Gabija Stanislovaitytė, a PhD student at the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics, Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty, is a person who is impossible to miss. She is characterised by initiative, enthusiasm for work and purposeful self-expression in scientific activities. Her colleagues appreciate her motivation, responsibility, and purposeful pursuit of goals in her academic career and in the University's complementary, community-oriented activities. Gabija's achievements speak for themselves - her paper was recognised as one of the best at the 18th Prof. Vlado Gronsko International Scientific Conference in 2023.
"My studies helped me understand what I wanted to achieve in life and gave me the tools to do it. The confidence and the experience I have gained, the contacts I have made and the opportunities that have opened are just a few examples of what I have acquired from my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University. I was able to dig deeper into the phenomena I was interested in and to believe that I could really change the world if I wanted to," Gabija is delighted with her choice and has no doubt that a university education gives everyone the opportunity to grow together with like-minded people.
English opens more opportunities
"In my opinion, studying in English makes more sense these days because of the internationalisation of the language. In addition, from a scientific, professional perspective, English is richer in terms and scientific work is much more accessible due to the number of people who can read it. I am working on topics of global significance, so I want to reach wider audience with my scientific work," says G. Stanislovaitytė, a graduate of the University of Surrey in England.
Choosing among all master's programmes in VU related to management, Gabija considered the studies taught in English in Lithuania a special priority. "When I came back after studying in the UK, I realised that the language, especially the academic language, was different, so I wanted to continue my studies in a way that was familiar to me," she says. Although there are several VU faculties that offer studies in English, she found the subjects taught in the International Business Management program at the Kaunas Faculty to be the most interesting and the most applicable in practice.
"Maybe it's a subjective opinion, but English hasn't made it harder to study. On the contrary, it even encouraged me to improve my skills, to take a closer interest in foreign scientific works and literature," says G. Stanislovaitytė. Even those who doubt their English language skills can gain more confidence in their studies, she said. She stresses that for most students and lecturers, English is also their second language, so everyone supports, encourages, and helps each other when things get difficult. Gabija is convinced that English skills are highly valued in the Lithuanian labor market, so the habit of communicating in a foreign language acquired during her studies facilitates her future career path. Another reason is interculturalism, which brings foreign and Lithuanian students closer together and broadens their horizons. "I think the experiences we share with the students are invaluable," she says.
Enriching different points of view
"The academic culture in British and Lithuanian universities is very different. One of the most significant differences for me is the culture of communication between students and lecturers," says Gabija when asked to compare her studies abroad and in Lithuania. In Lithuania, she says, there is still a divide between lecturers and students. Communication is exclusively formal, and respect is superficial/formal. In her experience, this divide is almost non-existent in the UK, and communication is warmer. "Students and lecturers are part of the same university community and often spend time together. At events or during breaks, lecturers invite students to discuss issues or current affairs," says Stanislovaitytė.
The doctoral student became a lecturer this year and admits that it is not easy to work with students who are only two or three years younger than her, but the need to share her expertise is huge: "Of course, the beginning is difficult, it takes time to prepare for the lectures, and there is still a lack of confidence, but the students who get involved in the study process make up for it," she says. However, G. Stanislovaitytė believes that young age is an advantage, allowing a better understanding of the realities of student life, and if a young person has academic questions, he or she is more encouraged to seek help from experts recognised in the world of science, who are also colleagues. "It is a great honor to interact and collaborate with such leaders in their field as, for example, the Research Professor Štreimikienė and others, whose research is well-known not only in Lithuania, but also in the world," says the young scientist, who has discovered her academic career.
"I think it is important to emphasize that due to its uniqueness, the community of Kaunas Faculty has a closer relationship with each other. It is great that despite many different fields of study and two separate institutes, everyone knows each other, helps each other and is very friendly towards students," she emphasizes, already able to see the situation from both perspectives.
Academy - a breeding ground for growth
"Vilnius University gave me the opportunity to fall in love with science all over again and to realise how much good can be done. It is an honor to study in a place where there are so many opportunities for students. It is great to grow together with the University community, to see the development of scientific dissemination and practical study activities. The University has a long tradition, but it remains innovative. Most importantly, a lot is being done for the students, so everyone feels part of this privileged organisation", says G. Stanislovaitytė.
She is pleased that the master’s studies have deepened her existing knowledge and opened career opportunities: "bachelor’s studies are often either very broad or very focused on one subject, so the master’s studies help to solve this problem, to see oneself in a wider context. The master’s degree focused on the application of theory in real life, which I think is often lacking in undergraduate studies", says Stanislovaitytė, sharing her experience of coherent studies.
"Doctoral studies are very individual, so every encounter with other researchers is very important. I hope to overcome all the challenges of these studies, and to continue, together with other like-minded people, to successfully strive for a better quality of studies at Vilnius University. My dissertation topic is related to the assessment of the drivers of the transition to a low-carbon economy in the forest sector", says Gabija. It was this topic that was awarded one of the best prizes at the 18th Prof. Vlado Gronsko International Scientific Conference.
Gabija Stanislovaitytė at the "Higher Education Fair 2023", a public discussion "All roads are open. Which one to choose? Answers to the most important questions of graduates" organised by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. Gabija Stanislovaitytė took part in the discussion together with the former Minister of Education, Science and Sport Jurgita Šiugždinienė, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Sport Ramūnas Skaudžius, Deputy Director of the National Education Agency organising the matriculation exams Asta Ranonytė, Director of the State Study Fund Ernestas Jasaitis, and Communications Manager of the Lithuanian startup association Unicorns Lithuania Rūta Pukenė.