Humans of IIRPS VU

"I wish for all of you to stay true to yourselves amid the whirlwind of events and emotions, spend more time on activities you enjoy, and keep a healthy balance"

"I wish every student or graduate of IIRPS VU to bring a deeper understanding of politics to the wide world and thus build a future for all of us."

"Thanks to this community, I've been able to overcome my own barriers and let myself be true to who I am"

„Critical thinking, respect for diversity of opinions, creative and unconventional approach to problems, and written assignments - these are the first words I thought of when I was asked to describe my studies at IIRPS VU.“

"However, if YOU want to start making a change, it's always best to start with a community that is like-minded."

“For me, the advantage of IIRPS is that I have enough freedom to discover my own areas of interest and to focus on them.”

"For me, IIRPS is a place where both the lecturers and the administration are very open to any kind of suggestions, and initiatives. We have four active student organisations, where I think everyone can find a place."

"I appreciate how fellow international students and Lithuanians come together to build such a diverse circle."

"Probably the most memorable event happened in the first year - I had to help organise a rally in support of IIRPS (as we called it - anti-miting) under the windows of the institute when a certain political group was making strange demands on IIRPS"

"I am a student in the first class of the Politics of Global Challenges programme, so I feel that everything is still very fresh and new, but I have not regretted my study choices for one minute"

“The experience of studying in such a distant country has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences of my life.”

"I don’t know if Lithuanians understand how much we value them, even just as friends. You give us all your love and support, and that’s what we need now. We need to know that we’re not alone in this war. There are so many things we’ll be forever grateful for."

"I chose IIRPS because I wanted to get a "higher education" in the true sense of the word"

"I happened to be in Lithuania when Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022. The strong support and solidarity I witnessed among Lithuanians played a significant role in my decision to pursue further studies at IIRPS VU"

"It is very rewarding to be part of the IIRPS community, where tolerance, openness to innovation and a friendly atmosphere are highly valued"

"Here I have met life companions, maybe even future colleagues, I have met people from other nations and I have seen how colourful and beautiful my environment is. There is a spectrum of people sitting in the audience who are so different, but they are all united by the one, very haunting word: politics"

"From the first moment, the IIRPS VU community made me feel fully part of it; joining organisations, events and participating in academic discussions, I have never felt so fulfilled and on the right path."

"there is more free time to work and to study in the real sense of the word, not to go out of the programme, but to study something that seems cute and interesting"

"VU IIRPS remains a place where it is easy to grow and develop as a researcher, providing a lot of freedom, inspiration, and support, all of which is very important for a young scholar"

"I read about many universities in Lithuania and applied to many places, but everything was related to politics, public policy, diplomacy, and so on. But IIRPS was in the first place because I saw a new program that interested me a lot because I hadn't seen anything similar anywhere else"

"I believe that every day, I will be able to build more and more trusting relationships, join in, get involved in different activities, and be an added part of the IIRPS community"

"However, it is probably the interdisciplinary skills I have acquired - the ability to present my ideas, to argue, to find credible answers - that I apply most at work. This, in my opinion, is one of the greatest advantages of studying at TSPMI. "

"When I joined IIRPS, I thought I would be a diplomat, working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the President's Office. However, during my studies, I realised that politics is not limited to high-ranking positions in public institutions. When I was studying the conventional themes of realism, liberalism and so on, I realised that I was more concerned with the individual, his welfare and security than with the conduct of foreign policy"

„The last two years have shown that we can be "international" in the true sense of the word.“

"I am glad that I made this decision because the studies helped me to grow as a person, not only to understand the political context but also to acquire the basics of economics and law and to develop my writing and language skills"

"Sometimes we don't realise how many skills and competencies we acquire at university - how we learn to communicate and behave formally, to analyse, and to work"

"In my opinion, the aim of the club should be to create a safe community in which anyone who is searching for faith or truth, or anyone who simply wants to belong to a community, can find a place."

"From a broader perspective, Vilnius University is a very large and mature community, not only holding centuries of traditions, different views and ideas but also shaping the future of our country every day through its comprehensive activities. When you try to grasp the contribution that Vilnius University has made to the overall development of our country since 1579, you simply cannot help but feel proud of the University. It is this feeling that makes working at the University meaningful and makes you immensely proud of what you do."

"I chose IIRPS VU to learn from the best experts in their field and to be at the centre of political events."

"By loving our own country, we can also show to foreigners that Lithuania is a good place to be!"

"Vilnius University offers a lot of opportunities, but it's important to remember to take advantage of them"

"All of us are architects of our own destiny, and I believe that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible!"

“During my bachelor years, I taught children who were refugees in Azerbaijan, which increased my desire to work with children.”

"I sometimes laugh that I joined the programme (Public Policy Analysis) to better fulfill my responsibilities as the President of the VU SR in representing the students."

"Lithuania’s unwavering support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion was a major influence on my decision to study the programme"

"Research activities provides a complete university experience and gives you a real taste of university life."

"It is very difficult to plan your time when you are involved in political activities, so what I enjoy most is being able to combine my studies with my other activities"

"I have already had a chance to join fascinating conferences, attend live speeches of various successful and sophisticated people, and even got into the Smart Internship program already"

„Since this university immediately gave me the air of a modern place that offers many possibilities for growth, I thought I would get closer to the institute and actively live this experience at IIRPS VU.“

"The least I can give back is being a citizen. And that's up to each individual to choose their favourite form of citizenship. Starting a weekend morning in the woods in an ambush or sleeping in a moss bed with a gun around you is kind of surreal, but it makes sense in the bigger picture."

"I am a Belarussian who suffered repression and political violence in 2020-2021. And till February 2022, I lived in Ukraine with my wife, a Ukrainian national. In addition to the repressions from the dictatorship regime, I faced the war and the appaling fact that my country (Belarus) became an aggressor against the country where I peacefully lived with my wife (Ukraine). What can be worse than the second refugedom in a few years?"

"Having to step out of my comfort zone to understand my studies and having a chance to interact with individuals from different cultures and those who have been through such tough times in their home countries helps me gain a better understanding and perspective on a lot of things, which helps me to reflect on myself, and my privilege."

"When I graduated from IIRPS VU with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science, I immediately knew that I would continue my Master's studies only at the Institute. I was impressed by both the quality of the studies and the sense of community in the corridors of the Institute."

"The Institute has a special power to bring people together, and it is the academic community itself that I miss the most."

"I realised that life is not always about what you want to do, and although we are all the architects of our destiny and often choose things that are pleasant to us, some things are more meaningful than ourselves, and for me, it has always been my homeland, for which I felt obliged to do my duty, not only in words but also in actions"

"The Institute is an exciting place to be. I am especially happy to be here at the launch of the brand-new BA programme in the ‘Politics of Global Challenges’. Teaching a cohort of students who are so engaged, driven, and optimistic, especially during such difficult and uncertain times, is a real honour."

"I was also impressed by the community of Vilnius University from the very beginning, so I couldn't just be an observer. I really wanted to get involved in this environment because it's made up of people just like me."

"I would like to continue and foster this so that the Club is not just a student organisation but a strong circle of educated people who share Christian values and who can pass on their experiences to younger generations after they have finished their studies."

“In my opinion, civic activism is one of the strongest features of democracy. Personally, I use the phrase "So that others may live" in my life. This phrase means a lot to me.“

"Although I had a solid grounding in international relations and in "Western thinking" (which was very useful when I studied in China, where I had to get to know the Chinese thinking), I realised that I couldn't call myself a good professional if I didn't understand exactly how the Chinese themselves think, how they feel about us and the various issues in international politics."

"I think that my choice of political science studies helps me in many ways. By studying at the Institute and learning from experts in their field, and interacting with motivated students, I am developing my critical and analytical thinking, which allows me to anticipate my actions in a more responsible and rational way"

“I wish you to remain exceptional, to do what you think is right. Everything comes naturally, you just have to work hard and not get tired of looking for the right path.”

"Lithuania and the Baltic States have unique experiences and can be a great laboratory for understanding many burning issues in international relations"

"From my view as an outsider, VU TSPMI is very influential and well-known within Lithuania, fully engrained in its political life with its alumni in leading positions in public sphere"

"The location of Vilnius definitely had an impact on my decision to come here. Lithuania is a very unique country in my opinion. Lithuania has a strong national identity, but also has many people who don’t mind speaking in English or Russian to tourists or foreign students"

"For the last decade, our country has taken the front foot approach in the region’s politics, the political leaders have tried to highlight the problems being faced in the region. I think students need to learn about the region from within it, they need to be close to the events. I am certain that that the programme is popular because the students have a chance to work closely with the region’s academics and they can learn about our region’s history and culture."

"I would like to wish the students of the Institute to be independent, enterprising and try to take advantage of all the opportunities: actively participate in study activities, events organized by the Institute, discussions, join student organizations, go abroad for part-time studies, in the activities of sports teams."

"I selected this institute to continue my studies because it was the only place in Lithuania that had good programs both academically and career-wise."

"I was interested to see how I could combine my knowledge of the arts with politics, and whether I could find a more tangible way of creating political change with art."

"Traveling and living abroad is one of the best schools of life, which not only allows to vividly experience daily routines of people living elsewhere or the reality that shapes them, but also helps to reveal the traveler himself."

"As a food enthusiast with a fondness for culinary diversity, I was also delighted to see the variety of cuisines available in such an arguably small city. I also had the great pleasure of partaking in a traditional Lithuanian Christmas with a fantastic Lithuanian family who never made me feel out of place."

"Your university life won’t just be about studying, so make sure that you like the country or city where you’ll live and make the most of your time by engaging in interesting activities!"

"The academic setting is a safe place to share your perspectives, have them challenged by the classmates and teachers, and in this way get prepared for the real-world scenarios."

"Most of the professors and administration of TSPMI tried to make our stay in Lithuania productive, useful and pleasant. I like that our opinion about studying process is taken into account - we are asked about what we like or not and how things can be improved."

"I think that IIRPS has something for every student who comes here because the course programs have a huge variety and there are many events."

"I have experienced friendly and accepting attitude from classmates and lecturers here at IIRPS VU."

"By being involved in local politics you are making a difference where you are, you are helping to make decisions that have a direct impact on the community in which you live and this has a direct impact on your friends, family, and neighbours."

"As for my experience in Vilnius – it was fantastic."

"IIRPS makes you a part of the top-tier league of political sciences and international relations in Lithuania and region-wide."

"We are encouraged to express our opinions here and the lecturers never criticize you."

"For me, I see no better way to study Eastern Europe but in the region itself. In this sense, I chose to study EERS at Vilnius because the Lithuanian experience is as a crossroads between North, Central, and Eastern European."

"When you sit at the class as a lecturer and see the first-year students, it’s so funny, because you remember yourself during the first year and you can easily tell what these students are going to say. The process of transformation is really funny. When you are taking your first exam, you are all scared, you just think about what would happen, if you didn’t pass, what would happen if you got an 8, etc."

"I have definitely grown after this process, not only academically, but also personally."

"The aspect of the University I enjoyed the most was the practical nature of the discussion."

"It was strange coming back to the university and realizing that I am not a student anymore, but the whole team welcomed me warmly."

"After first months in VU IIRPS you will find that there are a lot of talented people around you and if you want to succeed and be competitive, you need to walk that extra mile or sometimes two.“

"Well, I think the specialty of the programme is that it combines on-hand experience and local research. There’s no better way to understand Eastern Europe than to experience it through spending time in the area and analysing that experience with knowledge gained in classes."

"In the Hague, lawyers, historians, political scientists, soldiers, even rocket scientists and SFX specialists worked with me as well. Majority of them were forced to flee from war and decided to sacrifice their careers for justice and brighter future of their country. They inspired me to focus on the transitional justice field."

"So far IIRPS VU challenged me more than expected but I can only benefit from it."

"My interest in Eastern Europe and Russia is not surprising as my country is part of this region. One of the main reasons is to see and understand, how some countries, which share, more or less, similar Soviet past and started from almost the same point during the 90’s, are now in different positions."

"The major weakness of academia is its tendency to stagnate. <...> VU IIRPS is different in that sense – it's inquisitive and lively. This is where the spark of science lies."

"What I like about the program is that it starts with the region’s political, economic and cultural history, creating a deep and comprehensive understanding."

"Vilnius University has one of the best graduate programs in this sphere, plus, it is in Eastern Europe and studying here helps us - students to deeply analyze and compare the theoretical knowledge to everyday life."

"It is a lovely university full of international students and plentiful academic possibilities."

"IIRPS VU and my Eastern European and Russian master studies here help me widen my horizons."

"University is a place for new discoveries and creativity as well as questioning doubts and heated discussions. Most importantly, a place to understand your own limits." - says the director of VU IIRPS."

"I always designate three main directions one should work in order to achieve something: perseverance, ideas and hard work."