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21-23 September 2026, Vilnius University had the pleasure of welcoming a group of Danish students from Grundtvigs Højskole in Denmark. Højskole, or "folk high school" in English, is a uniquely Danish concept. These schools provide a sort of third space for young people after they finish their basic education. Folk high schools function as boarding schools for either a fall or spring semester, and the curriculum usually includes a wide variety of subjects to help young people develop their individual interests and find their social niches, ranging from politics and writing workshops to photography, music, art, and even sports.

Folk high school education also includes all sorts of educational trips. On 21 September, a flock of 71 chattering and experience-hungry young Danes, together with six teachers, came to Vilnius for such a trip. The guests were welcomed by students and teachers of Scandinavian Studies. After a short introduction, mixed groups of Danish and local students were formed and began exploring the old campus of Vilnius University and the city centre, with Lithuanian students serving as guides.

I, together with other Scandinavian Studies students from all years and language groups, both undergraduate and graduate, enjoyed participating in the activities with the Danes. It was a very nice reunion with Grundtvigs' students for me personally, as I had the honour of completing an internship for my bachelor's degree at their school in Hillerød, Denmark. Having spent two weeks with their student body as part of the community, it was very exciting to be able to show them our beautiful university grounds and the Old Town of Vilnius in return.

Grundtvigs Højskole is named after the profoundly influential N. F. S. Grundtvig, who, among many other things, was a famous Danish priest and poet. He established the folk high school tradition in Denmark and was the most important figure behind Højskolesangbogen (The Folk High School Songbook), which is an inseparable part of the Danish singing tradition. The first edition of the songbook included mostly Grundtvig's works; out of more than 500 songs in the book, only a few were written by other authors. Grundtvig believed that singing together helps people relax and open up to one another, and our Danish guests brought this tradition with them to Vilnius University.

Before we headed into the city, Grundtvigs' students joined Scandinavian Studies students in the Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius Room to start the visit with The Beatles' A Little Help from My Friends. After touring the Old Town and sharing their cultures and experiences around the dinner table, the Danish and Lithuanian students concluded the official part of the visit on Gediminas Hill, beside the Tower, bidding farewell to the sun with a song. After sunset, we stormed the city, and the rest of the evening was history...

The educational visit of students and teachers from Grundtvigs Højskole was incredibly warm and successful. Vilnius University students were exceptionally helpful and engaged, and many friendships and connections were formed throughout the week, in large part thanks to the amazing Vice Principal Ditte Thomassen, who organised the trip together with Birutė Spraunienė.

The Arqus Language Café is a virtual meeting place where students and staff from the Arqus European University Alliance can practice foreign languages in a relaxed and informal setting, outside of regular language classes.

Here, participants can expand their language and cultural knowledge while interacting with fellow language learners. Language tutors, who are competent speakers of the language, provide guidance and support throughout the sessions.

Please note that the cafés are not formal language courses. They are designed as an opportunity to practice your language skills in a friendly, small-group environment. Some prior knowledge of the language being studied is therefore recommended.

You can find more information about the Arqus Language Cafés:

https://arqus-alliance.eu/our-communities/our-hubs/arqus-plurilingual-and-intercultural-hub/arqus-cafe/

The registration for the 13th Edition of the Arqus Language Cafés is here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_7BYvvwDuEdWmONXALKyTiH8Hkwd0cRjWJ43y003xg5eICw/viewform

The schedule for the 13th Edition of the Arqus Language Cafés is here:

(ANSA) - VILNIUS, 04 OTT - The international conference “Bridges of Culture between the Vilnius University Faculty of Philology and Italy” will take place on Monday, October 5, and Tuesday, October 6, at Vilnius University. It is organized to mark the tenth anniversary of the Lithuanian university’s dialectological expeditions to Liguria and its collaborations with Italian universities and institutions.

The conference, which will be attended by leading figures from the Italian academic world—including Pietro U.

Dini, full professor at the University of Pisa and one of the world’s foremost experts in Baltic philology—will be dedicated to in-depth explorations of various aspects of Italian culture, linguistics, and literature.

The collaboration between Vilnius University (UV) and numerous Ligurian cultural organizations and associations began more than two lustri ago, starting with the initial ties established between the Department of Italian Linguistics and Literature at Vilnius University —the leading center for Italian studies in the Baltic States—the International Institute of Ligurian Studies (IISL), the “San Matteo” Association of San Bartolomeo al Mare, and the “Cà de Puiö” Cultural Circle. As this collaboration gradually took root, this collaboration has fostered an increasingly multifaceted dialogue between the Lithuanian academic community and the Ligurian region, featuring training internships for Lithuanian students at the IISL and for Ligurian researchers at the University of Vilnius, as well as the joint organization of conferences, seminars, and cultural initiatives.

All of these activities were subsequently brought together under the project “Bridges of Culture between the Faculty of Philology of the University of Vilnius and Liguria,” launched in 2021.

A particularly significant milestone in the exchange and collaboration promoted by the project occurred during the most recent editions of “Italian Language Week in the World” in Lithuania, organized by the Department of Italian Linguistics and Literature, the Italian Cultural Institute, and the Italian Embassy in Vilnius. On these occasions, the University of Vilnius hosted leading figures from the Italian cultural scene, such as the president of the Accademia della Crusca, Paolo d’Achille; the winner of the 2024 Campiello Prize, Federica Manzon; the director of the “Cà de Puiö” cultural club, Federico Fedozzi; and the curator and creator of the literary festival “Cervo in blu d’inchiostro,” Francesca Rotta Gentile Cavigioli.

Programme.

On 10 and 11 September, experts from four Arqus universities (Graz, Minho, Granada and Vilnius) gathered at Vilnius University to take the final steps towards launching the new Arqus Joint Master’s Programme in Translation, Technologies and AI.

Now in the final phase of development, this innovative programme is designed to respond to the rapidly changing translation landscape and the growing role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence. During the Vilnius meeting, the organising team reviewed feedback from the Austrian accreditation body and discussed key organisational and administrative processes within the partnership.

The pioneering programme aims to bridge the gap between academic education and the increasingly digital translation labour market. By combining translation studies with expertise in digital tools, machine translation and artificial intelligence, it seeks to equip graduates with the skills needed to thrive in a fast-evolving profession and to position itself at the forefront of innovation in translator education.

A strong international dimension will be at the heart of the programme. Future students will have the opportunity to study at at least two of the four partner universities, gaining both specialised academic knowledge and valuable experience in an international learning environment.

2025/2026 spring semester exam retakes will be held from the 2th until the 16th of September.

Retake dates for BA students >

Retake dates for MA students >

The dates are constantly updated as soon as the professors announce them.

If you cannot find the date for the needed subject, please contact the professor and follow the information on Faculty's website.

If you have any questions, please contact us at 

As part of the MSCA-funded postdoctoral project Repro-fiction, Dr. Orlagh Woods facilitated a workshop on Narrative Medicine on June 2nd, bringing together scholars and students from the Faculties of Medicine and Philology to explore reproductive healthcare through literature, art, and reflective discussion.

The workshop invited participants to engage with questions of healthcare and bodily autonomy through a series of guided activities. It began with a group reflection on a historical painting depicting the first Caesarean section performed in Latin America, encouraging participants to consider the ethical dimensions of reproductive care. This was followed by a close reading exercise centred on a literary text addressing reproductive loss, which prompted discussion about the role of storytelling in communicating experiences that are often silencedor difficult to articulate. 

The workshop was co-hosted by Dr. Loïc Bourdeau and Dr. Rūta Morkūnienė, whose expertise in literary studies and medicine respectively highlighted the value of interdisciplinary approaches to complex healthcare issues. Drawing on perspectives from both the humanities and medicine, the session demonstrated how collaborative dialogue can deepen our understanding of reproductive experiences and improve approaches to care.

Narrative medicine is an evidence-based approach that emphasises the importance of listening to, interpreting, and responding to patients’ stories. Combining scientific knowledge with close attention to human experience, it is both an art and a science. Narrative medicine has been shown to foster empathy, strengthen communication, and support more patient-centred care. Its insights are particularly valuable in contexts where reproductive healthcare has historically been shaped by restrictive or repressive political and social regimes, creatingspace for voices and experiences that have often been marginalised.

The workshop formed part of the broader aims of Repro-fiction to explore the relationship between literature, healthcare and reproductive justice. It also opened up exciting possibilities for future interdisciplinary collaborations, and organisers look forward to building on these conversations through further events and partnerships.

On 8 May 2026, the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities of the University of Granada held the seminar Arts and Development of Creativity in Slavic Language Teaching, aimed at educators involved in the teaching of Slavic languages. The event was organized within the framework of the Arqus Innovation Fund project Arts and Creativity in the Foreign Language Classroom: Interdisciplinarity and Innovation in the Process of Teaching and Learning Slavic Languages. The initiative brings together specialists in Russian and Polish language instruction from the Universities of Granada, Vilnius, and Wrocław.

The project team consists of experienced instructors of Slavic languages taught as foreign languages. Coordination of the project is carried out by the Department of Greek and Slavic Philology at the University of Granada, one of the leading Spanish academic centres dedicated to Slavic studies.

The project focuses on developing students’ language skills through enhancing their knowledge of cultural and social contexts of the language they study and performing various creative language tasks. It is worth noting that traditional grammar is not overlooked; rather, it is thoughtfully incorporated into the creative learning process.

As part of the seminar, participants were introduced to a methodology that combines interdisciplinary language teaching with creativity development. This approach is designed to support the creation of innovative teaching materials for Russian and Polish as foreign languages, however this methodology can be also applied to teaching other languages. 

The seminar was attended by 30 academics and doctoral candidates representing seven countries. Participants highly valued the innovative character of the methodology presented during the event.

Jörundur Garðar Hilmarsson

On June 5–6, Vilnius University (VU) will host a conference titled “Hidden Bridges, Rediscovered Paths: Iceland – Lithuania Through Time” dedicated to the memory of scholar and translator Jörundur Garðar Hilmarsson (1946–1992) and the 35th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Iceland. 

The Icelandic linguist Jörundur G. Hilmarsson made a significant contribution to the development of cultural and political ties between Iceland and Lithuania. He initiated the first Icelandic-language seminar at VU and the first Lithuanian-language seminar at the University of Iceland, was the first to translate a Lithuanian book into Icelandic, and became the first Honorary Consul of Lithuania in Iceland. He would have turned 80 this year.

The opening presentation of the conference, titled “Morality and Expediency: Icelandic-Lithuanian Relations, 1918–1988,” will be delivered by Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson, former President of Iceland (2016–2024) and professor at the University of Iceland. 

Eight other guest scholars from Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, and Taiwan will present their research on the shared cultural memory of Lithuania and Iceland, lesser-known connections between Lithuania and Iceland dating back to the Viking Age, which took unexpected forms during the interwar period and World War II, were nurtured during the Cold War, and flourished after 1991. 

We will hear about the origins of Icelandic studies at VU, Icelandic literature in Lithuanian and Lithuanian literature in Icelandic, the parallels and differences between the ideologies and practices of language policy in Iceland and Lithuania, teaching methodologies for the Icelandic and Lithuanian languages, Jörundur G. Hilmarsson’s scholarly work and cultural legacy. 

The event will be officially opened by Harald Aspelund, Ambassador of the Republic of Iceland to Lithuania; Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas, Rector of Vilnius University; Dalius Radis, Honorary Consul of Iceland; Prof. Mindaugas Kvietkauskas, Dean of the Faculty of Philology; and Dr Erika Sausverde, Director of the Institute for the Languages and Cultures of the Baltic at the Faculty of Philology.

The conference will also feature the opening of the exhibition “Intertwined Realities” by artist Þorgerður Jörundsdóttir (the daughter of Jörundur G. Hilmarsson, who lived with him in Lithuania in 1971) and an exhibition dedicated to the memory of Jörundur G. Hilmarsson. Conference participants will also take part in the opening discussion of the “Takk, Island”(“Thank You, Iceland”) festival, titled “Between Lithuania and Iceland: Shared History of Politics, Culture, and Lives”.

A detailed program of the conference and accompanying events can be found here. 

All events will be held in English.