dr. Renáta Bzdilová lecture about Slovakia

During “Faculty days 2018” it was a great pleasure to have foreign guest lecture “Slovakia as an International Actor” Dr. Renáta Bzdilová from Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košiciach (Slovakia).
R. Bzdilová has visited university in the frame of Erasmus teaching mobility program.

International discussion on global development issues

On the 19th of April international discussion „Focus on development: development cooperation policies and challenges“ will take place at the Faculty of Political science and diplomacy of Vytautas Magnus university. The discussion will focus on the issues covering global development problems and the development cooperation and policy agendas of different international organizations and national priorities.

The speakers – Arnoldas Pranckevičius, head of Lithuanian representation of the European Commission, Beth Richardson, representative of Canada Embassy for the Baltic states, prof. Alpo Rusi, Finnish diplomat, ambassador, professor and Violeta Motulaitė, Lithuanian diplomat, ambassador, head of development cooperation department of Lithuanian ministry for foreign affairs- will discuss the challenges and perspectives within global development cooperation.

The moderator of the discussion dr. Sima Rakutiene, vice-dean at the Faculty of political science and diplomacy- highlights that “EU is a leading donor in global development aid but in Lithuania  this policy still does not attract much of attention”.

The event will take place at 11.00, in VMU Small Hall (  S.Daukanto g. 28),  on Thursday,19th of April. For more information please contact sima.rakutiene@vdu.lt

Centenary of Independence of Finland: experts’ discussion

On the 18th of December experts’ discussion devoted to reminiscing and analyze the centenary of the independence of Finland took place at the Faculty of political science and diplomacy of Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas.

His Excellency Mr. Christer Michelsson, Finnish Ambassador to Lithuania,  Mr. Henrik Meinander, professor of Helsinki University, also researchers of Vytautas Magnus university-  dr. Linas Venclauskas, dr. Giedrius Janauskas, dr. Sima Rakutienė, dr. Tomasz Blaszcak and others –  discussed Finnish role in the region, historical and political relations with Sweden and Russia, socio-political transformations of  Finnish society.

Professor Henrik Meinander presented his book „A History of Finland: directions, structures, turning points“. The book highlights how Finland “gradually transformed and maturing into a conscious nation, independent state and skillful adapter of modern technology“.

Finnish Parliament declared the independence of the country on the 6th of December in 1917.

The event took place in V.Putvinskis st. 23 – 312, at 14.00.

 

More information: Vice- dean dr. Sima Rakutienė ( sima.rakutiene@vdu.lt )

Swedish Ambassador M.C.Lundqvist gave public lecture

 

On Thursday,  the 30th of November at 13.30, Swedish Ambassador Maria Christina Lundqvist  gave public lecture “More women- more peace. Swedish feminist foreign policy”.  It took place in VMU Small Hall ( S.Daukantas st. 28  – 205). Her Excellency Maria Christina Lundqvist raised the issue of women role in national, regional and world politics.

After the event Swedish ambassador met faculty and university members in Rector’s office to discuss the future plans and projects.

For more information, please contact dr. Sima Rakutiene, vice-dean at the Faculty of Political science and Diplomacy ( sima.rakutiene@vdu.lt )

 

 

Irish Ambassador to Lithuania D. Noonan visited VMU

His Excellency David Noonan, Irish Ambassador to Lithuania, visited the Faculty of Political Science and Diplomacy (VMU). During his visit, the Ambassador donated books, lectured at the University, and met with university staff and students.

This visit is valuated as strengthening cultural and academic ties between Lithuania and Ireland. We believe that this cooperation will evolve into other great joint initiatives.

Visit of Israeli journalists-analysts

On the 19th – 22nd of September, well known Israeli journalists-analysts visited Lithuania: Stephane Cohen, analyst for the Institute for National Security Studies and director of The Israel Project Diplomatic Program, and Neri Zilber, analyst and journalist at the Rubin Center for International Research at the IDC Herzliya.
 
The journalists were interested in the geopolitical and security issues in Lithuania and the Baltics, also issues concerning Lithuanian Jewish history and heritage.
 
On September 21st, the guests gave a lecture in Vytautas Magnus University on the following topic: “From the Arab Spring to the Arab Winter”.
After the lecture there was a meeting with the VMU academic community and also visits to the Faculty of Political Sciences and Diplomacy and prof. L. Donskis library.
Stephane Cohen is the director for the diplomatic programme The Israel Project. He is also an analyst, journalist and blogger.
Neri Zilber is a journalist and analyst for the Rubin Center for International Research at the IDC Herzliya. He has publications in international news outlets, frequently writes articles for Guardian, Washington post, New York times and etc.

Development Politics of the EU and Lithuania: discussion

Public discussion was held on the 25th of April about Development Politics of the EU and Lithuania.

Experts:  Mrs. Violeta Motulaitė, head of development cooperation department at Lithuania’s Ministry for foreign affairs and previous Lithuania’s Ambassador to Moldova; Saulius Mykoliūnas, Unesco expert, professor Liudas Mažylis and dr. Sima Rakutienė, Vice-dean of the Faculty of Political science and diplomacy discussed and analyzed development cooperation and the problematic issues.

Discussion: Can We Create Stable Europe?

The increasing challenges to the stability of Europe from the Russia’s aggression on the Eastern part of the continent, the decreasing respect to democracy and rule of law in the neighbouring regions, intensive migration and lack of stability on the Southern neighbourhood of the European Union, as well as uncertainty about the EU after BREXIT forces to discuss – Can We Create Stable Europe?

The discussion was organized by the Department of Political Science at Vytautas Magnus University, with participation:

Ms Rasa Juknevičienė, member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, former Minister of Defence, Vice – president of NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Deputy Chair of the Committee on National Security and Defence at Seimas of RL.

Mr. Matthieu Grandpierron, political analyst, junior researcher at Ecole Polytechnique (France) in international relations and lecturer in geopolitics and comparative politics at ICES – Catholic University of Vendée;

Moderator – Mr. Giedrius Česnakas PhD, lecturer of Department of Political Science.

The discussion  took place on 3rd of May.

 

Public Lecture of Danish Ambassador Dan. E. Frederiksen

Danish ambassador Dan E. Frederiksen gave a public lecture  “DENMARK IN THE WORLD: foreign policy priorities and actions” and met the Faculty’s community by  on March 2, 2017.

The ambassador presented Danish foreign policy and discussed the measures of how a small country as Denmark might use while conducting foreign policy. The friendship, bilateral relations, historical ties between Lithuania and Denmark were discussed as well.

Danish Ambassador Dan E. Frederiksen has an impressive diplomatic career. Previously, he was also an Ambassador in Uganda, South Africa and other African countries. He is accredited to Lithuania from 2015.