On 26 June, graduates of the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Vilnius University (VU MIF) were awarded their Bachelor's and Master's degrees during a formal graduation ceremony held at St John's Church. The event brought together graduates, their families and friends, members of the VU MIF community, and the Faculty's social partners.
Graduates awaiting the ceremony. Photo by Ekaterina Khvashchynskaya
n his address, VU Rector Professor Dr Rimvydas Petrauskas humorously compared university studies to the current FIFA World Cup, congratulating graduates on making it through their academic journey without offsides, penalties, yellow cards or red cards, and on finally stepping forward after the referee's final whistle to receive their prize – a university diploma.
VU Rector Professor Rimvydas Petrauskas. Photo by Ekaterina Khvashchynskaya
"This is an achievement not only for each of you personally, but also for the University and for the country as a whole, today welcoming a new generation of innovators, leaders and thinkers," the Rector said. He encouraged graduates to pursue their careers in Lithuania and to use the knowledge they have gained to strengthen society and make it more resilient.
Dean of the VU Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics Professor Paulius Drungilas. Photo by Ekaterina Khvashchynskaya
The Dean of VU MIF, Professor Dr Paulius Drungilas, congratulated the graduates on choosing a field of study that cultivates abstract thinking. This skill is becoming increasingly important in today's information-rich world.
"The volume of information is constantly growing," he said. "It is essential to be able to navigate it, distinguish what truly matters from what is secondary, and separate reliable information from noise and even deliberate manipulation."
The Dean encouraged graduates to use their knowledge and abilities for their own benefit and for the good of society.
Next meeting at the VU Alumni Festival
Speaking on behalf of the academic staff, Associate Professor Dr Martynas Manstavičius noted that the day held particular meaning for him. Not only had he supervised the theses of graduates present, but this year also marks his twentieth year as a university lecturer.
Assoc. Prof. Martynas Manstavičius. Photo by Ekaterina Khvashchynskaya
"I feel like a railway station attendant, seeing one group off at the station while waiting for the next," Assoc. Prof. Dr M. Manstavičius said. "There are many trains at the station – choose the one that takes you where you want to go and helps you achieve your ambitions. I sincerely hope you will come back, share what you have learned and the experiences you have gained, so that not only you, but we as a university community, can continue to grow and improve together,” he added, concluding by expressing his hope of seeing the graduates again at the VU Alumni Festival on 19 September.
Dr Vytautas Ašeris, Partnership Professor at VU MIF and Senior Director of Engineering at Vinted. Photo by Ekaterina Khvashchynskaya
Dr Vytautas Ašeris, Partnership Professor at VU MIF and Senior Director of Engineering at Vinted, encouraged graduates not to be discouraged by claims that their generation is somehow "too soft" or "more spoiled" than previous ones.
"I want to challenge that perception and encourage you," he said. "The generation sitting here today has a different value system. I teach ethics to undergraduate students and leadership to Master's students, and over the past two to four years I have noticed a real change."
Augustė Ostrauskaitė. Photo by Ekaterina Khvashchynskaya
Speaking for her fellow graduates, Augustė Ostrauskaitė, who completed her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Applications of Mathematics, thanked the lecturers who had taught far more than algorithms and formulae.
"Mathematics teaches us life lessons," she said. "It teaches patience and perseverance. Even when you make a mistake, you don't give up – you keep going."
Urtė Gedvilaitė. Photo by Ekaterina Khvashchynskay
Business Data Analytics graduate Urtė Gedvilaitė reflected on the shared journey of her fellow students: "We didn't just write our Bachelor's theses," she said, "we also wrote our own survival guide."
Her memorable speech wove together mathematics, philosophy, memories of studying at VU MIF, and the beginning of independent adult life.
The festive atmosphere was enhanced by a performance from a quartet of the Vilnius University Chamber Orchestra. The National Anthem of Lithuania was performed by soloist Nerijus Masevičius, accompanied by organist Dr Vidas Pinkevičius, while the traditional student anthem Gaudeamus was sung before the degree-awarding ceremony began.
During the ceremony, Master's degrees were awarded in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Software Engineering, while Bachelor's degrees were conferred in Bioinformatics, Mathematics and its Applications, Software Engineering, Data Science, Financial and Insurance Mathematics, Information Systems Engineering, Computer Science, and Business Data Analytics.
In total, 344 graduates received their degrees. Among them, 21 graduates were awarded Cum Laude degrees and 7 graduates received Magna Cum Laude honours in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements.
Photos from the graduation ceremony
1 July 2026