Every September, students not only rush to lectures but also seek additional opportunities for self-fulfilment. One way to combine these pursuits is by participating in the University’s student organisations. The student clubs at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) not only unite students with diverse interests and needs but also provide a space for fruitful discussions, the exchange of ideas and opinions, self-expression, and development.
Interviewed representatives of VMU student organisations unanimously agree that joining a circle of like-minded individuals with similar interests goes beyond merely engaging in meaningful leisure activities; it also aids in personality development and broadening one’s horizons.
Fostering financial literacy for the country’s brighter future
Finding an activity you enjoy is not always easy. This was the dilemma faced by Simonas Radzevičius, a graduate of the VMU Faculty of Economics and Management. Seeking enthusiasts interested in investing, several years ago he decided to bring them together in an informal discussion group called the Investment Club.
“The goal was not only to discuss what is happening in the investment market but also to learn something new and share existing experiences,” says Simonas, the founder of the Investment Club, which was granted official student organisation status a year ago. Currently, the club has 10 active members and is actively expanding its membership.
According to the club president, Aistė Dirdaitė, the main mission of the organisation is to create a community where its members can pass on their experience and knowledge about investment strategies to both those who already have investment experience and those just starting to invest.
“According to statistics, Lithuania has one of the lowest financial literacy rates in the entire European Union, so promoting financial literacy is very important. We encourage discussions about investing without trying to sell financial products and dispel myths about quick money-making,” says the VMU economics student about promoting financial literacy.
Simonas, the founder of the Investment Club, notes that the organisation’s meetings are attended by students with different backgrounds, but the most important thing is their desire to engage in collective activities. “Students take the initiative themselves, for example, making presentations on topics that interest them, while others come just to listen and learn new information. Perhaps this will motivate them to explore a new area – sometimes one person’s insight can help better understand a market that they know less about. Among our ranks, we also have people already working with real estate or cryptocurrencies,” says Simonas.
Although the club was officially recognised as an organisation only a year ago, its representatives claim that a lot has been achieved in this time: throughout the period, presentations for the investment community have been regularly organised, and club representatives have actively participated in fairs and events with university lecturers and financial sector representatives. The club president believes that the Investment Club is an excellent place to develop entrepreneurial skills.
“We still have room to grow, but the club’s potential is enormous. Just one lecture on budgeting and personal finance management can positively impact a person’s view of their finances, enabling them to make more informed, thoughtful financial decisions, which will contribute to the overall growth of our country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” says Aistė.
Natural sciences – for everyone
University students interested in the natural sciences also have opportunities for self-realisation. Those eager not only to discuss various natural science topics but also to contribute to the implementation of educational activities are invited to join the VMU Academic Youth Scientific Association (AYSA) “Modusas.”
“We are a student organisation of the VMU Faculty of Natural Sciences, made up of active, creative, and nature-loving students. We not only gather students interested in various areas of natural sciences but also aim to contribute to public education through our activities,” describes Martyna Buklytė, president of VMU AYSA Modusas and a student of Environmental Science and Protection.
Founded in 2005 by active doctoral students, the organisation initially focused on gathering like-minded individuals who wanted to discuss scientific topics amongst themselves. This student gathering soon evolved into an organisation, with one of its main goals being to better acquaint the public with scientific topics.
According to the president of VMU AYSA Modusas, participating in the association’s activities is also an excellent opportunity to discover a favourite activity. “Any university student can become a member of the organisation. All that is required is to fill out an application form. Selected candidates are admitted for a trial period of 30 days, during which they have the chance to see how the organisation operates up close and contribute to organising educational or other activities. Most candidates, after completing the trial period and undergoing special training, stay for the long term,” says Martyna, who is pleased that more and more international students are joining the organisation, some of whom also become members of the coordinating council.
However, the opportunity to engage in a favourite activity and find like-minded individuals is not the only factor that encourages students to join this organisation. The most active members can apply for a scholarship awarded by the Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences.
“We must acknowledge that without the members’ enthusiasm, the organisation would certainly not be so active. We constantly encourage and motivate each other, cooperate with other youth organisations, such as the Lithuanian Youth Council (LiJOT), organise educational events, give presentations to schoolchildren, and are regular participants in study fairs, during which everyone can try out the natural science experiments we conduct,” says Martyna, a representative of VMU AYSA Modusas, which currently has over 50 members.
For those seeking new experiences and internationality
Those dreaming of making new friends from around the world, improving foreign language skills, and gaining more experience in organising events are invited to join ESN VMU – the international branch of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) at VMU – at the beginning of each semester.
“The guiding principle of our organisation is ‘Students helping students’. We are the largest volunteer student organisation in Europe, having operated for 35 years. Our goal is to unite people from all cultures, help incoming international students integrate into the university environment, and create a welcoming atmosphere. ESN VMU has been active at our university since 2009 and is responsible for organising various events, trips, and campaigns,” explains the organisation’s president, Eglė Mataitytė, a student of Special Educational Support.
Any university student can join the organisation, including international students who are here for a semester or two under international exchange programmes.
“Our main expectation is that students actively participate in our activities, which are numerous. We strive to bring international students together at least once a week for fun activities, such as a hike around Kaunas, participating in a picnic, watching movies, having a games night, or joining a pub quiz. We also want to promote social responsibility through our events: we have visited animal shelters, participated in blood donation campaigns, and organised meetings with people with disabilities and representatives of ethnic minorities to draw attention to the everyday challenges faced by these groups,” describes the organisation’s Vice-President, Gabrielė Grigaliūnaitė.
According to ESN VMU representatives, the benefits of participating in the organisation’s activities are not limited to expanding horizons through interaction with students from abroad and improving English or other foreign language skills but also include overcoming certain personal weaknesses or trying out new activities. For Eglė, being part of the organisation helped overcome her stage fright and fear of public speaking, while Gabrielė gained valuable experience in event organisation.
“Being in the position of an event organiser not only allowed me to see and experience first-hand the processes of budget planning and seeking sponsors but also to contribute to creating visuals for social media. This experience reaffirmed that my chosen field of study, public communications, is where I want to realise myself in the future,” says Gabrielė.
More information about student organisations at VMU can be found here.
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