Vilniaus universitetas tūkstantmečių sandūroje (1990-2009)

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Vilniaus universitetas (VU; Vilnius University); Vilniaus universitetas (VU; Vilnius University); Vilnius University after the restoration of Lithuania's independence.

ENThe last two decades have been extremely significant for the University because they coincided with the history of the reborn Lithuanian state. Soon after the restoration of the Lithuanian independence, the University recovered its old name of Vilnius University and quit the Soviet high-flown title not relevant to European universities. On 12 June 1990, the Parliament (the Reconstituent Seimas) adopted the Law on the Statute of Vilnius University; the University was granted autonomy. In December 1990, the first time since February 1940, the Rector of the University was again elected (during the Soviet times, rectors used to be appointed by the authorities). The rector was prof. R. Pavilionis. It was necessary to complete the reform of the University governance, to reform the administration and most importantly - education. Standard acts for the implementation of these plans were drafted. Profound changes took place in the University's sttucturc. They began in 1989 and continued in 1991-1992. Three branches of the Faculty of Economics were united into the single Faculty of Economics. In practice, since 1989, the International Business School - the first institution to train business students not only at the University but also in Lithuania - began its operation. Since 1989 changes in the curricula of the Faculty of History began. Psychologists, who had been trained at this faculty, were moved together with their departments to the Faculty of Philosophy. In 1991, the Faculty of History was separated from librarianship and bibliography studies, and journalism studies (specialities), and the Faculty of Communication was established on the basis of their departments. The Institute of Journalism was founded in it.In 1992, the Institute of International Relations and Political Science was established. After the interruption of previously ordered research, it was necessary to preserve the potential of scientific research groups in nature, physics, so these groups were merged into the 'nstitute of Applied Sciences subsequently transformed into the Institute of Materials Science and Applied Rcsearch. In 1991-1998, they formed centres having an academic status (the Centre of Religious Studies and Research, the Centre of Women's Studies, later renamed into the Centre of Gender studies, the Centre of Miotic Studies, the centres of Oriental, Judaic Studies, Environmental Studies, Distance Learnmg). Later, some centres have been rearranged. University insignia (coat of arms, seal, flag, emblem) were created. In 2002, management changes were introduced into the Statute of Vilnius University. According to the titution of the state and community care. In 2003, academician prof. B. Juodlca was inaugurated as the Rector. The University structure changed little during the second decade of independence. The University has entered the twenty-first century having six academic towns in Vilnius and Kaunas, 13 faculties or analogous academic units, two University institutes. The structure of the faculties, departments, their names were changed. The structure was adapted to the new circumstances or partially rearranged to meet the need to modernize the studies, the emerging new research areas and new challenges. Perhaps the biggest structural changes took place at the Faculty of Medicine. At present, the Faculty has five departments, 13 clinics (there are over 50 centres and laboratories), as well as the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Oncology and the Medical Institute. Since 1990, the University began to change studies, gradually bringing them closer to the European university model.The three-tier study system was built. The Faculty of History was the first to introduce a 4-year bachelor's degree, a 2-year master's degree and 4-year doctoral studies. It was followed by the Faculty of Mathematics. Later, other faculties joined the new system of studies as well. Homogeneous studies last for five years. The University has about 200 study programs. At present, about 25 000 students study at the University (prior to 1993, the number of students had ranged at around 10 000). Vilnius University is attractive not only for its large selection of study programs, educational quality, but also for the fact that it is not a regional but a national university. Young people from all regions of Lithuania study here. Vilnius University annually accepts more than half of high school graduates who have passed school-leaver examinations with excellent results and received the highest rating of 100. Supplements (the old ensemble of Vilnius University, Vilnius University in the city of Vilnius, Rectors of Vilnius University, Honorary Doctors of Science of Vilnius University, iconographic sources). [Extract, p. 977-978]