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May 30, 2025

Ukrainian students in Lithuania: exploring both science and self

“If a country could be a kindred spirit, Lithuania would be mine. I can even say that it has healed something in me,” says Sofiia from Kyiv. She came to Kaunas to study Materials Physics and Nanotechnologies – just like Illia, a Ukrainian born in Uzbekistan. Both students chose the same study programme at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). Although their stories are different, the decision was the same – to go beyond what the environment they grew up in offered.

Illia’s childhood was shaped by constant movement, Sofiia’s – by a constant search for direction. Both stories took a new turn in Kaunas.


When every corner deserves a photo

Illia Filipas, born in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent and raised in a Ukrainian family that frequently moved, is no stranger to change. “My first day in Kaunas wasn’t dramatic, but what stood out immediately was how calm everything was. Coming from busier cities, I was surprised by how peaceful and relaxed people seemed, even in crowded areas,” he recalls.

KTU student Sofiia from Kyiv

Sofiia Gliuza, who came from Kyiv, Ukraine, arrived in Lithuania while her country was already in war. For her, Kaunas stood out for being clean, organised, and peaceful – a contrast to the uncertainty she had experienced back home. “Now somebody might think that it is predictable to feel like this when coming from a country with a war going on, but it’s not really about that kind of peace,” she says, describing her first impressions of Kaunas.

Over time, both Sofiia and Illia found themselves not only studying in Kaunas, but truly settling in. “Kaunas has become my new home. Life here and at university changed me a lot, in a good way. I’ve met wonderful people here, whom I can call best friends and even family,” says Sofiia.

Kaunas as the seasons change

In her opinion, Kaunas is the kind of city where you want to go for a walk “just because”. “And then your phone gallery is suddenly full with hundreds of pictures of the same places just because you love them so much,” smiles KTU student.

Illia also describes his life in Lithuania positively, highlighting both the social and academic aspects.

“Life in Lithuania has been wonderful so far. Having family here helped me settle in quickly. I also made Lithuanian friends who were always ready to help,” he says. Learning Lithuanian gave him deeper insight into the culture, while local research opportunities and internships broadened his professional horizons.


Working at the tiniest scale of existence

Choosing what to study wasn’t an easy process for either Sofiia or Illia. Sofiia describes her decision-making as a chaotic journey, constantly torn between creative and technical subjects. She considered everything from psychology to engineering, trying to avoid choosing just one path. What drew her to nanotechnology was its interdisciplinary nature. “I needed to find a field that would combine contraries of logic and creativity,” she explains.

For her, curiosity was the main driver: “I love to explore and seek understanding of how our world works, and what has more exploration possibilities to offer than science?”

Working at the tiniest scale of existence, nanotechnology offered her a way to start answering the “why?” questions by first exploring the most fundamental parts of reality.

KTU student Illia

For Illia, the path was more straightforward but just as personal. Inspired by his grandfather and father, he grew up fascinated by how things are built and how they work. Physics soon became his favourite subject, offering a way to understand the world from a practical, problem-solving perspective.

He was drawn to nanotechnology because of its potential: “I wanted to be part of something exciting, creating inventions and making an impact”.

As students in the Materials Physics and Nanotechnologies programme, both Sofiia and Illia quickly found themselves immersed in a field that was as complex as it was inspiring.

For Sofiia, the most captivating aspect of nanotechnology is its potential to answer the most fundamental scientific questions while addressing real-world challenges. She is especially fascinated by the fields of nanomedicine and renewable energy. “Two things that I think can help change our world for the better,” she says.

Illia, meanwhile, found his interest deepening through hands-on experience in KTU’s laboratories. He highlights silica as one of the most fascinating materials he has worked with, praising its versatility and applications in both electronics and medicine.


Convinced it was fate

Illia’s interest in KTU began after visiting relatives in Lithuania and discovering how peaceful and focused life felt in Kaunas. What convinced him further was KTU’s strong international outlook. “University caught my eye because it has strong international connections like the Erasmus programme and partnerships with well-known institutions such as CERN,” he explains.


Sofiia, on the other hand, heard about KTU from a family friend who recommended the Artificial Intelligence (AI) programme. Although she initially focused on AI, she later discovered the Materials Physics and Nanotechnologies programme while browsing the university’s website. “I fell in love with student life KTU promised and spent the rest of high school focused on getting into my current degree programme,” she says.

Beyond their main studies, both Sofiia and Illia joined talent development programmes at KTU. Sofiia became part of GIFTed. She was interested in it even before finalising her degree choice. “International students shouldn’t let their doubts keep them from their passion,” says KTU student.

Illia joined SKILLed AI Talent Academy, where his interest in AI grew significantly. His internship at Centric IT Solutions LT, arranged through SKILLed AI, gave him hands-on experience with machine learning and helped shape his future goals. “The most important lesson was that stepping out of my comfort zone and exploring new knowledge always leads to new opportunities,” he reflects.

For Sofiia and Illia, choosing Lithuania was more than an academic decision – it became a turning point. In Kaunas, they found not only a place to study, but also space to grow, explore, and feel at home. “I’m just convinced it was fate at this point,” says Sofiia.


Want to follow in their footsteps?


March 20, 2019

Kiran from India: “Lithuania gave me friends for a lifetime”

Although Kiran Subbarayadu, Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) master’s Food Science and Safety student is living in Kaunas only for the second year, he has achieved a lot. Last spring Kiran created a nutritious buckwheat cocktail, which won an industry prize in the innovation fair Technorama 2018. Today Kiran is working in a Lithuanian company and his organic innovative product will hit the market in a couple of months.

Indian Kiran Subbarayadu decided to come to KTU after a thorough investigation of the University’s study programmes: “Food Science and Safety in the Faculty of Chemical Technology matched my requirements, and the cost of studies in Lithuania is considerably cheaper than in other European countries”.

Kiran is happy about the diversity of the course modules which provides insights into many aspects of food science, and he is especially glad to be involved in the latest research carried out in the Faculty. His favourite module is New Food Product Development.

Even chilling winters are manageable

As Kiran chose Research Track (available in MA+ study model), i.e. studying with the focus on research activities, he spends most of his days in the laboratory. However, he tries to use the little free time he has got to travel, learn new things; Kiran enjoys cooking and getting to know new people.

In his opinion, Lithuanians are open-minded and respectful towards each other.

“So far, Lithuania gave me so many new and beautiful experiences, friends for a lifetime and much more. I got persistent and patient by facing everyday challenges as a university student, which also taught me to live an independent life. I developed an attitude to accept everything that life throws at me, for the best or the worse”, says KTU student from India.

He is enjoying new experiences life in Lithuania is opening. According to Kiran, Lithuania is a great country with beautiful landscape, countryside and rivers, and it is great to spend summer days in the open air.

“These bone-chilling winters are also quite manageable”, adds Kiran with a smile.

Organic buckwheat cocktail to hit the market soon

Lately, Kiran has even less time to enjoy leisure activities, as he has already found a New Food Development Technologist job in a Lithuanian company Ekofrisa.

“It all started in Technorama 2018, where I introduced my new food product and won Ekofrisa’s prize for it. As I was interested to bring the product into the market, I talked to the company’s director, and they provided me a summer internship. After my internship, the company accepted my choice to work with them”, Kiran explains his proactive attitude towards the job-seeking.

The organic buckwheat shake is a healthy mix made of roasted buckwheat flour, organic cashew and organic cane sugar. The cocktail contains a good amount of protein and various nutrients, which are the building blocks of the human immune system. According to the young food scientist, the nutritive value of buckwheat is considerably higher than that of many other grains, and the cocktail helps in building body muscles and reducing blood sugar.

“In India, generally mothers prepare a home-made mix from various types of millets, grains and lentils, which help their children to gain good health. That was my inspiration behind the product”, says Kiran.

The buckwheat cocktail created by KTU student from India is ready for production and will be available in the market in summer 2019.

Enjoys the atmosphere in the workplace

Kiran’s experience of Lithuanian job market so far has been very positive: “Everyone is greeting me with a smile and people are very warm”.

He especially likes the tradition of common lunches, when employees are eating together with the director of the company and are sharing not only foods but also ideas. According to Kiran, this is very rarely happening in India.

“Here every employee is treated equally respective of the work they do, and that’s what I like the most. Of course, with fun also comes the responsibility to create new products – and this is the most challenging part”, says Kiran.

After studies, he is planning to stay and work in Europe for a few years, or even to create a start-up in the organic food sector.

“If I get a good opportunity, maybe I will stay in Lithuania. I like the way how everything is organised here. Lithuania has a lesser number of people, and it is calmer and more peaceful”, admits Kiran, Food Science and Safety, 2nd-year master’s student at KTU Faculty of Chemical Technology.

 

Admission for studying at Kaunas University of Technology has already started. Find out more and apply online.

 

Source – Kaunas University of Technology (KTU)

March 19, 2019

4 Lithuanian Universities are Ranked Among the Top Universities in the World

The latest “QS World University Rankings by Subject” are in and Lithuanian higher education field can not be prouder! For the first time ever, one of the Lithuanian universities is ranked among the top 100 best universities in the world. In total 4 Lithuanian higher education institutions are listed in the rankings.

According to the latest “QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019” (published on February 27th) Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) continues to grow strong and gains wider recognition. The university ranks in 51-100 place in Engineering – Civil and Structural subject group. In the subject area of Engineering and Technology VGTU ranks at 256 place. So far VGTU is the first university in Lithuania to reach such a high position in the ranking.

Vilnius University (VU) is listed in the rankings under the subject areas of Linguistics (201–250 place), Physics and Astronomy (251-300 place), Accounting and Finance (251-300 place), Natural Sciences (383 place), Social Sciences and Management (384 place), Arts and Humanities (393 place). In addition, VU is ranked in the subject groups of Business and Management Studies (401-450 place), Medicine (451–500 place), and Biological Sciences (451–500 place). Also it is ranked in subject areas of Informatics and Information Systems (451–500 place), Engineering and Technology (451–500 place).

Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) this year is ranked in subject group of Electronics and Electrical Engineering (401–450 place) and in the subject area of Engineering and Technology (451–500 place), and in the subject group of Business and Management Studies (451-500 place). Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) is also among the ranked universities. It is listed on 251–300 place in the Law subject group.

December 4, 2018

KTU Marketing Management study programme first in Lithuania to gain international CIM accreditation

Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) Master’s study programme Marketing Management has been accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). From now on the graduates of the programme will gain a world-renowned and highly regarded professional qualification.

Dr Žaneta Piligrimienė, director of the programme

 

“I am very pleased that the KTU Master’s studies Marketing Management has become the first study programme in Lithuania accredited by CIM. The recognition of the unified global marketing profession is another indicator of its quality, not to mention the opportunities which now are open to our students”, says Dr Žaneta Piligrimienė, director of the programme.

During the CIM accreditation process the content and training of the study programme Marketing Management were reviewed, and its compliance with professional marketing standards that are the same across whole Europe was assessed. The contents of the Marketing Management programme corresponded to the qualifications defined by CIM, and therefore its students will be given modules compulsory for obtaining a professional certificate. As a result, the students and graduates of the programme will be allowed only to take one exam instead of the usual two or three required for obtaining a professional certificate.

“KTU has joined forces with CIM to provide its students the opportunity to gain professional qualifications through the CIM Graduate Gateway. CIM qualifications are highly sought after by employers, and their content is reflected in our own degrees which ensures we are equipping students with the best opportunities for a successful marketing career”, Ian Marshall, Head of CIM‘s International Relations.

CIM is the world’s leading professional marketing body with over 28,000 members worldwide, including more than 3,000 Chartered Marketers. Its mission is to develop marketing profession, to maintain its professional standards, and to develop practical marketing skills. CIM belongs to the largest European Confederation of Marketing (EMC), which represents marketing, sales and communication associations in Europe and beyond. The CIM Graduate Gateway Program is designed to collaborate with university communities.

The Master’s programme Marketing Management is delivered by the KTU School of Economics and Business (SEB), which is continuously improving the quality of its studies. In addition to high quality studies by world-class professionals, the students of the Faculty have the opportunity to gain international qualifications alongside their degree. Students of the Accounting and Audit study programme which is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)) may seek internationally recognized professional qualifications while studying. KTU also seeks an accreditation of The International Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) for Finance studies. Postgraduate students from the KTU Finance Studies programme have the opportunity to prepare for the certification of a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Students and graduates in the Bloomberg Financial Markets Laboratory also can pass the Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) test and get Certification which confirms their ability to use the Bloomberg Terminal.