Publication on the history of The National Lithuanian Union of Students (1991-2016) „1/4 amžiaus atstovaujant“.
In 2024, the second part of the historical publication of The National Lithuanian Union of Students, titled „Kitas 1/4 amžiaus atstovaujant“, was compiled. It commemorates the most important events of the Union from 2017 to 2024 (Q1).
A Brief History of The National Lithuanian Union of Students
The establishment of The National Lithuanian Union of Students is associated with April 7-8, 1989, when the Lithuanian Student Forum took place at Vilnius University. During the forum, which was attended by representatives of nearly all higher education institutions in the country, it was decided to temporarily establish the Lithuanian Student Coordinating Council. It was tasked with organizing the creation of the Lithuanian Student Association and addressing urgent student issues.
The Student Forum released statements opposing the mandatory job placement of graduates for three years and the “forced mass transportation of students to agricultural work.”
Students openly demanded the abolition of Soviet military departments and the refusal of compulsory military service after completing higher education. “Moral support” actions were organized for those who refused to serve in the Soviet army. These demands were reinforced through campaigns, boycotts, and demonstrations.
At that time, the Vice-Chairman of the Student Coordinating Council, Vygaudas Ušackas, sought to ensure that student representative bodies – not the Komsomol or former trade unions – would represent students. The most active members of the Coordinating Council attended international student events in Poland, Russia, and Sweden, spreading Lithuania’s aspirations for independence.
After the restoration of independence, in September 1991, The National Lithuanian Union of Students was officially established, replacing the Lithuanian Student Coordinating Council. Dainius Juzakėnas became the first president of the organization. During his leadership, students submitted a ten-point petition to the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, organized rallies, pickets, and actions, and even promised to lie down on railway tracks if their demands were not met. At that time, although the authorities invited students to meetings, their opinions were not taken seriously.
The leadership of the second president, Saulius Basijokas (1993-1994), fundamentally changed the quality of the student movement. Loud demonstrations were replaced by “behind-the-scenes negotiations.” At that time, higher education had significantly lost its value, and many potential students chose the so-called “Gariūnai school” instead of studying. Therefore, The National Lithuanian Union of Students also had to ensure that there would be students to represent.
From 1994 to 1996, the organization was led by Mindaugas Danys, who promoted the idea that students should be full-fledged owners of their universities. He traveled extensively to Western countries with strong democratic traditions, such as the USA, Sweden, and Denmark. Returning full of ideas, he organized the campaign “Let’s Bury the Government in Postcards,” during which students sent 10,000 postcards demanding guaranteed free education, the implementation of a credit system, and the resolution of transport benefit issues.
In 1996-1997, the Union was led by VGTU student Rimantas Klimavičius. In 1997-1998, Artūras Macijauskas became president.
In 1998-1999, the organization focused on internationalization, and Regimantas Buožius, a future economist studying at the Kaunas Faculty of Humanities of Vilnius University and fluent in English, was well suited for the presidential position.
From 1999 to 2001, under the leadership of Svajūnas Jakutis, student representatives gained significant recognition. They were invited to discuss higher education issues with the country’s leadership. On the other hand, student confrontation began. Student self-governments from three higher education institutions broke away from the organization and established the Lithuanian Union of Student Representations.
In 2001-2002, for the first time in the history of Lithuanian students, a woman took the helm of the organization—Diana Skučaitė. Under her leadership, the organization’s external relations were most strongly developed.
In 2002, Nerijus Ramanauskas was elected president of the organization but did not complete his term.
From 2002 to 2004, the organization was led by Mindaugas Reinikis. During this period, the Student Union was highly visible in the public sphere, participating in television, radio, press events, and civic actions.
On May 14, 2004, Mindaugas Boguševičius was elected president, but he resigned at the end of the year.
On February 19, 2005, during the electoral-reporting conference of the Student Union, Jonas Okunis became the leader of the organization. Following changes to the organization’s statutes, the presidential term was extended to two years. In March 2007, at the electoral-reporting conference held in Vilnius, Jonas Okunis was re-elected for a second term and served until February 2009.
In 2009, during the electoral-reporting conference of The National Lithuanian Union of Students, Dainius Dikšaitis became the leader of the organization. In 2011, he was re-elected for a second term.
On April 6, 2013, Paulius Baltokas became president of the Student Union. In 2015, he was re-elected for a second term.
Since October 2015, doctoral scholarships increased by a quarter, and the incentive component in the student funding basket rose from 2.5 BSI to 3.1 BSI. The law on social benefits for doctoral students was amended. An agreement was reached with the Conference of Lithuanian University Rectors that part of the unused student funding would be allocated to improving the social environment of students. It was ensured that all students would have the right to one year of academic leave and that they could receive scholarships regardless of whether they studied in state-funded or non-funded places. The definition of a “good academic standing student” was changed (from an average-based definition to a competency-based one), and the introduction of the “grade seven model,” which would have created unequal opportunities, was prevented.
On February 25, 2017, Mažvydas Savickas was elected president of The National Lithuanian Union of Students.
On November 4, 2017, during an extraordinary reporting and election conference, Eigirdas Sarkanas was elected president of LSS. In 2019, he was re-elected for a second term.
Since 2021, the position of LSS president has been held by Vytautas Kučinskas.
Since October 15, 2022, the presidency has been held by Paulius Vaitiekus.
On March 29, 2025, the second woman in the history of The National Lithuanian Union of Students was elected president – Ieva Vengrovskaja.
