The Rectors of four Lithuanian universities – Vilnius University, Kaunas University of Technology, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and Lithuanian University of Health Sciences – have signed the Protocol of Intentions to create the Conference for Advancement of Universities.
The main aim of the Conference is to unite the forces in demonstrating the leadership and to take charge of enhancing the study and research quality, and international competitiveness of Lithuanian higher education. In such a way the Conference will serve as an instrument to achieve the long-term goals of the State, such as boosting the international appeal of the Lithuanian system of education, participating in formation of democratic and social skills, creating of jobs and economic growth.
Aiming to achieve these goals, the four universities will not only coordinate their actions and procedures, but they also agreed on the qualitative criteria. The universities, members of the Conference, will aim that the employment rate of the graduates by 2020 exceed 80 percent, they pledged to gradually raise the university entry requirements for prospective students – the offered minimal benchmark for the next year’s admission is 4.
“The quality is crucial if we are aiming to ensure internationally competitive studies and research. The ambitious goals, which are of upmost importance for our State, can be reached only by acting together, by taking into account global tendencies. We strongly believe that together with our Prime Minister and the Minister of Science and Education, who understand the necessity of changes in the educational system, we will create a strong fundament for the future generations”, says Petras Baršauskas, the Rector of Kaunas University of Technology.
