On March 31, 2012, the new Website “Asian studies in Lithuania” was launched. It is supposed to become an electronic data base where data regarding the history and present situation of Asian studies in Lithuania is collected. Here you can find the information about the personalities (scholars, travelers, educators, translators), working in the field or Asian studies, the books and dissertations on Asian countries, the academic and cultural events, the resources (library funds, art collections, textbooks, etc.) needed for studies, etc.

This website deals with the mission to promote Asian studies in Lithuania. Its main aims are to fasten the access of Lithuanian society to the information on Asian studies; to enhance the mutual cooperation and sharing the information among the scholars; to increase the understanding about the situation of Asian studies in Lithuania abroad. (more…)

Asian Studies Centre invites to a lecture Japan’s environmental politics since 1945, which will be delivered via Internet by Linas Didvalis, a doctoral candidate at International Christian University (Tokyo). Lecture will be held on March 28 (Wednesday) at the Seminar Room of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy (Gedimino 44, room 103), 13:00-14:30. The lecture is part of the MA course “Postwar Japan’s Society and Politics”.

This lecture is an introduction to both domestic and international Japan’s environmental politics from the late 1940s to the most recent developments. The first half of it will be a historical review of major events and the economical, political and sociological factors that caused them. This will be followed by an introduction to some important academic research and current debates on topics related to Japan’s environmental politics. Throughout the lecture a list of more detailed study sources will be provided for those students who are interested in starting their own independent research in this field.

Head of VMU Centre for Asian Studies Dr. Aurelijus Zykas was awarded a prize at the competition of young researchers for his academic research titled “Policy of country image: experiences of Japanese public diplomacy in the 21st century”. The official awarding ceremony will take place on March 27 in Lithuanian Science Academy. Lithuanian Science Academy established the competition of best academic works in 2010. Every year there are selected 4  best academic works of Lithuanian scholars and 10 works of young researchers. Among them, only two are selected in the field of Social sciences and Humanities.

More detailed information about competition results is to be found in the website of Lithuanian Science Academy.

On February 17-23 VMU delegation visited three academic institutions in the Republic  of China (Taiwan), where they discussed the possibilities to create a joint study program in the field of East Asian studies, as well as issues of possible student and teachers exchange, collaboration in academic research. The delegation visited  the following institutions: National University of Political Science (NCCU), University of Tamkang and University of Providence.

The members of the delegation were prof. Š. Liekis (Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy), Z. Baltrėnienė (Head of International Office), Assoc.prof. A. Budriūnaitė (lecturer at the Dept. of Philosophy) and Dr. A. Zykas (Head of the Centre for Asian Studies). (more…)

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On February 12-17 VMU delegation visited three academic institutions in the People’s Republic of China: Minzu University, Tianjin International Culture Institute and China Institute of International Studies.  During the meetings VMU delegation discussed the possibilities to create a joint degree program in the field of East Asian studies, possibilities for students’ and teachers’ exchange, collaboration in academic research.

On February 14 in  Minzu University  (Beijing) the agreement for international exchange and the memorandum of collaboration were signed. These agreements will open new possibilities for students’ and academic exchange. Minzu University is established for the ethnic minorities of China and it focuses on cultural, philosophical and religious research of ethnic minorities, which makes this institution unique. This is the first bilateral agreement between VMU and the institution of higher education from the People’s Republic of China.

On February 15 long discussions regarding the collaboration were held at Tianjin International Culture Institute. Collaboration with this institution will improve the quality of Chinese language and Chinese culture related course teaching in VMU East Asian languages and cultures program and  East Asian studies program. For this purpose delegation members discussed the possibilities to invite lecturers from China, to organize joint summer schools, to encourage Chinese students to study at VMU. (more…)

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On January 8, VMU signed the exchange agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with Gifu National University in Japan. Both institutions have already started discussions about possibilities of academic and student exchange, financial support and scholarships, collaboration in joint research and other projects.

Gifu University is in the geographic centre of Japan, in the montainous region between the biggest cities Tokyo and Osaka. Famous diplomat, Mr. Chiune Sugihara was born in Gifu prefecture in 1900. He saved Jewish people in Lithuania during the period of 1939-40.

For more information about the University, please refer to the University’s homepage .

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Recently German publisher LAP LAMBERT released the book “Between Dragons and Bridges: Production of Relational Knowledge about China” written by the former VMU student Daiva Repečkaitė. In her book the author explores changing images of China from post-soviet country to the world’s super power through cheap production provider.

More information about the book can be found in Amazon.com website.

Daiva Repečkaitė studied Japanese language at VMU and was an active member of students’ club “Hashi”, in 2007 she completed her BA studies in political science at Vilnius University. Later she graduated from an MA program at the University of Central Europe (Budapest). Presently she is a PhD student of cultural anthropology at the Free University of Amsterdam and works as a senior specialist in the Institute of Public Politics and Management. She also studied in South Korea, Japan, Israel,and Sweden. Her interests include contemporary processes in East Asian region, migration and construction of images.

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…)