02 Jul 2021
The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is delighted to have joined forces with the Vytautus Magnus University (VMU) in Lithuania.
RAU Vice Chancellor Jo Price, and Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) Neil Ravenscroft, virtually joined a formal ceremony at the British Embassy in Vilnius recently where a memorandum of understanding with Vytautas Magnus University was signed.
Before signing the memorandum, Professor Price highlighted that the new agreement is a continuation of traditions for the RAU, which has, for many decades, collaborated with the best in the field to ensure the advancement of agricultural productivity and global, as well as national, food security.
Professor Price said: “This is an exciting new partnership which brings together two leading agricultural specialists in the shared endeavour of addressing food security in the context of profound climate and environmental change.
“This collaboration will provide VMU students and staff with the opportunity to have international experience and work collaboratively, gaining new perspectives on global challenges.”
The initial programmes will be undergraduate Agriculture and Farm Management, to be followed by other programmes as agreed. It is currently intended to have the first programmes running in September 2022.
Professor Ravenscroft added: “Working collaboratively offers so much more than working in isolation and it has been the cornerstone of the RAU, as a specialist provider in the UK, to find the right partners globally with which to work collaboratively.“
VMU Rector Professor Juozas Augutis said: “The partnership with RAU is unique and promising. It will unite the two main academic institutions of both countries that conduct scientific research and studies in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and bioeconomics. It is my belief that joint efforts will improve our contribution to the implementation of the global Green New Deal.“
VMU Vice-Rector for Communication, Assoc. Professor Vilma Bijeikienė, added: “The legendary basketball genius Michael Jordan said 'Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships'. I hope that this cooperation will allow the teams of scholars of our universities ultimately to make our youth and our countries the winners.“
Pictured: Brian Olley, British Ambassador to Lithuania, and Professor Vilma Bijeikienė, Vice-Rector for Communication at Vytautas Magnus University. Between them, and slightly behind, is the Rector of Vytautas Magnus University, Professor Juozas Augutis. Credit: Vytautas Magnus University.