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.

On December 13, VMU signed the exchange agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with Akita International University (AIU) 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.

AIU was founded in 2004. Unique in Japan for offering an International Liberal Arts education entirely in English, it is on the cutting edge of Japanese higher education. AIU is a small (800 students), but very international university. It has 122 partners in 37 countries with around 300 exchange students per year.

For more information, please refer to the homepage of AIU

On January 30, 2011 the Senate of VMU approved the new BA program “Cultures and Languages of East Asian Countries”.  The program is planned to be launched from September 2012 by VMU Faculty of Humanities. 

During a 4 years long program the particular attention will be paid to Chinese, Japanese and Korean history, religion, arts, folklore. The program aims to provide a deep understanding of cultural specifics of East Asian countries, as well as their traditional heritage developed in thousands of years. The students will have an opportunity to gain fluency in one of languages of the region and to acquire basic knowledge in second language. The main aim of the East Asian cultures and languages program is  to prepare qualified specialists in the field of Humanities, who would demonstrate a deep knowledge of East Asian countries’ cultural characteristics and the processes of cultural development, as well as fluency in at least one of East Asian languages, which could be used effectively in praxis. (more…)

After a half year break Korean language will be taught at VMU again. The first levels of Korean language will be taught by the lecturer of the Centre for East Asian Studies Jinseok Seo, while the third level will be taught by the visiting lecturer Dr. Jeongim Hyun from Sogang University, who is a graduate of Sorbonne University.
Korean language has been taught in Kaunas since 2007 (continously since 2008), and VMU has become the first and the only university in Baltic countries offering the courses of this exotic language. This isolated Asian language, which has no comparatives in the world, features a special writing system called hangeul. This writing system is less complicated compared to Japanese or Chinese writing systems, and therefore it is easier to master. However, Korean language has many particular grammatical constructions and numerous levels of the polite speech, thus making it complicated to learn for the Westerners.

Please contact the Centre of Foreign Languages for the availability of Korean language courses. (more…)

In the end of the year 2011 alumni of East Asian study program sent their greetings to the Centre for East Asian Studies on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Centre. In their greeting letters the former students shared different memories, be it nostalgic or ironic, about their study years. You can find their greetings here.

Since 2009, when the first generation of students graduated, alumni of the East Asian study program make a growing generation of East Asian specialists in Lithuania. We can be proud of them, because most of them are active in social activities and have successfully found employment in Lithuania, Europe and China. Some of them continue their studies in Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian universities.

We kindly invite other alumni to share their thoughts and memories as well. Please send your letters and photos to the head of Centre for East Asian Studies Dr. Aurelijus Zykas.

In Lithuanian book stores readers can already find the Lithuanian translation of contemporary Korean writer Kim Younghua’s book  “Kas gi nutiko lifte įstrigusiam vyriškiui?” (“What’s happened to a man stuck in the elevator?”). This book can be regarded as a starting point for Lithuanian readers’ acquaintance with contemporary Korean prose. The book is translated by the lecturer of VMU Centre for Asian Studies Seo Jinseok, who is the only translator of Korean literature in Lithuania after the independence. This is the third book he has translated into Lithuanian.

Kim Young-hua is one of the most famous contemporary writers in South Korea. He is the winner of numerous literature prizes. His popularity is evident in the comments of European readers who call him “Korean Murakami”. The critics of literature emphasize the exceptional esthaeticism and eroticism of Kim Young-ha works. His books are thought to meet the expectations and taste of the young generation in Korea. The stories of his novels often remind a movie or drama. In his works one can find elements of fiction, mystery, romantic and horror literature. (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…)