VMU International Cooperation Department invites students to participate in the competition for Erasmus+ studies for the 2019/2020 academic year
If you want to gain even more international study experience, improve your foreign language skills, become a VMU Ambassador and a part of even bigger international community, participate in the competition and fill in the online application form on https://epasirasymas.vdu.lt -> Application form for outgoing students / Erasmus+ studies until March 3 (23:59), 2019.
Eligible applicants are full time and part time students. Students with disabilities or special needs have an opportunity to receive additional funding.
The results of competition will be announced on March 13, 2019 on VMU website. Each selected student will also be informed personally by e-mail.
Additional information here.
COMPETITION FOR TRAINEESHIP AT non-EU COUNTRIES (Erasmus+ and VMU Mobility scholarship)
VMU students are invited to participate in competition for traineeship at non-EU countries with Erasmus+ or VMU Mobility scholarship.
Students have to submit completed online application form (Application form for traineeship in non-EU/EEE countries) until 5th of April 2019.
Traineeship period starts no earlier than 2019-05-01 and ends no later than 2019-08-31.
Students will be personally informed via e-mail about the results till 12th of April.
Selected students will receive Erasmus+ or VMU Mobility scholarship. Eligible countries and number of scholarships:
ERASMUS+ SCHOLARSHIP
| Country | Duration of Traineeship | Number of scholarships | Scholarship and travel grant |
| Bosnia and Hercegovina | 2 – 4 months | 3 | 700 Eur/month + 275 Eur |
| Russia | 2 – 4 months | 2 | 700 Eur/month + 275 Eur |
VMU Mobilitity scholarship
| Group of countries | Duration of Traineeship | Number of scholarships | Scholarship |
| Countries of regions: South Asia, East Asia and Pacific; Middle East; North America; Latin America & the Caribbean | 1 – 3 months | 8 | 650 Eur/month |
| Countries of regions: Europe and Central Asia; North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa | 1 – 3 months | 550 Eur/month |
More information about traineeship:
International Cooperation Department
Tomas Mickevičius
Email: tomas.mickevicius@vdu.lt
Phone.: 8 37 327 978
Address: V. Putvinskio g. 23 room 207, Kaunas, Lithuania
COMPETITION FOR THE ERASMUS+ TRAINEESHIP GRANTS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2018 / 2019
VMU International Cooperation department has announced third competition for Erasmus+ student and recent graduate traineeship grants.
All fulltime degree students who would like to participate in the competition for Erasmus+ student or Erasmus+ recent graduate traineeship scholarships should submit their application documents until 16/04/2019. Student traineeship must end before 20-09-2019, recent graduate traineeship must end in a year after graduation (application must be submitted during the last year of studies). Traineeship period is from 2 to 4 months.
More information here.
Apply Now: Erasmus+Traineeship Competition
VMU International Cooperation Department has announced third (and the last one this academic year) competition for Erasmus+ students and recent graduate traineeship grants. Application deadline is 23rd of April.
Erasmus+ traineeship period is from 2 to 4 months. Traineeship must end before 29-09-2017 (for recent graduates – a year after graduation).
Selection
All VMU full time degree students who are not in their last year of studies and have not yet used more than 10 months of their Erasmus mobility (study / traineeship) period are eligible for the Erasmus+ student traineeship grant. All VMU full time last year degree students who have not yet used more than 10 months of their Erasmus mobility (study / traineeship) period are eligible for the Erasmus+ recent graduate traineeship grant.
Selection documents
For student traineeship (traineeship during student’s year of studies)
- Filled-in selection form
- Confirmation by the company or organization (attached to the selection form as a .pdf document) – obligatory
Documents to be submitted online
For recent graduate traineeship (application must be submitted during the last year of studies)
- Application form
- Confirmation by the company or organization
- Recommendation by a faculty member (obligatory)
The priority in the selection is given to
- students whose placement is an obligatory part of their study programme;
- students who have never been Erasmus traineeship students before.
Selection criteria
- student’s motivation
- good knowledge of the language which will be used during the traineeship
- student’s work, study, traineeship, participation in the international / academic projects, social activities experience in Lithuania and abroad
- conformability between the chosen traineeship and student’s study programme
- study results (first year MA students should attach transcript of records of their BA/MA degree to the application form).
The competition results will be sent to every participant via e-mail as well as published on VMU website and information boards on 3rd of May.
More information
COMPETITION FOR TRAINEESHIP AT non-EU COUNTRIES (Erasmus+ and VMU Mobility scholarship)
VMU students are invited to participate in competition for traineeship at non-EU countries with Erasmus+ or VMU Mobility scholarship.
Students have to submit completed online application form (Application form for traineeship in non-EU/EEE countries) until 16th of December 2018.
Traineeship period starts no earlier than 2019-01-01 and ends no later than 2019-08-31.
Selected students will receive Erasmus+ or VMU Mobility scholarship. Eligible countries and number of scholarships:
ERASMUS+ SCHOLARSHIP
| Country | Duration of Traineeship | Number of scholarships | Scholarship and travel grant |
| Bosnia and Hercegovina | 2 – 4 months | 3 | 700 Eur/month + 275 Eur |
| Israel | 2 – 4 months | 2 | 700 Eur/month + 360 Eur |
| Russia | 2 – 4 months | 2 | 700 Eur/month + 275 Eur |
VMU MOBILITITY SCHOLARSHIP
| Group of countries1 | Duration of Traineeship | Number of scholarships | Scholarship |
| Countries of regions: South Asia, East Asia and Pacific; Middle East; North America; Latin America & the Caribbean | 1-3 months | 8 | 650 Eur/month |
| Countries of regions: Europe and Central Asia; North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa | 1-3 months | 8 | 550 Eur/month |
More information about traineeship:
International Cooperation Department
Tomas Mickevičius
Email: tomas.mickevicius@vdu.lt
Phone.: 8 37 327 978
Address: V. Putvinskio g. 23 room 207, Kaunas, Lithuania
COMPETITION FOR THE ERASMUS+ TRAINEESHIP GRANTS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2018 / 2019
VMU International Cooperation department has announced second competition for Erasmus+ student and recent graduate traineeship grants.
All fulltime degree students who would like to participate in the competition for Erasmus+ student or Erasmus+ recent graduate traineeship scholarships should submit their application documents until 10/01/2019. Student traineeship must end before 20-09-2019, recent graduate traineeship must end in a year after graduation (application must be submitted during the last year of studies). Traineeship period is from 2 to 4 months.
More information here.
Competition for Erasmus+ studies in partner countries
VMU International Cooperation Department invites all VMU students to participate in competition for Erasmus+ studies in partner countries (USA, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia).
Students have to submit completed online application form until 28th of February, 2017.
Selection criteria:
- compatibility between the plan for studies or research at the HEI abroad and the study programme at VMU;
- motivation;
- results of studies or research during the last two semesters;
- good knowledge of the language in which lectures will be taught.
Competition for 2016/2017 spring semester:
- USA, Black Hills State University, for PhD study cycle.
Competition for 2017/2018 autumn and spring semesters:
- Israel, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, for BA, MA and PhD study cycles;
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: University of Sarajevo, International University of Sarajevo, University of East Sarajevo for BA, MA and PhD study cycles;
- Russia: Saint Petersburg State University, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia for BA, MA and PhD study cycles.
Students will be personally informed via e-mail about the results of first selection stage and will receive an invitation for the second selection stage – Interview until the 7th of March.
For more information about Erasmus+ studies visit VMU homepage.
Contact Erasmus+ coordinator:
Erasmus+ Traineeships
Erasmus+ student (and recent graduate) traineeship is a period of time spent working in a company or organization in one of EU countries or Macedonia (former Yugoslav Republic), Lichtenstein, Turkey, Norway and Iceland. Erasmus traineeship provides the student with possibilities to adapt to the labor market demands of the entire EU, improve professional skills, familiarize with and deepen understanding of a specific country’s economy, social system and culture.
Attention
Competition for Erasmus+ student and Erasmus+ recent graduate traineeship scholarships for the year 2016 /2017:
application until 13th of November, 2016. Results are announced on the 23rd of November, 2016. Results: student traineeship, recent graduate traineeship.
application from 14th of November, 2016 until 31st of January, 2017. Results are announced on the 13th of February,2017.
application from 1st of February, 2017 until 23th of April, 2017. Results are announced on the 3rd of May, 2017.
Selection
All VMU fulltime degree students who have not used more than 10 months of their Erasmus mobility (study / traineeship) period are eligible for the Erasmus grant (including zero-grant). Please notice! Non-EU citizens must acquire temporary / permanent residence permit in Lithuania before their Erasmus mobility (traineeship / study).
Selection documents
For student traineeship (traineeship during student’s year of studies)
- Application form
- Confirmation by the company or organization (attached to the selection form as a .pdf document) – obligatory
For recent graduate traineeship (application must be submitted and student must be selected during his / her last year of studies)
- Application form
- Confirmation by the company or organization
- Recommendation by a faculty member (obligatory)
Recent graduates may start their traineeship just after they receive their diploma.
The priority in the selection is given to
- students whose placement is an obligatory part of their study programme (applicable for student traineeships);
- students who have never been Erasmus traineeship students before (applicable for student and recent graduate traineeships).
Selection criteria
- student’s motivation
- good knowledge of the language which will be used during the traineeship
- student’s work, study, traineeship, participation in the international / academic projects, social activities experience in Lithuania and abroad
- conformability between the chosen traineeship and student’s study programme
- study results.
The selection criteria are not prioritised. Faculties have the right to determine, publicly announce and, during the selection, apply individual priority levels for the criteria.
Getting ready to submit the application
Where do traineeships take place?
Receiving organisations for traineeships can be any public or private organisations active in the labor market. Please note that companies situated in the student’s country of residence and EU institutions (including European agencies) are not eligible for Erasmus traineeship.
How to find a place for traineeship?
First, prepare your Curriculum Vitae (we recommend Europass CV (more information), choose an organization / enterprise, prepare a motivational letter and contact a representative of the organization.
Some suggestions for where to look for the hosting organization / enterprise:
- Partners 4 Value
- Independently seek places for traineeship (companies, organisations) which you are interested in (and which match your study programme)
- In international databases (e.g. erasmusintern.org, internship.muni.cz, iHipo, Leo-Net-JOEplus, ISPO, PLACEMENT-UK, NordStages, EAEC database, iAgora)
- Contact the head of your department
Duration of Erasmus Traineeships
Duration of the internship is from 2 to 4 months. This includes from 120 to 160 working hours per month. Provided the student has successfully reached his traineeship goals, depending on the duration of traineeship, he/ she might be awarded ECTS credits (40 hours = 1.5 ECTS).
N. B. Traineeship cannot start / end on weekends or national holidays.
Erasmus Traineeship Scholarship
Every student who is selected in a competition and leaving as a participant of the Erasmus Traineeship Program receives the Erasmus Scholarship (except zero-grant scholarship recipients), which is allocated to cover the travel and accommodation expenses. However, it does not cover all mobility-related expenses. Also, students may travel with the Erasmus “Zero Grant”, which means they are not provided with funding from Erasmus, but are given the status of an Erasmus student (as well as all related privileges and responsibilities). The same student may receive grants for studying or being trained abroad totaling up to 12 months maximum per cycle of study.
Sizes of Erasmus Traineeship Scholarships in 2016 / 2017
| Group |
Country |
| Group 1 700 EUR per month |
Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom |
| Group 2 600 EUR per month |
Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey |
| Group 3 500 EUR per month |
Bulgaria, Estonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia |
80% of the entire scholarship is paid to the participant in 30 days after the submission of all necessary documents (please see the section “After Selection” below). The submission of the second (before the end of mobility) language knowledge assessment, online EU survey and Confirmation of the hosting organisations will be considered as the participant’s request for payment of the remaining 20% of the scholarship. The university has 45 calendar days to make the balance payment or to issue a recovery order in case a reimbursement is due.
Additional Funding
Students with disabilities and special needs may receive additional funding. Applications may be sent until 15 April 2016 (for mobility in 2015 / 2016) but no later than a month and a week before the beginning of Erasmus+ traineeship. For more information, please contact coordinator of the programme (k.kurzevas@trt.vdu.lt).
After Selection (For Selected Students)
No later than a month before the departure the students must present (or submit online) the following documents to the International Cooperation Department:
- Signed Learning Agreement for Traineeship
- Request
- Copy of graduation diploma (if you are a recent graduate)
- Personal data form / obligation, submit.
- Documents that would prove that the student is covered with three types of insurance for the whole traineeship period:
- health insurance
- accident on work insurance
- liability insurance.
- Language knowledge test (Online Language Support – OLS)*.
- For non EU citizens – copy of TRP or RP.
*If the main language of work is English, French, German, Italian, Spanish or Dutch, the participant (student / recent graduate) shall carry out an online assessment of linguistic competences before and at the end of the mobility period with the exception of native speakers. If appointed the participant must follow the online language course in order to prepare for the mobility period abroad.
Mobility Participants User Guide to OLS for Assessment
Mobility Participant User Guide for OLS Courses
Technical Questions and Answers for Mobility Participants
After presenting all the documents (and completing language assessment), participant will sign the Erasmus Financial Agreement. After signing the Financial Agreement the participant will get a scholarship (please see section “Erasmus Traineeship Scholarship”, above) and can start his traineeship period.
After presenting all the documents, you will sign the Erasmus financial agreement of student internship, which will determine that you receive the scholarship (unless you are a “Zero Grant” student)
Every student travelling as participant of the Erasmus traineeship program is awarded the status of an Erasmus student. Please make sure that you have a valid migration permit. The student (recent graduate) is responsible to arrange all necessary migration documents.
The rights and duties of an Erasmus student is described in the Erasmus Student Charter.
Extension of the Traineeship Period
Extension will be considered to be an exceptional case, so please make up your mind regarding a traineeship period before the start of the mobility.
Students / graduates who wish to extent their traineeship period at least one month and two weeks before the date of end of the initial traineeship period must agree on the extension with their hosting organization, Faculty and International Cooperation Department and submit the following documents:
Signed request to extend the traineeship:
-
- for the Dean (if you are an undergraduate or graduate student)
- for the Rector (if you are a postgraduate student)
- for the Director of the International Cooperation Department (if you are a recent graduate)
The traineeship might be: not extended, extended with the scholarship or extended without scholarship (as zero grant). The student is informed in 10 working days after the submission of the request.
If the internship is extended, the student must submit to the International Cooperation Department:
- The above mentioned request;
- Extension of the insurances for the whole extended period of the traineeship (copy of the policy);
- Part of Learning Agreement for Traineeship titled Section to be completed DURING THE MOBILITY with the indication of the made changes. The document must be signed by the hosting organization, student and the Faculty member (vice-dean).
After all documents are submitted, trainee is informed about the changes to his finance agreement via email (which is considered to be an official document).
After the Traineeship
When the period of your Erasmus traineeship is over, you will have to present the following documents to the International Cooperation Department:
- Confirmation of the Host Organisation (the part of the Learning Agreement for Traineeship titled Section to be completed AFTER THE MOBILITY). This document must be originally signed and stamped (if organization has a stamp). Please notice that copies are not acceptable.
- Final Traineeship Report. A link to the questionnaire will be sent to your email address just after the end of your traineeship period.
Recognition of the Traineeship Period
If the traineeship is a part of student’s curriculum, upon satisfactory completion of the traineeship, student is awarded ECTS credits and given a grade. Additionally, the information about the implementation of the traineeship is included in the student’s Diploma Supplement. If the traineeship is voluntary, upon satisfactory completion of it, the information about implementation of the traineeship is included in the trainee’s Diploma Supplement, unless the trainee is a recent graduate. For the recent graduates, a Traineeship Certificate is issued.
More Information
Happy holiday season and peaceful New year!
Experience gained in Vytautas Magnus University gives me courage to move forward
My name is Huang Fengyi. Two years ago I graduated from Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) with a master degree of social work. There were a lot of people who were curious about why I have chosen Vytautas Magnus University. I would say it is like my destiny — being in Lithuania and studying in VMU is an experience which has had great influences on my way of thinking, and my view toward the world.
The education I received as a master student of social work was so different with my previous training as a pharmacist. I have learnt to look at the world in a constructive kind of way. I am able to study people’s problems and social problems in a broader framework. I was taught to be down-to-earth, to be patient, and to be reflective.
Two months after I returned to China, there was an earthquake happened in the south-west part of China, Yunnan. I was assigned to the post-earthquake area, as a program coordinator, trying to build some safe places in the villages or schools for the children, where they could study, play and learn some skills. The post-earthquake area is very poor. A lot of young people have to leave their village and try to look for a living in some bigger cities, however, their children usually can not go with them and they are children left-behind — a sad story behind the fast economic development of China, and all over the poor areas of China.
After the project was ended, I returned to the city and worked as a research assistant in a research institute. I started to write researches for the government, and the minor party. I have to say, the research skills I have learnt from my social work master degree at VMU has little to do with what I was doing in the research institute. It was a painful experience, though I have to admit it did give me some knowledge about social work development in China, which I am a bit pessimistic. Even though now the government is pushing to promote social work service in China, the quality of social workers and their services are not properly emphasized. What is lacked? The spirit of down-to-earth service.
What I have learnt from my NGO management class is not to complain. I stopped whining about my research job, and quitted. Right now I am working as a manager in the children’s home. It is very a challenging job and I am still learning how to work for the children. I feel I am doing something I have been wanting to do.
I have encountered a lot of difficulties after I returned to China. I always miss my life and my study in Vytautas Magnus University. Somehow it gives me courage to move forward — life is a journey and I have tried my best.
