This week we received a report on the evaluation of East Asian Cultures and Languages (RASK) bachelor’s program prepared by the commission of international experts. The evaluation presented favorable conclusions – all areas of the program received high evaluations, including the objectives of the program, process of studies, qualification of lecturers and material base of University. Considering this, the RASK program received accreditation for the longest possible period – 7 years.

In the report experts provided recommendations on how to improve the quality of the study program. The program committee will consider all proposals and actively seek to maintain a high level of East Asian studies at Vytautas Magnus University. (more…)

The staff of the Centre for Asian Studies sends warm Season‘s greetings and wishes you to have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

2020 was truly exceptional, we had to learn to work online, limit and give up physical contact. Even though this year was tough, we remain full of energy and hopeful that new year will allow us to return to usual life.

After some break we come back with another “Time for Asia” event. This time it is a remote meeting with Ina Marčiulionytė who was Lithuania’s ambassador to China from 2015 to 2020. The meeting will take place online on October 22nd (Thursday), 14:30 and will be conducted in Lithuanian language. 

ATTENTION! Registration is mandatory. Log-in to event will be emailed to those who filled the registration form: https://forms.gle/JS7qmh56ysZ5JnD99  (more…)

The Baltic Association of Korean Studies (BAKS) is inviting scholars from all over the world to make presentation proposals for the second international academic BAKS conference that will take place online on 25-27 November, 2020. The general topic of the conference is “Belief in the Future: Spiritual Context of Baltic Korean Studies”, and we welcome scholars from all areas of humanities and social sciences to approach it from their own perspective. The proposals are accepted until 20 November, 2020. More specific requirements and additional information can be found in the Call for Papers PDF.

We would like to invite you to spend the Sugihara Week’s Japanese Culture Fair by immersed yourself in the hustle and bustle of Japanese culture and learning more about Japan’s friends in Lithuania. The fair will take place on October 13, 10:00-16:00 at 3rd floor of Kaunas Akropolis. It is free and open to all.

During the fair a number of organisations that have ties with Japan will present their activities allowing you to admire traditional kimono and tea ceremony or to learn about Japan’s modern daily life or old traditions. Those who are seeking new challenges will be able to learn calligraphy and writing their name in Japanese, and if the initial curiosity will transform into a deeper interest, the fair will allow to make contacts with people who will help you to expand your knowledge further later on. (more…)

Komaru Transportation Foundation together with Hiroshima University Lithuanian Center and VMU Center for Asian Studies is organizing the Third and already traditional Japanese Language Speech Contest. Participants from schools and universities who are studying Japanese language in Lithuania are welcome. Traditionally, the organizers are going to surprise participants with special prizes.

The year 2020 is special to Kaunas and Lithuania-Japan history – this year we are commemorating the 80^th anniversary of Chiune Sugihara’s activity in Kaunas (1939-1940). Sugihara issued transit visas to Jews and saved more than 6 000 lives. Therefore, this contest is included into Sugihara Week program.

Japanese language speech contest will be taking place on October 16^th, 2020, 9:00  OR 13:00(if the contest is going to be online)*, at VMU Small Hall (S. Daukanto st. 28, Kaunas).

*We are going to inform the participants about the time of the contest in advance. (more…)

Starting July 1st, VMU Centre for Asian Studies is partially returning to its usual work environment. However, due to the ongoing state of emergency majority of activities during the summer will be carried out remotely. For this reason, as well as aiming to follow the safety requirements we would like to ask you to contact us before visiting the Center. You can arrange the visit by contacting one of the Centre’s employees or via direct message in our Facebook page.

Staff of the Centre for Asian studies is saying “Thank You” to students, students’ clubs and all our partners for a fruitful study year and unity during the difficult period that touched us all. We hope to return to the usual rhythm starting this autumn.

We would like to invite everyone who is interested in culture and politics of East Asia to listen to the public defense of students’ final thesis.

Master thesis defense of East Asia Region studies will take place on June 12 from 2 PM. And Bachelor thesis defense of East Asian Cultures and Languages will take place on June 18-19 from 9 AM.

All defenses will take place online and require registration in advance. Therefore, those who wish to attend as observers, please send an email to diana.jovaisiene@vdu.lt

The Centre for Asian Studies invites all interested in China, Japan and Korea to apply for the East Asia Region Studies program (EARS), which is the only graduate program in Lithuania and the Baltic States that is taught in English and focused on East Asian contemporary politics and society. VMU also provides scholarships for selected foreign students.

EARS program’s applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree of humanities or social studies. Same as earlier, the best and most motivated students will be encouraged to study at least one semester abroad at one of our partner universities in East Asia. After graduation students acquire the MA degree of political science. All the courses of the program are taught in English. Research paper and master’s thesis are also written in English. (more…)

Due to nationwide preventive measures to fight COVID-19, Center for Asian Studies is closing down its office until further notice. Our staff will be responding to emails and messages sent via Facebook (our page – facebook.com/ASC.VDU).

Thank you for your understanding.

Are you interested in politics of Japan? Maybe you are interested in economy of China? Maybe you are fascinated in Korean art and traditions? It does not matter in which field you are interested in, as long as it is related to East Asia we have a very interesting proposition to you. (more…)

VMU Department of International Relations informs about ongoing studies exchange and internship contests as well as “Erasmus Days’21” which are going to take place on February 17th, 18th, and 19th, during which students will be able to learn more about exchange opportunities. (more…)

Beijing Normal University entrusts the European Federation of Overseas Chinese and Chinese Associations to recruit 100 candidates for MBA and MPA studies (conducted fully in English) from all over the world. Appropriate students are welcome to sign up. (more…)

Applications for scholarships for studies in China in 2021-2022 are open. Persons who are nationals of Lithuania, EU or persons from the third countries having the right to live in Lithuania are welcome to apply.

Applications may be submitted by representatives of various fields of Lithuanian science and studies institutions/ representatives of science fields – Bachelor, Masters and PhD students. (more…)

The Government of Japan has announced a competition for financing studies in Japan according to Japonology study program. Estimated studies duration one year from October 2021.

Those who wish to apply for the scholarship must be BA students (from second course), have sufficient knowledge of Japanese language and a good study results. (more…)

During 20 years, Japanese students and people, who are interested in Japan have become friends. Whose, who were interested in Japanese culture and language could learn something more than it’s written on the internet. Also, they could improve their speaking skills. Bridge connects two shores, so students from Japan could learn more about Lithuanian culture, traditions, improve their English and Lithuanian speaking skills, participate in trips to different places organized by club members and presentation in schools. (more…)

This year the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) offers citizens of Lithuania 4 scholarship programs for studies in Japan from 2021:
Undergraduate Students ( starting April, 2021).
Research Students (starting October, 2021)
Specialized Training College Students (starting April, 2021).
College of Technology Students (starting April, 2021). (more…)

University of East Anglia invites undergraduate students to participate in the summer school “Japan Orientation”. The course is suited to those who are interested in Japan, East Asia and the latest approaches to Japanese Studies. No specific knowledge is required.

Program dates: 27 June – 11 July, 2020. (more…)

Students are invited to participate in a competition for one semester exchange studies at non-EU/EEA countries with Erasmus+ or VMU Mobility scholarship.

Students have to submit completed online application form (Outgoing – Application for Bilateral and Erasmus Study Exchange) until 1^st of March, 2020. (more…)

Japanese Government calls for applications for Japanese government funded studies in Japan to study Japanology with MEXT program. Studies in Japan will start from October 2020.

The deadline for documents submission – February 20th, 2020. All the documents must reach the embassy via post by February 20h, 17:00. (more…)