International Relations

My work experience gained at VU IBS gave me an idea that this school responds quite quickly to the country's economic developments and the emerging needs of society, always attempts to be close to the events, to anticipate them rather than lack behind. It is not easy, but VU IBS quite successfully handles this task set under the school’s initiative.
All teachers have some relationship with practice or business. Most of them work as heads or consultants in various national and international companies, so the experience of teachers passed on to students is really useful.
VU IBS students are full of curiosity, creativity and insight. They are self-disciplined and demand quite a lot from teachers. These qualities are worth of praise and, in my opinion, justify the school’s ability to quickly respond to changes and adapt to them, not to get limited only to the theoretical portfolio but be targeted at practice. Teachers are aware of the needs of students and cannot afford to ignore them. So their lectures and seminars are equipped with the prevailing most recent, most relevant, information that young people need.
Personally, when I either prepare for lectures or deliver them, I always do my best to keep the right balance between theory and practice. I treat the theory with great respect – it is the foundation on which human knowledge and skills are laid. When dealing with one or another aspect of the theory, practical examples follow inevitably from the experience. Of course, my lectures are more illustrated with practical examples from the global economy. On the other hand, it is not very surprising after all, as the freedom of Lithuania's economy counts just the third decade.
When teaching I am motivated by the following principle - if a student learns, if his efforts are really visible, he is evaluated more than that who idles. The marks must be differentiated.
From studies times I do not like those who study blindly, learn by heart the course material, almost word for word. If someone demonstrates original thinking and tells a more interesting idea during the lecture, I surely acknowledge that student. As a rule, is much easier for him to study at least in my study course.

SEB Presidential Adviser, Economist, Doctor of Social Sciences Gitanas Nausėda, Lithuania

My first Visiting Professorship at IBS was in 1999. Back then, I used an interpreter as few students understood or spoke English. I was impressed with the program at IBS and its focus on academic quality. Since then, I have taught IBS on many occasions. I have always enjoyed the academic culture at IBS, and now my IBS students can speak as well as my American students! When IBS moved into its new academic building, the program became world class by attracting students and faculty throughout the globe.
I really enjoy living in Vilnius when teaching at IBS. It is truly a beautiful city with a rich history and culture. The city is vibrant and safe. I have even sent my American to study at IBS and live in Vilnius. Vilnius is an easy city to navigate and anyone under age 40 speaks English. Vilnius is steeped in the arts and culture so the possibilities for entertainment are endless.

Dr. Craig Shoemaker St. Ambrose University, USA

MI was teaching at the International School of Business of Vilnius University different courses such as “Comparative Economic Systems”, “Emerging markets” and now I am in the process of the new course “Business strategy”
preparation. I started this interesting job beginning from 2005 hence my experience of lecturing and communication with the students as well as with professor’s staff is quite big.
What impressed me most of all. First, independent, good-natured and open-minded exchange of opinions between people inside and outside School.
Secondly, marvelous facilities implementation allowing a teacher not only to use one’s knowledge in the most effective way but to manage free-for-all discussion and round-tables organizing students’ work in small creative groups. Thirdly, serious attitude of students to their studies: the preliminary preparation of materials before lectures, active participation and on-line communication with the teacher, inspiration to know more and orientation to practical matters. High level of students’ motivation was obvious in the process of start-up academic studies in the form of writing and presentation of essays. During the last years of my work at School I noticed the desire of students to know not only English language, but to embrace studies in Russian language bridging multi-cultural competence development.

Prof. Natalia Kuznetsova St.Petersburg State University

Working with IBS has been a pleasure. Aside from a first class administration and management that ensures that seminars and training runs smoothly, the diversity of program participants is very good. The school facilities are modern and extremely comfortable. Vilnius is a delightful city - with some of the most beautiful old town architecture in Europe. It is also a very lively city with excellent cultural and entertainment opportunities. I have always found Lithuanians to be friendly, helpful and very curious about international cultures and business. I recommend IBS and Vilnius extremely highly for your future education and training needs!

Dr. Yusaf Akbar Central European University, Hungary

I began teaching at IBS in 2000 and have been back at least once a year, sometimes twice, every year but one since then. I have taught at both the Masters and Bachelors levels. The students have been responsive to the learner-centered pedagogical methods I have brought to class. I find them to be enthused and willing to consider new ideas and approaches to business issues. They have been appreciative and grateful for the course material and class conversations. Some of them have later enrolled at St. Ambrose as their international experience and so I have had a chance for further contact with them. The addition of the Erasmus students has made a good teaching experience even better. A number of the graduate students have become close friends of mine and we have enjoyed traveling together through out Lithuania.

Dr. Randy Richards St. Ambrose University, USA

I have just returned to London from my latest visiting lecturing trip to Vilnius (this was my third visit). I run a two week intensive programme in business psychology for the undergraduate programme and always look forward to coming here. First and foremost the students at IBS are keener, more enthusiastic, harder working and more appreciative than their English counterparts. I often return with a selection of great Lithuanian beers as gifts from the students! Their English is surprisingly good with the girls generally outshining the boys in this department- come on boys!!! There is also a good blend of nationalities amongst the students. As well as the core Lithuanian students there is a cohort of Erasmus scheme students from Germany, Spain, France and the Western Balkans plus students from ex Soviet bloc states such as Belarus, Ukraine, Estonia and so on. Plus there is a sprinkling of students from India and the Far East.
To sum up a fantastic place to both study and be visiting faculty and I’m looking forward to my next trip.

Nicholas Bateson Emotional Intelligence Consulting, UK

As I have the experience of 5 years in Vilnius as a Executive in the largest Lithuanian commercial bank am I well situated being in Vilnius. I find the city very friendly and beautiful with all necessities you need for a good life. The people are warm and friendly, the food good and with lots of leisure activities.
My teaching at IBS started 2008 with the course “Financial Risk Management” at master-degree level. I found that the students were very interested in understanding the Financial Markets and Finance. It was a pleasure to teach so highly motivated students, especially in a course that is so demanding for them. The course Financial Risk Management covers almost all existing financial instruments and gives you techniques on how you could use them and manage them. The course aims to show the student how the global financial markets are connected and give ways to mitigate the inherent financial risks.

Mattias Styrman RYM Consulting, Sweden

Graduates cover about 80-85 per cent of all the students that enter VU IBS. Is not easy to study here, but because we, teachers, are highly qualified and experienced, students are mastering skills quite easily that are really handy in their future.
There is a wide range of attractive and interesting techniques and methods enabling to deliver the theoretical material. We read much, travel around the world, look for new ideas that help us to improve our lectures. Personally, when I stand in front of the audience I am motivated by a very simple philosophy - it is my duty to help students to better absorb the relatively large volume of complex course. I most appreciate hard-working people.
What kind of students study at VU IBS? They are very different, as all young people. After completing their studies they all can easily expect success in their chosen careers. According to the Labour Exchange, just a few of VU IBS graduates are registered in this institution.
To study at VU IBS it is worth for many things: a truly high-quality education, good material base, excellent customer service. It employs exclusively qualified professors. A number of them have accumulated very rich experience. Each student has the opportunity to study one semester abroad. One can choose to study either in Lithuanian or in the English language. All study programs are modern, conforming to international standards.

To study at VU IBS is really interesting. I would like to refute the public opinion that it is easy to study here, because one does not have to. It is certainly not the case.
If you ask me to describe a VU IBS student the adjective first that comes to my mind is "entrepreneur". Also curious, smart, friendly. People who have entrepreneurship inclination are studying here. Quite a number of them have already accumulated considerable experience in running businesses.
As for lectures, teachers are seeking to develop more non-standard tasks to be processed by students, to provide examples of doing business in Lithuania and abroad. Personally, I put efforts so that my lectures were as exciting as possible, so that students would not take a nap time. On the other hand I demand that students would study a lot by themselves, that they would make use of their knowledge when performing complex tasks. I appreciate those people who, during their studies, attempt to get the most information possible. However, it is important to remember that it is not possible to know everything, so it is necessary to be able to think and solve current problems. Usually my subject grades reflect how many of these skills the student has.
Future students should know that during the studies at VU IBS one can gain useful experience.A considerable part of group-mates run their own businesses (or are recruited by employers) and may offer opportunities for cooperation or even become business partners in the future. Liberal atmosphere present at VU IBS allows all students to actively participate in both the field of education and organization of leisure time. Every student here has the potential to continue their studies at foreign universities. 

It is worth studying at VU IBS to those who expect not only interesting and informative lectures, but also seek to gain high competence and career opportunities. One of the biggest advantages of VU IBS is the fact that students are provided with all the necessary facilities to develop their range of contacts.
To study at VU IBS is both and easy, and difficult. Those who find it easy to study – take their studies as an adventure of a few years, after which they receive a diploma. It is hard to study for those who wish not only to be students but are also looking for the true value of their studies. To be a student and to study are two different things. One can be a student can be anywhere, but the one who is seeking to study, should be careful in choosing a university, colleagues and teachers.
Most of the students at VU IBS are the same as everywhere. My favorite students are part-time (evening study programme) or extra-mural study programme students. They are people with professional and life experience who understand that the track that they are on together with their colleagues, in fact, has the great objective - the joy of gaining knowledge. I admire the most that the students are very curious, but at the same time and they are not full of themselves or vulgar.
We do not part with many inquisitive students even after their studies – we continue to communicate. We are looking for new opportunities - special bonds are being born. I have no doubt that in the future, VU IBS graduates will simply say to their colleagues: “I’m from IBS and you are from IBS”, and many doors will open.
My teaching philosophy is simple - as a teacher I am only an intermediate between the pipe and tap. The student’s absence from lecture has the only undermining reason – it is not an interesting lecture. This is not the student’s problem but that of the teacher. If students do not attend my lectures, that means I am a poor teacher.
A good student, I think, is inquisitive, organized and able to think otherwise. He/she is able to listen, assess critically and able to turn the information their own way, a different and new way. A good student - this is a business fair and continuously advancing personality. A good student is one who recognizes that something is to know and learn. A good student is the one who is thinks, does not stop, keeps asking and is active. I am sure that the mark and the exam are poor means to measure the student’s actual knowledge and skills, yet, unfortunately, nothing better has been invented so far.
I wish all prospective and current students not to stop, always set a goal, be better than their self, constantly achieve progress and, above all, always protect their student rights for high standard, fair and quality education. Do not go downstream but let those who have no goal go downstream. 

An exclusive advantage of VU IBS is the original study system and not many students. Only a few universities and high schools can boast of that. The school employs highly qualified teachers. They are invited to teach at VU IBS from many universities. A number of specialists are coming from abroad to share their knowledge and experience with students.
Is it easy to study in this school? Neither easy nor difficult. One has to study everywhere. The students at VU IBS are very different. They are curious, diligent and smart. They demonstrate a serious attitude to their studies. Such people are usually not disappointed with their studies. During the lectures we provide students with a well-structured material. The students should be encouraged to go deeper into the subject specified in the reference list, as well as to be able to solve the given tasks independently.
A good student, to my mind, is the one who completes all the assigned tasks in time and demonstrates quality. The one who is not content with the information heard in lectures, but is looking for supplementary information.
I wish only one thing for the future students, or freshmen – study well and good luck! 

VU IBS Professor Stanislava Stungurienė

VU IBS is a young educational institution, which is aggressively expanding its activities in all the strategic directions focused on economic competitiveness, technological intensity and the increase of business productivity. The school perfectly combines science and business management principles.
The teachers have accumulated a vast foreign business and academic experience, so the school is able to prepare not only the experts of the past and present international business economic processes, but also of the future. The experts are able to combine the knowledge and skills gained in the areas of business, politics, innovation, sustainable development, human resources management, finance, communication, creative industries, etc.
VU IBS students are self-confident leaders. Their creativity and entrepreneurship fundamentals are being developed by specialists with global thinking that apply their experience when delivering lectures and seminars. It is important not only to understand the concepts, principles, essential features and factors making impact on business, but also to be able to apply them in practice, make decisions or study independently and make progress.
VU IBS seeks to ensure the dissemination of ideas and knowledge among teachers and students. The school has successfully implemented many innovative ideas of students.
Who, in my opinion, is a good student? The one who having defended his bachelor's degree at VU IBS and having been employed in an international company will be able to offer a lot of alternatives to the head of his company. The generation and realization of ideas will be his common practice. Such a student will not fear to support his opinion even to the most prominent guru: “Yes, I agree, but on the other hand ...”
I wish the future freshmen to value education as the most important investment of their life and to be open to subjects that seem rather inconvenient at first glance. Maybe their future job will require such knowledge and skills of these subjects. 

Those who will select to study at VU IBS will not be disappointed, because studies here are focused on the practical rather than on theoretical training. It is interesting to study at VU IBS not only for the teachers’ scientific and pedagogical competence, but also for various student extracurricular activities.
My course of lectures has been specifically designed to make students learn as much as possible during the semester, rather than at the beginning of the exam session. I present the latest theoretical and empirical research and make use of a variety of active teaching methods. Such lectures are more attractive to the students as well as it is easier to remember the provided the information. I appreciate students that are lively, curious and not afraid to ask questions or make mistakes. Those that are reaching their goals.
Future students of VU IBS can certainly expect to be provided with the latest and practically usable knowledge and a friendly community. However, the amount of knowledge they will gain from the school definitely depends only on them. So for the future students of VU IBS I wish to be as active as possible, to make a good use of a variety of opportunities in the areas of studies, research and practice, to develop new skills, consolidate the knowledge gained.

VU IBS Teacher Dr. Vikinta Rosinaitė