Merger of VDU and LEU
On April 27, 2016, the VMU Senate approved the merger process between Vytautas the Great University (VMU) and the Lithuanian University of Education (LEU). It is expected that the consolidation between these two universities will help strengthen the potential of science and studies, especially in the fields of humanities and social sciences - this will ensure the introduction of scientific innovations in the study process and respond to the country's development needs, strengthen Artes Liberales a principle-based university model operating on the principle of network and close association. Also, it will create even better opportunities to educate a comprehensive, civic young person, help to increase the efficiency of all activities and prepare an innovative system for training teachers.
The final merger of LEU and VDU should take place within three years. From the next academic year, new joint study programs will appear both in Kaunas and Vilnius. The number of programs will also be reduced and the problem of low flow of students will be solved - more than 30 percent. the programs of both universities are the same or slightly different. The Lithuanian "Erasmus" exchange program between university students and academic staff will also start this autumn.
Eigirdas Sarkanas, President of the Student Representation of Vytautas Magnus University, says about the merger of LEU and VDU: "From the students' perspective, this step is excellent, as it will help improve the quality of studies, and will give students more opportunities to use the scientific bases of different universities. Of course, there are certain concerns and threats, but we hope that the universities will overcome all future challenges."
VDU is a leading university in the fields of social, humanitarian, arts and biotechnological sciences and studies in Lithuania (MOSTA international assessment, 2015). It also leads in the Baltic countries in terms of the internationality of teachers (QS Ranking, 2015). LEU is the most important Lithuanian university in the field of education, which is gradually consolidating its status in the Central and Eastern European region of the European Union.