Founded in 1579, VU is one of the oldest higher education institutions in Eastern and Central Europe and the largest university in Lithuania involved in multidisciplinary academic activity. VU is the leading university in the country in a broad spectrum of fundamental and applied research, education, training and retraining, consultancy, and providing research and development services to a wide range of businesses. Research and teaching in the University are carried out by more than 3000 academic staff. In 2022 VU had about 23 500 students, among which about 800 PhD candidates and 825 MDs in residency. VU participates in numerous academic, business, social and other networks and associations and is involved in international initiatives and clusters, which are crucial to R&D activities, opening up opportunities for multilateral collaboration, new initiatives and community involvement in and for society.

Participation in TENACITY contributes to the implementation of the University’s 2021-2026 strategy, which focuses on the University’s impact on society, the country and the world. The strategy emphasises the need to educate graduates who are capable of tackling societal challenges. Moreover, INTEGRITY of the University’s goals, activities and resources – based on personal dignity and respectful cooperation – is one of the University’s values.

The TENACITY handbook is a kind of handbook for the Vilnius University community, which develops a common understanding of public involvement in decision-making processes and provides examples of instruments for partnership building. Meanwhile, the platform developed by TENACITY will serve as an infrastructure to facilitate this partnership.

For me, the whole journey was exciting, especially because of the opportunity to represent Vilnius University during the Lithuania 2050 foresight development process. Being the methodologist of this process, I had the opportunity to implement TENACITY practically recommended citizens’ involvement practices into the deliberative democracy decision-making process.

I believe, that TENACITY developed platform will highly support Vilnius University’s studies development process by helping organise discussions between study programme directors, students and society. Also, I see big opportunities to develop citizen-engaged research activities.