VU SR Integration Festival Ad Astra – New Records

On September 6th at Vilnius University Central Palace took place the Ad astra festival – the largest celebratory new academic year opening of 2024. More than 3,000 participants packed the festival spaces throughout the day, welcomed by discussions, a contact fair, workshops, musical performers and more!

The official opening of the festival was opened by the Rector of Vilnius University, Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas, who gave a lecture in the Great Courtyard on the history and present of Vilnius University in the European and Lithuanian contexts in the 445-year history of the University perspective.

On the occasion of this elections year in Lithuania, a debate between political parties took place in the University Palace – the historic heart of Lithuanian ideas and critical thinking – "Whose proposals are worthy of a diploma?" The debate was moderated by VU SR President Klėja Merčaitytė and attended by Union of Democrats "For Lithuania" representative Vilija Targamadzė, Freedom Party representative Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius, Liberals' Movement representative Simonas Kairys, Social Democratic Party of Lithuania representative Liutauras Gudžinskas, Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union representative Eugenijus Jovaiša, Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats representative Radvilė Morkūnaitė–Mikulėnienė.

In the Observatory's courtyard, the Redakcija team recorded a live podcast, journalists Birutė Davidonytė and Ignas Kinčinas interviewed public figure and leader of the band G&G Sindikatas Gabriel Liaudanskas (Svaras) about his career path and public activities, and talked about citizenship and the realities in Lithuania today.

The theme "Don't press it: Challenges of lecturers and students" Dr. Andrius Gudauskas, Umberto Masi, Mūza Svetickaitė and moderated by Dr. Dovilė Grigienė shared and discussed the challenges, anxieties, and university life of lecturers and students.

In the Sarbievijaus Courtyard, the discussion topic "Success Code @VU" was discussed by the graduates of Vilnius University - Augustė Grakavinaitė interviewed Ieva Lingytė, dr. During the discussion, the speakers shared their keys to study success and discovered what similar or different challenges they experienced during their studies and how they overcame them.

In the discussion "Study Globally: How to attain the world from exchange studies?" The discussion focused on the possibilities of study exchange, internationality and mobility at Vilnius University, why and how not to be afraid to take the first step into the international higher education space. Speakers Miglė Gabirelaitė and Assoc. Prof. Vytis Silius, moderated by Dominyka Goldbergaitė.

As many as 50 organisations, clubs, projects and initiatives operating at Vilnius University took part in the Contact Fair.

From Vilnius University (VU): the VU Culture Centre, the VU Sports and Health Centre, the VU Student Services and Career Centre, the VU Museum, the VU Library, the VU Merchandise, the VU Techhub, the VU Community Welfare Department.

From Vilnius University Students' Representation (VU SR):

Initiatives and programmes – Vilnius University Career Days, ESN Vilnius University, "Without Labels" programme, Sustainability Ambassadors Network, International Conference on Physics and Life Sciences "Open readings"; Life Sciences Conference "The COINS"; Students' Committee for Civil Resistance (SPPK); Vilnius-Lithuania iGEM 2024, Ukrainian Youth Group in Lithuania (UYGL) etc.

Faculty Days – EVAF "Mercury Days", MiDi (Mathematicians' and Computer Science Days), FsF "Fiesta Personae" (Philosophers' Days), PoDi (Political Science Days), TiDi (Lawyers Days).

Clubs and Societies - Hema, Kendo Club, Photoclub, Writers' Club, Vilnius University Debate Society, Young Energy Club (YEC), Young Journalists' Society (YJS), Association of Lithuanian Natural Science Olympiads, Student Naturalists' Scientific Society.

Other organisations or initiatives: the Student Historians' Corporation "Tilia", the Lithuanian Riflemen's Student Corporation "Saja", the Student Christian Movement "Agape", the project "Mobile Bioclass", the Lithuanian Medical Students' Association (LiMSA).

In addition to the contact fair tables, workshops of the participating organisations were also held! At the beginning of the festival there was a Gaudeamus lesson of the Vilnius University anthem, and a Lindyhop group led a Lindyhop dance session. Further workshops were led by the Society of Student Naturalist Scientists (SGMD) on closed ecosystems, the Dice Society (LDK) led an activity on creating board games, Hema (Martial Arts Club) led a live physical demonstration of the use of historical swords in martial arts, the (UN)Discovered Asia workshop "Dive into Asia!", AIESEC workshop "Youth leadership", VU SSC and BGS workshop, Student Civic Resistance Committee (SCRC) workshop, LiMSA workshop "Key to Life: First Aid 101".

And the Ad astra Festival was crowned by all the musical performers who appeared, from the rehearsals and performances during the day to the concerts at night. The musical project group Beat bitela, the student groups Raudona šviesa and PoDi Band, the singer AMARI and the bands Mėlyna and jautì performed.

Thank you to everyone who took part and came to this year's Ad astra Festival. This year we are delighted not only with the 5th year of the festival, but also with the growth of this year's Ad astra – in size, scale, number of people and interest, the festival has surpassed every previous festival of this initiative!

Vilnius University Students' Representation is the oldest and largest public, non-profit, non-political, non-partisan, expert educational organisation in Lithuania, representing the interests of students at Vilnius University and beyond, fostering the university culture and creating the most favourable conditions for student self-expression.