Impressions of VDU SA Delegates from LSS Assembly'24: Knowledge and Community
The Lithuanian Students' Union (LSS) organizes an annual Assembly that unites representatives of higher school self-governments from all over Lithuania. This Assembly, traditionally held on a seaside weekend, is designed to deepen knowledge on the most relevant topics that change according to current trends and challenges. Each Assembly is unique, and this year, the 25th "Let's light a fire for tomorrow" Assembly, which took place on August 23-25, was distinguished by Friday's debates, in which representatives of various Seimas parties participated, in order to celebrate the upcoming elections to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.
The purpose of the debate was to acquaint students with the positions of political parties in the field of education, to highlight the visions of politicians regarding higher education for the coming term, and to give students the opportunity to directly hear the opinions of party representatives on important issues. In this way, students could better understand the point of view of different political forces and prepare to do their civic duty in the upcoming elections. After the debate, the participants had a unique opportunity to ask the politicians personal questions, and the received answers were analyzed in groups in order to formulate conclusions based on the topics assigned to them and provide insights.
The second day of training was focused on group work among representatives of self-government, organized according to the results of preliminary competence studies. Each group had the task of examining in detail the topics assigned to them, discussing and carrying out practical tasks aimed at creating a Union strategy. Saturday was full of intense discussions, teamwork and opportunities not only to learn from the moderators, but also to gain hands-on experience.
In order to forget the intensive work, LSS organized an orientation competition in Palanga. It was a great opportunity to communicate with representatives of other municipalities, and participants learned more about the history of LSS during interactive tasks.
The full weekend program was concluded with a special evening of thanksgiving, awards and fellowship. The celebration was crowned by bonfires and the most anticipated part of the weekend – the LSS 33rd birthday celebration and the commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Road.
Delegates of this year's Assembly VDU SA share their impressions:
"As a first time participant, this event left a special impression. Debates, working groups and other activities provided a lot of new knowledge, and the evening bonfires left unforgettable memories," says VDU SA Social Affairs Coordinator Auksė Zykutė.
"The assembly is an event I look forward to all year. During the event, I meet new people, sing, laugh, increase my competences and learn something new. This year's Assembly surprised with a strong program and activities. It's nice to see how the organizers work hard for us and give us such opportunities", shares VDU SA Organizational Affairs Coordinator Miglė Baigytė.
"I saw how strong and united the Lithuanian Student Union is. I am glad that it is represented by people with so many ideas, working for a better tomorrow", says Ugnė Šiaulytė, a member of VDU SA.
"The LSS Assembly left great impressions: it was very interesting to discuss with politicians face to face, participate in working groups and contribute to the development of the LSS strategy. It was a valuable experience that gave rise to many new ideas and encouraged further interest", says VDU SA Vice President Vitalija Jakubaitytė.
"This is an event that I will remember for a long time. I am very happy that I had the opportunity to experience the Assembly, meet representatives of other municipalities and gain a lot of new knowledge. I thank the organizers for a unique weekend, and I wish that the LSS bonfires will burn in hearts for a long time to come!"
