University and disability
Vytautas Magnus University fosters a culture of equality and non-discrimination and strives to reasonable accommodation of studies and work environment for all members of the community
Openness, dialogue, attention to everyone and communality are values that VMU cherishes. Since the University’s re-establishment in 1992, it has been always seeking to respond to individual needs and to provide equal conditions for all students. VMU was the first higher education institution in Lithuania to focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities in society through higher education. VMU is still known as a socially responsible University, that follows a human rights-based model of disability and implements the ‚‘‘University of Inclusive Opportunities” Disability Policy, which aims to ensure a culture of equality and non-discrimination at the University, by providing reasonable accommodations and by increasing accessibility of studies and work environment for persons with disabilities.
Inform about disability/individual needs
The University does not automatically receive information about which members of the community have a disability. Each member of the University community has personal freedom and can decide for themselves if they want to inform the University about their individual disability/health related needs.
It is important to note that if you have not identified yourself as a person with individual needs, the University will not be able to provide you with study adjustments and other services for persons with disabilities.
In the VMU Student Portal, under “Disability” you can identify yourself as a person who has a disability/individual health-related needs. You can do this by submitting your details online.
You can identify yourself: in the VMU Student Portal> “Disability” > “Data Submission”.
Information about individual disability/health needs must be communicated to the University as early as possible so that reasonable preparations can be made. For this reason, students are kindly asked to submit their disability/individual needs information before the start of the semester, or as early as possible.
If you have an established work capacity of 0-45% or a severe or medium level of disability, you may also be entitled to financial support for students with disabilities. We invite you to identify yourself to the University and take up this extra financial support from the University and the Government. This financial support is available ONLY to Lithuanian nationals or nationals of other countries and persons without nationality who have declared their permanent place of residence in the Republic of Lithuania.
VMU Disability Policy “University of Inclusive Opportunities”
The aim of VMU Disability Policy, entitled “University of Inclusive Opportunities”, is to ensure a culture of equality and non-discrimination at the University by providing reasonable accommodations and by increasing accessibility of studies and work environment for persons with disabilities.
Inclusive opportunities mean human rights-based conditions and measures to promote inclusion and opportunity within the organization. This includes the organization’s commitment to ensuring a culture of equality and non-discrimination through documents and standards, removing barriers to equality and participation of persons with disabilities in the study and work environments, and fostering the individual’s free and varied choices, based on his/her own individual support requirements and aspirations and on what is meaningful to the individual. Furthermore, where necessary, reasonable accommodations are provided to ensure that the individual has the opportunity to pursue meaningful and successful study and work at the University.
The University is constantly striving to listen to and understand students with disabilities (individual needs) and to accommodate their individual needs in their studies. Each student’s situation is unique and we work together with the student and the University administration to find ways to make reasonable accommodations for study and/or accommodation.
In implementing the ”University of Inclusive Opportunities” Disability Policy, by providing reasonable accommodations and by increasing accessibility of studies environment, the University:
- provides financial support. Every semester, the University provides a competitive discount on tuition fees and dormitory fees
- build and reconstruct the University’s physical facilities to accommodate people with different disabilities
- offers opportunities for physically active free time. The VMU Sports Centre has been awarded the Lithuanian Paralympic Committee’s “Acorn” symbol, which signifies that the facility’s infrastructure is accessible to people with disabilities
- provide accommodation for people with disabilities in dormitory rooms accessible to their needs, where they have the possibility to live with an accompanying person
- try to make study programmes and the study process flexible and able to be adjusted to individual needs, with different forms of study assessment, etc.
- provides access to teaching / learning materials, facilities and equipment for disabled students, so that they can make their own access to the materials they need for their studies
- has a Disability Coordinator who can consult and give more information about the inclusion of students with disabilities / individual needs in studies and other University activities
University students with disabilities / individual needs dynamics
| Year | Student numbers | Working capacity 45 % or less | Student percentage at university |
| 2010 | 127 | 104 | 1.3% |
| 2011 | 119 | 98 | 1.3% |
| 2012 | 137 | 113 | 1.5% |
| 2013 | 141 | 116 | 1.6% |
| 2014 | 120 | 112 | 1.4% |
| 2015 | 141 | 113 | 1.8% |
| 2016 | 144 | 106 | 2.1% |
| 2017 | 105 | 82 | 1.6% |
| 2018 | 127 | 106 | 1.5% |
| 2019 | 108 | 99 | 1.1% |
| 2020 | 114 | 97 | 1.3% |
| 2021 | 148 | 104 | 1.8% |
| 2022 | 133 | 81 | 1.6% |
| 2023 | 133 | 86 | 1.6% |
| 2024 | 147 | 97 | 1.7% |
Awards for inclusive disability policies at the University
- In 2014 Vytautas Magnus University was nominated in the National Equality and Diversity Awards for its efforts to accommodate services for people with disabilities
- 20 May 2015 The Lithuanian Union of People with Disabilities awarded Vytautas Magnus University with a certificate confirming that the University’s infrastructure is accessible and its services are friendly to people with disabilities
- 3 May 2021 The Lithuanian Paralympic Committee has awarded the VMU Sports Centre with the “Acorn” label. The symbol of the country’s Paralympic team indicates that the facility is accessible to people with disabilities. VMU is the first higher education institution in Lithuania to be awarded this label, and the first facility in Kaunas to receive such an award
- In October 2023, the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson awarded Vytautas Magnus University with the highest award for achievements in the field of equal opportunities – three “Equal Opportunities Wings”. This means that the University aims to ensure equal opportunities for all members of the community and to improve not only the quality and results of education and studies, but also the conditions of study and work.
- 22 November 2023 The Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson awarded Vytautas Magnus University with a letter of gratitude for its important and historically significant contribution over the last twenty years to the establishment of equal opportunities in Lithuanian society.
Information for University employees with disabilities
Community well-being and equal opportunities
VMU strives to create a safe, healthy, and inclusive environment based on respect, attention, and tolerance. The University aims to ensure equal opportunities for all members of the community and to improve not only the quality and results of science and studies, but also working and study conditions. The University strives to be a favourable environment for studies and academic career. The University seeks to ensure respect for human rights and guarantee equal opportunities. In order to achieve community coherence and synergy, cherishing the diversity of the community and the personal autonomy of its members, the University undertakes to ensure human rights, dignity, non-discrimination, equal opportunities, and diversity on the basis of gender, age, race, religion, language, culture, disability, socio-economic, family and other grounds.
More about Community equal opportunities HERE
VMU Human Resources Department
The Human Resources Department shall be responsible for the procedure for recruiting and dismissing staff from the University. The University staff can obtain information in the Department on current working conditions. Employees who disclose information and submit documents about their disability to the Department shall be subject to working terms and conditions provided for in the norms of the Labour Code of the Republic of Lithuania and the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania. If you have individual support requirements in terms of the workplace, working conditions related to disability you are encouraged to inform an employee of the Department responsible for equal opportunities and diversity at the University.
Community Wellbeing Coordinator Viktorija Starkauskienė
E-mail viktorija.starkauskiene@vdu.lt
Equal Opportunities Coordinator Laura Lapinskė
E-mail laura.lapinske@vdu.lt
Information for applicants
Information for VMU Alumni
VMU alumni platform
VMU invites alumni to maintain communication with the University and avail themselves of the services and benefits provided by the university for graduates.
University presents a new interactive platform specifically for alumni called “VMU alumni ID”. The purpose of this platform is to maintain and strengthen mutual relations with VMU alumni who are scattered all over the world.
The platform will give graduates the opportunity to use the services and benefits provided by the university and to follow the relevant news of the university and alumni.
More about “VMU alumni ID” HERE
Unibuddy platform
We invite our fresh VMU graduates to become Unibuddy Ambassadors.
Unibuddy is a peer-to-peer platform helping students make the most important decision in their life: to choose the University and study programme abroad.
Learn about disabilities
Transportation
Assisted transport service
“Socialinis taksi” assisted transport service
“Socialinis taksi” is a public organisation that offers an assisted transportation service. This service helps to organise travel for people with disabilities to places of economic and social activity (university, work, hospital, cinema, theatre, shop, meetings, etc.). “Socialinis taksi” is not just a transport service for people with disabilities, but also includes the help of an assistant to get out of the house and into the car, as well as getting in and out of the car, taking things away, and accompanying them. If you want to use this service, you must book beforehand.
“Asistentinis taksi” assisted transport service (Vilnius, Vilnius r.)
“Asistentinis taksi” is a public organisation that offers an assisted transportation service during the trip. This service helps to organise travel for people with disabilities and seniors to places of economic and social activity (university, work, hospital, cinema, theatre, shop, meetings, etc.). “Asistentinis taksi” is not just a transport service for people with disabilities, but also an assistance service throughout the trip, adjusting to the needs of each customer. If you want to use this service, you must book beforehand.
City public transport
Kaunas city public transport
“Kauno autobusai” is the largest public transport company in Kaunas, transporting passengers by buses and trolleybuses. About 95% of Kaunas public transport park consists of low-floor buses and trolleybuses.
Kaunas district public transport
There are good access between Kaunas city and Kaunas district. From Kaunas city to Kaunas district, passengers are transported by public buses and minibuses. About 90% of the Kaunas district public transport park consists of low-floor buses and minibuses.
Vilnius city public transport
“Vilniaus autobusai” is the largest public transport company in Vilnius, transporting passengers by buses and trolleybuses. About 60% of Vilnius public transport park consists of low-floor buses and trolleybuses.
*A low-floor bus/trolleybus is a transport that does not have stairs and has a low floor throughout the passenger cabin. Low-floor buses/ trolleybuses increase the self-mobility of people with reduced mobility.
Bus / train stations and airports
At bus / train stations and airports people with disabilities/ reduced mobility can get individual assistance. You can get individual assistance to buy tickets, get on, get off, put your luggage on, etc. To use this service, you need to contact the responsible staff beforehand and inform them that you will need this assistance.
Kaunas and Vilnius bus stations
Please inform the bus station’s responsible person about your individual assistance needs by phone at least 36 hours before your bus departure time.
Assistance at Kaunas bus station HERE
Assistance at Vilnius bus station HERE
Kaunas and Vilnius train stations
Please inform the Kaunas/Vilnius train station responsible person about your individual assistance needs by phone or email at least 24 hours before your train departure time.
Assistance at train stations HERE
Kaunas and Vilnius airports
Please inform the airport’s responsible person about your individual assistance needs by phone or email as early as possible before your flight time.
University spaces and environment
University map and buildings accessibility
Most of the University’s buildings and spaces are fully or partially accessible to people with disabilities. Most of the University’s buildings are located in the centre of Kaunas city and in the Kaunas district (“Akademija”) close to each other. The Vilnius Education Academy and the student dormitory are located in the Naujamiestis district. From the train or bus station, the airport, the VMU student dormitories, University buildings can be reached by bus, trolleybus or minibus.
Accessibility of the University’s access and buildings for persons with disabilities:
- Most pedestrian crossings near University buildings are controlled by traffic lights and have an acoustic signal
- University buildings have tactile paths leading to their entrances
- There are car parking spaces for persons with disabilities near the University’s buildings
- If the building has a stair entrance – the entrance is designed with ramps, lifts or modified to be accessible for persons with wheelchair access
- The renovated buildings have been designed according to the principles of universal design. The older buildings have been modified as much as possible: the stairs are equipped with lifts, there are added handrails, auditorium door thresholds are lowered
- Entrance doors to the main VMU buildings are automated
- If the buildings have stairs inside – have lifts or elevators (wide) with sound announcements
- Stairs are marked with brightly coloured tapes for visually impaired persons
- Most of the University’s auditoriums are furnished with chairs that can be easily moved around as needed. If the auditoriums/labs are furnished with tables, we can provide a height-adjustable table if needed. If the auditorium is amphitheatrical – for persons using a wheelchair, it is possible to set up a workplace with a height-adjustable table at the front of the auditorium.
- University buildings have accessible WCs for persons with disabilities
- Dormitories No.2, No.5, No.6 have rooms accessible for persons with disabilities
- VMU Library units have accessible workplaces for persons with disabilities/individual needs
- In the University buildings, you will find building administrators near the entrance, who can give you more information about the building’s spaces and facilities
Dormitories
Accommodation in dormitories
Persons with disabilities can live in the VMU dormitories, which are fully or partially accessible to the individual needs of persons with reduced mobility: Access to the dormitory buildings is accessible for persons with reduced mobility ( there is a ramp).
Fully or partially accessible rooms for persons with reduced mobility are located on the first floor of the dormitory (if there is no lift), or on other floors if there is a lift. In the accessible room you will find: a widened room door, an accessible bathroom with a WC, armrests and a shower without a threshold, a height-adjustable work table, and an ergonomic chair with wheels.
If necessary, an accompanying person can live with you. These persons (both the student and the accompanying person) can get accommodation fee discounts.
If a person with a disability needs an accessible dormitory room or to live with an accompanying person, please contact the VMU Disability Coordinator.
More about dormitories for persons with disabilities HERE
Car parking in student dormitories
Permissions for the car parking in the parking lots, operated with car barriers, are given only for students of VMU who are currently living in the dormitories. Students can reserve a parking space in the dormitory car parking lots with a barrier. You can reserve a parking spot online by filling in a request form, VMU Student Portal (in the section “Applications” choose subsection “Parking” and “Submit parking request”).
Library
The University Library seeks to create and improve a supportive study and research information environment, providing effective services to the members of the University community, organising access to information resources necessary for studies, science, professional qualifications, developing information literacy and scientific communication competences, and implementing open science initiatives.
Adjusted workplaces in library units
The VMU Library units, located in various buildings of the University, have spaces with accessible workplaces for persons with disabilities/ individual needs. In an accessible workplace, you can find a range of equipment and tools that can be used as needed: height-adjustable desks, ergonomic chairs with wheels, braille printers, stationary image magnifiers, bright-coloured keyboards.
More information about accessible workplaces in the library HERE
VMU Sports Centre
VMU Sports Centre organizes sport, physical and fitness activities for students, disseminates the knowledge of sports and fitness, organizes sport competitions and events, promotes sport wins of the university in Lithuania and abroad.
3 May 2021 The Lithuanian Paralympic Committee has awarded the VMU Sports Centre with the “Acorn” label. The symbol of the country’s Paralympic team indicates that the facility is accessible to people with disabilities. VMU is the first higher education institution in Lithuania to be awarded this label, and the first facility in Kaunas to receive such an award
VMU Great Hall
VMU Great Hall – one of the most popular cultural places in Kaunas. Here you can enjoy concerts, dances, performances and a graduation ceremony.
Accessibility for persons with reduced mobility
The VMU Great Hall is partially accessible for persons with reduced mobility: there is an elevator from the 1st floor foyer to the 2nd floor, and from the 2nd floor foyer to the Great Hall, the persons can use the lift. The lift is on the left side of the Great Hall entrance (take the elevator up to the 2nd floor and turn to the entrance on the right). Persons with reduced mobility can access the Great Hall, but there is no possibility to get on stage by themselves ( there are stairs near the stage, which are not accessible by wheelchair).
Car parking
Car parking at University buildings
There are parking spaces for persons with disabilities in the car parking lots near the University’s buildings. Most parking lots have a barrier, so you should inform us if you need a parking space:
- To enter a car parking lot with a barrier – please call the building administrator of that building (the number on the barrier)
- If you need to reserve an accessible parking space near the building for a longer term – please contact the VMU Disability Coordinator
Car parking in student dormitories
Permissions for the car parking in the parking lots, operated with car barriers, are given only for students of VMU who are currently living in the dormitories. Students can reserve a parking space in the dormitory car parking lots with a barrier. You can reserve a parking spot online by filling in a request form, VMU Student Portal (in the section “Applications” choose subsection “Parking” and “Submit parking request”).
Organisation of studies
The University community is open and inclusive to all people. Considering the needs of students with disabilities/ individual needs for the adjustment of the study process and the possibilities of the University, we seek to provide reasonable accommodation for study. A reasonable accommodation of study conditions can only be possible through a dialogue between the student with a disability/ individual needs, the lecturer and the University administration. To request an adjustment of study conditions, a student may contact the administration of his/her academic unit or the University Disability Coordinator.
Coordinating students with individual needs
VMU Disability Coordinator shall be responsible for the preparation, planning, implementation, monitoring and publicity of the Policy on Inclusive Opportunities pursued by the University as well as for providing consultations to and coordinating all University community members with disabilities/ individual needs and for planning and organizing the inclusion program at the University. The Disability Coordinator shall cooperate with academic and non-academic units of the University and/or other institutions in order to provide reasonable accommodation of studies conditions and to ensure access to studies for the community members with disabilities. Students who need to be provided with reasonable accommodation to ensure accessibility of studies should contact the Disability Coordinator.
Students also have the possibility in the VMU Student Portal, under “Disability”, to identify themselves as a person who has a disability/individual health-related needs. You can do this by submitting your details online. The Disability Coordinator reviews the submitted data and documents, contacts the student and, if the student requests, recommends individualisation of the study environment to the relevant University department. Every person’s disability and existing needs are individual, so we look for the most reasonable accommodation to individualise the study process in each case.
You can identify yourself: in the VMU Student Portal> “Disability” > “Data Submission”.
Individualisation of studies
Step 1: Inform the University
The University does not automatically receive information about which members of the community have a disability. Each member of the University community has personal freedom and can decide for themselves if they want to inform the University about their individual disability/health related needs.
It is important to note that if you have not identified yourself as a person with individual needs, the University will not be able to provide you with study adjustments and other services for persons with disabilities.
In the VMU Student Portal, under “Disability” you can identify yourself as a person who has a disability/individual health-related needs. You can do this by submitting your details online.
You can identify yourself: in the VMU Student Portal> “Disability” > “Data Submission”.
Information about individual disability/ health needs must be communicated to the University as early as possible so that reasonable preparations can be made. For this reason, students are kindly asked to submit their disability/ individual needs information before the start of the semester, or as early as possible.
If you have an established work capacity of 0-45% or a severe or medium level of disability, you may also be entitled to financial support for students with disabilities. We invite you to identify yourself to the University and take up this extra financial support from the University and the Government. This financial support is available ONLY to Lithuanian nationals or nationals of other countries and persons without nationality who have declared their permanent place of residence in the Republic of Lithuania.
Step 2: Let’s evaluate individual study needs together
When a student submits data and identifies his/her individual needs to the University, the information and documents are reviewed by the VMU Disability Coordinator. After evaluating the submitted information, the Coordinator contacts the student. During the conversation, the student’s individual needs are considered, as well as all the factors and conditions that the student needs. If the student requests, recommends individualisation of the study environment to the relevant University department.
Step 3: Individualisation of studies
Each person’s disability and existing needs are individual, so each case is searched for the most suitable way to individualise the study process. To ensure reasonable accommodation of students with disabilities/ individual needs, the University offers the following study process individualisation options:
- adjusting the physical environment or study schedules according to auditorium accessibility
- alternative forms of study assessment, according to the student’s individual needs due to his/her disability
- extending the time limit for study assessments
- alternative measures to increase accessibility to the study process
- use accessible study process material formats
- other alternative methods, measures and ways
International studies and internships
Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) is a partner with more than 600 universities in 75 countries under Erasmus+ and bilateral exchange programmes.
More about the opportunity to join VMU
For more information International Cooperation Department
Services
Services at the University
Student Centre
VMU Student Centre is a part of Student Affairs Department administrative structure, which was established for centralized student services, consultations and redirections inside and outside of the University.
More about the Student Centre HERE
Career Centre
The VMU Career Centre is the University’s unit that takes care of students’ and graduates’ career planning and projection during (or after) their studies and work.
More about the Career Centre HERE
Students’ Representative Office
VMU Students’ Representative Office – a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that represents the students of the University. Its activities are based on publicity, self-government, equality and other democratic values. The main goal is to represent VMU students, to defend their rights and interests inside and outside the University, to take care of the academic, social and cultural well-being of the students of VMU, to encourage the academic community to be citizens and to foster human values.
More about Students’ Representation Office HERE
International Cooperation Department
VMU International Cooperation Department– the University unit responsible for successful relations between the VMU and the world, partnerships between institutions, project implementation, student and staff exchanges and other activities that improve the quality of studies and research.
More about the International Cooperation Department HERE
VMU Psychology Clinic
VMU Psychology Clinic shall offer assistance to students and employees experiencing various psychological difficulties. All members of the University community shall be encouraged to seek help immediately if, due to their inner state or life situation, they find it difficult to communicate, study or work, if they are overwhelmed by depressing thoughts, or if they feel that there is no other way out. The Psychology Clinic shall provide individual, free psychological consultations and shall ensure confidentiality. Counselling psychologists shall have theoretical and practical knowledge of how to provide appropriate psychological assistance. Psychological assistance can be provided through live or remote counselling, taking into account the individual support requirements of the student and the employee.
More about the Psychology Clinic HERE
VMU Sports Centre
VMU Sports Centre organizes sport, physical and fitness activities for students, disseminates the knowledge of sports and fitness, organizes sport competitions and events, promotes sport wins of the university in Lithuania and abroad.
3 May 2021 The Lithuanian Paralympic Committee has awarded the VMU Sports Centre with the “Acorn” label. The symbol of the country’s Paralympic team indicates that the facility is accessible to people with disabilities. VMU is the first higher education institution in Lithuania to be awarded this label, and the first facility in Kaunas to receive such an award
