General Information
Faculties, departments, scientific research institutes and laboratories are links in organization of scientific research and artistic activities at Klaipėda University (KU). Scientific research activity is implemented in 7 faculties (Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Humanities, Marine Engineering, Arts, Pedagogy, Social sciences, Health Sciences, 2 study institutes (Navigation and Continuing Studies), 58 departments, 16 faculty centres, 3 academic scientific research institutes (Baltic Coastal Research and Planning Institute, Baltic Region History and Archaeology Institute and Scientific Institute of Mechatronics), Botanical garden. KU researchers participate in many European and national research programmes and projects, results of their researches are disseminated in many public and scientific journals and studies. Research activities make up the integration base for science and studies. Scientific research and artistic activities are coordinated by Vice-Rector for Science and Arts (up to 2011), Vice-Rector for Research and Academic Affairs (from 2011), Research Department and Scientific Committee of the Senate.
Fundamental and applied scientific researches, works in experimental development are implemented in following scientific fields: physical sciences, biomedicine, technologies, social sciences and humanities. Arts are integral part of scientific research activity. Multi-field and interdisciplinary character of these activities remains to be a strategic advantage of Klaipėda University (Strategic plan of development, 2011). Underlying attention in the University is focused on cohesive variety of different scientific fields and this entirety creates the originality of its scientific research, artistic and academic activity.
Picture from Sailing vessel “Brabander” archives
Klaipėda University is involved in fields of scientific researches that are not cultivated by other Lithuanian universities. They are marine environment research, marine transport technologies and engineering, hydrology and oceanography, marine economy, history of Klaipėda region, East Prussia and Lower Lithuania in the context of Baltic region, archaeology and underwater archaeology of Baltic region, Baltic languages and cultures, landscape architecture, management of port technologies, port structures and constructions, coastal cultural landscape and other trends. Other cultivated scientific fields are interdisciplinary important and significant for development of topics in aforementioned scientific researches, for development of economics, education, culture and public health (management and public administration, political sciences, economics, social geography, recreation and tourism, nursing, public health, social work, jazz music, sports dances and choreography, theatrical and dance art, childhood pedagogy, andragogy, psychology, mathematics, informatics, communications and information sciences, philosophy, sociology).
Over 600 researchers (pedagogues and researchers) are involved in aforementioned scientific fields at the University.
A very significant milestone in scientific research activity of Klaipėda University is the programme of Integrated Scientific, Study and Business Centre (Valley) for development of national marine sector. It was framed and approved by the government in 2008 and its implementation started in 2009. The Programme aims at development of modern infrastructure for scientific researches, focused on development of competitive fundamental and applied sciences for international market and for training of high quality professionals in national marine sector. On the basis of this Programme infrastructure of four free access scientific laboratories has been already created. A ship with modern expeditionary equipment for researches and monitoring of marine and coastal zones is being constructed presently. On the basis of KU Senate decree from 19-12-2008 an independent scientific subdivision – Marine Science and Technology Centre – was established recently.
KU has been granted permission by Ministry of Education and Science to implement doctoral studies in 10 scientific fields.