After the independence of Lithuania was restored, for the very first time, the Minister of Education and Science paid a visit to USA to present five Lithuanian science valleys, which are currently being developed, for American science and business representatives. VGTU Rector Alfonsas Daniūnas went along with the Lithuanian delegation to USA. During the visit, the delegation visited universities and scientific research centres and institutes in Washington DC, Huston, Boston and Chicago.

On 4 March, the first day of the visit in USA, the Minister of Education and Science Gintaras Steponavičius, VGTU Rector and the Rector of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences met representatives of Washington DC Lithuanian American Community and educators of local American Lithuanian schools to discuss on the issues of education and the preservation of Lithuanian identity.

VGTU and LSMU Rectors noted that Lithuanian emigrants who don’t know or have a poor knowledge of Lithuanian language can choose Lithuanian study programmes in English language. What is even more, they are now provided with an opportunity to choose distance study programmes.

Annually, the Ministry of Education and Science financially covers and gives grants for 1 hundred Lithuanian emigrant students to study in Lithuania. At present, VGTU offers twelve study programmes in English. In order to strengthen the activity development of technological sciences and Lithuanian technical universities, during the meetings VGTU Rector presented the University as well as study and science opportunities at VGTU.

On Friday, 9 March, the delegation visited Illinois Technical University, where opportunities for research and development of Lithuanian biosciences as well as exchange programmes with Lithuanian universities were discussed. In addition to this, the question of integration of new businesses into education system was disputed. The delegation also gave Illinois Technical University a personal present from Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus with his autograph. V. Adamkus is an alumnus of the Institute where he received a diploma in Civil Engineering.