Kaunas University of Technology - History

History

• The Higher Courses

Z. Žemaitis, a mathematician, and J. Vabalas-Gudaitis, a psychologist, together 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 7 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, 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

In 1990 KPI was named Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), it 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.