking’, is like telling someone living in a war zone, where they could be shot at any moment, ‘don’t be afraid’. It’s impossible, as they will still be afraid because fear is a natural response to a real threat. The same principle applies to addiction to psychoactive substances,’ stated Prof. Vengelienė.

For this reason, she considers people who have a genetic predisposition to addiction but manage to stop using alcohol or other intoxicants true heroes. These are individuals who require tremendous support from those around them. The expert claims that the most effective help for someone struggling with addiction is social support (from family, colleagues, and friends).

‘Social interaction is a natural reward for us humans because we are a species that lives in social groups. Therefore, this is perhaps the only natural reward that has a real chance of outweighing the reward provided by psychoactive substances. However, to recover, a person must radically change their daily routine. They cannot stay in the same place, continue the same activities, and simply stop using psychoactive substances. Because this life routine of ‘acquiring the substance, using it, and chasing the next dose again’ fundamentally alters the brain’s structure: some neurons die, neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to change – greatly diminishes, and the search for the substance becomes a deeply ingrained daily habit tied to structural changes in neural networks. Trying to change this altered brain network and daily behaviour while continuing to live under the same conditions would be incredibly difficult, if not impossible,’ noted the VU scientist.

Thus, she recommends fundamentally changing one’s lifestyle by pursuing new interests – taking up new activities, seeking intense experiences, or embracing new challenges (e.g. climbing a tough mountain peak, building a house, or volunteering abroad).

Unfortunately, a ‘magic pill’ for addiction is unlikely to be developed anytime soon. However, Prof. Vengelienė is contributing to the search for more effective mechanisms for treating addiction. According to her, treatment should combine three components: self-help, psychotherapy, and medication.

‘I would like to contribute to a successful combination of treatments – either by developing a new medication or a new strategy, and to propose trying innovative addiction therapy methods. Every individual is unique – what works for one person might not work for another. That’s why we must seek innovative, more diverse, and more effective treatment methods and medications,’ concluded Prof. Vengelienė.

The programme consists of three interactive modules designed to enhance participants’ leadership skills and career development in research. The first module focuses on the Principles of Research Leadership, providing foundational insights into effective leadership within the academic and scientific context. The second module, Managing People and Leading Research Teams, explores strategies for building and guiding successful research teams. The third module, Careers in Research: Paths and Opportunities, delves into various career trajectories and development opportunities available to researchers.

Participants will also have the opportunity to hear from invited speakers, including Dr Sandra Schmid, Chief Scientific Officer at Chan Zuckerberg Biohub in San Francisco (USA), and Dr Yasmin Dolak-Struss from Solution Base in Austria.

The training is intended for postdoctoral researchers, junior faculty members, and final-year PhD students. Participation is limited to 18 attendees, ensuring an engaging and personalised learning experience. The training is free of charge, though travel and accommodation expenses should be covered by each participant’s institution through mobility funding.

For participation, please contact by 22 May. For more information, click .

News of political upheavals from the United States reaches us almost daily. It was inevitable that, sooner or later, government initiatives would extend to universities, writes Professor Rimvydas Petrauskas, Rector of 91��ɫ.

At first, these took the form of more general warnings from the US administration and recommendations to revise policies on specific issues of interest to the government. The management at Columbia University has already complied with several government requirements.

However, a few weeks ago, drastic and direct action was taken. The US president decided to freeze approximately $2 billion in federal funding to Harvard University (a broader review of a $9 billion grant is reportedly pending), citing insufficient efforts to combat antisemitism on the university campuses.

The administration has also threatened to revoke the university’s special tax-exempt status, which it rightfully shares with many other educational and charitable institutions. Prior to this, the university had received a list of requirements, including the obligation to shut down certain operational programmes and areas, as well as to scrutinise students from abroad.

President Donald Trump's most recent decree initiated an investigation into foreign grants awarded to US universities. It is an action bearing a strong resemblance to the Russian government's notorious campaign against ‘foreign agents’.

In response, Harvard President Alan Garber issued a formal letter stating that the university would not compromise its academic independence and rights. He affirmed that “no government – regardless of which party is in power – should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”

Trump’s actions have been condemned by more than 100 US universities, which in an open letter expressed outrage at “unprecedented government overreach and political interference”, and Harvard has taken the US presidential administration to court.

There is more worrying news. In apparent alignment with the shift in President Trump’s policy toward Russia, the University of Minnesota has withdrawn its February 2022 statement condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

It is reasonable to assume that similar instances may become more frequent, and the academic community is observing developments in the United States with growing apprehension. There is no doubt that a significant number of university community members now face the real threat of losing the ability to carry out planned research, or even their jobs or places of study. Some may simply refuse to continue working in such politically coercive conditions.

It did not take long for reactions to emerge. Just a few days ago, Ghent University in Belgium voiced concern over the state of academic freedom at US universities. It also issued a warning to its staff about potential travel restrictions to the United States and the risks associated with data sharing in specific fields subject to heightened scrutiny by the US administration.

The relationship between universities and public authorities has always been multifaceted. On the one hand, universities were established as communities of scholars and students, with the freedom to study and conduct research as a defining principle. On the other hand, universities came into being through the privileges and endowments granted by rulers – many of whom became eponyms of these institutions – and served to supply educated personnel for the expanding administrations of the said rulers.

Inevitably, this close relationship gave rise to tensions and complications, with some conflicts resulting in the mass departure of faculty and students. For instance, disaffected Oxford scholars relocated to Cambridge, while German academics dissatisfied with their status at the University of Prague emigrated to the newly established Leipzig University.

Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, all authoritarian regimes have viewed universities as adversaries and have taken measures to suppress them.

The policies of Nazi Germany towards universities are well known; they were marked by strict control and the discrimination and persecution of academic personnel – regrettably, they were facilitated by many members of the academic world at the time.

Russian universities were among the first institutions where both the Soviet and Putin regimes imposed their rule and academic oppression, which led to the intellectual and moral decline of these institutions.

In his ongoing battle against liberal democracy, Hungarian President Viktor Orbán forced a successful international institution, Central European University (CEU), to relocate a significant portion of its operations to Vienna. Universities in other countries are also facing unlawful interference in their academic activities by public authorities.

It is easy to understand why universities have become targets for authoritarian governments. By their very nature, universities are centres of free teaching and learning, and more specifically and above all, of free thinking and critical knowledge.

Over many centuries, initially in Europe and later around the world, universities have earned their status as centres of free thought – a status that has become an integral part of their community’s identity. This identity is passed down from generation to generation and instilled in all who join universities.

Historically, universities have been at the forefront of movements resisting oppression, whether the Vilnius Uprising of 1830–1831 or the Prague Spring of 1968. For their role in these movements, universities have faced punishment. Both closures of 91��ɫ – first by the Tsarist government in 1832, and later by the Nazi regime in 1943 – were direct responses to the resistance from faculty and students.

Universities also assume responsibility for morally flawed decisions made under external political pressure. One such example is the Memory Diploma initiative at 91��ɫ, which serves as a symbolic act of remembrance and redress, honouring members of the academic community who were prevented from continuing their work or studies.

Universities affirm the fundamental principles of free thought and speech in their statutes and mission statements – principles they do not treat as mere rhetoric. At 91��ɫ, the first of our four core values is openness: to diverse ideas and perspectives, to people, and to identities.

Naturally, universities not only have the right but also the responsibility to combat the spread of false information and disinformation, and to uncover deliberate distortions of truth. However, they fulfil this role through their own expertise and by fostering open debate.

In doing so, universities stand at the vanguard of democracy, assuming responsibility for its preservation and fostering it at a time when democratic institutions are under threat in various parts of the world.

Today, more than ever, it is essential that academic expertise and science diplomacy are successful in reaching out to both policymakers and broader society. Universities will sustain their credibility and emerge stronger if they continue to be spaces of freedom, research-based knowledge, and critical thought. They are able to adapt to the changing conditions, as they have done repeatedly throughout history.

Last year, while attending a conference at Yale University and observing the ecosystem of research and study that has developed there over several centuries – including many features that could serve as a model for us, such as the tradition of the endowment, an inviolable university fund which we are still in the process of developing – I could not have imagined that exactly one year later I would be writing about the threat to this academic oasis.

Three professors from this university, including Timothy Snyder, a historian well known in Lithuania, have already left Yale and taken positions in Canada.

Since their establishment at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, US universities have stood as bastions of freedom and democracy. In the 20th century, they played a vital role – and grew intellectually stronger in the process – by providing refuge to large numbers of academics fleeing authoritarian regimes.

Physicist Albert Einstein, philosopher Hannah Arendt, and historian Ernst Kantorowicz are just a few notable examples of this broad academic solidarity. One can only hope that the 21st century will not witness a reversal of this movement and that US universities will continue to defend their status of academic freedom. 91��ɫ has many friends and academic partners in the United States, and we deeply value these ties and are committed to preserving them.

It is now our responsibility to support our colleagues, as members of the universitas magistrorum et scholarium, through both symbolic gestures and concrete actions.

Academic freedom and the autonomy of universities are values that no political power has the right to restrict. Together, we must firmly state that we will not cooperate with institutions or individuals who support or enable the erosion of academic freedom or violate human rights.

We are prepared to offer dignified working and study conditions to at least some of those who, due to political or financial pressures, are prevented from pursuing their academic careers. United by a shared commitment to freedom of thought and conscience, universities and their communities represent a powerful force – one that will resist and will not yield.

The Sustainability Ambassadors Network – a programme by the 91��ɫ (VU) Students’ Representation – together with the Arqus Green Mobility Days initiative, is organising Breathe In, Green Out, a sustainability festival taking place on 14 May. Now in its third year, the event has become a well-established tradition that brings together a community passionate about sustainability and responsible living.

The festival will feature a wide range of activities – from engaging lectures and thought-provoking discussions to hands-on workshops and an orienteering challenge. These sessions will not only provide valuable insights but also inspire environmentally conscious choices in everyday life. This year’s programme focuses on key areas such as business, transport, food, and waste reduction – all essential to fostering a more sustainable future.

Visitors will also be able to take part in a Living Library, where inspiring individuals will share their personal experiences with sustainability. Vegetarian food will be available throughout the event, and the evening will end with a live concert.

The festival will take place on 14 May at 16:00 at Saulėtekio av. 9 (VU Joint Building). Entry is free and open to everyone.

Find out more .

The award-nominated innovation was developed at VU LSC’s Institute of Biotechnology, in collaboration with Professor Rolandas Meškys and Dr. Donatas Repečka. The team created Intelligent Architecture™, an AI-based platform that enables the design of entirely new enzymes from the bottom up — eliminating the need to modify enzymes that already exist in nature.
“We’ve created an enzyme design technology limited only by our imagination. It opens new possibilities for solving 21st-century challenges in health and sustainability,” say the VU researchers.

Traditional enzyme engineering methods typically involve small changes to existing protein molecules, which limits their adaptability to modern industrial needs. The newly developed platform takes a bottom-up approach — building unique enzymes that are tailored to the specific demands of various industrial sectors.

By combining machine learning, physics-based modelling, and experimental lab testing, the system continuously improves the properties and functions of the enzymes it creates. The result: efficient, easily produced enzymes adapted to specific applications — supporting more effective biologics production, drug development, and sustainable chemical synthesis.

The team began with the development of the ProteinGAN algorithm, which demonstrated that it was possible to generate functional enzymes that do not exist in nature. This breakthrough led to the founding of Biomatter in 2018. In 2024, the company raised €6.5 million in investment to accelerate platform development. Today, the researchers’ enzymes are used across diverse fields — from infant nutrition to gene therapy, vaccine development, and protein engineering. Partners include international companies such as Kirin and ArcticZymes Technologies.

The Young Inventors Prize, awarded by the European Patent Office, honours innovators under the age of 30 whose work contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — in areas such as health, education, sustainable industry, and environmental protection. This recognition not only strengthens Lithuania’s reputation as a biotechnology country, but also highlights the potential of a new generation of scientists to create globally significant innovations.

The competition winners will be announced on 18 June 2025 during a live-streamed awards ceremony in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Eligible applicants must hold a doctoral degree at the time of the call deadline, and have no more than eight years of full-time equivalent research experience since the award of their PhD. Candidates must also meet the MSCA mobility rule – in the three years prior to the call deadline, they must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Lithuania for more than twelve months.

The programme offers two fellowship options: European Postdoctoral Fellowships for research carried out in European countries, and Global Postdoctoral Fellowships for research conducted outside EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries with a mandatory return phase in Europe. Depending on the type of the fellowship, their duration ranges from one to three years.

VU offers a supportive and ambitious research environment, academic mentoring, and active involvement in the proposal preparation process. As a member of international research networks, the university provides broad opportunities for collaboration. VU researcher‘s hosting offers are published on the .

Candidates who are approved by 16 May 2025 will have the opportunity to be selected for practical training on the preparation of MSCA PF applications.

MSCA PF provides an attractive allowance to cover living, family, research, training, and travel costs. It also secures funding to cover the indirect costs incurred by the host organisation.
ERA Fellowships offer an excellent second chance at securing funding. If you are applying for a European Postdoctoral Fellowship with a host institution in a widening country such as Lithuania, and your proposal is not funded under the MSCA PF call due to budget limitations, it will automatically be considered for the ERA Fellowships call. This gives your project an additional opportunity to receive support.

More information about the application process and programme conditions is available on the VU website.

Scientists from the Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astronomy at 91��ɫ (VU) Faculty of Physics, in collaboration with colleagues from the Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences, are conducting an international study to explore the evolution of life-essential chemical elements in the cosmos. The astrophysics team is studying the abundance of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in stars within the Milky Way galaxy. The researchers hope to uncover the stellar and Galactic evolutionary processes that influence the distribution of these elements.

According to the researchers, aside from hydrogen and helium – which formed and spread through the cosmos shortly after the Big Bang – carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen are the three most abundant elements in the Universe. These elements are essential for life.

“These well-known chemical elements, produced in stars, are dispersed throughout the Universe as those stars reach the end of their life cycles. This is how carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen appeared in our environment and became fundamental components of all life on Earth. They form the basis of key molecules such as carbon dioxide, methane and water. Our research into the origin and evolution of these elements may offer valuable insights into the distribution of life-supporting elements beyond Earth,” VU physicist Assoc. Prof. Šarūnas Mikolaitis says.

The researchers explained that their team would record stellar light spectra using the “VUES” spectrograph. “VU’s high-resolution spectrograph is a powerful instrument that disperses starlight, separates it by wavelength, and records the full visible spectrum emitted by a star in great detail. A spectrograph is a device used to analyse light from stars and other celestial objects to determine their composition, as every chemical element leaves a distinct signature in the emitted light. This allows us to uncover what stars and other celestial objects are made of,” explains Assoc. Prof. Arnas Drazdauskas.

This instrument enables researchers to precisely determine the abundances of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, as well as the ratios of different carbon isotopes – capabilities not possible using data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia space telescope alone.

The project will also utilise archival spectroscopic data from the VU Molėtai Astronomical Observatory, obtained by observing stars near the Sun. By combining these observations with innovative methods, the team aims to determine not only the abundance of the studied elements but also the ages of stars with at least 10% accuracy.

“This is a remarkable achievement in Galactic archaeology. One of the interesting aspects of this project is that together with large surveys, it will include spectroscopic observations of solar neighbouring stars conducted at the VU Molėtai Astronomical Observatory,” says VU astrophysicist Dr Carlos Viscasillas Vázquez.

The research team will study stars using data from large-scale astronomical surveys such as the European Space Agency’s Gaia space telescope, the APOGEE (Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment) spectroscopic survey, the GALAH (Galactic Archaeology with HERMES) survey, and the Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey.

The Polish research team will investigate how nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen have enriched different regions of the Galaxy over time, tracing their origins across the Milky Way. The Lithuanian team will focus on stellar evolution, including how processes like magnetic activity and mixing within stars affect CNO abundance.

The project “The History of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen in the Galaxy” is led in Lithuania by Associate Professor Š. Mikolaitis and in Poland by Dr Rodolfo Smiljanic.

This international research effort will be the first to map the detailed distribution of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen across a large portion of the Galaxy, taking into account both the chemical and dynamic properties of stars. This is a significant scientific contribution, expected to offer new and more accurate insights for astrophysicists and exoplanet researchers.

The project is funded through the DAINA 3 program, which supports Polish–Lithuanian scientific collaboration. (Project number: S-LL-24-4).

The celebration will open with a welcome by the Arqus coordinator Dorothy Kelly, the Arqus Café facilitator Meike Münster and the language centre directors from the Arqus Universities. Then, breakout rooms for the Arqus languages will be opened, including English, French, German, Irish, Italian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Ukrainian. An experienced tutor will lead the conversation in each room. 

More information can be found .

This event is part of , a week of activities and events organised by several European university alliances.

In today’s ever-evolving landscape of project finance, the PFMO community is dedicated to deepening practical knowledge, exchanging best practices, uncovering the unwritten rules of grant agreements, and strengthening the understanding of cost eligibility criteria. The community’s discussions and analyses aim to navigate the complexities of project finance with greater clarity. Through close collaboration, they develop practical guidelines and strategies that enhance daily operations and promote efficiency across institutions.

The Value of Professional Collaboration

Being part of the PFMO community offers invaluable benefits. Members gain access to a wealth of shared knowledge, build strong professional networks, and actively contribute to shaping best practices in the field. Whether for personal or professional growth, this community fosters collaboration, innovation, and support to tackle emerging challenges effectively.

Through a series of online and in-person meetings, the PFMO community successfully developed several key guidelines, including:

• Internal project kick-off meeting guidelines;
• Comprehensive AI-supported financial management strategies for EU-funded projects;
• Guidelines for personnel costs and reporting;
• Step-by-step guides for accessing research infrastructure activities, including cost calculation examples;
• Internal invoicing guidelines based on Horizon Europe regulations.

The community integrates all these valuable resources into its daily work, storing them in a dedicated Microsoft Teams group and Google Drive, ensuring seamless access for all members.

Securing Support and Driving Progress

The progress of the initiative has been supported by various funding sources, including the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility for Training programme, the Arqus Innovation Fund, and contributions from the participating institutions. Face-to-face meetings at VU and the University of Wrocław have fostered productive discussions and delivered tangible results. Through active participation in PFMO, members strengthen key competencies such as teamwork, leadership, results orientation, planning and control, and organisational skills.

In the future, the project aims to tackle essential financial management topics, including:

• Direct and indirect costs in projects;
• Strategies for financial audit preparation;
• Job profiling and role definition within project finance management.

Additionally, the team aims to expand the training offerings by incorporating sessions on PM² Project Management Methodology and PRINCE2 – Projects in Controlled Environments, contingent on securing additional funding.

Arqus Innovation Fund: Investing in the Future

The PFMO team hopes to implement most of the initiatives and ideas of this Community of Practice via the Arqus Innovation Fund. The fund allows a huge opportunity to improve skills in project finance management. Two initiatives were submitted to the Arqus Innovation Fund at the Community of Practice of PFMO.

Arqus Innovation fund – Call 2024 – PFMO: Projects Finance Management Offices Initiative

This initiative has already won the funds and is now used successfully for the aims of Arqus and The Communities of Practice. The PFMO Community of Practice unites finance managers, financial services, and EU post-award offices to enhance financial management, strengthen institutional capacity, and improve project efficiency. It fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing, and essential skills like leadership, planning, and teamwork, ensuring better financial oversight in university projects. For Arqus, PFMO Community of Practice drives standardised best practices, enhances inter-university collaboration, and builds a skilled workforce, ultimately benefiting research, education, and student services. Its long-term impact is secured through policy integration, continuous knowledge sharing, and potential expansion beyond financial management to broader university functions.

Arqus Innovation Fund – Call 2025: Cross-Disciplinary Seminars & Challenge-Based Learning Workshops

This initiative has been submitted, and the team is waiting for results because this initiative strengthens EU projects’ financial and technical management competencies, enhancing efficiency and strategic planning. It fosters soft skills, problem-solving, and collaboration across institutions. With at least 50 trained professionals and certification validation, it ensures credibility and long-term adoption. Sustainability is reinforced through an open-access approach and the Financial Project Managers Network, ensuring continuous knowledge sharing and institutional benefit.

These initiatives contribute to more efficient project financial management, benefiting university staff, students, and the broader Arqus Alliance.

Impact of Team Meetings

The team meetings with all existing members are pivotal in shaping the work and success of the Community of Practice framework. These gatherings are a cornerstone for fostering collaboration, introducing new initiatives, addressing pressing concerns, and providing practical solutions to support Community of Practice throughout its evolution. These events brought together technical experts and researchers from Arqus universities, creating a dynamic space for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and the development of joint initiatives across the Alliance community. By facilitating meaningful exchanges, these meetings strengthen internal collaboration and inspire innovative approaches to working within and beyond the Community of Practice ecosystem.

A Team Member’s Role in the Community of Practice

The team members of this Community of Practice invite you to be an active part of this dynamic community, where collaboration transforms project finance management into a more efficient, streamlined, and impactful process. For this reason, there are scheduled face-to-face meetings at the University of Granada, Leipzig University, and the University of Graz to continue collaborative efforts. Additionally, the team will host three online meetings to ensure continuous engagement and progress. Through active participation in PFMO, members will strengthen essential competencies such as teamwork, leadership, results orientation, planning and control, and organisational skills.

Each PFMO Community of Practice member plays a vital role in driving this mission forward. The team members continuously seek fresh ideas, engaged participants, and additional funding opportunities to enhance activities. Here’s what members have to say about their experience in PFMO:

Aleita Markevič, VU

“I am truly delighted that the Arqus project provides a great opportunity to establish a Community of Practice – bringing together people who share a common interest in managing project finances and risks. Moreover, the ARQUS Innovation Fund Bottom-Up creates a strong foundation for implementing ideas and training initiatives. Through this initiative, we deepen our knowledge, exchange best practices, find solutions, and feel the support of like-minded professionals. I sincerely hope this wonderful PFMO Community of Practice will continue to grow, attracting more community members eager to engage in discussions and continuously update their expertise.”

Žana Markauskienė, VU

“I truly believe that Community of Practice PFMO is a significant achievement for both us and our universities and a remarkable success. The ever-changing project funding requirements and legislation demand quick understanding, the ability to adapt correctly, and more efficient decision-making, often calling for creativity as well. By collaborating with colleagues from other universities, I am able to share good practices and gain invaluable insights by drawing from the experience and expertise of different countries. This collaboration is incredibly motivating, boosts my confidence, and undoubtedly enriches my professional knowledge. I sincerely hope that our Community of Practice will continue to grow with new members and thrive.”

Milena Tamošiūnienė, VU

“I am delighted to be part of a larger community of project finance professionals, where we work together to find answers to the challenges we face in our daily activities and share our experiences. I am especially motivated by the participants’ engagement, the friendly atmosphere, and our shared achievements. I also highly value the discovery that we encounter similar challenges regardless of which university we work at. We have joined forces to overcome them together.”

Agnija Duobienė, VU

“I am very happy to have had the opportunity to join and participate in the Community of Practice, made possible by the Arqus European University Alliance. From the very beginning, engaging in the Community of Practice seemed exciting and full of promising new activities. Although, at first, it felt a bit daunting, with uncertainty about where this journey would lead and how it would evolve, I can now confidently say that it has been one of the best and most rewarding experiences in my professional life over the past five years.

I am truly delighted to have found colleagues from different countries with whom I can share experiences, everyday challenges, and solutions. This not only enhances professional competencies and broadens perspectives but, most importantly, makes you feel that you are not alone in your professional journey – you become part of a large and supportive family.”

Linara Kudasheva, University of Granada

“I feel lucky to be a part of the Community of Practice for Projects Finance Management Offices. It´s great to have this space to exchange ideas, experiences, and challenges with like-minded people! I hope more professionals can join our Community of Practice, opening up new opportunities for joint collaborations.”

Virginia Salazar López, University of Granada

“I am truly happy to be part of the Projects Finance Management Offices Community of Practice within the Arqus Alliance. It’s incredibly reassuring to be connected with colleagues from other universities, especially in a world of rapidly changing procedures and legislation. It helps me feel part of a supportive community where we can share good practices, ask our doubts and support in our daily struggles. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in this Community of Practice.”

Anja Rodon, Leipzig University

“I am very happy and grateful that my colleagues in Vilnius have initiated this Community of Practice. I am proud to be able to participate in such an exchange at my professional level as part of the Arqus programme. It is a great opportunity to exchange ideas with finance and project managers from other European universities, discover common problems, and learn from their solutions.”

Iwona Filarska, University of Wrocław

“Participation in this Arqus Community of Practice initiative is primarily an opportunity to exchange experiences and solutions in the area of projects being implemented in each partner institution; it is also an opportunity to take part in professional training on the financial aspects of projects; a true added value in the daily work. I am pleased to cooperate with such dedicated individuals.”

Anne Deketele and Evamaria Bradacs, University of Graz

“To be part of the Community of Practice in the Arqus project is a great chance to meet financial managers of other universities, not only online but also twice a year at one of our partner universities. We support each other and share ideas for improving services and processes.

In a very supportive, friendly, and nice atmosphere, we can share our knowledge, learn from each other, and work on common solutions for our problems. This network helps to improve our knowledge and develop skills or tools to ease our daily work. In addition to that, we enjoy the intercultural exchange with our colleagues.”

This newly identified molecule is remarkable for its unique structure, linking two biologically essential components: histidine, an amino acid used to build proteins, and an adenine nucleotide, a building block of RNA. Until now, all known signalling molecules were composed solely of nucleotides. This discovery significantly broadens the scientific understanding of the diversity of immune signalling mechanisms in nature.

Like humans, animals, and plants, bacteria are constantly threatened by viruses. Over the course of evolution, they have developed a wide range of defence systems – some of which served as the evolutionary precursors to immune system components in higher organisms. Interest in bacterial antiviral systems surged after their applications were realised in genetic engineering. Landmark examples such as restriction–modification systems and CRISPR-Cas "molecular scissors" have even been recognised with Nobel Prizes.

Scientists have identified over 250 distinct antiviral defence systems in bacteria. showing that small molecules can serve as infection signals within these systems, attention turned to exploring the diversity of such signalling mechanisms.

Discoveries like this not only deepen understanding of bacterial immune strategies but also lay the groundwork for innovations in genetic engineering, biotechnology, and even the development of new antibacterial therapies.

In this latest study, Dr Tamulaitienė’s group closely examined the Thoeris II system, composed of a sensor protein (TIR), which detects viruses, and a transmembrane effector protein (Macro), which receives the signal and triggers a response. Upon detecting viral infection, the TIR sensor synthesises a unique small molecule signal – His-ADPR.

“This ‘message’ – the signalling molecule – is recognised by the system’s effector, the Macro protein, which is embedded in the bacterial cell membrane,” explains Dr Tamulaitienė. “Once it receives the signal, the Macro proteins start to assemble with each other, damaging the cell membrane. In this way the infected bacterium sacrifices itself before the virus can replicate, allowing neighbouring bacteria to survive and preserve the population.”

Using X-ray crystallography, the VU LSC team determined the structure of the effector protein bound to the new signalling molecule. Meanwhile, the team at the Weizmann Institute confirmed that this molecule is indeed synthesised in bacteria upon viral infection. Researchers at Harvard Medical School revealed the structure of a viral anti-Thoeris ‘sponge’ protein – a countermeasure the virus uses to evade the defence system – with His-ADPR bound inside.

The research published in Nature was carried out by Dr Giedrė Tamulaitienė’s team in collaboration with leading global experts in bacterial antiviral systems – Professor Rotem Sorek (Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel) and Professor Philip Kranzusch (Harvard Medical School, USA). The main body of research at VU LSC was conducted by PhD student Džiugas Sabonis, with valuable contributions from PhD student Deividas Vilutis, Audronė Rukšėnaitė, Dr Arūnas Šilanskas, and Dr Mindaugas Zaremba.

The Weizmann Institute team consisted of Carmel Avraham, Ehud Herbst, Azita Leavitt, Erez Yirmiya, Ilya Osterman, and Gil Amitai. The research at Harvard Medical School was carried out by Renee Chang, Allen Lu and Hunter Toyoda.

Nature is among the most highly cited and prestigious scientific journals in the world. It publishes the best peer-reviewed research across all areas of science and technology, selected for its originality, significance, interdisciplinarity, relevance, accessibility, and often surprising conclusions.

The goal of this call is to support innovative and collaborative initiatives that will promote cultural exchange and the integration of international students across the Arqus member universities. Through this funding, Arqus wishes to support projects that will shape the Alliance educational environment, to enhance student engagement, consolidate the community and support students’ personal and professional development.

Students are at the heart of the Alliance’s activities – their participation and engagement is promoted in multiple ways. These include the Arqus Student Council, the sponsor of this call, whose aim is to encourage student participation in the decision-making process of the Alliance itself, as well as the Arqus Student Agora, a forum for student participation and networking.

Purpose of the call

Students are encouraged to submit short projects, to be implemented throughout the year of 2025 until the end of April 2026, likely to connect the universities within the Arqus Alliance. Individual students or student groups at a single Arqus university have to partner with students at other Arqus Universities. Students may also partner with local associations and civil society organisations to design shared project proposals.

This call aims to connect Arqus Universities’ students in the co-design of projects that strengthen the Alliance through transformational ideas, such as:

• European Identity and Heritage
• Climate Change and Sustainable Development
• Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation
• Plurilingual and intercultural learningInclusion & Diversity
• ���ٳ���…

Looking for a partner

If you have an idea, but you need help with finding a team member from another Arqus university, please reach out to:

• First, contact your local student union. For further contact information, please check the .
• Enter Zuliannel: 
• Contact the Arqus Student Agora at: 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the present call, students must be regularly enrolled in a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Single-cycle degree or in a Specialisation or PhD programme, either part-time or full-time, offered by one of the Arqus member universities for the duration of the entire project. Their affiliation with an Arqus university is mandatory.

This call aims to create new initiatives among Alliance students. Projects submitted under this call for proposals which have been funded by another institution or partner will not be eligible, unless they extend the number of Arqus universities involved.

Students who have never received funding in previous editions of the Arqus Student Agora call will have priority.

Duration

Projects may start immediately after the selection process and shall be implemented by the end of April 2026 at the latest.

Selection criteria

The selection committee, composed of members from the Arqus Student Council and the Arqus Student Agora, will assess and score applications based on the following criteria:

• Relevance. How does the project aim to improve the student experience within and across the Arqus Alliance?
• Innovation. In what ways does the project showcase originality and creativity in its efforts to enhance the student experience?
• Feasibility. Is the project realistically attainable within the allocated timeframe and budget constraints?
• Reusability. What is the potential for the project to be repeated over the long term?
• Collaboration. How does the project facilitate collaboration among students from the local university, various member universities of the Arqus Alliance, as well as local associations and civil society organisations and initiatives?

Funding

The funding of the project varies depending on how many Arqus member universities will partake in the project. A maximum of €2500 per project will be awarded. The funding will be provided by the university the main applicant is a student at and will be subject to the local Arqus university administrative process. This is based on an invoice system.

Indications for the maximum amounts:

• 2 universities – up to €1000
• 3 universities – up to €1500
• 4+ universities – up to €2500

The funding available can be used to cover, for instance:

• Travel (accommodation and transport)
• Speakers for workshops
• Materials for the implementation of the project
• Social media campaigns
• Etc.

Every student implementing a local event shall check and agree upon the eligible expenses at the local university with the local Arqus Student Agora member.

Reporting

At the completion of the activities foreseen in the project, successful applicants will be required to submit the following reports:

• Financial report. It will detail the use of funds and provide relevant receipts and documentation (the final report template must be used).
• Project report. It will include lessons learned and outcomes of the project. At least one creative product such as an article, photo brochure or video shall be submitted.

Application procedure and deadline

Submissions will be sent via the

Each application form must be duly filled out and include:

• a description of the project
• a plan for project funding and use of the funds provided by this call
• a corresponding timeline for the implementation of the project

Opening of the call: 17 March 2025

Closure of the call: 12 May 2025 (23:59)

A reply will be provided within 2 weeks after the application due date. The selected projects will be invited to have a post-selection conversation on how to operationalize their projects.

Get inspired by and take your idea to the next level! If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact the Arqus Student Agora at .

“I had always introduced myself as a Lithuanian. Often, I would get the question. ‘Oh, Barbora? That's an interesting name — where are you from?’ Explaining how to spell my name and how to find Lithuania on a map were practically memorised speeches,” she says. “Though New Zealand is very multicultural, not many people had met someone from Lithuania before, so I was often introducing myself and the country at the same time.”

Lithuanian law once prevented her from holding dual citizenship, stripping her of it as an infant. Reforms in 2015, however, allowed her to reclaim it while still in high school. Although she was legally Lithuanian again, maintaining a cultural connection required continuous effort. Growing up in a modest diaspora of just around 200 people across New Zealand, Barbora recalls long-haul flights every few years to visit relatives in Vilnius and attend Lithuanian community events in New Zealand.

“My mother was a key member of the Lithuanian community, so our family often helped organise the Independence Day celebrations or welcome delegations of travelling sports teams, traditional musicians, and Foreign Ministry officials,” she recalls. “That really helped my connection to Lithuania feel more real and less abstract.”

Language – A Sore Point

Despite her efforts to represent Lithuania abroad, Barbora admits she didn’t grow up in a bilingual household. She did some basic one-on-one learning with her mother, but her progress in the Lithuanian language was limited —her brother and father didn't learn the language, making regular practice difficult.

“It was hard to stay motivated, and my proficiency has ebbed and flowed a lot,” she says.

Thus, she did make attempts – weekend language lessons and intensive summer courses during New Zealand university breaks. Still, without regular use, she would often forget what she'd learned and end up repeating the same level a year or two later.

“Naturally, when I live in Lithuania, there's much more opportunity to keep up my practice. It's a bit of a sore point for me — I feel like a 'fake' Lithuanian if I can't fluently speak it,” she admits. “It's hard to balance demanding university studies and personal language learning at the same time, but it’s a long-term goal of mine to eventually reach B2, maybe even C1 Lithuanian.”

A Journey Home – and Forward

“Returning to Lithuania has actually been quite fashionable recently,” Barbora observes. “There’s been a lot of re-immigration over the last five years.” Meanwhile, New Zealand is experiencing its own wave of emigration – part of the country’s long tradition of “circular migration”, often referred to as the OE or overseas experience.

Still, Barbora isn’t sure she’ll be among those who return to the island. As she recalls, her parents had long hoped to move the family back. “I remember the housing plans and going on a tour of a Vilnius international school when I was about 10,” she says. “But then the 2008 financial crisis happened, and the move was cancelled.”

Years later, while studying Computer Science and training to become a software developer, she began to imagine a different way to realise that long-deferred move. The international mobility and the rise of the “Digital Nomads” lifestyle concept made the idea of living in Lithuania a real possibility. However, there was one obstacle: her student loan. In New Zealand, government-issued loans are interest-free as long as the borrower remains in the country but begins accruing the interest once they leave.

“Originally, this was going to take a long time — about 8 to 11 years as part of regular wage deductions. However, my parents were very eager for me to move sooner, so they helped me financially and supported me while I looked for a new job in Lithuania,” she explains.

Barbora also benefited from programmes designed to support returning members of the Lithuanian diaspora. She had an internship and some cultural orientation through “BringTogetherLT”, and later joined the government initiative “Kurk Lietuvai”, which led to her first job at “Invest Lithuania”. She also made use of integration services through the “MiCenter” and “International House Vilnius”.

Even so, the transition hasn’t been without complexity. “I still feel a bit in between being a foreigner and a local — but considering I've lived in the country for quite a short period of time, I think I've done very well,” she says. “I'm at the point where I'm even showing long-term residents new things about Vilnius, and I feel like I can help other newcomers, too.”

Living in Lithuania: Surprises and Simplicity

What Barbora appreciates most about daily life in Lithuania is the sense of connection – both physically and socially. “I haven't needed to use a car, which I find expensive, unhealthy for yourself and the planet, and bulky to manage,” she says. “In Vilnius, I found it possible to get pretty quickly across the city with bikes. Alternatively, I just walked a lot. And, of course, the abundance of public transport routes with a generous student discount and live tracking is a major plus.”

Despite Vilnius being a third the size of Auckland, she finds it culturally rich and socially vibrant. “There's no sense of 'small town boredom',” she says. “There are all the trendy spots to go to that you'd need — a multitude of coworking spaces, bouldering gyms, brunch spots, start-up accelerators, concert venues, libraries, and still always within 30 minutes of the regular bus to a forested area with moss and wild berries, maybe even with a swimmable lake.”

She also sees cultural parallels. “In New Zealand, there's a lot of respect for our natural environment, pride in ‘punching above our weight’ when it comes to national achievements, and jokes about ‘2 degrees of separation’ between individuals. It feels really similar here, and like the country is at a scale where you can really contribute and make a positive impact.”

One unexpected cultural difference? Coffee culture, excludes Barbora. “In New Zealand, coffee is very much a morning drink. Typical opening hours for a cafe are roughly 6 am to 3 pm. Here, it can be quite hard to find an independent cafe open before 10 am sometimes, but plenty are still operating up until 7 pm or even later. Luckily, I'm not that much of a morning person, so this suits me better.”

Cybersecurity: A Future-Focused Path

Barbora this semester is at 91��ɫ, where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in International Cybersecurity and Cyber intelligence through the Arqus Alliance — a programme that lets her combine her technical background with interest in public policy, tech skills and international collaboration.

“I feel that Cybersecurity wouldn't exist in an ideal world. Unfortunately, there are bad actors in the digital landscape which aren't going away any time soon. On one hand, it's great to feel like the effort I'm putting into learning is going towards solving problems which help the wider community, not just profit margins,” she explains. “However, it's also a bit sad that the need for Cybersecurity is more critical than ever, especially with the increased use of hybrid warfare tactics such as hacking public infrastructure, hospitals digital systems, or even targeting a state's democratic decision-making through disinformation campaigns.”

She believes Lithuania’s strategic location and digital leadership give it a sophisticated cybersecurity landscape compared to New Zealand.

“I feel like Lithuania has a much more mature security landscape due to having Russia as an unfriendly neighbour, which is a common source of advanced persistent cyber threats,” she says. “Being part of the EU as well means that there is the need to follow Directives which push cybersecurity policy not only at the National scale. There's also the very well-known Nord Security based in Lithuania, which makes the cybersecurity landscape more visible here.”

Sees the Future in Lithuania

Having gained experience in Cybersecurity research, Barbora aims to work at a multinational corporation focused on public-private partnerships or international collaborations after completing her Master’s program. She is particularly interested in the legal and political aspects surrounding cybersecurity and Blue Team operations.

Although Barbora may visit New Zealand again as a tourist, she sees her future in Lithuania. “I already have several job leads in Vilnius, and I'm hoping to stay here long-term,” she says. “I feel that my quality of life in Lithuania has improved; I can't imagine moving back for an extended period. I am more active, I live in a nicer apartment for a smaller portion of my income, my commute is shorter, my career prospects look promising, I have a new circle of inspiring friends, and I can further develop my cultural connections here. I feel very positive about being here!”

For other international students considering Lithuania, Barbora has a clear message: don’t be intimidated. “Courses are in English. Vilnius is very bi-lingual, so language-related issues are not as big as you might fear — though, of course, if you plan to stay longer than a semester, it's very important to put some effort into learning the local language. Often, your university will provide you with support in learning the language, and there are some pretty fun Summer Schools which usually have scholarships available that you can apply for.”

Researchers from the Laser Research Centre (LRC) at the Faculty of Physics, 91��ɫ (VU), in collaboration with colleagues from the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL), Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH), have published an article in the prestigious journal “Light: Advanced Manufacturing”.

The article focused on laser-based 3D printing at the nanoscale, which is widely used in fields such as micro-optics, medicine, and advanced materials. Typically, this technique requires special chemical substances called photoinitiators to trigger the photopolymerisation (Printing) process. However, these additives can be toxic or highly autofluorescent, making them unsuitable for biomedical applications.

“In our latest research, we demonstrate a new approach for high-resolution laser-based 3D Printing using a material that works without a photoinitiator by precisely adjusting the femtosecond laser exposure intensity. By employing three different laser wavelengths, we demonstrate that fine nanoscale structures can be efficiently and rapidly printed by adjusting the laser exposure parameters, namely, light intensity. This opens the door to safer and broader applications by eliminating risks associated with unwanted chemical residues or interference in sensitive devices,” explains Dr Dimitra Ladika.

Prof Mangirdas Malinauskas, the group leader of the Laser Nanophotonics laboratory at VU`s Laser Research Centre, highlights that international collaboration has accelerated the development of photoinitiator-free materials for nanoscale laser 3D printing.

“This expands additive manufacturing capabilities, paving the way for cleaner, more adaptable, and eco-friendly fabrication techniques,” the scientist notes.

This work marks an important milestone for Dr D. Ladika, strengthening her ties with VU LRC and career prospects at VU. Her journey began with a short LaserLab research visit in 2023. Dr D. Ladika is one of the winners of the 2024 Young Scientist Co-Funding . At the beginning of this year, she joined the Laser Nanophotonics group and continues her work, driving advancements in laser-based additive manufacturing and light-assisted characterisation of 3D microstructures.

“Having Dimitra joining our group, we deepen and widen our capacity in developing Multi-Photon Lithography as a precision 3D printing technique as well as sophisticated characterisation of the produced micro-structures. I am very happy the research work already involved young researchers from the VU Faculty of Physics, like Antanas Butkus, who graduated Light Engineering Bachelor program with Cum Laude diploma. Also, it connects our institution with other renowned research centers like IESL-FORTH, enabling regular student and staff-exchange mobility schemes,” says Prof M. Malinauskas.

The Arqus Student Agora is launching the first Arqus Student Lab, which will take place at 91��ɫ on 2 and 3 July 2025. The application deadline is 11 May.

This dynamic initiative is a unique opportunity for Arqus students to co-create meaningful change in higher education. The  is now selecting 18 Arqus students to participate in an intensive, hands-on Lab this July in Vilnius.

The Student Lab will bring together three diverse student teams from Arqus universities, prioritising those involved in Arqus-related initiatives. Students will collaboratively tackle key challenges affecting academic life and transform them into practical and innovative solutions!

Who can apply?

Open exclusively to students from Arqus universities, with priority given to those involved in:

• Arqus Ambassadors Programme
• Arqus Mentorship Programme (mentors or mentees)
• Talent Scholarship Fund
• Student co-designed projects (winners and extended teams)
• Other Arqus-related initiatives

Participating students will gain:

• Tools and methods to design and test innovative solutions
• Strengthened soft skills: teamwork, communication, problem-solving
• Experience with agile and digital tools
• A boost to your employability
• A chance to pitch your idea in a “Shark Tank”-style session

Challenge/problem areas include:

• Job market connection
• Mental health and well-being
• Sustainability
• Student empowerment
• Inclusion
• Digital transformation

The Arqus Student Lab will follow a structured path that blends creativity, digital tools and agile methodologies to drive real change in academic communities. This Lab is a collaborative experience where students’ challenges will be transformed into practical and innovative solutions! 

For the application, click .

This device converts a pump wave in a nonlinear medium into two waves whose photon energy equals that of the initial radiation and whose frequencies can be tuned. The team was pleased to achieve exceptionally high spectral purity, excellent beam quality, and nearly ideal temporal characteristics—features that have previously been difficult to realise.

“The new device, based on the combination of a microlaser generating subnanosecond pulses and a periodically poled nonlinear crystal with a submicrometer grating period, enabled the realisation of laser radiation with exceptionally high spectral, spatial, and temporal quality. Unique light, both forward and backwards,” explained the VU physicists.

“This type of laser source can be used for specialised scientific applications—for example, in kinetic spectroscopy to excite and study ultrafast processes in molecules, where a very narrow spectral bandwidth is needed, and subnanosecond pulse durations are sufficient to observe molecular responses,” said VU physicist Assoc. Prof. Julius Vengelis.

Although this pulse duration is not the shortest achievable by lasers, it is sufficient to observe many ultrafast processes.

Assoc. Prof. J. Vengelis illustrated the timescale by saying: “If light can travel around the Earth seven and a half times in one second, in just 500 picoseconds it only covers about 15 cm—the length of a sheet of paper. That’s an incredibly short moment.”

“We developed the first backward-wave optical parametric oscillator powered by sub-nanosecond pulses from an Nd:YAG microlaser, using a unique rubidium-doped KTP crystal with an exceptionally fine grating period of just 427 nanometres,” explained Assoc. Prof. J. Vengelis.

“We are delighted that our colleagues abroad succeeded in fabricating such a unique crystal and that we were able to use our experience in nonlinear optics to realise this device,” added the VU physicists.

The study was carried out by LRC scientists – PhD candidate Jonas Banys, Associate Professors Vygandas Jarutis and J. Vengelis – alongside Lithuanian researchers working abroad: Dr Jonas Jakučis Neto (Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Brazil), Dr Andrius Žukauskas, and Prof Valdas Pašiškevičius (Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden).

The researchers measured the spectra of the generated light and pulse durations and assessed beam quality, as well as how all these parameters vary with changes in wavelength.

According to physicists, microlaser-pumped subnanosecond pulse duration optical parametric generators hold significant potential. These devices are compact, have simple construction, and provide a cost-effective source of tunable wavelength laser radiation.

“They are especially useful in applications where high temporal resolution is not required. Instead of using several lasers generating subnanosecond radiation at different wavelengths, we can use just this single parametric light generator,” said the LRC colleagues. They continue to pursue related scientific research and are further developing this laser radiation source.

It is hoped that the study will contribute to the development of more efficient tunable wavelength laser radiation with higher output quality based on subnanosecond pulse-duration microlasers.

The research was conducted under the Universities’ Excellence Initiative program. The project is funded by the Research Council of Lithuania and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania (Project No. S-A-UEI-23-6).

This webinar, delivered by Dr Marta Kopinska, Assistant Professor in English and applied linguistics at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), will take place online on Thursday, 15 May 2025, from 12 noon to 1 pm (CEST). The webinar will explore affective factors such as motivation and anxiety that might influence classroom interaction in EMI. Drawing on her own and her colleagues’ recent qualitative research, she will explore factors that lie behind EMI students’ (de)motivation to interact in class, as well as EMI-related anxiety. She will also discuss some qualitative methods that were used to investigate these factors in the EMI setting and trace them over time.

About the speaker

Dr Marta Kopinska specialises in English for Specific Purpose courses for undergraduate students who are studying engineering or business management and administration. Her recent work combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies and focuses on affective factors in English-medium instruction in Spanish higher education institutions. Dr Kopinska is also a member of the Language and Speech , a multidisciplinary research group that investigates a variety of factors involved in language acquisition in multilingual settings.

Registration for online participation is required. For registration, click .

While proposals should align with the three Arqus research topics (Climate change and environmental sustainability, Artificial intelligence and digital transformation, and European identity and heritage), we encourage ideas that can grow into larger collaborations across scientific domains.

Associate partners can participate by contributing to co-financing with their own resources. Involving external research groups (outside Arqus) is encouraged to promote collaboration, although costs cannot be covered by the Arqus Research Initiative budget.

The call is open to all kinds of collaborative research activities leading to the overall aim of promoting long-term collaboration.

A non-exhaustive list of activities includes the following:

• Small-scale research projects
• Organisation of research and/or advanced educational seminars and/or winter or summer schools
• Organisation of PhD workshops or other joint doctoral activities
• Mobility of small teams (2-3 persons, preferably including one ESR) to ensure implementation of collaborative activity
• Development of research teams with a view to e.g. preparing joint proposals for external funding or joint publications

It is recommended that activities that cannot be funded by the Erasmus+ programme be proposed.

The funded grants will be implemented over a period of 18 months, starting from July 2025.

For more information, click .

In light of these developments, the teaching of academic writing must be adapted. It is essential that students not only develop core writing skills but also learn to use AI tools in a responsible and critical manner.

To support teaching staff in responding to these challenges, and as part of the Arqus Alliance initiatives, the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Vienna is organising a practical online workshop, which will take place on Friday, 16 May 2025, from 09:00 to 12:00. The workshop will focus on the pedagogical integration of AI tools in academic writing instruction and is intended for educators seeking to implement these technologies in a thoughtful and effective way.

Participants are encouraged to bring their current course syllabi and initial ideas for the incorporation of AI into their teaching. The session will include a discussion of concrete teaching scenarios and will address how to formulate clear and transparent expectations regarding AI use in academic work.

Please note that this event does not provide a general introduction to AI tools. Rather, it is intended as a forum for discussing their application in specific educational contexts.

Trainers

Frano Petar Rismondo is a writing scholar and higher education expert affiliated with the “Student Research and Peer Learning” team at the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), University of Vienna. He coordinates the Student Research Hub and is one of the centre’s leading experts on AI and academic writing.

Erika Unterpertinger is a member of the same team at CTL, where she leads the group of writing assistants. Her doctoral research focuses on discovery processes in novice academic writing. She is actively involved in the development of AI-related writing pedagogy at the university.

This workshop aims to provide academic staff with the tools and perspectives necessary to engage with AI in teaching academic writing in a responsible and informed manner.

Discover more .