AABS 2021-2022 Grants and Fellowships
The Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies (AABS) offers various grants and scholarships to increase the quality and dissemination of research and other information about Baltic studies.
We are now accepting proposals for our Birnitis, Grundmanis, Saltups, Emerging Scholars, and Dissertation grants and fellowships for the academic year 2021-2022.
Dissertation Grants for Graduate Students
AABS invites applications for grants of up to $4,000 to support doctoral dissertation research and write-up in any field of Baltic Studies. Funds may be used for travel to research sites, equipment, duplication or other needs as specified.
More info: https://aabs-balticstudies.org/grants-fellowships/dissertation/
Research Grants for Emerging Scholars
AABS invites applications for research grants of up to $6,000 in any field of Baltic Studies.
More info: https://aabs-balticstudies.org/grants-fellowships/emerging/
The Aina Birnitis Dissertation-Completion Fellowship in the Humanities for Latvia
The Aina Birnitis Scholarship supports a year of research and writing to help advanced graduate students in the humanities in the last year of Ph.D. dissertation writing. The fellowship provides a $21,000 stipend for one year plus $1,000 for university fees.
More info: https://aabs-balticstudies.org/grants-fellowships/birnitis/
Mudīte I. Zīlīte Saltups Fellowships
AABS invites applications for Short-Term Study or Research Grants for up to eight weeks of study in the United States with a maximum stipend of $10,000.
More info: https://aabs-balticstudies.org/grants-fellowships/saltups/
Jānis Grundmanis Postgraduate Fellowship
The Jānis Grundmanis Postgraduate Fellowship, established in the memory of Dr. Jānis Grundmanis, is an annual fellowship of $20,000 for graduate study in the United States.
More info: https://aabs-balticstudies.org/grants-fellowships/grundmanis/
The application deadline for grants and fellowships for the academic year 2021-2022 is February 1, 2021.
Award notifications will be made in April 2021.
The project The Emergence of New States in Eastern Europe in 1918
The project The Emergence of New States in Eastern Europe in 1918 Lessons for Entire Europe (TENSE), implemented by WiseEuropa, was completed in March 2020. It was a project that focused on the process of building nations after 1918 in Eastern Europe. The project aimed to increase knowledge in a region characterized by common features of processes presenting nations as a system of connected vessels and show the differences between them, placing them in a broader European context. In order to achieve allproject goals, there were established a consortium gathering various actors from Eastern Europe varying from local administration through think-tanks and academia up to journals which published a report and series of articles on the post-First World War nation-building processes in the Eastern Europe and their relevance for current Europe. They were based on a regional approach to the region, trying to extract the main common elements of this period. The main message of these publications was transformed into a public exhibition that was presented in all participant countries and in Brussels in order to reach out to a broader audience in Europe. As part of the project, there were organized open debates with the participation of local experts, scientists, and journalists to stimulate citizens to acquire knowledge in the area covered by the project. There were also published series of publications in widely recognized and well-known Europe-oriented magazines that are available throughout the European Union. The TENSE project also brought together European experts focused on nation-building processes to enrich their research on regional impact in their home countries through the European context of these events and many common points. He also contributed to the creation of a scientific network that influenced public debate in the European Union and later after the project. As part of the project, an exhibition presenting the political situation in Eastern European partner countries was also prepared, which wasshown during debates organized as part of the project. As part of the project, meetings were held debates and presentation of the exhibition on the subject of the project in the following countries:
1) 20th March 2019, in Warsaw, Poland,
2) 25th April 2019, in Kaunas, Lithuania,
3) 10th June 2019, in Riga, Latvia,
4) 16th September 2019, in Tallinn, Estonia,
5) 3rd October 2019, in Pori, Finland,
6) 4th February 2020, in Brussels, Belgium.
International Diplomats’ and Experts’ Discussion on Europe’s Future
VMU Department of Regional studies of the Faculty of Political Science and diplomacy cordially invites to the round table international discussion “European Union after 2019 Parliamentary elections and the approval of the Commission: The New perspective”.
The diplomats and experts will discuss the new European perspective and directions in the context of Brexit and formation of the new Commission cabinet. Will Europe succeed in EU renewal? How will it look like the new European perspective without the United Kingdom? Does the increased number of euro-skeptical political forces in the European Parliament make an impact on EU decision making? What are the expectations of citizens in different EU member states and candidate countries?
The event took place on the 24th of February, 2020, at V. Putvinskis st. 23 – 311.
Participants of the round table discussion:
H.E. Mrs. Claire Lignières-Counathe, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of France Republic to Lithuania;
Proffesor emeritus Mr. Alpo Rusi; served as Finland‘s ambassador to Switzerland and foreign affairs advisor to Finnish president M.Ahtisaari, also senior advisor of the UN General secretary and coordinator for Sarajevo summit (1999) and deputy coordinator of the Stability pact for Western Balkans (1999-2000);
Dr. Mladen S. Mrdalj, professor of international relations and comparative politics of Bosnia and Herzegovina International Burch university and Boston‘s „Northeastern University“;
Dr. Robertas Pogorelis, Press Officer of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Lithuania;
The moderator of the event dr. Sima Rakutienė is Associate professor of European studies and political science, Head of the Department of Regional studies of Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania.
The event is organized as part of the project „Representation of Lithuania‘s interests and citizens in the European Parliament“ results funded by the Research Council of Lithuania (project No. S-LIP-19-65).
Contacts for more information- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sima Rakutienė; el. paštas: sima.rakutiene@vdu.lt
Call for Abstracts: 6th Annual Conference on Contemporary Political Processes
6th Annual Conference on Contemporary Political Processes
CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL PROCESSES: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
24 April, 2020, Kaunas, Lithuania
Scholars and students working in various subfields of political science are invited to submit proposals for the Sixth Annual Conference on Contemporary Political Processes: challenges and opportunities.
The conference is organized by the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy and hosted by Vytautas Magnus University.
The conference aims to enhance discussions in various subfields within the discipline of political science and provide scholars with an opportunity to share the results of their research.
The organizers welcome individual abstracts submissions as well as proposals for full panels and roundtables.
Scholars and students can submit their proposals within the following thematic fields:
– Lithuania in the Global World
– International and National Security
– Regional Studies;
– Challenges to Governance and Public Administration;
– News outlets, Social Media and Information Warfare;
– Comparative Politics;
– Other thematic fields are welcome.
Conference languages: Lithuanian and English
Please use this link to submit your abstract by 1 April 2020. Abstracts should not exceed 200 words.
Notifications of acceptance will be sent by email by 12 April. The conference programme will be announced on 13 April 2020.
There is no conference fee. Travel and living expenses are not covered by the organizers.
For further inquiry: gerda.jakstaite@vdu.lt
International project members’ meeting
On January 21-22, lecturers and researchers from the universities of Ukraine, Sweden, Poland and Estonia visited VMU – guests came here as participants of the Erasmus + project “Rethinking Regional Studies: The Baltic-Black Sea Connection”. VMU is represented in the project by the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy and its aim is to Europeanize the Master’s degree programs in political science at the Universities of Odessa, Lviv, Mariupol and Kiev (Ukraine).
Project members’ meetings and trainings take place in the partner universities: Vytautas Magnus University, University of Tartu (Estonia), Poznan A. Mickiewicz University (Poland), Lund University (Sweden), Mariupol State University (Ukraine), I. Frank National University in Lviv (Ukraine), Odessa National II Mechikov University (Ukraine), T. Shevchenko National University Kiev (Ukraine).
On January 21 – 22, a meeting of all project partners took place at the VU Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy to review the project and prepare for the end of the project.
Reception of foreign partners at Vytautas Magnus University was coordinated by VMU Department of Regional Studies prof. Mindaugas Jurkynas and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy Aistė Žemaitytė.
Debate: POLISH-AMERICAN BILATERAL RELATIONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON REGIONAL SECURITY
Ministry of Foreign Afffairs of the Republic of Lithuania
Vytautas Magnus University
Polish Institute in Vilnius
Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania
Place: Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, Conference Hall (5 flour, Gedimino ave. 51, Vilnius)
Time: 12th November, 2019, 6 pm.
Language: English.
Panelists:
GIEDRIUS ČESNAKAS, ASSOC. PROF. (General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania);
IEVA KARPAVIČIŪTĖ, PhD (Vytautas Magnus University);
ŽYGIMANTAS PAVILIONIS, PhD (member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania; former Ambassador of the Respublic of Lithuania to the U.S., 2010 – 2015)
TOMASZ SMURA, PhD, Director of Research Office, Foreign Policy Programme Director, The Casimir Pulaski Fundation in Warsaw;
Moderator:
ANDŽEJ PUKŠTO, Assoc. Prof. (Vytautas Magnus University)
Main questions of debate: How strong are Polish-American relations currently? What is their influence on security architecture of Eastern and Central-Eastern Europe including the Baltic states? Has the NATO‘s Eastern flank become stronger thanks to it? What is the current state of Eurotalantic relations today and what are the predictions for future? Can we imagine Poland as a main bridge between the US and the EU? Polish – American initiativies and European energy security.
Public Lecture The Changing Media Landscape in a Post-Truth World
Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy is inviting to public lecture The Changing Media Landscape in a Post-Truth World. The lecture will be given by Nicholas Kralev, Executive director of the Washington International Diplomatic Academy, an author and enterpreneur specializin in international diplomacy, media and global travel.
Information has become a commodity that more and more people, businesses, governments, terrorist networks and others are trying to control. The definitions of “fact” and “truth” have become questionable at best and irrelevant at worst, as citizens choose to believe stories that reflect their own agenda and way of thinking. Kralev will address the challenges this creates for both legitimate media organizations and the public, as well as its impact on such sacred journalistic values as objectivity, credibility and trust. He will also discuss the role of social media, information technology and innovation in the future of news-gathering, content-creation and disseminating information.
Public Discussion with VMU Alumni R. Kuncaitis: EU and me – what is in it for a citizen?
Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy is inviting to public discussion with the VMU alumni Dr. Ramūnas Kuncaitis about the EU and his insights from working for the European Commission: EU and me – what is in it for a citizen? During the meeting will be disscused issues concerning why the EU has been created, what it needs now. Dr. R. Kuncaitis will inroduce practical policy (programs, funded projects and procurement), all aspects of working in the EU (EC, Executive Agencies, civil servants, contract and temporary staff), internships, and all other realities including BREXIT.
Dr. R. Kuncaitis joined the European Commission more than 14 years ago. After being responsible for the adult education projects in Erasmus+ predecessor programme, for the last 5 years in the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises he is heading the sector which is managing COSME programme projects, namely, support for entrepreneurs exchanges (Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs), clusters, social entrepreneurship and other entrepreneurial topics. Being VMU alumni he has worked in University’s international office and department of education before moving to Brussels.
Head of European Parliament Information Office Public Lecture
Department of Political Science is inviting to public lecture „THE NEW EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: FACING THE FUTURE OF THE EU“. The lecture will be given by Daiva Jakaitė, Head of European Parliament Information Office in Vilnius, Lithuania. The public lecture will be held in English, on 7-th of October (Monday), at 1pm. (room 311, Putvinskio st. 23).
1997 to 2007 Daiva Jakaitė worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and European Committee under the Government.
Professor’s Egdūnas Račius Latest Article in USA Media
The Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs (Georgetown University, USA) seeks a more just and peaceful world by deepening knowledge and solving problems at the intersection of religion and global affairs through research, teaching, and engaging multiple publics and has published prof. Egdūnas Račius latest article How Turkish is Islam in Lithuania?
Egdūnas Račius is professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic studies at Vytautas Magnus University, Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Muslims in Europe and the Yearbook of Muslims in Europe (both by Brill). His research interests encompass Eastern European Muslim communities and governance of religion (particularly Islam) in post-communist Europe. His most recent monograph is Muslims in Eastern Europe (Edinburgh University Press, 2018).
