Anniversary: 30 years since the resolution to transfer the military base to KU
30 years ago, on 30 August 1993, documents were signed for handing over the cantonment of Russian troops with its "red" barracks to Klaipėda University, which was then in its first five years of existence. On 17 September, this action was formalised by a resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. After the restoration of the historical buildings on the territory brought to ruin by the military, the University's units began to be established there one by one, the territory was cleared of the worthless Soviet military heritage, and new buildings were erected. The transformation of the barracks into a contemporary research and educational institution is still taking place today. "Of course, we would like to see faster changes, faster construction, so that a new laboratory complex, another dormitory, and a sports centre would already exist on the lawn of the academic campus instead of on the blueprints, but we still have to justify Klaipėda University to changing governments and ministers. We have to fight constantly for investments and for the right to exist in general. Therefore, what we have created in 30 years, the fact that the KU campus has two internationally renowned research institutes and three faculties, that the academic life is active here, that we feel comfortable and safe, can be considered as a great victory, for which we should thank the visionary leaders of the city of that time as well as the former and current leaders of the University," emphasised the Chairman of the KU Senate, prof. dr. Vaidutis Laurėnas, while overviewing the transformation of a military territory into a contemporary academic space.
Higher student enrollment
KU has started academic year of 2023/24 with a 10% increase in the number of first-year students. The upward trend in the number of enrolled students has been observed for the second year in a row, which, according to KU Rector prof. dr Artūras Razbadauskas, is encouraging. "The active development of internationalisation, the strong backing of the European University EU-CONEXUS partners, and the continuous strengthening of the material and study environment are bearing fruit. The University has been maintaining the upward trend in the number of enrolled first-year students as well as the benchmark of academic performance applied to universities. This year we have seen a breakthrough in the Leisure Sports study programme, while particularly motivated young people chose marine sciences, and the Marine Engineering study programme has particularly attracted Ukrainians. Thanks to the state incentives, we see a rise in the popularity of pedagogical studies," said the KU Rector.
The STEAM Methodological Centre starts work
As one of the most important innovations in the upcoming academic year, the Rector of KU presented the 1st STEAM Methodological Centre in Lithuania, which will start its activities in September. Its team has already been formed and starts working with schools and regional STEAM centres. The Centre will be headed by dr Aelita Bredelytė. During the next academic year, KU administration hope to start realising an old dream: to design and start building a new sports complex on the KU campus. The government adopted a resolution approving a public-private partnership for the project this summer.
Prizes and nominal scholarships for outstanding students
At the KU celebration of the new academic year, prizes were awarded to students whose final theses were recognised as being relevant to the city and having an applied character. The prizes awarded by Klaipėda City Municipality to E. Brazauskienė, T. Steponavičius, V. Sokolov, K. Mažionytė, and A. Žuravskaja were awarded by the Mayor of Klaipėda Arvydas Vaitkus.
The nominal scholarship established by the Mykolas and Amalija Jagutis Scholarship Fund was awarded to Edgaras Garan, a 3rd year student of the full-time Economics study programme at KU.
The new Chairman of the KU Council, Arnoldas Šileika, congratulated the academic community on the beginning of the new academic year.
