Kaunas University of Technology

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 schools university status, and it was renamed the Kaunas University of Technology (KTT). 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 and masters 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.