On November 03, the agreement was signed between the VMU Faculty of Humanities and the School of Philosophy of Renmin University of China (RUC). This is the second partner university of VMU in China.

Renmin University is one of the most prestigious universities in China, with a distinct focus on humanities and social sciences. The University has produced many influential figures in China’s reform and development, and is home to many outstanding scholars in law, economics, journalism and other fields. As measured by admission scores of China’s National Higher Education Entrance Examination, Renmin University has consistently ranked among the top three most selective Chinese universities in the liberal arts and social science division. Student exchange between VMU and RUC is planned to begin next year.

Japanese Embassy in Lithuania invites everyone to get to know traditional Japanese POP culture. During the period of November 4-8 a variety of events will take place as well as the first screening in Lithuania of a documentary “Lady Minako – the last Geisha” will be shown.
Some of the events will take place in Kaunas as well:

November 8th, Saturday, 15:00
Aula Magnus, Vytautas Magnus University (Gimnazijos 7, Kaunas)
1. Documentary “Lady Minako – the last Geisha”
2. Kacumaru Okinaja daikagura performance
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On the 22nd of October, Pūkas TV aired a broadcast “Kaunas of various cultures (Įvairiakultūris Kaunas)” which was dedicated to Korea. In the broadcast, Korean language teachers Eglė Petrauskaitė and Erika Griučkaitytė shared their impressions about Korean language, culture, personal experiences from Korea. President of student club “Hallyu” Kristina Gedminaitė presented club’s activities. Program also covered some moments from VMU Asian week – Korean speech contest form Languages day and Food day. Click here to watch the broadcast online.

“Kaunas of various cultures” is a Pūkas TV series dedicated for exotic and distant countries – their culture, language, peculiarities. (more…)

Sorry, this entry is only available in Lithuanian, Korean, Japanese and 简体中文.

On the 8th of October, Pūkas TV aired a broadcast “Kaunas of various cultures (Įvairiakultūris Kaunas)” which was dedicated to China. In the broadcast, research fellow in the Centre for Asian studies Agnė Budriūnaitė commented about philosophy and religion in China and how they interact in daily life. Student from study program East Asian Languages and Cultures Andrius Vilkas shared his experiences from studying in China for  one semester. Click here to watch the broadcast online.

“Kaunas of various cultures” is a Pūkas TV series dedicated for exotic and distant countries – their culture, language, peculiarities.

On the 26th of September, prof Xu Ping, a vice rector of Liaoning University, visited Vytautas Magnus University. Director of Vilnius University Confucius Institute prof Zhang Donghui and the representatives from both visiting institutions accommpanied prof Ping during the meeting with VMU vice rector prof Kęstutis Šidlauskas. VMU was also represented by dr Aurelijus Zykas, head of Centre for Asian studies and dr Laimutė Anglickienė, head of department for Culture studies and Ethnology.
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VMU Centre for Asian Studies together with clubs “Hashi”, “Hallyu” and “Wu Wei” invites all to spend the late October days in the surroundings of the colorful and exotic cultures. On October 20-24 in Kaunas the citizens and city guests will be welcomed to join VMU Asian Week. During this exciting week of events participants will have a chance to familiarize and get a closer look to the East and Southeast Asian countries.

On October 20th at VMU Small Hall (28 Daukanto st., 2nd floor) the opening of VMU Asian week will take place. Greetings from representative of VMU will be followed by Japan’s ambasador in Lithuania H. E. Kazuko Shiraishi, Peoples Republic of China ambasador H. E. Zengwen Liu, cultural attache in embassy of Indonesia in the kingdom of Denmark Mrs. Epiphania Riris Wusananingdyah, director of Confucius Institute at Vilnius University prof. Zhang Donghui, and mayor of Kaunas city Mr. Andrius Kupčinskas. The first to start our program will be the Languages Day. For the first time in Lithuania Korean and Chinese speech contests will be held. Those who are willing to participate must prepare a short speech in Korean or Chinese. The winners will be rewarded with valuable gifts. For the Japanese language lovers “Hashi” Club prepared a surprise – an interactive Japanese language game. Also, the Indonesian language workshop will be organized. (more…)

On the 21st of September, Nobuki Sugihara, the only remaining son of Chiune Sugihara, visited Kaunas. Mr. Nobuki together with his family visited memorial museum dedicated to his father. Also, the delegation saw Centre for Asian Studies and Ch. Sugihara Reading room which are installed in the former living apartments of Sugihara family when they were living Kaunas in 1939-1940.

It was the first time for Nobuki Sugihara to see Kaunas because he was born in 1951 when Sugiharas have already had returned to Japan. All in all, visits by Sugihara family members are not frequent. Before him, his mother Yukiko Sugihara has visited Kaunas in 2001 and participated in various memorial activities related to Chiune Sugihara. Nevertheless, the personality of Chiune is one of the main factors allowing tight relations between Japan and Lithuania.

Centre for Asian Studies gladly invites everyone to a performance of Xiamen Songs and Dance Theatre from China. The event is organized by the company “Kauno santaka” and it will take place on September 29th, 19.00 at the VMU Great Hall (S. Daukanto st. 28).

Lets welcome our guests from a far-away city Xiamen which is also a partner city of Kaunas. During the event you will have a chance to learn about Chinese culture’s traditions, dances and also meet the artists of the famous theatre. What is more, “Kauno santaka” music performers “Ainiai” and the guests from China will show the collaborative program for everyones pleasure.

This concert is a part of “Kauno santaka” company’s project “Lithuania – a Crossroad for Cultures”. During it the tight connections between many artists from countries such as South Korea and People’s Republic of China were made.

Organizers: company “Kauno santaka”
Partners: Kaunas City Municipality, Xiamen City Municipality, Vytautas magnus University

The entrance is free of charge

On 4 October, Daiva Repečkaitė, junior researcher at CAS, will present a paper titled “Battle for hearts and minds: Eastern Neighborhood Policy and East Asian interests” at the panel on power relations in Central and Eastern Europe of the 4th International Congress of Belarusian Studies (programme of the panel). European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries have come to the spotlight globally due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As new markets and potential political allies, they are also of interest to East Asian countries.

Daiva has been following the developments of the European Neighbourhood Policy for about seven years. In 2008 she received a prize of the European Young Journalist Award for an article on ENP implementation in Ukraine, and she further deepened her knowledge about this topic at the NATO international School in Azerbaijan in February this year. This presentation at the International Congress of Belarusian Studies is a part of the CAS’s new research initiative to map East Asian interests in the region. (more…)

We are happy to announce a call for papers for the 5th annual international students’ conference on Asia. The conference will take place on April 9 at Vytautas Magnus University (V. Putvinskio 23, Kaunas).

If you are interested in East Asian cultures, languages, arts, economics or other areas, this event is just for you. The conference, organized by VMU East Asian Languages ​​and Cultures students, together with the Centre for Asian Studies and the Department of Cultural Studies, is a great opportunity to share your accumulated knowledge, work or research with colleagues in this field and not only, to gain experience and improve your public speaking skills, or even get some inspirations. (more…)

We are sharing the invitation to submit abstracts for the 4th annual Student academic Conference, focusing on Asia. The conference will be held on April 24, 11:00-14:00, V. Putvinskio 23-310 in Kaunas, Lithuania.

This event, which has become an integral part of VMU Asian Week, is organized by VMU Regional Studies Asian specialization students and VMU Center for Asian Studies together with the Department of Cultural Studies. As every year, students from various fields whose work and research touch on the topic of Asia are welcome, both from the humanities, social sciences, arts and other disciplines. (more…)

The National Taiwan Library announced “Guidelines to the National Taiwan Library Fellowship for International Visiting Scholars and Students”.
The library provides Fellowship for experts and scholars to pursue their academic goals in Taiwan studies or Southeast Asia studies. Please click here to read more.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Lithuanian.

It is time for all who are interested in East Asian cultures, languages, economics, politics and more to come together for what has become an annual student research conference, organised by the VMU East Asia Cultures and Languages students.
This conference is a great opportunity to share your knowledge, work and research with colleagues in the field, to try and improve your public speaking skills, to gain experience and to listen to presentations by like-minded people. (more…)

Sorry, this entry is only available in Lithuanian.

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…)