Lithuanian Collectors Coins

IN 2014 Vytautas Magnus University organises studies at 10 faculties, 4 institutes and 22 study centres; scientific research and project activities are conducted in 36 priority research fields, covering the arts, biomedicine, as well as
the humanities and social sciences.
Lithuanian
Collectors
Coins
THE UNIVERSITY’S study programs are prepared and taught by prominent
Lithuanian scientists, artists and public intellectuals — professionals in the
fields of modern philosophy, history of diaspora and ideas, linguistics, political sciences, international relations and regional studies, human rights, social
comparativistics, media and creative industries, professional arts, international finances, informatics, natural and environmental sciences, etc. More than
26,000 students have graduated from the university over the 25 years of its
existence.
LAST YEAR the university took it upon itself to establish a global Lithuanian
university. The goal of this initiative is to encourage scientists and students in
Lithuania and elsewhere in the world to engage in cooperation and cultural
exchange, to bring together the Lithuanian diaspora and draw in those who
are interested in modern-day Lithuania, its livelihood, traditions and culture.
50 LITAS COIN DEDICATED TO THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY
Silver Ag 925
Quality proof
Diameter 38.61 mm
Weight 28.28 g
The edge of the coin bears the inscription: UNIVERSITAS VYTAUTI MAGNI
Author of graphic design — Rolandas Rimkūnas
Author of plaster model — Giedrius Paulauskis
Mintage 3,000
Issued in 2014
Information is available at the Bank of Lithuania
Tel. +370 5 268 0316
E-mail gpt@lb.lt
www.lb.lt
HAVING SIGNIFICANTLY contributed to the education of the new generation of
Lithuanian citizens, Vytautas Magnus University now looks towards the future,
full of optimism and hope. In this university, we recognize the importance of the
creative ambitions and inner motivation of every member of the community,
not just their studies. As an active and modern institution which nurtures the
principles of artes liberales, Vytautas Magnus University seeks to develop personalities in Lithuania and around the world who would follow the principles of
freedom, openness, responsibility, creativity, community, academic excellence
and autonomy.
Prof. Dr. Jonas Vaičenonis
The coin was minted at the UAB Lithuanian Mint
www.lithuanian-mint.lt
Lithuanian Collectors Coins
© Lietuvos bankas, 2014
The coins were photographed by Arūnas Baltėnas
Designed by Liudas Parulskis
The publication uses photos from the archives of Vytautas Magnus University
Published by the Bank of Lithuania, Gedimino pr. 6, LT -01103 Vilnius
Printed by UAB Lodvila, www.lodvila.lt
50 LITAS COIN DEDICATED TO THE 25TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT
OF VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY
VYTAUTAS MAGNUS
UNIVERSITY
THIS YEAR, Vytautas Magnus University (Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas) is celebrating the
25th anniversary of its re-establishment. The “Higher Courses of Study”, which were established on 27 December 1919 and started functioning on 27 January 1920, became the
basis of higher education in Kaunas. The University of Lithuania was opened on 16 February 1922, after reorganisation of these courses. In 1930, by the ruling of the Republic
of Lithuania’s Government, the university was given the name Vytautas Magnus. Having
survived through the occupations and war, the university was closed in 1950.
VMU WAS REBORN together with the Reform Movement of Lithuania (Sąjūdis) and
the hope for an independent Lithuanian state. The Act of Vytautas Magnus University’s
Re-establishment was proclaimed on 28 April 1989, at a conference of Lithuanian and
diaspora scientists, “National University Conception and Kaunas University.” The study
model of Harvard University, which is oriented towards the humanities and social
studies, was chosen as the basis for the conception of autonomous higher education.
Eventually, Vytautas Magnus University became a modern, internationally recognised
Lithuanian higher education institution, which focuses mainly on universal education
and modern science.
THE FIRST PAGES in the history of Vytautas Magnus University, re-established
25 years ago, were written in the first year of the nascent Republic of Lithuania. Due to historical circumstances, the country lost the national capital Vilnius,
which was once the home of the only Lithuanian university — founded in 1579
by Jesuits and closed in 1832 during the Russian occupation. The young Lithuanian state had no other choice than to establish a national university in a new
place — the temporary capital Kaunas. This was where the major state-building
work was taking place. The university, which opened its doors in February of
1922, brought together the most prominent intellectuals of the First Republic of
Lithuania. Such individuals as Mykolas and Vaclovas Biržiškos, Liudas Vailionis,
Zigmas Žemaitis, Tadas Ivanauskas, Jonas Mačiulis-Maironis, Juozas TumasVaižgantas, Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas, Stasys Šalkauskis, Jonas Jablonskis,
Mykolas Romeris and others shared their knowledge with students. Prominent
foreign scientists also worked at the university: Lev Karsavin, Eduards Volters,
Alfred Erich Senn, Vasily Seseman, Ivan Lappo, Joseph Ehret. Since its opening
till the beginning of the Soviet occupation in 1940, the university was led by
seven rectors. Over this period, seven faculties prepared 3,790 graduates. In
two decades, the university became a hotbed of Lithuania’s culture, science and
modern intellectual thought, mostly thanks to its unique free spirit and encouragement of frank communication between professors and students.
IN THE FALL OF 1939, when Lithuania reclaimed Vilnius, the Government and
the public rushed to rebuild the university in the capital. In January 1940, the
Vytautas Magnus University’s faculties of Humanities and Law were transferred
from Kaunas to Vilnius, where they became the nucleus of Vilnius University.
The VMU faculties of Theology and Philosophy were closed down when the Soviet occupation started in 1940. The activities of student organisations were suspended. On 21 August, the university lost the name Vytautas Magnus and simply became the University of Kaunas. That same fall, the Faculty of Mathematics
and Sciences was transferred to Vilnius, and only the Construction, Technology
and Medicine faculties remained. The more active members of former student
corporations and unions joined the underground fight against the occupants.
At the start of the war between Germany and the Soviet Union, many of them
became organisers and participants of the rebellion against the occupational
government.
IN 1941, the Lithuanian Provisional Government restored the name of Vytautas Magnus. But the joy of organising and conducting studies was short-lived
for the university: it was closed by Nazi Germany in 1943. With the start of the
second Soviet occupation the following year, the activities of the higher education school were restored in Kaunas. However, in 1946, the name of Vytautas
Magnus was once again taken away and, only four years later, the university
was closed, this time remaining shut down for many decades of the occupation. The former university’s faculties served as the basis for separate polytechnic and medical institutes that were founded in the city. Throughout the years
of occupation, a large part of Vytautas Magnus University’s professors and stu-
dents experienced the occupants’ repression — they were exiled to death camps,
KGB prisons and labour camps in Siberia.
Some of them joined the resistance and
fought in Lithuania’s partisan war with
weapons in hand. Others retreated to
the free world, mostly the United States
of America, where they continued their
academic and student corporation activities. Here a distinctive, virtual university
operated, fostering Lithuanian studies.
Its foundation was formed in accordance
with the tradition and spirit of Vytautas
Magnus University.
IN THE SPRING OF 1989, the idea of reestablishing Vytautas Magnus University
was finally brought to fruition by Lithuanian and diaspora scientists after over
a year of development. On 28 April, the
Act of the university’s reestablishment
was proclaimed, which meant the union of two separately-operating steering groups. Thus, a new page in history
was turned. On 6 July1989, prospective
students of the University took their entrance exams. 177 first-year students, chosen from 805 candidates, were accepted
by the university. On 1 September, with
a solemn meeting at Kaunas State Musical Theatre, the first school year of the reestablished Vytautas Magnus University
was commenced. The university became
the first autonomous higher-education
school in the former Soviet Union.
ON 24 MAY 1990, the re-established Senate’s members voted in Kaunas and Chicago, choosing the first rector of the re-established Vytautas Magnus University —
Algirdas Avižienis, Professor of Informatics
at the University of California, Los Angeles. Later the University was governed by
professors Bronius Vaškelis (theatre studies), Vytautas Kaminskas (informatics),
and Zigmas Lydeka (economist).
PROFESSORS FROM VARIOUS foreign universities and Lithuanian higher education institutions, as well as Lithuania’s academy institutes, became a part of the reestablished university’s academic community. Among them were Kazys Almenas,
Milda Danytė, prelate Kęstutis Trimakas, priest Arvydas Žygas, Vytautas Kavolis, monsignor Vytautas Kazlauskas, Rimas Vaišnys, Rimas Kalvaitis, Kęstutis Ignas Skrupskelis, Viktorija Skrupskelytė, prelate Antanas Rubšys, Romas Vaštokas, Kęstutis Paulius
Žygas, Julius Šmulkštys, Alfred Erich Senn, Vytautas Kubilius, Antanas Tyla, Norbertas
Vėlius, Aleksandras Vanagas, Vladas Stauskas, Zigmas Zinkevičius and others.
IN THE FIRST YEAR, the studies at the university took place in three rented buildings. Courses of mandatory English and informatics were introduced. In 1990, the
university became a member of the Association of European Universities. Doctoral
studies were launched at VMU and the tradition of awarding honorary doctorate titles was restored in 1991. Two years later, the first class of Bachelor’s degree students
graduated. This was followed by the revival of the awards of honorary professor
degrees and the graduation of the first Master’s degree students in 1994 and 1995,
respectively. In 1998, the first modern university library and reading rooms were
opened. In another two years, the Lithuanian Emigration Institute was founded with
the aim of gathering archives of Lithuanian citizens scattered around the world and
organising research on diaspora and emigration. In 2001, Dr. Aldona Gaškienė and
Dr. Remigijus Gaška started providing support to Lithuanian students in Punsk, financing their studies at the university. VMU joined the university exchange program
Campus Europae in 2003 and signed the Great European Universities Charter the following year. In 2008, together with the University of Latvia and Tallinn University,
VMU founded the Baltic Graduate School for Social Sciences and Humanities. Three
years later, the university opened the President Valdas Adamkus’ Library-Museum.
In the QS World University Rankings 2012/2013, VMU was ranked among the top
700 universities of the world. On 17 November 2013, VMU honorary doctorate was
awarded to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.