Congratulatory Words

Rector of Vilnius University

Chair of the Senate of Vilnius University

Chair of the Seimas Committee on Education and Science

Ombudswoman for Academic Ethics and Procedures

Director of The Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education

Director General of Vilnius University Library

Arqus Student Council

Rector of Vilnius University Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas

Dear Students,

I would like to sincerely thank you and express my appreciation for your active involvement both at the University and beyond. The Vilnius University Students' Representation is one of the most active, creative, and significant organizations in our community, uniting and representing students while also working more broadly for the benefit of an open University and an open Lithuania.

I'm thankful for your contribution to the development of the new VU strategy. Your voice is heard in the University’s strategic and day-to-day decisions, as well as in the life of the country. You are ones who want to be seen and heard, and you have meaningful ideas and constructive criticism that we take to heart as we continue to shape our shared future.

This isn't the first year that we have been working together constructively to make the University an even better place for study, research, and work, and an even stronger community.

I would like to emphasize that we stand out from other universities in the country not only for the quality and diversity of our academic programs and research, but also for our students’ active engagement and civic-mindedness. You make a significant contribution to our strategic goal of influencing public life and strengthening the ideals of civic democracy.

By working together, we can achieve even more in bringing about positive changes in the education system, improving the study environment and quality, and thus creating all the necessary conditions that would allow the younger generation to stay and continue their career and life paths in Lithuania.

One of the most notable aspects of VU SR’s work is that you act not only for your own generation but also for future generations of students. The work carried out this year lays the foundation for the coming years and shapes the guidelines for student policy for decades to come.

I always take an interest in and support your work, and I wish you continued determination and enthusiasm to reach for the stars.

Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas

Rector of Vilnius University

Chair of the Senate of Vilnius University Prof. Eglė Lastauskienė

Dear Students,

I congratulate you on another year that has passed and on all the work you have accomplished. Thank you for being here and for stirring our beloved Alma Mater with your youthful energy, enthusiasm, and drive. You fill every corner of it with youth and laughter. And no less importantly, you are growing and helping others to grow. This year, more than ever, demanded unity and civic spirit, and it was wonderful to see you so responsible and devoted to freedom, democracy, and our Homeland.

In this age of flourishing foolishness, your sense of responsibility is what gives us hope that in the future, sound reason and knowledge will overcome the pandemic of stupidity. Today, our shared duty is not only to impart or acquire academic knowledge, but also to strengthen a civic society and common sense. I wish that, through your own example, you will inspire all your fellow students, so that the circle of wise and responsible people may continue to grow ever wider.

The maturity of both a person and an organization is revealed through care not only for oneself, but also for the world around us. For this, I salute you — you are a mature and responsible organization, together with which our Alma Mater will proudly nurture people who will reach for the stars.

Prof. Eglė Lastauskienė

Chair of the Senate of Vilnius University

Chair of the Seimas Committee on Education and Science Jurgita Šukevičienė

Dear Students,

Academic freedom and student self-governance are among the strongest foundations of a free society. Looking at your report, I see not only the work you have accomplished, but also a growing generation of the leaders of Lithuania.

Vilnius University has always been a center of intellectual leadership, and your student representation serves as an example of critical thinking and civic courage. Today, as the world faces rapid technological change and geopolitical challenges, your ability to unite, engage in discussion, and constructively represent your values becomes important not only within university halls, but also on the scale of the entire country. You are the ones who refuse to stand still, who demand quality, and who remind us that the greatest asset of our country is human intellect and its creative power.

I would like to thank everyone — those visible in leadership positions and those who work quietly yet responsibly in academic groups or committees. Your volunteer work and the time you dedicate to the benefit of the community are the best investment in our shared future.

I wish for this report to become not only a summary of completed work, but also a source of inspiration for new ideas. Dream boldly, never stop striving for more, and always remain those who truly care.

Wishing you success and unity!

Jurgita Šukevičienė

Chair of the Seimas Committee on Education and Science

Ombudswoman for Academic Ethics and Procedures Dr. Reda Cimmperman

Dear students of Vilnius University, dear members of the Vilnius University Students’ Representation,

It is always inspiring to see students who not only take part in university life, but also help shape it. Your work shows that the student voice can be truly powerful – not only in raising questions, but also in looking for solutions, bringing people together and reminding us that a university is alive when there is dialogue, trust and responsibility.

This year, our paths crossed several times in discussions on academic ethics. I would like to say sincerely that your engagement has been real, thoughtful and visible. I am very glad that these conversations did not remain only at the level of ideas, but became concrete steps, including a separate action plan on academic ethics at Vilnius University. This shows that change begins when people believe that their voice matters.

Academic ethics is not only about rules, documents or procedures. It begins with everyday choices – to act honestly, to respect one another, to speak openly, to take responsibility and not to be afraid of asking difficult questions. You have shown that students are an essential part of building this culture.

I wish for you to remain brave, open, and community-minded. May you never lose your curiosity, sensitivity and belief that even small steps can change the culture of a university. And to each of you, I wish experiences that help you grow, people who inspire you and the courage to act according to your values.

Dr. Reda Cimmperman

Ombudswoman for Academic Ethics and Procedures

Director of The Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education Zinaida Manžuch

The Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education warmly congratulates the Vilnius University Students’ Representation on another active year of work. In 2025, our collaboration was characterised by responsible student engagement in higher education quality issues, open and constructive dialogue. We especially appreciate our joint efforts in 2026 to develop the quality assurance framework by exploring new ways of involving students and strengthening their voice in higher education quality processes. We wish you a successful year ahead, filled with bold ideas and inspiring results!

Director General of Vilnius University Library Irena Krivienė

Dear students,

VU SR, which unites the most active part of Vilnius University students’ community, is a loyal and reliable partner of the Library. We are delighted by the regular meetings between the Library and student representatives, during which we openly discuss students’ everyday lives, the challenges of exam periods, the accessibility of spaces, and digital needs. Time and again, our discussions with you have inspired us to take action, to update or introduce new information services, and to strive to make the Library an even more attractive space for you.

We particularly value the active involvement of student representatives in planning the Library’s future and their significant contribution to the development of the Library’s strategic plan. We cannot imagine undertaking such important work without you, the most important audience of the Library, without your ideas and insights on what is needed to make the Library even more relevant and appealing not only to current students but also to future ones.

We admire your openness and sensitive approach to important issues as well as your success in finding new ways to communicate about them. We were delighted at the possibility of joining the activities of Sustainability Week organized by VU SR and exploring the themes of sustainability and ecology in a completely new format—through bookbinding.

Every year, the collaboration between VU SR and the Library inspires us to grow and change. We hope that you will continue seeing the Library as your own space—a place for dialogue, new ideas, work, and relaxation. You are always welcome here!

Irena Krivienė

Director General of Vilnius University Library

Arqus Student Council

VU student representatives play a key role in Arqus student council by advocating for quality assurance mechanisms. We are happy to have the opportunity to exchange good practices and gain insight into student representation specifics in Lithuania. This was especially useful when providing themes for joint degree programmes and assuring that student representatives play a role in quality assurance. International cooperation with VU SA helped us to understand what are the potential trajectories of study internationalization!