55 students occupied the managing positions at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) on Thursday, 17 November. On the occasion of the International Student Day, the University’s managing group, deans and vice-deans of all the faculties, and Kaunas Municipality officials rendered the power of decision-making into students’ hands.
Among the temporary university staff there were two international KTU students: Immanuel Restido Jebakumar was appointed a Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design and Rahul Kumar Singh took the chair of Vice-Director of Administration at Kaunas Municipality.
“It was a real-life experience: appointed as a vice-mayor I met with presidents of student associations and rectors from Kaunas universities and colleges, and we were discussing situations and issues the international students are facing. We decided that there’s a need of a place where all the international students from all Kaunas schools could meet and discuss their problems and needs”, said Rahul.
He was impressed by the quality and quantity of work done by the municipality to keep everything in the city working.
Restido Jebakumar, who was the Vice-Dean for Research at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Design for a day, will remember the International Student Day as full of discoveries.
“I had the meeting with the head of laboratory centre Valdas Norvydas, who showed me all the laboratories and explained how the things work, and the marketing&communications coordinator Indrė Čeberkaitė of the Faculty made me understand how everybody is working together to the benefit of the University”, said Restido.
Although Restido Jebakumar was the only international student among temporary KTU staff, everybody made an effort to translate the meetings and tasks into English, so the student was feeling included and a part of the process.
Being a Rector Is a Huge Responsibility
The fourth year Mechanical Engineering and Design student Lukas Kijauskas became the KTU Rector. The real Rector Petras Baršauskas, before passing his chair over to the student, said that he would like Lukas to see at least a fraction of responsibilities that the Head of the University has to deal with every day.
“A leader has to have analytical, critical thinking skills, to know who to turn for advice to. The role of the leader of the organisation looks attractive from the outside, but is extremely hard work if it is fulfilled honestly and responsibly”, said Baršauskas.
This was the second time for Kijauskas in the temporary position on the International Student Day – last year he was appointed the temporary Director of Infrastructure. This year Lukas had the only goal – to become the Rector for one day.
“My day in the Rector’s Office was very busy and full. The priority of this day was to prepare to the meeting of the Rectorate. We were busy working together with other students, the members of the Managing Group, we were discussing the urgent questions. We wanted this day to bring real results, which could be useful for the University in the future”, said Kijauskas.
Among the issues discussed during the Rectorate was development of student competencies, especially important for those students who belong to the Study Programme Committees, the popularisation of master studies. Also, the rescheduling of compulsory internships from the fourth into the third year of studies was discussed.
According to the temporary rector, the ideas raised during the International Student Day often see daylight. For example, the idea of the Leisure Zone now opened in the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, was conceived during the International Student Day last year.
