During the implementation of this project, the latest energy-efficient technology will be installed in order to attract investors, who are looking for opportunities to invest in Lithuania and the Baltic Sea region.

While implementing the project, monitoring and evaluation of the design and construction processes will be carried out. "Longlife Invest" project partners will assess and certify energy saving, CO2 emissions reduction, and long-term dormitory operating expenditure according to "Longlife" guidelines.

During the first stage of "Longlife" project, five sustainable, energy efficient prototype apartment houses in Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Germany, and Russia were developed. The pre-selected certified materials, components, and new technologies for the prototype buildings are in line with the "Longlife" standards and requirements. This project aims to reduce CO2 emissions, fossil energy consumption, and operating costs. It is estimated that the "Longlife" building owners will save up to 40 per cent of operating costs during the period of their tenancy.

What are the major issues and trends of today's marketing? Are 4Ps still valid? Is it possible to measure the impact of social marketing on sales volumes? All the answers are in this video interview...

"Vilnius, together with such cities like Copenhagen, Berlin, and Cape Town, is in the list of modern ambitious cities that are considered to be the best cities to live in. Our university has a long and rich architecture, urban planning, and construction science traditions, therefore this is the best point to strat discovering the capital of Lithuania," said Asta Radzevičienė, VGTU Vice-Rector for International Relations.

"My professor once told me that Lithuanian organizations are strong and very active and I wanted to come here to see this. I was also interested in the ways you collaborate with municipality and enterprises in the field of sustainable environment development," Yoshiko Asano, the group's coordinator, told about her expectations.

Under the programme of the visit, the Japanese delegation visited the municipality of Kaunas, Vytautas Magnus University, Alytus regional recycling center, and the municipality of Vilnius, where the development strategies of the capital of Lithuania were presented. Besides, guests visited waste recycling ans sewage treatment companies operating in Vilnius. 

The new 110 sq. meters laboratory consists of two rooms with Microsoft, Nokia and Apple classes. Students can use the latest equipment - Nokia cell phones running Symbian and Windows Phone operating systems, Microsoft Xbox, iPhones and iPads - in the development process of the innovative solutions.

"Multimedia and computer design studios are very popular at our University. These include working with sound, video, animation and text. We believe, that students of these specialities will be regular visitors to this laboratory, and we'll witness exceptional projects to be initiated here," said VGTU Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Habil. Antanas Čenys.  

Projects and term papers developed by students at the laboratory will be accepted as professional practice by the University teachers.

"The rapid development of mobile applications laboratories network at Lithuanian higher education institutions reaffirm that mobile solutions is one of the economic engines of tomorrow. Together with our partners we want to give young and talented people the opportunity not only to practically apply their knowledge but also to help them earn money and start up their business," said Antanas Zabulis, the President of Omnitel.

The Laboratory partner Microsoft Lithuania hopes that the new space will allow students to develop  world-class projects.

"Mobile applications are booming in Lithuania. Provided with the new infrastructure, Lithuanian students will be able to successfully develop applications for both local and international markets. We also welcome young Lithuanian programmers to take advantage of financial support - Microsoft together with Nokia is implementing 18 million Euro project "AppCampus". Financial support is also available to applications developers for the fastest-growing in popularity Windows Phone platform," said Kristijonas Kaikaris, CEO of Microsoft Lithuania.

AppCamp promises further expansion of mobile applications laboratories network.

"In the near future, the laboratories of this kind will operate not only in Lithuanian high schools but also in foreign countries. The common goal of these laboratories, which are consolidating academic and business communities, is to inspire the new generation to practically apply their knowledge in the development of innovative solutions," said Tomas Martūnas, the leader of AppCamp.

The new Mobile Applications Laboratory is situated at VGTU Laboratories block (Saulėtekis Ave. 11, Vilnius). Six VGTU students' teams were competing for the possibility of offering the best possible laboratory interior design. Students promise to create a highly creative environment at the laboratory for both the development process of mobile solutions and after-class activities.

The first three Mobile Applications Laboratories operate at Vilnius University (VU), Kaunas Technological University (KTU), and Klaipeda State College. VU laboratory was opened in collaboration with Chinese telecommunications company Huawei, KTU laboratory was opened in collaboration with Samsung Electronics Baltics, the laboratory in Klaipeda was opened in collaboration with Sony. Omnitel and AppCamp made the input to the opening of all the above-mentioned laboratories.

"Moscow State University is one of the most prestigious universities in Russia and is among 100 best universities in the world. The opportunity to develop the new joint study programme is very important to VGTU," said VGTU Rector A. Daniūnas.

"We believe, that 3000 students who are currently enrolled in our faculty need the international experience, thus we develop relations with many foreign countries. We prepare distant learning courses with universities in America. While choosing partner universities, we pay attention to their level of scientific research in the global context.  VGTU researchers in the field of real estate are well known at the international level, thus, we believe, our students will benefit from our collaboration with VGTU and gain great practical experience. Moreover, our students will be able to communicate not only in English but also Russian," said Prof. Vladimir Echenike, the Vice-dean of MSU Faculty of Economics.

Under the agreement, both universities are committed to develop and start the realization of the joint second cycle study programme "Buildings and their environment sustainable development" before September 2014. During the project, VGTU will employ 10 MSU scientists who together with VGTU representatives will work on the development of the new programme.  Since the new study programme will be based on distant learning, students from all over Lithuania and Russia will be able to enroll to it. The project also emphasizes the implementation of the latest intellectual and biometric technologies that will help to individualize the learning process.

The new joint study programme will combine the objectives and content of different study subjects, will introduce curriculum innovations and apply learning methods that focus on students' creativity and special skills development. Graduates of the programme will be competitive not only in Lithuania, but also in the international labour market, their employment prospects will improve.

„Our invention is able to recognize a moving human identity. Due to this unique feature its appliance could be very wide - starting with the border control point and finishing with commercial space and business centers. Even more - such device could be applied in the audience researches, that are analyzing human reactions, or in any other situations, when human identities need to be recognized from a big flow of people, for example, in terrorism prevention“ - says project co-ordinator Tomas Grigalis.

No doubts for this moving human identification device practical applications has a representative of the business sector, director of JSC „Nsoft“ Lukas Radvilavicius, that also participated in project. “This kind of identity authentication method is not used in Lithuania for two reasons: high cost of equipment and personal data control. Meanwhile, the situation in the European Union is different: practical applications can be found in many places - from sports clubs to airports”, - claims L. Radvilavičius.

 Two and a half of the year Vilnius Gediminas Technical University coordinated „Eureka“ project „Biometrics, identification and security technology of electronic services in business“, that was financed by European Union. The project involved partners from the Czech Republic and South Korea, also a representative of the business sector JSC „Nsoft“. „Eureka“ is a European cross-border cooperation program, that supports market-oriented research, development and innovation projects, which are initiated by business, industry and science. The project aims to reduce the divide between science and business, also increase the correlation value.

"This is a sorrowful date to our University, that is why today we have to be together. I am glad that all University staff participated in this memorable campaign," said Rector A. Daniūnas.

13 January 1991, at night, when the Soviet army seized Lithuanian radio and television, 14 people were killed, among whom was VGTU student Rolandas Jankauskas. VGTU community members payed honour to those who died for Lithuania's independence in one-minute silence and visited Antakalnis cemetery.

During his teaching career A. Belarbi delivered lectures in over a dozen modules related to construction engineering, published more than 160 articles on technical science issues, was an academic advisor for more than 45 master and doctoral theses.  The professor is also a member of American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) and American Concrete Institute (ACI). For his scientific activities A. Belarbi was decorated with Earthquake Engineering Scientific Institute, The Masonry Society as well as many other awards.    

A. Belarbi is going to deliver a workshop for doctoral students on “Unified theory of concrete structures” in SRL 526 at 12 o’clock on Thursday. Whereas at 12 o’clock on Friday, the professor is going to deliver a lecture to students on “Advances in Shear Strengthening using Fiber Reinforced Polymers” in SRC 307. Lectures will be delivered in English.

A short biography of the professor, resume and a list of publications in English can be accessed from here.

"During the project implementation, VGTU got into contact with our partners in S. Korea. Within three years we have built a community of people united by a warm relationship with this country. The unique experience of the project is Korean students' contribution to VGTU - for two years, students-volunteers delivered Korean language and culture courses, and were among the most active participants of Mothers Union and ESN campaigns. Good experience gained in collaboration with partners in South Korea is particularly important and valuable to the development of relations not only with this country, but also with other countries in Asia. Asia is one of VGTU international partnership development priorities", said VGTU International Relations Vice-Rector and project manager A. Radzevičienė.

Before the New Year, EUKLA project results were discussed by Lithuanian and Korean students, VGTU teachers who delivered lectures in South Korea, representatives of VGTU International Relations Office, representatives of the Korean and Lithuanian Culture Club "HAN" and other guests during EUKLA closing event organized by VGTU and VGTU Erasmus Students' Network (ESN). During the event, the participants shared the academic, cultural, professional, and personal experience gained during the project.

EUKLA project photo exhibition will be open from  January 16 through February 9 at VGTU Library Gallery.

VGTU leaders signed a cooperation agreement with the National Taipei University of Technology and Kainan University. The memorandum of agreement provides for scientific and studies process cooperation, implementation of academic staff and students' exchange programmes, joint scientific research, and inviting partners to scientific conferences and symposia. The first students from Taiwan arrive to study at VGTU under the students exchange programme in September 2013.

At the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), the cooperation agreement with which was signed in this summer, A. Daniūnas and A. Radzevičienė met the university leadership and discussed further cooperation strategies. Our representatives also visited NTUST Centre for Research and Technology Transfer.

During the visit, the Rector and Vice-Rector were kindly invited to the National Jiaotong (Chiao Tung) University (NCTU) and Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). ITRI, which employs over 6000 researchers and possesses 17 000 patents, is the most important industrial research organization in Taiwan. The chairman of the Institute shared the experience of research commercialization.

VGTU Rector A. Daniūnas and International Relations Vice-Rector A. Radzevičienė's visit to Taiwan lasted from December 9 to 15.

During a meeting with the guest, the rector of VGTU Alfonsas Daniūnas signed an agreement on further cooperation between Riga Technical and Vilnius Gediminas Technical Universities. The document extended long-lived cooperation between the universities.

VGTU and Riga Technical University along with other technical universities of Baltic region, have sought to consolidate scientific and pedagogical potential for a long time.

Further development of international relations, framing and introduction of joint study programmes were among topics touched upon during the meeting with the rector of Riga Technical University L. Ribickis.

One of such joint programmes, introduced in 2011-2012 academic year, is a double degree “Environmental Management and Clean Production” postgraduate study programme implemented in the Faculty of Environmental Engineering.

The rector of Riga Technical University also attended 16^th Conference of Science Historians which was hosted by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University on 6 December.

"Lithuania no longer has a three million population. This is a great loss for Lithuanian small towns, which has also affected Lithuanian cities. The democratic centralism, which has dominated for many years, will not solve problems in our cities and towns. These problems can be solved only by a true urban leadership and urban community. Town leaders need to meet with their regional partners, entrepreneurs from abroad on a regular basis in order to present their city's potential advantages, their infrastructure, and human resources. This would help attract business organizations and would give economy a boost, only then can we talk about urban planning and urban management," said Robertas Dargis, the President of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists.

During the event, the measures to limit the chaotic urban development, the strategies to promote the vitality of town centers, questions on what the Lithuanian urban policy should be, the territory planning system that would ensure sustainable development and would promote efficient efforts to modernize territories of towns were discussed.

"Cities are losing population density. Although Vilnius can comfortably accommodate one million people, the capital has a much smaller population. Demographic problems are a major challenge for both Europe and Lithuania. We have chosen a renovation model which is unsuitable for a modern family. Therefore, we must implement the planning system according to the established, uniform standards," said Assoc. Prof. Mindaugas Pakalnis about key issues affecting the Lithuanian urban strategy.

Also, the European Union and the United Nations urban policies, urban structures renovation, the structural changes of "shrinking" cities and towns, the prospect of Lithuanian cities, cultural heritage and landscape preservation issues were discussed during the forum.

"This is already 18^th scientific forum organized by VGTU Faculty of Business Management, which this year has officially gained the status of the international conference that united the leading scientists in the fields of economics, business and management to share their ideas on and discuss different issues," in her welcoming speech said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jelena Stankevičienė, the Dean of VGTU Faculty of Business Management.

Conference participants were welcomed by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) Rector Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alfonsas Daniūnas, who said that "green" architecture should be viewed as the sustainable development strategy with present and future opportunities for future generations. "The focus of this discussion should be a man. Each of us has an obligation to be the advocate of sustainable development, its strategist and proponent," the Rector said.

The event was organized by Architecture Institute at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University together with Office of the Environmental Protection Committee of the Seimas.

What determines the entrepreneurial success of the university of which ensemble of MIT-alumni companies would make the 11th largest economy in the world and how the university has developed 77 Nobel Prize Laureates, we have found out in the conversation with Marie-Teresa Vander Sande.

How do you feel working for the world's leading university?

Very honoured and very proud. Sometimes, I look around and I think: „We work with the best faculty, I have fabulous colleagues and I work with the best corporations and organizations across the world and I get to travel“. MIT has very dear place in my heart. I’ve been in MIT my entire adult life. I don’t have any degrees from MIT, but I married to a faculty member, professor. I worked at MIT off and on since middle of 80’s. MIT even helped my children to enter the college, because we have a children scholarship programme. So it’s a
very special place.

Is it people who make it special?

Yeah, well, the aura, the reputation, but it is the people. And it is big ideas – what’s very particular about MIT is that it has the challenge for having people who can come up with new approaches.

What is special about MIT success of business and science collaboration?

We are founded on a basis of a “Mind and hand” - that helps. The Industry has been always part of MIT in the 20^th and 21^st centuries. The faculty have been encouraged to consult, they have consulting privilege. And that means that the faculty have their fingers on a pulse of the Industry. Most of them, in Engineering and Management, are very interested in what Industry is doing. There are a lot of programmes on campus, there are research programmes of consortia – it’s a model where the research agenda is supported by and shared among a lot of members and it’s very vibrant atmosphere around the development. But the point is that all of those faculty and all of those students are constantly dealing with the Industry, with industrial problems. And the faculty are bringing this all back to classrooms and teaching it. A lot of those classes are really all about the guest speakers and discussions with industrial people and there are a lot of engineering classes which are actually built on constant projects in the industry. That kind of interweaving keeps strengthening, keeps forcing MIT faculty and the industry collaboration. And a lot of donors, people who are getting big money, they  have made their money in the industry, but they came out from MIT and they feel a connection to MIT and they want to support it and further promote entrepreneurship and innovations.

Do you think that technical universities should consider themselves as an important part of economy because of innovations?

Yeah. And certainly they are local authorities. I think universities have the responsibility, but a technical university has even greater responsibility, because it is more likely that you are going to get the ideas from the technical university, which can get into the market. I think you have the responsibility to nurture, to develop an ecosystem around you to attract not only start-up companies, but people who want to come just because you were there. They want your brain power, they want to hire your students – that is the most important product – in a form of partnerships with the faculty or a lab and in technology they can license or they can develop in collaboration. There is the definite responsibility for technical universities.

What should the first VGTU step on a way of building a bridge to MIT be?

Join the ILP – that’s my first advice! Then you get to meet everybody and decide what you want to do from there, if anything.

So it’s not that impossible?

I don’t think anything is impossible, I just think you have to have a will and it’s not only money. When you think about it – it’s not such a big fee. But you have to be able to travel, have the time to do something with what you learn and that is sometimes what stops other organizations from working with us. They realize it’s not just paying the fee to be a member in a country club. That’s an investment of time and the right people. If it’s not the right people, not the right attitude – things don’t happen. Companies are really scared to try new things. It’s just all about the product and the problem is that they are not looking to the future, and the future is only 3-5 years, all of the sudden is that time and they squandered, because they haven’t been looking far enough in the future.

Everyone says that future belongs to innovations. Could you name the field which may be the most significant or the most successful for business, for science in the near future?

I don’t know. I don’t think it’s going to be one. I think it’s going to be more intersection of fields and collaboration among very disparate fields. For example, David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT – it’s the combination of Engineering, Bioscience and Computation. I think it’s going to be the combination of those things and some of the Social Sciences, because, I think, there is an interesting tendency in Social Sciences like social networking, etc. could change how we do things, but I don’t think it’s going ever to replace face to face communication. There are a lot of possibilities and, I think, interesting interweaving is going to make the most of the excitement.

Last question, how can university raise 77 Nobel Prize laureates?

We hire the best. You have to hire the best and you can’t be afraid to hire the best. What I see in some organizations is that people don’t want to hire somebody smarter than they are. No, no, no. Hire the best what you can find and do whatever you can to keep them happy, don’t settle. MIT tends to grow our own unlike other universities who will poach, will go after senior people. We like to hire them at the junior level and develop them. In that way they are part of the culture too. I think it’s all about people.

I'm one of those rare people, who in their work do exactly the same things  they want to do in life. I'm trying to change the world. I'm trying to make it a better place by providing Internet access and the possibility to use information and communication technologies to increasing number of people. The vision of our association (WITSA) is to realize opportunities of the digital age. When I wake up every morning, I'm trying to work so that our partners could spread these ideas. I also deliver lectures at universities around the world on how to seize opportunities offered by the digital age. Of course, there are a number of administrative tasks that must be performed, but these are all pointing in one direction - the creation and strengthening of the IT industry, so that more people have a real advantage. The more people use information and communication technologies, the laws are more favorable and the prices are low, the more children and teachers around the world will have access to the Internet and will be able to benefit from technological advantages. As a result, every day I'm sure that doing my work and activities I'm a step closer to making the world a better place than it was before.

In your opinion, is the modern society shaped by information and communication technologies?

The sector definitely make a strong impact. It affects our work, life, entertainment and communication means. Overall, the sector has a tremendous impact on our lives.

If a leader of any country decides to invest in the IT sector, will the investment be beneficial and profitable?

Of course. Just have a look at other countries, say Singapore. People of this country live longer, they are happier, healthier, they can work longer, so the country can collect more taxes. People's quality of life can be improved by the use of IT.

As for Lithuania, do you see a field that our country could succeed in?

Let me put it this way. I want to ask you, the government and the entire industry: "What do you want the world to think about you after 4-5 years?" What do you think about when I say "Silicone Valley" or "New York"? This makes a particular impression. But when I say "Lithuania", the impression is different. Before I came here, I could not say anything about Lithuania. I know some good people from Lithuania, but I did not realize which areas you are strong or weak in. So I have to ask you, as a state: "What do you want to tell the world about yourself in terms of information and communication technologies?" I know you have a strategic Barclay's Bank Center in Lithuania. In my opinion, if one is a good banking system administration specialist, one has to talk about it. It is necessary to train students, the authorities need to be engaged to support education, infrastructure and so on; business needs to be provided with the necessary competent workforce. Then, it is necessary to intensify marketing and tell the whole world: "We are the best in banking system administration." And then, after 4-5 years, people in the sector will be able to say that Lithuania is the right place for banking administration. However, this must be done in a planned, consistent manner. Of course, this can happen by accident, but it is a lot wiser to discern trends and take advantage of the situation. Your fate depends on you only.

There's also another problem: stop repeating that you are small. And stop thinking this way. There is no difference in the virtual world whether you are big or small. The country size, time difference, geographical location mean nothing. If you think that success depends on your geographical size, then you are wrong because, for instance, Taiwan is an island that can fit in your town squares, but the country is rapidly developing and thriving in all spheres; or Singapore that can be fit in the nave of a big church. You need to get rid of a small state mentality and take advantage of that. Lithuania is a small country, therefore its advantage is that it can operate and implement decisions more quickly than larger states. This is a big advantage, so please stop thinking about it as a disadvantage.

Do you think that information technology is a new era?

This is the digital age, the biggest challenge of which is what we will do with it. Never before there has been an opportunity to reach any library in the world. They were available only to the wealthy and privileged. Today, libraries are available to everyone, all that people need is an opportunity.

Thank you.

Nowadays, only 32 per cent of the world’s population have access to the Internet. What awaits the rest of the humanity? Will they join the ranks of digital technologies and Internet users? Who is to ensure that? Those were the questions dwelled upon by Dr. J. Poisant.

“Humanity’s greatest problem is indifference. Equal rights are bestowed upon people in the modern digital world, however, should people not take advantage of them and not try to adapt to the new world, they will lag behind the progressive part of the world. People tend to say that it is too difficult for them to work with the newest technologies, yet they refuse to turn to professionals who can help them” – spoke the Secretary General of WITSA.

In his speech, J. Poisant also stressed that people often create problems themselves. One of the major problems is wars, due to which approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population are hospitalised. Yet another problem is underdevelopment of countries. While some countries swiftly leap forward, other stagnate or degrade. J. Poisant expressed an opinion that stronger countries should start helping the weak ones at this very instance.

WITSA is a consortium of 89 national IRT associations, among which is “Infobalt” - the Lithuanian association of IRT companies. WITSA represents more than 90 per cent of the world’s IRT sector. 

Marie-Teresa Vander Dande has been representing MIT in cooperation with business sphere for 18 years now.  From July 1997 to June 1999, Marie served as Manager of Communications in the MIT Office of Corporate Relations. From June 1999- May 2010, Marie resumed working with corporate clients in both Europe and the US through the MIT Industrial Liaison Program.

At the conference, an International Relations Office coordinator for international study programmes Lilija Gončarovienė presented a paper and shared VGTU good practice of mobility.

Last spring, VGTU International Relations Office successfully participated in EUA MAUNIMO project, which was organized along with other four members of the institution. The aim of the project was to clarify the impact of the European Union’s policy on mobility of universities and their actions in this area.

VGTU community, consisting of professors, students, and graduate students, has actively filled the project questionnaires aimed at self-analysis of higher education institutions. Answers received helped to evaluate the community’s knowledge of mobility, the use of concepts related to it, as well as the university’s internationalization strategy which is being developed. The International Relations Office has already received around 160 answers from the community members of the University. This, according to the International Relations Office coordinator Lilija Gončarovienė is the best result of the project.

Representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education and Culture, as well as Ministries of Education of European countries also participated at the conference.

It is the first time when VGTU and Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) were put for one of the most prestigious and authoritative world university rankings. Vilnius University (VU) is also in the same list.

“It is a great recognition of Lithuanian high education due to the fact that from more than 20 000 world high education institutions even 3 Lithuanian universities are among the best 700 universities. We are also glad that we are the only technical university among Baltic states to be in the ranking. These results are predetermined by the University’s strategy and good results of research activities in 2011”, says VGTU Rector Alfonsas Daniūnas.


This year in “QS World University Rankings“, the best university is Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The most significant factor for ranking results is academic reputation of an institution, which constitutes 40% of the whole assessment. Moreover, it also includes the reputation among employees (10%), students’ relationship with professors (20%), citation index (20%), the percentage of foreign professors (5%), the percentage of international students (5%).