Kaunas University of Technology

Kaunas University of Technology
Kauno technologijos universitetas
Motto Scientia, ingenium, virtus
Motto in English
 Knowledge, ability, strength
Type public
Established 1922
Rector magnificus The Acting Rector Jurgita Šiugždinienė
Administrative staff
 2182 (according to 2015 data)
Students 10 495 (according to 2016 data)
335 (according to 2015 data)
Location Kaunas, Lithuania
Campus 12 dormitories (student halls), all based in KTU campus
Affiliations CESAER, NORDTEK, EUA, SEFI, UICEE, IACEE, EUCEN, BSRUN, ATUBS, SMS
Website ktu.edu

Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) is a public research university located in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Initially established on January 27, 1920, the school was known as "Higher Courses". With an increased rate of staffing and attendance, the school was instituted as the first independent higher education institution within Lithuania by the government on February 16, 1922. Renamed Vytautas Magnus in 1930, the university specialized in four areas: civil engineering, mechanics, electrical engineering, and chemical technology. The turmoil of World War II brought combinations of Soviet, then German, and finally Soviet re-occupation, numerous name changes and an eventual closing of the university in 1943. After re-occupation by the Soviets in 1944, the University reopened and eventually reformed into Kaunas Polytechnic Institute (KPI) and Kaunas Medical Institute in 1946. Under the influence of Perestroika, the Soviet Lithuanian government reinstated the school's university status, and it was renamed the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). Independence from the Soviet Union brought rapid westernization with a flexible module/credit system and membership to many Western European organizations.

Since the establishment in 1922, the University has produced more than 125 000 graduates. Following Lithuanian independence, KTU has issued over 1000 doctoral, and 62,000 bachelor's and master's degrees.

With a current academic staff of almost 3000 employees and nearly 17,000 students, KTU stands as the largest technical university in the Baltic States.

History

The Higher Courses

Z. Žemaitis, a mathematician, and J. Vabalas-Gudaitis, a psychologist, with other intellectuals founded the first centre of studies in Kaunas – the Higher Courses. Among other subdivisions, the Courses included a technical section directed by engineer J. Šimoliūnas. The Higher Courses enjoyed successful growth and in two years they already had 480 students and 48 teachers.

On February 16, 1922 the government of Lithuania passed a resolution establishing the school as a university. The president of Lithuania A. Stulginskis appointed Dr. J. Šimkus as the first rector of the university with Monsignor J. Mačiulis-Maironis as the dean of Theology, A. Voldemaras as the dean of Social Sciences, Z. Žemaitis as the dean of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, P. Avižonis as the dean of Medicine, and P. Jodelė as the dean of technology.

Vytautas Magnus University

On June 7, 1930 the university was named Vytautas Magnus University. The university then consisted of seven faculties consisting of the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, Faculty of Evangelical Theology, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Technology.

The beginning of 1940 saw the reorganization of Vytautas Magnus University with The Faculties of Law and Humanities being transferred to the University of Vilnius.

World War II

On August 21, 1940, with occupation by the Soviet Union, the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic was instructed to rename school the University of Kaunas. In the fall of 1940 the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences was transferred to the University of Vilnius.

With German occupation in 1941,[1] the university was once more renamed Vytautas Magnus University with 5 faculties: Theology, Philosophy, Technology, Civil Engineering and Mathematics. On March 17, 1943 the University was closed, along with other Lithuanian institutions of higher education.

On November 13, 1944 the Lithuanian SSR occupational government reopened the University, and until 1946 it operated under the name of Kaunas National Vytautas Magnus University.

Kaunas Polytechnic Institute and Soviet Occupation

In June 1949 the Faculty of History and Theology was closed.

In 1950 the University of Kaunas was reorganized into Kaunas Polytechnic Institute (KPI) and Kaunas Medical Institute. Throughout Soviet occupation, the KPI resisted attempts at Russification and internationalization and strove to preserve the old European university spirit, national academic traditions, and teaching in the Lithuanian language.

Kaunas University of Technology

Kaunas University of Technology Science and Technology Center

In 1990 KPI was named Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), regained its university status, and embarked on the road to reforms of studies and science.

In 1992 the university, in accordance with the Law on Science and Education of the Republic of Lithuania, started implementing a two-level degree program of higher education and a new procedure of awarding research degrees and academic titles.

In 1993 a Western flexible module and credit study system was implemented with emphasis on the unity of studies and science, broad fundamental education, liberal study programmes and independent study.

In 1998 the university joined Magna Charta of the European Universities and became a member of the European Universities Association and the International Association of Universities.

Faculties

Kaunas University of Technology has 151 study programmes, of which 64 are Bachelor's, 69 are Master's, 17 are Doctoral and 1 – non-degree student programmes. 39 of them are taught in English.

The university has 10,895 students, of which 7,895 are Bachelor's, 2,648 are Master's, 566 are foreign, and 352 are Doctoral students.

Faculty of Chemical Technology was founded in 1947. Full-time academic and research staff - 142 people, 15 professors and 52 associate professors among them work at the Faculty.

830 students are enrolled in the bachelor studies programmes (including full-time and extramural forms of studies); 192 master students are enrolled in the second stage of studies (master studies), and there are 50 doctoral students in the third stage of studies (doctoral studies).

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture at Kaunas University of Technology was established in 1940.

Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering was formed on January 2, 2014 after reorganization of Telecommunications and Electronics, and Electrical and Control Engineering faculties. Full-time academic and research staff of 139 employees includes 23 professors and 60 associate professors.

Collaborates with business partners who participate in study and graduate recruitment processes.

Faculty of Informatics was founded in 1977; however, the first Informatics graduates were awarded diplomas in 1960.

Academic and research staff of 85 employees includes 14 professors and 35 associate professors. In 2013 the scientists of the faculty published 90 research papers, 7 of them are printed in the international journals with Citation Index referred in Thomson Reuters database.

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science started its activity since January 1, 2014. It is derived from the Faculty of Fundamental Sciences founded in September 1, 1993. The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science offers 3 Undergraduate and 4 graduate studies in Lithuanian and 2 undergraduate and 2 graduate studies in English

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design

  • Department of Production Engineering
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Department of Transport Engineering
  • Department of Thermal and Nuclear Energy
  • Department of Materials Engineering
  • Plastic and leather research center
  • Design Centre
  • Civil aviation specialists training center
  • Laboratory Centre
  • Packaging Innovation and Research Centre

Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities was established by merging the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Humanities and the Institute of Europe in January 2014.

Panevėžys faculty of technologies and business was founded in 1961. It consists of the Department of Technologies and the Department of Economics and Business. There are 50 academic staff at the Faculty, 25 of them work full-time (6 professors, 22 associate professors, 19 doctors lecturers and 3 assistants (doctoral students).

671 students study at the Faculty: 438 in full-time study programmes (135 of them are master students); 233 students are enrolled in evening studies.

School of Economics and Business is the largest School at Kaunas University of Technology. There are 6 academic departments, Executive School, 3 research centres and institutes. School of Economics and Business offers 8 undergraduate, 14 graduate and 2 PhD study programmes.

Institutes

KTU traditionally engages in research of physical, technological and social sciences, and experimental development, while research of biomedical sciences and humanities is also promoted.

Food Institute

Food Institute was founded as a State research institution in 1958, and reorganized into an affiliate of Kaunas University of Technology in 2003.

Health Telematics Science Institute

The Institute originated from KTU Telematics Science Laboratory founded in 1993 by professor Arminas Ragauskas. The research carried out at the Institute concentrates on the areas of solving physical and biological processes’ measurement and monitoring scientific and technological problems. Created non-invasive technologies for intracranial pressure measurement, for real-time monitoring of cerebral blood flow autoregulation state, for diagnosing of intracraniospinal compliance, for prediction of hypertension events, etc. are protected by the US, EU, Japan and other patents. Successful clinical studies of created non-invasive technologies in the US, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Lithuania have been funded by the US Dept. of Defence, NASA, European Commission, European Structural Funds, etc.

Institute of Architecture and Construction

Institute of Architecture and Construction was established in 1956, it was connected to the Kaunas University of Technology in 2010.

Institute of Defence Technologies

The main mission of IDT is to organize, coordinate and carry out scientific research and design – testing activities in defense technologies, organize approbation and implementation of the developed equipment and technologies, to participate in preparation of qualified specialists, take part in university studies, carry out experimentation and consultation activities and contribute to the development and strengthening defense and national security ystems of the country.

Institute of Environmental Engineering

The Institute of Environmental Engineering (APINI) was established in 1991 as an independent research unit affiliated to Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). APINI was the first institution in Lithuania to start solving environmental problems.

Institute of Materials Science

Institute of Materials Science was known as Institute of Physical Electronics till Feb 1, 2010. The Institute of Physical Electronics was founded in 1994 after the reorganization of the Scientific Center of Semiconductor Microelectronics "Microlira" of Kaunas Institute of Radio Measurement Technique.

Institute of Mechatronics

Research, studies and provision of information in the field of mechatronics including adaptive piezomechanical systems, smart materials, structures and devices, microsystems dynamics, biomechanics/biomechatronics, robotics, real-time data analysis and control, etc.

Institute of Metrology

KTU Institute of Metrology (until 1998. Metrological Examination Institute) is the scientific and academic unit of Kaunas University of Technology, established in 1995. by the Senate of the University, through Lithuanian state metrological service.

Prof. Kazimieras Baršauskas Ultrasound Research Institute

We represent majority of ultrasonic research groups at Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. The ultrasound research in our university is counting more than 50 years of activity. Ultrasound research activities were initiated by prof. Baršauskas in 1960 by founding Ultrasound Laboratory. We are involved in many projects concerning various applications of ultrasonic techniques. Ultrasound institute has participated and is still participating in international projects sponsored by EC: FP5, FP6, FP7, Eurostars.

Protection and commercialisation of KTU research production has been delegated to the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre.

National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre

Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) is famous for its long term contacts with the business, a large technology-related studies and research spectrum.

In order to make these long-term and close with business relationship even greater incentive in the implementation of joint projects in February, 2012 Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) and Aalto University Centre for Entrepreneurship (ACE, Finland) have signed a Memorandum and on its basis KTU Innovation and Business Centre (KTU IBC) was established.

On the basic of a joint venture agreement signed by representatives of Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LUHS) and the Lithuanian Energy Institute (LEI) on February 2014 a National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (NIEC) was established. The center is open to all scientists, researchers, students and entrepreneurs. NIEC unites and integrates activities of science and business valleys „Santaka“ and „Nemunas“.

NIEC activity areas:

  • Development and convey of technologies acknowledged at the international level;
  • Establishment and development of companies creating the innovative product;
  • Intellectual Property Management and Protection;
  • Foster and dissemination of entrepreneurship and innovation culture;
  • Development of Open Access Centre (OAC) control system corresponding to the highest standards of management and service.

NIEC services:

  • Contracted research and equipment rental
  • Technology Solutions for Business
  • Intellectual Property Management
  • Young business development. Foster of entrepreneurship
  • Search of funding sources. Investment proposals

Integrated Science, Studies and Business Centre (Valley) “Santaka” is research and experimental development centre, open to representatives of Lithuanian and foreign science and study institutions, as well as business companies.

“Santaka” valley is open to scientists and researchers, carrying out the contracted research and development works, and implementing the projects in the fields of sustainable chemistry and biopharmacy, mechatronics and electronic technology, future energy, information ad communication technologies.

The founders of “Santaka” valley

  • Kaunas University of Technology
  • Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
  • Lithuanian Energy Institute
  • Concern “Achema Group”
  • UAB “MG Baltic Investment” (Ltd.)
  • AB “Tiltra Group”

Project value:

The project of 141 million litas is largely funded by EU Structural Funds. This is the highest investment in the development of science in Kaunas and one of the highest in Lithuania. The construction works amount to 46 million litas, while laboratory equipment – 95 million litas. The total area of the centre is 13.000 square meters.

Infrastructure

The building of the valley consists of two main parts – a horizontal volumetric 5-storey building, equipped with scientific laboratories, and a vertical 8-storey building of business centre with office premises of technological companies.

The parts of science, studies and business centre are connected by public premises with equipped exposition spaces, transformable conference hall of 400 places, halls, cafe, information centres.

More than 9.000 square meters in valley are dedicated to research infrastructure. In total, 350 working places will be installed there, the value of equipment is approximately 95 million litas. In collaboration with Danish professionals, the first “clean room” in Lithuania was equipped in this valley. The research of nanotechnology, semiconductors and microelectronics elements are carried out in this specialized laboratory.

The following scientific fields are developed in “Santaka” valley:

  • Diagnostic and measurement technologies
  • Smart environment and information technologies
  • New materials for hi-technologies
  • Technologies for sustainable development, and energy
  • Sustainable growth and sustainable evolution of socio-culture.

Rankings

University rankings
Global
Times World[2] 1001+
USNWR World[3] 1245
QS World[4] 701-750

Dormitories

Kaunas University of Technology for its students offers 12 dormitories (student halls), all based in KTU campus. Every year around 2800 students live in the dormitories.

Doctors honoris causa

2016
  • David J. Teece
  • Hamid Aït Abderrahim
2015
  • Teodoro Forcht-Dagi
  • Horst-Günter Rubahn
2014
2013

Richard Branson

2012

Hans Peter Jensen

2008
  • Manfred Horvat
  • Sören Mattsson
2006
2004
  • Romualdas Šviedrys
2003
  • Jonas Mockus
2002
2001
2000
1999
  • Feliksas Palubinskas
  • Terence Henry McLaughlin
  • John Arnoldus Berendse
  • Klaus K. Unger
  • Edvardas Jasaitis
1998
1996
  • Friedrich Marcks
1995
  • Algirdas Marchertas
  • Jeffrey A. G. Knight
  • Roland G. Verhé
1994
  • Stasys Bačkaitis
1993
  • Juozas Rimvydas Vaišnys
  • Rimas Vaičaitis

Events and achievements

  • In 1998 the KTU Regional Business Incubator was established. It is the first technological business incubator in Lithuania, providing support to enterprises interested in starting new businesses.[5]
  • In 2008 prof. Rymantas Jonas Kažys[6] was awarded with the National Award for Partnership Advancement for creating technologies of supersonic measurement and diagnostics and for the commencement of European scientific research and practice.
  • In 2008 KTU Institute of Environmental Engineering received the Energy Globe 2008 National Award for its preventive energy saving and waste minimization innovation development and implementation system APINI- SPIN.
  • In 2010 prof. Jurgis Kazimieras Staniškis, head of the Institute of Environmental Engineering, was awarded the Baltic Sea Award 2010.[7] Prof. Staniškis is currently the only Lithuanian scientist to receive this award, which goes annually to an individual or organization for putting research findings into practice, technical decisions or other activities that contribute substantially to the Baltic Sea and the sustainable development of the region.
  • In 2010 an agreement on the Integrated Science, Studies and Business Center (Valley)[8] of Santaka sponsorship of the first investment project was signed. The implementation of this project will result in the establishment of a world-class National open-access R&D Center within the KTU Student Campus in Kaunas. The Center will primarily focus in such areas as sustainable chemistry, mechatronics, information and communication technology, and sustainable energy resources, which are a substantial part of the Lithuanian economy and comprise a significant part of its export.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "Kaunas: dates and facts. Electronic directory". Datos.kvb.lt. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  2. ↑ World University Rankings 2018
  3. ↑ US News Rankings 2018
  4. ↑ QS World University Rankings 2018
  5. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20110722151647/http://www.ktc.lt/4086/about-ktc/history.html. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2011. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Ministry of Education and Science". Smm.lt. Retrieved 2015-07-31.

Coordinates: 54°53′55″N 23°54′44″E / 54.89861°N 23.91222°E / 54.89861; 23.91222

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