Vilnius University Faculty of Communication
Encyclopedia
The Faculty of Communication of Vilnius University is one of the faculties of Vilnius University
Vilnius University
Vilnius University is the oldest university in the Baltic states and one of the oldest in Eastern Europe. It is also the largest university in Lithuania....

 that provides the education and training of communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...

 and information
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...

 specialists and organizes research in these scientific domains. Since 2007, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andrius Vaišnys has been appointed the head of the Faculty.

History

On 18 June 1991, following the assessment of rapid development of information services and access to information, and the need for cohesive communication research in Lithuania, the Vilnius University Council passed a decision to establish the Faculty of Communication on the basis of the former Departments of Library Science, Information Systems, Book Science and Bibliography, Radio and Television Journalism, and Press Journalism. This decision also determined the establishment of new scientific divisions. These changes were predisposed mainly by the adoption of the Vilnius University Statute, and granting it the law status, by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania in 1990 – shortly following the restoration of an Independent State of Lithuania.

Prior to the reorganization, the study programmes for the library science and journalism ‘specialities’, as they were called back then, were taught at the Faculty of History of Vilnius University – they neither any longer met the new concept of communication and information studies, nor fit within the scope of academic subjects of history, or answered the demand of specialists for public service. The research into the book and press history, publishing history, printing and book trading, library science and bibliography, history and theory of journalism, information theory and information systems, along with the corresponding subjects, all taught and conducted under the auspices of the former Departments of Library Science, Information Systems, Book Science and Bibliography, Radio and Television Journalism, and Press Journalism, used to be attributed to the scientific domains of history, pedagogy, technology, or economics..

The driving forces behind the establishment of the Faculty of Communication and its divisions were the propagation of the new branches of communication and information science, itself a separate scientific entity as of 1997, and their goals to explore the processes of social communication from the information point of view and develop the general theory of communication and information.

Ever since its inception, the Faculty has consistently followed the path of modernization and developing international relations, in line with the core University principle to integrate science and studies. A new study programme of informology, introduced in 1992, opened development opportunities for other popular specialities, such as business information management (since 1997) and publishing (since 2005). The winning of the TEMPUS project encouraged the roll out of two new Master’s programmes. The year of 1993 marked the initiation of PhD research and dissertation defence. Since then, the Faculty has grown a new generation of scientists and professionals in communication and information field. More than 10 years later, three Professors, E. Macevičiūtė, A. Glosienė, and O. Janonis, joined the scientific faculty after the successful completion of the habilitation procedure in 2004 .

The Faculty further enlarged and changed its organizational forms: during 2000-2001 several Departments were given the status of Institutes. In 2003, the Vilnius University Senate approved the establishment of a separate International Centre of Knowledge Economy and Management, which was granted to teach certain programmes of the second cycle of university studies (i. e. at Master’s level). In 2007, following the report and conclusions of the audit, the Centre’s study programmes, with the exception of the intellectual resources, were reinstated at the Faculty of Communication by decision of the University Senate. During the following school year, these second-cycle programmes were updated and reintroduced in 2009.

Mission and Vision

The Mission of the Faculty of Communication of Vilnius University is to educate and train its students into highly qualified professionals in the area of information and communication, to conduct scientific research and nurture scientific potential, and to convey the cultural identity. The Faculty Mission has been propagated by means of the following activities:
  1. Educating and training the students into highly qualified professionals. During the Bachelor and Master’s studies, the Faculty of Communication (1) provides its students the background and the base for acquiring versatile education and becoming active and responsible specialists; (2) aims at the international-level quality of studies of any form, while seeking to meet the needs of students, society, and the State;
  2. Conducting scientific research and nurturing scientific potential. The Faculty of Communication is maintaining and strengthening its leader position among other Lithuanian scientific and education institutions, and encourages internationally-recognized scientific research. This activity involves developing and internationalizing the scientific publications as well as diversifying interdisciplinary research trends. Doctoral studies are designed to assure consistence in research topics and scientific school traditions of the Faculty;
  3. Conveying the cultural identity. Vilnius University is especially noted for its mission in conveying and ensuring the continuity of cultural identity. Such a mission is a requirement for all the divisions of Vilnius University. Therewith, the Faculty of Communication has been assigned a particular role – it is namely scientific research in communication and information that can provide means and modes for the heritage values to be further practised within the culture and for the identity to be understood and conveyed to the society in modern manner.


The Vision of the Faculty includes the use of the coordination and administration system of the study process which should guarantee that the study programmes are relevant, state-of-the-art, and grounded on scientific research and that modern teaching methodologies and learning tools are employed and implemented throughout.
In terms of strategic partnership, the Faculty holds its position as the centre of social and professional attraction for specialists in communication and information science and related applied fields, as well as for scientific discussions, continuous vocational training, and lifetime learning .

Divisions

At present, the Faculty of Communication consists of the following subdivisions (based on the academic subjects):

The Faculty also operates one non-subject division – the Integrated Information Centre.

This division was established in 1997 as part of the TEMPUS project Information Management Programme for Lithuania and is aimed at improving the dissemination of internal and external communications of the Faculty of Communication. The main objective of the Centre is to provide creative and effective information and communication services along with the technological solutions to the Faculty staff .

The Integrated Information Centre:
  • Implements information technologies and provides their maintenance at the Faculty;
  • Develops and supports internal communication tools: designs and handles email conference technicalities, distributes relevant information to the staff;
  • Implements the Faculty public relations: administers and updates the Faculty website, prepares representative materials about the Faculty, officially represents the Faculty at the fairs, assists in organizing the Faculty events;
  • Collaborates in development and implementation of the Faculty projects.

Science

Following the restoration of an Independent State, the Faculty of Communication of Vilnius University has been the Lithuania’s leader in developing information and communication sciences. This position has been established since 1997, after the Faculty’s main field in Humanities – Communication and Information – was officially endorsed. The right for Doctoral Studies had been successfully contended for by 1998 and in 2003 the Faculty was awarded the right for the habilitation procedure. Today the staff of the Faculty embrace 58 researchers – it is the by far the largest team of communication and information scientists in Lithuania, with 6 PhD doctors that have been awarded the habilitation qualification or have passed the habilitation procedure, 25 PhD doctors, and 32 doctoral students.

The four academic divisions of the Faculty have been engaged in fundamental and applied research of very broad problematics, ranging from knowledge economy to Lituanistic heritage. The Faculty scientists work in the following four subtopics of the main scientific research topic Information and Communication in Traditional and Network Society:
  1. Information Management in Libraries, Archives and Museums (headed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rimvydas Laužikas, years 2009-2013, Institute of Library and Information Science);
  2. Expression and Models of Information and Communication in the Knowledge Society (headed by Prof. Dr. (HP) Zenona Atkočiūnienė, years 2008-2011, Department of Information and Communication);
  3. History, Theory and Methodology of Book Science and Documentation (headed by Prof. Domas Kaunas, years 2007-2010, Institute of Book Science and Documentation);
  4. Research of Changes of Periodical Media and Source Study of Periodical Press (headed by Prof. Dr. (HP) Žygintas Pečiulis, years 2008-2011, Institute of Journalism).


During the period 1991–2010 at the Faculty, 45 PhD dissertations have been defended, and tens of national and international conferences have been organized, with numerous contacts with international organizations established (EUCLID, EUPRERA, FID, IFLA, SHARP and others). The scientific organizational achievements of the Faculty are illustrated by the facts that the annual international book science conference has become the event of regional scientific importance, and the researchers from various Lithuanian institutions significantly contribute to the traditional Readings of Vaclovas Biržiška, as well as to the scientific seminars and conferences organized by the Department of Information and Communication and the Institute of Journalism.

Between 1991 and 2008, the number of annual scientific publications counted as many as 80–90 on average (2 publications per scientist). The Faculty’s ratio of scientific production per scientist is in line with or even larger than that of other primary Vilnius University divisions in Humanities and Social Sciences. The list of Lithuanian serial scientific publications in Humanities has been complemented by further three scientific journals prepared and published by the Faculty. Communication and information scientists began publishing their papers in Informacijos mokslai (Information Sciences), a serial scientific publication established in 1994; furthermore, the new quality and international scope have been achieved in Knygotyra (Book research), which was established as early as 1961. Since 2008, the Faculty has been involved in publication of the third scientific journal Žurnalistikos tyrimai (Journalism Research).

In the area of communication and information, the Faculty of Communication has grown into the leader position among other Lithuanian scientific institutions. It fosters internationally-recognized scientific research which encompasses all the branches of communication and information sciences or interdisciplinary problematics. This activity is oriented towards the cohesion of communication and information sciences into a distinct scientific entity.

Studies

The Faculty offers three cycles of university studies: the first Bachelor studies
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...

, the second Master’s studies
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...

, and the third one Doctoral studies. Each study cycle is designed to educate and train the students into the specialists having the following skills: to organize and manage information within special information structures and for cultural, scientific, business, administration and media institutions; to draft, design, and implement information policies, communication strategies, and campaigns; to conduct applied scientific research in communication and information domains.

The Faculty delivers studies in two modes: full-time, for all study programmes, and also part-time, for the Bachelor degree programmes in Library and Information Science and in Journalism, and for the Master’s degree programme in International Communication. Modern learning techniques and integrated electronic (virtual) learning medium have been implemented since 2000. For the purpose of study quality, the study process involves professional practice in public, non-governmental, or business organizations in Lithuania and abroad.

Currently over 1 200 students are enrolled on the programmes offered at the Faculty. Among them, more than 1 000 students are taking the 4-year Bachelor course, and over 200 are studying programmes of 1.5- or 2-year duration for the Master’s degree. After the successful completion of the studies, students are awarded the Bachelor or Master’s Degrees in Communication and Information. The number of study programmes has grown from 2 to 15 during the 20 years of the Faculty functioning. In 2008 and 2010, the Faculty performed self-examination of the study programmes. Having considered the conclusions, it is currently upgrading its studies of both cycles.

In 1991, only future librarians and journalists studied at the Faculty. Nowadays the Communication and Information Qualification is awarded to the students who have completed the Bachelor programmes in Archive Science, Library and Information Science, Informology, Publishing, Business Information Management, or Journalism. The Master’s Degree in Communication and Information is awarded to students who have completed the Master’s programmes in Management of Library and Information Centres, Management of Information Systems, Information Management, Book Science, Communication Sciences, Publishing, Museology, Heritage Information and Communication, Public Relations, or Journalism.

The Faculty cooperates with 45 higher education establishments from 17 countries. Its lecturers and students take part in ERASMUS/LLP academic exchange programmes and bilateral or multilateral academic collaboration programmes across the European Union.

Starting from 2010–2011, the Faculty of Communication will introduce a new study programme, International Communication, taught entirely in English and based on the ERASMUS Project European Master’s Studies in Professional Communication. The competence learning system will form the basis of this study programme. Students will be offered to engage in real-life situations provided by various international companies. The study programme will be flexibly designed so that the students would be able to choose in equal parts between their compulsory and optional subjects. The courses will be taught in English.

The new programme is intended for students who display interest in international communication and hold a Bachelor degree in Communication and Information or related areas (in main fields of Humanities and Social Sciences). The courses will be offered for student groups of 15-20 within the premises of all Universities-Partners. After the completion of the study programme, the graduates will be able to work as communication managers and specialists in both private and public enterprises.

The Faculty also maintains close contact with many professional bodies and institutions: professional communication and information associations, communication and information institutions, archives, libraries and museums, alliances of typographers/printers and book traders, special information centres in foreign countries, and with business companies.

Student Representation

The Student Representation of the Faculty of Communication (SR FC) is an organization which represents the students’ interests and provides consultations to the young Faculty community on academic and social issues. The SR FC serves as an intermediary between students and the Faculty administration, aiming at improving the quality of studies and student life. The SR FC also organizes various events. Thus, it is one of the most important structures representing the life within the Faculty.

KomFakas.lt

Opened in 2005, KomFakas.lt serves as an informal website for the community of the Faculty of Communication. The website’s mission is to disseminate information
Information
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...

to the community members, encourage a friendly tone of communication, and represent the Faculty to the broad society. KomFakas.lt deals with topical issues of the student life, presents interviews with interesting people, hosts students’ creative oeuvres, and provides recommendations for books, movies, or games. The website also has a column about studies, where information regarding the study programmes of the Faculty of Communication and its lecturers is given out. There are also options for private messaging, placing comments there, along with other Internet-related features, all of which endorse interactivity and allow for social networking within KomFakas.lt.
At the beginning of 2008, KomFakas.lt was elected the Coolest Website of Lithuanian Students 2007 .

Student Science Association

Student Science Association
The Student Science Association of the Faculty of Communication (SSA) is an independent, voluntary, non-profit student organization that unites those students of the Faculty of Communication which aim to deepen their knowledge and improve skills in communication and information scientific domains, and also involves scientists willing to share their experience and skills in scientific work. The SSA organizes courses, public lectures, discussions, conferences, publishes eBulletin, and encourages student science initiatives. The Association also engages in joint projects with other active student science associations of Vilnius University, and maintains contacts with the social partners of the Faculty.
http://www.smd.kf.vu.lt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=15

The SSA aims:
• To encourage and develop student science activity, improve scientific skills, and coordinate independent scientific projects of students;
• To develop critical thinking and organizational skills in students, and encourage initiatives for science popularization;
• To take part in scientific research endeavours of the Faculty of Communication of Vilnius University;
• To present scientific papers, selected by the expert commission, at the traditional annual Student Science Conference; to organize the SSA member meetings, competitions of student science papers, scientific seminars, debates, and discussion clubs;
• To cooperate with other scientific organizations and student science associations in Lithuania and abroad;
• To take care of publication of scientific papers and engage in other lawful activities..

The Student Science Association provides opportunities to apply the knowledge acquired during the studies at the University; to show one’s scientific ability and engage in various scientific endeavours; to learn how to present work results for scientific community and people at large; to communicate with the most acclaimed Lithuanian and foreign researchers; to gain extra points for entry competitions for higher-cycle university studies at the Faculty of Communication.
The SSA also enables skill development as regards socializing, cooperation, team and individual work, and organizing various events. It provides the environment for sharing knowledge about the ultimate in scientific achievement and enables participation in discussions, courses, public lectures, and numerous projects. Furthermore, there are opportunities for attaining personal goals, along with those of the team or the organization, as well as engaging in networking, making new contacts and friends.

External links

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