Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) is an innovative Lithuanian University, educating highly qualified and creative specialists. The University is the leader among the institutions of technological science education, ensuring modern studies, orientated to the labour market. Scientific research and experimental development is performed by 14 institutes, 2 research centres and 33 research laboratories.
VGTU is proud of Civil Engineering Research Centre, the most modern centre in the Eastern Europe, as well as the Mobile Applications Laboratory, the biggest one in Lithuania. Having more than 400 international higher education institutions as partners, VGTU offers wide range of international studies and internships. VGTU is the leader in Lithuania by the number of students, studying under the Erasmus Exchange Programme abroad.
VGTU is ranked 45th in the "QS University Rankings: Emerging Europe and Central Asia 2015-2016" rankings, and is the leader among technical universities of Lithuania.
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University encompasses the following:
- Nearly 69.000 alumni over more than 55 years of the University‘s existence
- More than 11.000 students
- 10 faculties
- 14 research institutes, 2 research and 4 training centres, 33 research laboratories
- 940 academic staff members
- Over 100 study programmes based on three-cycle structure: undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate studies
- Over 310 business partners all over Lithuania
- Over 410 partner higher education institutions all over the world.
VGTU was awarded top five+ stars for teaching, innovation and facilities in the international "QS Stars" audit that evaluates the quality of higher education institutions against over 50 different indicators. The overall rating awarded to VGTU is three+ stars.
- The start of the present-day Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) is deemed to be September 1, 1956, when Vilnius Evening Division of the Evening Faculty of Kaunas Polytechnic Institute (KPI) was established. A specialist in chemistry Assoc. Prof. Jeronimas Kudaba (1909-1992) was appointed the Dean of this division.
- July 1, 1960. KPI Vilnius Evening Division was restructured into KPI Vilnius Evening Faculty. A. Cyras was appointed the Dean of the Faculty, which consisted of Departments of Civil Engineering, Electrotechnics and Applied Mechanics. There were 500 students studying in the Faculty.
- July 6, 1961. KPI Vilnius Evening Faculty was restructured into KPI Vilnius Branch with two divisions: the day-time and evening studies. A. Cyras was appointed Vice-Rector of KPI Vilnius Branch. The number of students was growing steadily, more and more specialities were introduced. Two faculties were founded in the Branch: Manufacturing of Production Instruments and Mechanical Technologies.
- In 1962 KPI Vilnius Branch released the first class of graduates - 78 engineering specialists. In the same year the Scientific Council was established. The Council meeting of December 18, 1962 passed a decision to design a new building of KPI Vilnius Branch.
- September 1, 1964. The Faculty of Construction Economics of KPI Vilnius Branch started its activities. On September 1, 1968 the Department of Urban Construction at KPI Vilnius Branch was established.
- September 1, 1969. KPI Vilnius Branch was restructured into Vilnius Civil Engineering Institute (VISI). Hence, an independent institution of higher technical education emerged in Vilnius. Professor Aleksandras Cyras was appointed its first Rector. At that time there were 26 departments with 290 teachers in total, whereas the number of students amounted to 3 451.
- September 1, 1971. The Faculty of Architecture at VISI started its activities. Four years later, on September 1, 1975, the Faculty of Construction Economics was opened and in 1987 the Department of Municipal Economy was established.
- February 7, 1990. An election at VISI took place, where dr. habil. Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas was appointed the Rector of the Institute. On October 31, 1990, by the decision of the Lithuanian Supreme Council, Vilnius Civil Engineering Institute became Vilnius Technical University (VTU).
- March 20, 1991. The Statute of VTU was adopted. On July 2, 1992 The Statute of VTU was approved by the Lithuanian Supreme Council. The restructuring of VISI into the Technical University was followed by the reorganization of curricula and programmes, development of new specialties and specializations in line with the Western model of education. There were faculties of Architecture, Construction, Engineering Communications, Mechanics and Electronics.
- In 1993 the Aviation Institute was founded which started to qualify aviation engineers, pilots, air traffic control specialists. Two new faculties were established: Business Management and Fundamental Sciences. In 1994 the Faculty of Transport Engineering was founded.
- August 22, 1996. The Lithuanian Government adopted a resolution on awarding Vilnius Technical University the name of an ancient Grand Duke Gediminas and naming it Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.
- June 20, 2002. By the decision of the Senate, prof. dr. habil. Romualdas Ginevicius was elected the Rector of VGTU.
- The year 2006 marked the 50th anniversary of the existence of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.
- November 6, 2010. The first Congress of VISI – VGTU Alumni of all generations took place.
- March 15, 2011. The Lithuanian Parliament approved the new Statute of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. VGTU was reorganized from a state budget institution into a public organization.
- September 8, 2011. By the desicion of VGTU Council, prof Alfonsas Daniunas was elected the Rector of VGTU.
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University grants the following awards:
Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Honorary Doctorate degree
Awarded for great contribution to the Lithuanian state, science, culture and cooperation development.
Since 1990 till now, VGTU Honorary Doctorate Degrees have been awarded to twenty-five scholars.
Honory doctors of VGTU (download)
Honorary Member of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
Awarding of the title Honorary Member of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University started in 1991 for great contribution to culture, cooperation in development and scientific achievements
Honorary Members of VGTU (download)
Medal of “Merits to Vilnius Gediminas Technical University"
Is awarded since 1997 for great merits to Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, science and culture.
Emeritus of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
An honorable title, granted by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Senate to long-lived VGTU professors, allowing them to stay in touch with the University even at a respectable age.
Currently, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University has more than 70 clubs and societies. University students and alumni can actualize their potential in folk dancing, choral singing, tourism, sports, photography and other fields. Especially outstanding among arts groups are the mixed academic choir "Gabija" and the folk dance ensemble “Vingis”, who won the highest award of amateur arts groups "Aukso paukštė" and who make the name of the University famous not only inLithuaniabut also worldwide.