Projects
“Work Outside the Classroom – The Key to Academic Success?”
During the reporting period, VU SR implemented the project “Work Outside the Classroom – The Key to Academic Success?”. The project was carried out by the Vilnius University Students’ Representation and was funded from the state budget under the funding instrument for projects on priority topics for students. The project’s reporting period was March 1–December 1, 2025.
The project aimed to assess the connections between Vilnius University students’ studies, work, and employment opportunities, with a particular focus on the quality of mandatory internships, students’ choices between skilled and unskilled work, and the factors that determine their employment opportunities after graduation.
As part of the project, a quantitative survey of students at Vilnius University was conducted. The survey, carried out from October 1 to 15, included 1510 students who submitted fully completed questionnaires. The study analyzed students’ work experience, the circumstances of their mandatory internships, their assessment of internship quality, the nature of their work during their studies, areas where they lacked skills, and how well they met employers’ expectations. The results of the study showed that the quality of mandatory internships varies across students’ experiences, and some of them choose unskilled work due to more flexible schedules, limited opportunities to gain professional experience, or insufficient quality of the internship.
In addition, a qualitative component of the study was carried out. Two in-person focus groups were organized in Vilnius and Kaunas, while in Šiauliai, due to an insufficient number of participants, the planned focus group was replaced with an alternative qualitative survey. A total of 45 students participated in the qualitative part, exceeding the initial target of 30 participants. The qualitative insights allowed for a deeper assessment of the quality of mandatory internships, mentor engagement, the challenges of balancing work and studies, and skill gaps.
Activities related to career competencies were also organized during the project. On April 8–9, 2025, the VU Career Days Career Fair took place at the Joined Chambers of Vilnius University, attended by 82 companies, organizations, and institutions, and — according to registration data — 1,044 students. Four thematic workshops were also held, focusing on CV preparation, creating a LinkedIn profile, preparing for the first job, and the basics of labor law. These workshops were attended by 80 participants.
In addition to career-related topics, the project also focused on promoting students’ scientific research activities. A guide for student research activities was updated, an electronic version was prepared, and a meeting between students and researcher-mentors was organized, attended by 8 students and 10 researcher-mentors. Two targeted seminar sessions on academic writing and the researcher’s path were also held, attended by 45 students.
The main outcome of the project is a 52-page report on a survey of Vilnius University students’ study, work, and employment opportunities, covering the results of quantitative and qualitative analyses, visualizations, a discussion, and recommendations for Vilnius University, employers, and social partners. The survey results were also publicized through VU SA’s communication channels: 4060 users were reached on Facebook, 2091 users on Instagram, and 241 users viewed the article on vusa.lt.
“Higher Education for All – Without Limits”
During the reporting period, VU SR implemented the project “Higher Education for All – Without Limits.” The project was carried out by the Vilnius University Students’ Representation and was funded from the state budget under the funding measure for projects on priority topics for students. The project’s reporting period was March 1, 2025, to December 1, 2025.
The project aimed to enhance access to higher education, reduce information barriers, and contribute to the implementation of the social dimension in Lithuania. The main focus was on the second main admission round, opportunities for socially vulnerable groups to pursue higher education, the situation of students with disabilities, the effectiveness of support measures, and informing students from regions about study opportunities.
One of the main project activities was the study “Overview of the Implementation of the Social Dimension in Higher Education: Progress and Challenges.” The study analyzed how measures to develop the social dimension of higher education are implemented in Lithuania, with particular attention paid to the accessibility, functionality, and impact of the second main admission round on socially vulnerable groups. The study involved document analysis, a review of previous VU SR studies, analysis of international sources, evaluation of public statements, interviews with representatives of three social partners, and analysis of higher education institution websites.
The results of the study showed that the implementation of social dimension measures remains fragmented, and the impact of the second round of admissions on socially vulnerable groups is limited. It was found that some of the applicants who were admitted through the second round of admissions would have been admitted through the first round as well, and that the practical activity criteria do not always meet the needs of the most vulnerable groups. It was also identified that the proportion of students with disabilities in higher education remains very low (0,31 %), the individualization of support measures is insufficient, and information on higher education institutions’ websites is presented inconsistently.
Based on the study’s results, recommendations were developed to strengthen the implementation of the social dimension. These recommendations propose strengthening the national coordination of social dimension measures, creating a clear system for monitoring indicators, integrate social dimension indicators into the higher education funding model, review the criteria for the second round of rounds, improve the differentiation of support measures for students with disabilities, and ensure clearer information on higher education institution websites.
Another important part of the project was the creation of a network of ambassadors. A communication campaign was carried out in September and October 2025, inviting students to join the project’s network of ambassadors. A total of 31 registrations were received. The ambassadors were prepared for visits to regional schools; a methodological and informational guide was prepared for them covering the social dimension, accessibility of studies, support measures, working with students, and practical aspects of preparing for visits.
The ambassador training sessions took place on October 15 and November 15, 2025. Sixty participants attended. During the training, the ambassadors delved into the content of the social dimension, financial and social support measures, principles of working with students, preparing interactive presentations, and practical aspects of organizing visits.
In November 2025, the project ambassadors visited 22 regional schools in Lithuania. Although the plan was to visit 25 schools, the lower number of visits was offset by greater participant engagement — 704 students attended the lectures, exceeding the planned target of 500 participants. During the visits, students were introduced to study opportunities, social dimension measures, financial aid, and other issues related to the accessibility of higher education.
Project activities were also publicized through VU SR’s communication channels. Communication regarding the ambassador network, training sessions, and visits reached 9665 users on Facebook, 4755 users on Instagram, and the number of views for articles on vusa.lt reached 3897.
Project for the Integration of International Students into the Vilnius University and City Communities
During the reporting period, VU SR also developed and implemented a project aimed at strengthening the integration of international students into the Vilnius University and Vilnius city communities. The project applicant was the Vilnius University Students’ Representation. The total project budget was 4500 Eur, with 4000 Eur requested from the Vilnius City Municipality, and the remaining funds coming from the organization’s own resources.
The project aimed to improve the integration of international students into the Vilnius University and city communities by strengthening intercultural dialogue, youth engagement, and reducing social exclusion. The application highlights that the number of international students in Vilnius and at Vilnius University is growing every year, but their integration is hindered by language barriers, cultural differences, and limited information about services and activities for young people. These factors can lead to lower engagement in community, cultural, and social life and impact students’ psychological well-being.
The project had three main objectives: to integrate international students into the community through joint events, to promote intercultural exchange and dialogue among students, and to familiarize students with opportunities and institutions that support integration. These objectives were linked to broader youth policy goals — promoting young people’s active participation in society, strengthening youth organizations, improving young people’s psychosocial well-being, and creating an inclusive environment.
The project activities included organizing the now-traditional community event “VUnity,” International Students’ Day events, interactive activities, experience exchanges, cultural presentations, and other activities promoting interaction between local and international students. There were also plans to organize an information fair showcasing opportunities from governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as legal aid, health services, volunteering, and other resources relevant to student integration.
The planned quantitative project indicators included at least 100 participants in the “VUnity” community event, at least 200 participants in the International Students’ Day event series, and a satisfaction rate of no less than 70 % among participants regarding the presentation of social and other services. The schedule of activities stipulated that the “VUnity” community event and the presentation of social and other services would take place November 3–9, while the series of initiatives commemorating International Students’ Day would take place November 17–23.