On 17 December 2025, at the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) Council Member Election Conference, a new external council member was elected. Mindaugas Šeštokas, Vice-President of the Kitron Group for Central and Eastern Europe, was elected by secret ballot. The election of an external KTU Council member was initiated following the termination of the mandate of KTU Council member Arvydas Paukštys.
Mr Šeštokas, Vice President of the Kitron Group of Companies, has over twenty years’ experience in managing technology-intensive businesses and works closely with the university and other educational institutions. His approach to synergy between science and industry, people development, and responsible leadership reflects the belief that strong universities form the basis of a strong society.
“In my opinion, the role of a council member is primarily strategic. It is important to help determine the direction in which the university should move. While administrative issues are important, the most essential aspects are strategic thinking, generating ideas, and ensuring that the Council’s work has a real impact on the university’s development,” says the new KTU Council member.
According to Šeštokas, the university should always be a beacon around which knowledge and ideas are centred. Transparency, innovation, and respect for diversity of opinion are also crucial.
“To me, a university is an institution that educates specialists in its field and shapes societal values. Therefore, I believe it is very important to support and strengthen these values.
I would like to contribute to a stronger connection between the university and industry. If we could implement even some of the ideas we are discussing, such as strengthening engineering education, promoting innovation, and creating added value in Lithuania, that would be a great success. It will be an honour and a pleasure to work with the KTU Council. Most importantly, it will be an opportunity to make a real contribution to the future of the university,” says Šeštokas.
Upon taking office, the Council member signs a commitment to act in the interests of the University and society and to perform the functions set out in the Law on Higher Education and Research in good faith at the first Council meeting, to which members of the Senate and other representatives of the University’s academic community are invited. The KTU meeting at which the newly elected Council member will sign the commitments is scheduled for 21 January 2026.
The current KTU Council began performing its functions on 1 October 2022. The term of office of the University Council is five years. The current KTU Council consists of the following members:
- Agnius Liutkevičius – Professor at the Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Informatics
- Augustas Baltrėnas – Member delegated by the Kaunas University of Technology Student Council
- Egidijus Stancikas – General Director of the National Kaunas Drama Theatre
- Lina Slavinskė – Member delegated by the Kaunas University of Technology Student Council
- Minvydas Kazys Ragulskis – Professor at the Department of Mathematical Modelling, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
- Raimundas Petrauskas – General Director of UAB Schmitz Cargobull Baltic
- Regita Bendikienė – Professor at the Department of Production Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design
- Rimantas Butleris – Professor at the Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Informatics
- Rytis Krušinskas – Professor at the Academic Centre for Economics, Business and Management, Faculty of Economics and Business
- Simonas Petrulis – CEO of UAB Marijampolės laisvosios ekonominės zonos valdymo bendrovė
External council members are individuals who are not members of the university staff or students (except for individuals who work or study at another higher education institution or who have been elected to the management or self-government bodies of other higher education institutions).
The KTU Council is a collegial university management body. The Council of the institution of higher education elects, appoints and dismisses the rector, approves the vision, mission, strategic activity plan and structural reform plans of the institution of higher education, and performs other functions provided for in Article 27(2) of the Law on Higher Education and Research of the Republic of Lithuania. A member of the Council may be a person of impeccable reputation who has the knowledge and skills to help achieve the strategic goals of the higher education institution and implement its mission.
