Jonas Čaplikas

Garbės profesorius / Honorary Professor (Suteiktas vardas 2022-09-21)

Professor Jonas Čaplikas is an economist, a long-time professor at the VMU Agriculture Academy (formerly the Lithuanian University of Agriculture, Aleksandras Stulginskis University), one of the most prominent agricultural strategists in Lithuania, a scientist with a wide range of scientific interests, a pedagogue, and a manager who has prepared a number of significant international and national projects that are important for the development of agricultural and education policy and for the promotion of business.

On 21 September 2022, he was awarded the title of Honorary Professor of Vytautas Magnus University for his significant contribution to strengthening the value of agricultural sciences and studies, increasing the competitiveness of rural areas, and creating a sustainable future for Lithuania and the world.

Čaplikas served as the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management of the Lithuanian University of Agriculture in 2000–2004, as Vice-Rector for Studies of the Lithuanian University of Agriculture (since 2011 – Aleksandras Stulginskis University (ASU)) in 2004–2016, as a member of the ASU Council in 2011–2016, as a member of the ASU Senate in 2002–2018, and as Chairperson of the Council of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development in 2018–2020.

The professor created the ASU Quality Management System, drafted the most important strategic and study documents, and initiated and implemented necessary administrative and study reforms; after the integration of VMU, ASU, and LUES in 2019, he drafted the Statute of VMU, was a consultant for the restructuring and administrative reform of the VMU Agriculture Academy, and drafted the Strategic Plan of VMU and VMU Agriculture Academy.

Čaplikas received his PhD in Social Sciences (Economics) in 1986 from the Moscow K.A. Timiryazev Agricultural Academy (now – Russian State Agrarian University). Jonas Čaplikas was awarded the title of Associate Professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Agriculture in 1989. Since 2010, he has worked as professor at the Department of Business Management (since 2019 – at the Business and Rural Development Research Institute).

In 1991–1993, he was the Chairperson of the Privatisation Commission of Kaunas District Municipality; in 1993, he served as the Head of the Privatisation Service; in 1994–1995, he held the position of Deputy Governor of the District; in 1995–1996, he worked as an Assistant to a Member of the Seimas at the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania; in 1997–1998, he acted as the Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania; in 1999–2000, he served as the Head of the Rural Regional Development Centre of the Lithuanian University of Agriculture; and since 2006, he has been a Member of the Scientific Council of the Lithuanian Institute of Agrarian Economics. From 2009 to 2015, he was a Member of the Council of the Lithuanian Rural Network, and in 2013–2014, he held the position of Vice-Chairperson of this Council.

Professor’s research interests include economic efficiency of agricultural production (before 1989), methodological and regional aspects of rural development; farming conditions in less favoured areas; restructuring of agricultural entities and development of cooperation (1990–2009), strategic development of agribusiness organisations; quality assurance systems of higher education; and research into the demand for agricultural specialists (since 2010).

Prof. Čaplikas is a co-author of 5 monographs, 2 other books, and 2 studies; an author or co-author of 36 scientific articles; an author or co-author of 14 methodological tools; a leader of 4 research programmes; a leader of 20 research projects; and a leader in the design of 3 national and 3 regional programmes.

He is also an expert in the design of 7 national and 5 regional programmes, the National Coordinator of the EU-funded international study project “Development of Public Accreditation of Agricultural Programs in Russia”, and a Visiting Professor at the Kazakh State Agrarian University (in 2011, 2012, and 2014).

Prof. Čaplikas’ most recent research projects include the H2020 project “Advancing Sustainable Circular Bioeconomy in Central and Eastern European countries (BIOEASTsUP)” from 2019 to 2022; the R&D project “Establishment of Criteria for Sustainable Production in the Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Sectors, and Development of a System for Assessing and Controlling Compliance With These Criteria” (commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania) from 2021 to 2022; the R&D project “Strategic Provisions of Lithuanian Bioeconomy” (commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania) in 2019; and the R&D project “Preparation of a Feasibility Study for the Development of Lithuanian Bioeconomy” (commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania) in 2017.

In 2014, Professor Jonas Čaplikas was awarded the Badge of Honour of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania for his outstanding contributions to agriculture, and in the same year, he received the Work Star Medal of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts. In 2015, he was awarded the Badge of Honour of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow K.A. Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. Professor has also received certificates of appreciation from the President of the Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus (1996), the Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (2014), the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania (1999 and 2014), the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania (2004, 2009, and 2014), Kaunas City Municipality (2013), Kaunas District Municipality (2012), ASU Alumni Club (2014), Moscow K.A. Timiryazev Agricultural Academy (1982), and Lithuanian University of Agriculture (1987).