Education and Science, Lithuania

LEU board chairman Henrikas Juskevicius said the merger details would be finalized before the admissions for the 2017 fall semester.

Lithuania's ex-president Valdas Adamkus, the chairman of the VDU council, said that the merger would help improve the preparation of teachers.

"It seems to me that we are an entire decade behind in terms of educational development and achievements, as well as in terms of preparation of specialists. The gap can be sensed and I believe that we will take a big step at once, not take small steps," said Adamkus.

Meanwhile, Pranckietis said that the universities had requested some financial assistance for the merger procedures, adding that the parliament could earmark the money as the founder of the institutions.

"We didn't give any promises but agreed that they would work out a specific plan and provide a financial substantiation of the plan. If they say they need 5 mln euros or 10 mln euros over the course of a few years, from the state point of view or from the point of view of university budgets it is indeed a highly moderate sum," said the parliamentary speaker.