From October 14 to 17, 2025, the Rector of the University of Prešov, Dr. h. c. Prof. Peter Kónya, PhD, visited Lithuania and Poland, marking the first-ever bilateral talks between the university’s leadership and their counterparts in these countries.

On October 15, the rector met with Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas, Rector of Vilnius University, and Dr. Artūras Vasiliauskas, Vice-Rector for Partnerships. As Lithuania’s oldest and largest university, Vilnius University—home to nearly 25,000 students and ranked 446th in the QS World University Rankings—offered a promising foundation for collaboration. The discussions focused on developing partnerships in research, education, mobility exchanges, and technology transfer, with the goal of establishing a long-term strategic alliance.

The following day, October 16, the Rector met with Dr. Urszula Wróblewska, Prof. UwB, Dean of the Vilnius Branch of the University of Białystok – Faculty of Economics and Information Technology, where both sides agreed on specific joint initiatives for the current academic year.

On October 17, the rector concluded his visit with a meeting with Prof. Mariusz Popławski, Rector of the University of Białystok. Given the similarities in structure and size between the two institutions, the talks laid the groundwork for a partnership agreement aimed at advancing cooperation in education, science, and international projects.

This working visit significantly strengthened the University of Prešov’s international position, fostering new opportunities for collaboration across the Baltic and Central European regions. These emerging partnerships mark an important step toward expanding research networks, internationalizing education, and enhancing the university’s visibility within the European academic community.