Prof. Algirdas Utkus: Questions have more shades in the modern world

According to Algirdas Utkus, professor with the Faculty of Medicine of the Vilnius University, asking questions that only begin with ‘why’, ‘what’, and ‘how’ is no longer enough in these modern times. The right, precise question asked at the right time can save not only health, but life as well. ‘Teaching students to ask the right questions is one of the key tasks for lecturers at the Faculty of Medicine. In the future, asking the right, accurate question about the symptoms of the disease, their origin, how the patient feels, and so on, at the right time may determine the precise diagnosis, which could even have an effect on a person’s life,’ Prof. Dr Utkus believes.

Lecturer Gražina Cislikauskienė: Questions reveal experience, interests, and encourage curiosity

‘As a lecturer, I find it equally important to provide students with knowledge and inspire them,’ says Gražina Cislikauskienė, Lecturer of the Year 2020 at the Business School of the Vilnius University (VU). She believes that breaking down the barrier between the teacher and the student is the best way towards an open discussion, and questioning allows you to get to know the students’ needs, interests, and the experience they have.

Physical chemistry teacher Ieva Plikusienė: Very simple questions can lead to major discoveries

Doc. Dr Ieva Plikusienė, teacher of physical chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences of the Vilnius University (VU), often discusses how complex scientific processes benefit us in our daily life with her students. For instance, how calculations of the energy of chemical reactions can be used to predict virus mutations and spread around the world or how medicine having the right properties can be developed. The teacher and bike trekking enthusiast is certain that not being afraid to ask is a critical skill to have in the process of learning and in life in general. ‘All major discoveries were made after someone had asked a seemingly simple question.’

Docent Jūratė Jaraitė-Kažukauskė: A question creates a plane for new research and insights

Jūratė Jaraitė-Kažukauskė, a docent at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the Vilnius University, works in the field of climate change and economic analysis of energy policy and believes that, when it comes to building a relationship between the teacher and the student, maintaining an ‘open-door’ policy is key. ‘At my first meeting with new students, I tell them that they can always meet me in person or write me a letter if they have any questions regarding their studies and curriculum literature,’ says the teacher who often advises her young colleagues on career-related maters as well. According to this docent, this MO helps students get answers to their questions just as it allows herself to obtain feedback.

Profesorius Mikas Vengris: ‘Even though physicists do have superpowers, they are still humans’

‘Few things make a teacher so happy as a well-told anecdote of some exciting nuance of physics and a new light in the eyes of the students that just heard about it for the first time. You can tell it as a very funny joke to people who have never heard it,’ says Mikas Vengris, professor at the Faculty of Physics of the Vilnius University (VU) speaking about what he does.

According to the teacher of laser physics and optical technologies, even though physicists often feel in a league of their own knowing there is no one who can tackle the specific physical and engineering problems as well as they can, discussions that take place at their lectures revolve around scientific matters as well as down-to-earth everyday topics or convoluted philosophical problems.

The VU’s Rector Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas: ‘The question and discussion come first, the answer or solution are secondary to that’

‘Formulating the question is a key step,’ says Prof. Dr Rimvydas Petrauskas, the Rector of the Vilnius University speaking about the expectations for the University’s community whilst looking for a resolution to problems of public import. In the words of the Rector, attempting to raise questions and to discuss is the best way to learn about the world and to set your priorities.

Docent Cadmen Caro Dugo: Only by asking questions can you attain new knowledge that help you on your road to self-development

Carmen Caro Dugo, docent with the Institute of Foreign Languages of the Faculty of Philology of the Vilnius University (VU) has been teaching Spanish for over 20 years now. The scholar with her immense experience has translated quite a few famous pieces of Lithuanian literature into Spanish and is keen on discussing both the subjects at hand and matters of everyday life that involve intercultural communication and mutual understanding with her students.

Doc. Gintautas Tamulevičius: The question is the starting point of scientific breakthrough

Doc. Gintautas Tamulevičius, a lecturer at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics of the Vilnius University (VU) believes that for the student-teacher interaction to be effective, it has to be grounded on mutual respect, be constructive and possessed of the spirit of community. In his words, these are the things that allow the student to feel an inseparable part of the academia, a junior associate to teachers and researchers, and, most importantly, a persona. Even though the field of this lecturer’s research -- the analysis and simulation of linguistic signals -- is highly complex, on his own time he loves to backpack and find peace in nature’s embrace. Once back in the classroom, the lecturer aims to convey his knowledge to students who have made up their mind to look for answers to even the most difficult of questions.

Dr Inga Zakšauskienė: The only bad questions are those that are never asked

A teacher at the Faculty of History of the Vilnius University (VU) and a researcher of the Cold War and the US foreign policy of that period, Dr. Inga Zakšauskienė keeps reminding her students that the science of history is an incredibly fortunate subject, because you can almost never make a mistake and there are arguments to back up any answer. ‘From my very first lecture, I keep stressing it for my students that the only bad questions are those that you did not have the courage to ask. Raising questions is a very important part of the learning process, and the more questions you ask, the better you get at it, and the better answers you receive,’ Dr Zakšauskienė believes.

Dr Justyna Levon: Raising a question is the first step towards the answer

‘University studies offer a unique opportunity to continuously rub shoulders with top specialists, get advice from authority figures who are always ready to help. All you have to do is not be afraid to ask,’ says Dr Justyna Levon, a lecturer at the Department of Criminal Justice of the Faculty of Law of the Vilnius University. In her words, a sincere relationship between the student and the teacher allows both of them to fell comfortable and to grow. The teacher gives lectures and conducts seminars on criminal law to and for her students, discussing issues regarding its application, criminal policy, enforcement of punishments.

Professor Renata Bilbokaitė: A question is a key to learning

Prof. Renata Bilbokaitė, who is the Principal of the Šiauliai Academy of the Vilnius University, is firm in her belief that there is no such thing as a stupid question. In the opinion of the educational scientist, a question per se points to the person’s curiosity, and if you are curious about something, there is always a point. ‘Even though that point is seen through the prism of personal gain, it is still better than indifferent participation or solving problems without any interior drive. After all, often the reason behind us not asking a question is not that we know it all, but that we are not curious. Raising a question as such takes effort, which means that the student’s thoughts and thinking develops around what is being asked and there is so kind of deliberation going on,’ says Dr Bilbokaitė, the author of a number of methodical books for educators and children and an art appreciator in her spare time.

Dr Darius Dilijonas: The teacher’s task is to create an environment in which students would not be afraid to err and ask

‘The road towards science and cognition leads through continuous experimentation and a quest to find answers to various questions,’ says partnership professor Dr Darius Dilijonas, a lecturer at the Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics at the Kaunas Faculty of the Vilnius University and an expert in Fintech. In the words of the professor, the experimentation becomes smoother as the teacher and the student create a close bond, promoting discussion and autonomy, and the teacher is capable of informal communication, demonstrating leadership, excellence, and expedience.

Professor Gintaras Valinčius believes that the teacher and the student must interact as equal participants in the process

Prof. Dr Gintaras Valinčius, Director of the Centre for Life Sciences at the Vilnius University (VU) believes that a warm bond between the student and the teacher can only exist when their interaction is that of two peers. This kind of bond encourages students to plunge the depths of the subject at hand, to ask questions, and to attend classes in general. Even though the researcher is not a lecturer himself, he has many interactions with students, asking them for their opinions about the quality and the process of the studies, the development and relationship of the community.

Dr Jonas Dagys: To ask questions is to open to the world

A teacher at the Faculty of Philosopher of the Vilnius University and a philosopher, Dr Jonas Dagys usually meets his students during logic lectures. Yet logic is only one of the fields he is keen on: his other interests include epistemology, the philosophy of language, the philosophy of consciousness, and modern analytical philosophy, to name a few. According to the researcher who loves to do yachting in his spare time, when a person asks, they acknowledge their limitations; however, that is the only way in which you can open to the world, your social and physical environment, and step outside the boundaries of your own self.

Docentas Mažvydas Jastramskis: ‘A question allows you find a way out of obscurity and opens up your horizon’

‘The thing that matters the most when entering a university is the desire to know things,’ thinks Doc. Dr Mažvydas Jastramskis, a lecturer at the Institute of International Relations and Political Sciences of the Vilnius University (VU). In his words, the questions that students ask show their interest and aspiration to learn. The most frequent topics that students discuss at his lectures in political sciences or the modern-day partisan system are elections, political conduct, and institutional operation.

Professor Rimvydas Laužikas: ‘The ability to ask leads the human race forward’

‘Most of the major scientific discoveries and technological inventions were and still are the outcome of appropriately worded questions,’ says Prof. Dr Rimvydas Laužikas, Dean of the Communication Faculty of the Vilnius University (VU). The professor believes there is no such thing as a stupid question; therefore, one should be questing, investigating, and learning everywhere and at all times, and the University and its community is always prepared to give the necessary encouragement and push.