Lithuanian ministry unveils university network reorganization plan

Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) and Šiauliai University (ŠU) would become part of VU.

The ministry proposes two alternative options for the future of Klaipeda University: one is to merge it as a university-level science center into a state university offering a wide range of studies and the other is to keep its autonomous status, but make it more specialized.

Deputy Education and Science Minister Giedrius Viliūnas last Friday presented the plan to the Lithuanian Rectors’ Conference, according to the presentation material available to BNS.

Under the plan, the Vilnius-based MRU would become a public security and public administration unit of VU. MRU’s Kaunas-based Faculty of Public Security would be moved to the capital.

LEU would be divided between VU and VDU. The ministry proposes that VU set up a structural unit for teacher training. LEU has already reached an agreement on merging with the Kaunas-based VDU where a teacher training center would be established.

ŠU would become VU’s unit in Siauliai.

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) and two specialized arts schools — the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and the Academy of Arts — would continue to operate in the capital.

In Kaunas, the optimization plan calls for merging Aleksandras Stulginskis University (ASU), the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuanian Sports University, the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LMSU) and VDU into a single university offering a wide range of studies.