“Today, you will probably hear more than once that the most wonderful stage of your life is beginning,” said Prof. Jurgita Markevičiūtė, Vice-Dean for Strategy and General Affairs at Vilnius University Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (VU MIF), in her welcome address to first-year students. “Without data, that is a rather bold claim. So, let me propose a more modest hypothesis: A very interesting experiment is beginning.”
Prof. Dr Jurgita Markevičiūtė, Vice-Dean of the VU Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, welcomes first-year students
Reminding students that code that does not work or a wrongly solved problem is neither a moral failing nor a diagnosis, and that mistakes are data, something members of the MIF community value, the Vice-Dean encouraged the new students not to be afraid of change and to embrace new things openly.
“Perhaps you came here because of programming, but you will fall in love with probability theory. You came for mathematics, but you will fall in love with data. Perhaps today some topic seems very uninteresting, but in three years it may become the subject of your bachelor’s thesis and prove fascinating. What is a constant for one person is a variable for another. So my advice to you is – allow yourselves to be variables. Change your mind, change direction,” said Prof. J. Markevičiūtė.
Nika Bukolovaitė (with the megaphone) leads the MIF cats during the traditional procession from the Parliament to Vilnius University
The importance of being open to change was also highlighted by Nika Bukolovaitė, Chair of the VU Student Representation at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics (VU SA MIF), who studies Information Systems Engineering at VU MIF. “Three years ago, I thought I would study psychology. Two years ago, I never even imagined that I would be standing in front of you and giving a welcome speech,” Nika recalled, encouraging first-year students to make wise use of the freedom and opportunities offered by the university.
First-year MIF students meet with their study program committees
After the welcome speeches, the first-year students went to their classrooms to meet members of their study program committees and their academic curators. In the afternoon, they took part in the traditional procession from the Parliament to the central Vilnius University buildings and, as thunder rumbled overhead, took their oath during the solemn RENOVATIO STUDIORUM opening ceremony in the Great Courtyard.
A Good Start
During the introductory days, first-year students became familiar with the faculty’s study spaces and key processes. On September 2, new students gathered at Didlaukio St. 47 for a full day of integration activities, which began with a presentation by the Studies Office on study regulations, scholarships and assessment. This was followed by consultations on setting up their MIF e-Identity, opportunities for student exchanges, and an introduction to the VU Student Representation at MIF.
MIF students during the procession
The day concluded with a lecture about the university’s supercomputer, giving students a glimpse into MIF’s scientific and technological infrastructure.
On September 3, the activities moved to Naugarduko St. 24, where students learned about services provided by the university, met with the community psychologist, who introduced the support available for student well-being, visited the Museum of Mathematicians, and received practical advice on using the faculty’s library.
The introductory days at the faculty concluded with a meeting dedicated to discussing career opportunities, featuring representatives of companies and institutions and moderated by Vice-Dean Prof. Dr J. Markevičiūtė. The event gave first-year students an opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of what managers and colleagues expect of future employees graduating from mathematics and informatics programs.
“And what do you yourselves find interesting about your work?” the first-year students asked their potential employers.
With the organizational matters and introductions complete, the studies officially begin – as the MIF Vice-Dean put it in her welcome address to the first-year students: “The system has been launched. The logs are still almost empty. Don’t be afraid of errors.”
8 September 2026
