Assoc. Prof. Ilona Kiaušienė and Assoc. Prof. Ingrida Šarkiūnaitė, researchers at the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics of Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University, attended a training course in Slovenia (ACADEMIA Maribor) from 28 November to 2 December 2022. During the training, participants listened to lectures and presentations related to strengthening learning curricula to foster innovation and the creation of sustainable Business 4.0, visited the green concept company Menerga (winner of the European Commission's Green Building Award 2011), and the bank NovaKBM.

The following were discussed enhancing labour market relevance and outcomes of higher education (Dr Andrea-Rosalinde Hofer, Slovenia), aspects of short-cycle higher education (Dr Žan Dapševič, Maribor ACADEMIA, Slovenia; Alicia Leonor Sauli Miklavčič, Association of Slovene Higher Vocational Colleges, Slovenia), sought answers to the questions 1) eWhy? (Why should we teach new technologies? Is it inevitable? Should we teach in order to avoid problems, reduce fears, reduce conflicts?); 2) eWhy? (What should we teach – eHistory? eAdaptation? eAnalytics?); 3) eHow? (How should we teach – personal eAthways? Should we include art and creative thinking?) (Dušan Vrban, ACADEMIA, Slovenia).

It also explored the digital view of the global workforce in the context of the LinkedIn network (Stewart Samkange, Academic Talent Solutions, Head of Africa, CEE&SEE – LinkedIn), analysed aspects of customer experience management (Ms Tanja Verhovnik, ACADEMIA, Slovenia), discussed the use of virtual reality tools in the learning process (Prof. Alessio Alonne, InforElea, Italy), organisations that adapt to changing situations and trends, that are able to absorb change and survive in a completely adverse environment (Dr Mihai Pascadi, AVANTERA, Romania), the application of artificial intelligence in the creative sector (Prof. Emma Selene Ixchel Iturriaga Sauco, InforElea, Italy).

Participants attended the Climathon Slovenia conference, where they learned about climate safety solutions used by various organisations. They visited Menerga, a company applying green energy solutions (sustainable building design, etc.), where they listened to a lecture on good practices in eco-sustainability (Dr Vlasta Krmelj, Slovenia). Menerga has developed and produced innovative ventilation and air conditioning systems for extensive fields of application since 1980. The meeting with representatives of NovaKBM Bank was interesting. During the meeting, the environmental initiatives taken by the bank to reduce its environmental impact were presented (electricity from renewable sources, sustainable mobility (employees use the bank's bicycles), use of tap water during meetings, digital signature, etc.).

Assoc. Prof. Ilona Kiaušienė and Assoc. Prof. Ingrida Šarkiūnaitė are participating in the project “Transnational cooperation initiative fostering developing forward thinking skills of students, teachers and workforce in sustainability-relevant sectors posed by Business 4.0 trends through innovation in Business & Engineering education and training (SMART skills 4.0)”. The project is coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Bucharest (Romania) and implemented with partners from Italy, Slovenia, Lithuania and Greece. The aim of the project is to support the development of forward thinking skills of students, teachers and workforce by designing, deploying and scaling-up the Educational Initiative (future-oriented curricula) facilitating innovation in business & engineering education and training, intercultural knowledge exchanges in various sustainability-relevant sectors of Business 4.0 and enhancing civic and responsible behavior.

More about project SMART skills 4.0: https://www.smartskills4.com/

Grant Agreement: 2020-1-RO01-KA203-080019

Assoc. Prof. Dr Ilona Kiaušienė and Assoc. Prof. Dr Ingrida Šarkiūnaitė

Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics

Visit to Menerga

Lecture on the use of virtual reality tools in education

A moment in training at ACADEMIA (Maribor)

The defence of the final theses at VU Kaunas Faculty is open to the public. All those interested are welcome to attend the defence of the theses of the Bachelor study programme Information Systems and Cyber Security (English) on 6 January 2023 at 10:00 EET at computer class No. III (III k. k.).

Dear members of the Kaunas Faculty community,

The ending year gives us the opportunity to take a moment and look at the experience that we’ve gained. 2022 was full of exciting conversations, collaborations, challenges, meaningful work and significant achievements. I would like to sincerely thank all of you for your ideas, initiatives and team spirit!

May this Christmas fill your hearts with warmth and 2023 be full of fruitful endeavours. Health and peace to you, your loved ones and the entire world!

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kęstutis Driaunys, Dean of Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty

On 20 December Vilnius University hosted a Christmas party, dedicated to look back at the achievements of 2022 and to honour the distinguished members of the University’s academic community. The guests were greeted by Rector Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas, the Senate Chair Prof. Eglė Lastauskienė, and the Council Vice-Chair Prof. Eugenijus Lesinskas.

We express our sincere congratulations to the members of the Kaunas Faculty community who received the VU Rector’s Prize - Dr Robertas Kudirka, Associate Professor at the Institute of Languages, Literature and Translation Studies voted as the best lecturer of the Kaunas Faculty in 2022, and Mahyar Kamali Saraji, Junior Research Fellow at the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics, awarded for his scientific achievements of 2022.

Dear students, we invite you to fill in a questionnaire and give feedback on your studies at Vilnius University.

Thank you for your opinion!

On November 24 of this year, as part of the Erasmus+ project “Transnational cooperation initiative fostering developing forward thinking skills of students, teachers and workforce in sustainability-relevant sectors posed by Business 4.0 trends through innovation in Business & Engineering education and training”, a multiplier event was organized to exchange knowledge between education, training and local stakeholders accelerating the circulation of good practices and results.

The twenty-third seminar Data Warehouse Evolution will take place at 12 a.m. on 15 December 2022 in room VeGa and will be also available online on Microsoft Teams platform following the link: https://bit.ly/3Ph7YDm The language of the seminar will be English.

On 2 December 2022 the head of the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics at the Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty, Assoc. Prof. Dr Giedrius Romeika welcomed Master and Doctoral students and other researchers at the 17th Professor Vladas Gronskas International Scientific Conference. The young scientists were encouraged to be open to new ideas, expand their knowledge and worldview and to keep going up, one academic step at a time. Throughout his professional life Prof. Gronskas was inspired by energetic and ambitious students – some of whom later became valued scientists and academics.

The plenary session was opened by Giedrė Grimalauskienė, public relations and project manager of the SoHo Dragon LT agency, who delivered a report on the strategy of personal branding, and Alessio Alonne, a sociologist of the Inforelea company, public relations specialist, teacher and artist. Together with his colleague Emma, they analysed the implications of artificial intelligence in the creative industry and the manifestations of new media.