This and next year Baltic states will celebrate multiple anniversaries commemorating the establishment of diplomatic relations with East Asian states: 100 years since the first bilateral relations and 30 years since re-establishment. On this occasion, the Centre for Asian studies is inviting researchers interested in East Asia and Baltic states to submit proposals to an international academic conference “A Century of Connections: Historical ties Between the Baltic and East Asia Regions”, which will be taking place at Vytautas Magnus University on March 4-5, 2022.

The event is dedicated to commemorating memorable historical events uniting Baltic and East Asian regions since the interwar to these days: de jure recognition of the Baltic states; interwar diplomatic communication; ties during the period of Soviet occupation; contemporary state-level, cultural and societal relations. The conference is inviting participants from various academic disciplines to share their research on the topic of ties uniting Baltic and East Asia. The organizers do not restrict academic approaches and invite speakers to give presentations in various fields of humanities and social sciences, including history, political science, economy, etc.  

Applications can be submitted until January 10^th, 2022 via e-mail: conference.asc@vdu.lt. Application forms and detailed information is provided in the attached document. The results about selected applications and conference panels will be announced on January 17^th. Priority will be given to those submitting panel proposals. Conference participation fee is 30 EUR. Presentations will be read in English. Both online and in-person participation is possible.

We would like to invite all 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 May 26th, from 13:00.

Bachelor thesis defense of East Asian Cultures and Languages will take place on June 10-11th, 10:00.

This year all defenses will take place online in virtual defense rooms. Aiming to ensure that defenses would go fluently, we ask those, interested in participating to register via e-mail: diana.jovaisiene@vdu.lt.

This month VMU Centre for Asian studies successfully concluded the project with the objective to create a Japanese language textbook for guides. The material for conversations provided in the textbook “Vienas vienas… キコエマスカ” allows to gain necessary communication skills and knowledge needed for the tourism sector in Lithuania.  This is the first Japanese language textbook for guides in Lithuania.

As the number of Japanese tourists arriving in Lithuania is growing, the need of Japanese-speaking guides is growing alongside. Currently two existing Japanese-Lithuanian dictionaries, especially online dictionary jishokun.lt are very useful for Lithuanians working with the tourist groups. (more…)

Admission to master’s programs has started in Vytautas Magnus University. Therefore, Centre for Asian Studies would like to invite those who are interested in China, Japan or Korea to apply for the East Asia region Studies program. Applications are accepted until June 1, 2021 (for non-EU citizens) and July 1, 2021 (for EU citizens).

Citizens of selected countries can apply for Lithuania’s national scholarships that cover full tuition.

East Asia region studies (EARS) postgraduate program is the first and the only one graduate program in Lithuania and Baltic States that offers English courses in the field of East Asian contemporary politics and society. The program has been running since 2007 and is constructed on an interdisciplinary / multidisciplinary basis of regional knowledge. (more…)

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…)

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.

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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…)

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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…)