The President of the VMU Student Parliament was elected
At the first meeting of the Student Parliament of Vytautas the Great University, representatives of the faculties elected the president and secretary of the parliament, representatives in the VMU Senate and a member of the Audit Commission of the VMU Student Representation (SA). Also, the university's restructuring and strategy plans and further parliamentary communication and meeting schedule were discussed.
Three students ran for the position of the President of the Student Parliament: Emil Starodubov, Daniel Mačichin and Martynas Matusevičius. D. Mačichin received the most support (30 votes) (E. Starodubov – 10 votes, M. Matusevičius – 6 votes). The president-elect named the problems of students in the context of the pandemic, the quality of distance learning and the importance of compromises and meaningful discussions in the work of the parliament as the main priorities in the work of the parliament. Matas Čepurna was elected secretary of the Student Parliament by joint resolution.
Two candidates were nominated to the VDU Senate: bachelor's student Daraab Pathania and doctoral student Andrius Šmitas. A. Šmitas was elected, having collected 28 votes (D. Pathania - 20 votes).
Since the member of the Audit Commission Žygymantas Fokts took the position of coordinator of the Human Resources Committee in the VDU SA office, in order to avoid a conflict of interests, a new member of the commission was elected. Vytautas Valaitis, a representative of the Faculty of Informatics, put forward his candidacy. He got 36 votes in favor (10 votes against).
Student representatives discussed the university restructuring project. Members of Parliament emphasized that the student community lacks information about the reasons and consequences of merging academic departments. Student representatives decided to assemble a working group for this issue.
VDU SA President Paulius Vaitiekus presented the university's strategy plan. It was decided to convene a parliamentary working group to examine this issue: analyze the plan, priorities and submit proposals for possible measures for the implementation of the plan.
The question of the effectiveness of the lecture organization tools used at the university was also raised. It was decided to prepare an appeal to the Institute of Innovative Studies regarding the use of other platforms for organizing distance studies.
The VMU Student Parliament is the highest governing body of the Student Representation (SA). Its members adopt, supplement and amend the statutes, regulations and procedural rules of VDU SA. Also, members of parliament elect and dismiss the president of VDU SA by secret ballot, consider and approve the activity and financial reports of VDU SA. Members of the Student Parliament take care of solving the problems of VMU students and answering the questions that have arisen.