"Achieve more" program

Why is it worth participating in Achieve More?

Would you like to participate in the "Achieve More" program?

The "Achieve More" program is an opportunity to develop future competencies and receive a certificate and VU LinkedIn Badge for the skills, knowledge, and experience you have gained by participating in extracurricular activities. Whether you are a member of the VU student representatives, a member of a sports team, or a volunteer at VU, the university's goal is to recognise your contribution and personal development.

How does this benefit you? Participation in the program will help you:

🎯 Stand out from other candidates in the job market

🎯 Supplement your resume (CV)

🎯 Get to know yourself and your competencies

🎯 Perform better during job interviews

The "Achieve More" program runs every academic year from October 1 to May 1, so if you missed out this year, try again next year!

How to participate in the program?

1. Register for the "Achieve More" program.
2. Receive an email invitation to join the e-learning course "Future Competencies." If you are unable to join the e-learning course, please contact us at
3. In the e-learning course "Future Competencies," assess whether you are developing all 5 future competencies in your activities or select several activities that cover all 5 future competencies.
4. In the e-learning course, assess your current level of competence and set personal goals.
5. At the end of the activity or activities, or by May 1, if you have developed all 5 future competencies, perform a final reflection on each competency and assess whether you have achieved your goals.
6. Take part in the "Achieve More" awards at the end of May, and if you have developed all 5 future competencies, apply for an award and receive a certificate, LinkedIn Badge, career consultation, and other prizes.

What activities can I participate in to develop future skills?

These are just some of the activities in which students have previously developed or are currently developing future competencies:

• Future skills pentathlon
• Smart internship
• VU Museum volunteering
• VU Ambassador

Can't find your activity and think it should be here? Write to us at

Achieve More Awards

Participants who successfully complete the activities will be invited to the "Achieve More" awards ceremony.

Participants who have developed all 5 future competencies (in one or several activities) and completed a reflection through the „Achieve More“ program will be awarded the following during the event:

• A certificate;
• A certified LinkedIn badge;
• An individual consultation with a career advisor on how to properly prepare a LinkedIn profile;
• The 5 students who submitted the best reflections will receive exclusive prizes.

VU Future competencies

Future competencies (or general competencies) are knowledge, abilities, and attitudes that can be applied in different activities. They are developed both during the study process and in extracurricular university activities so that every VU graduate is prepared for an uncertain future, a constantly changing job market, and a successful career path in the broader sense.

Vilnius University students, lecturers, graduates, and social partners have identified the following five future competencies:

• collaboration;
• responsibility;
• interculturalism;
• problem solving;
• openness to change.

These competencies can also be developed informally:

• Through non-formal education, where activities focused on developing specific competencies (workshops, seminars, etc.) are organized.
• Through self-directed learning, where learning takes place during various activities, such as sports, art, volunteering, etc. such learning can be both conscious and purposeful (when the learner understands that they are acquiring additional competencies and reinforces the development of those competencies in their activities) and unconscious (when the learner develops their competencies but does not recognize it).

Other important competencies closely related to the Future Competencies outlined above are reflection, critical thinking, and creativity. All of these are an integral part of the learning process. Thus, each competency is developed through reflection, and its application is accompanied by critical thinking and creativity. 

• Collaboration
• Responsibility
• Interculturalism
• Problem solving
• Openness to change

Collaboration

What is considered relevant competency • Pursuing common goals and having common interests. • Working together, adapting to each other / no internal competition / self-regulation. • Equal relationship between cooperating individuals. What is not considered relevant competency • Individuals working together pursue different goals or have different interests. • People working together to achieve a common goal compete with each other. • The relationship between people working together is based on hierarchy.

Responsibility

What is considered relevant competency The ability to take responsibility for the success, failure, and consequences of activities; demonstrating leadership and initiative, contributing personally to the result (for each other). The ability to plan the resources needed for activities: time, finances, human resources, etc. A sense of belonging to an organization, community, or team and an understanding of common goals / feeling and being part of something bigger, representing it. What is not considered relevant competency • Spontaneous, unplanned activities, failure to meet deadlines. • Lack of involvement, not identifying with the organization, community, team, and not feeling a sense of shared goals.

Interculturalism

What is considered relevant competency • Interaction with representatives of other (sub)cultures, learning about their characteristics; interaction with others and those who are different, experiencing initial discomfort/curiosity/uncertainty. • Ability to adapt to the social or other needs of representatives of other (sub)cultures What is not considered relevant competency • Avoiding interaction with representatives of other (sub)cultures. • Ignoring the social or other needs of representatives of other (sub)cultures.

Problem solving

What is considered relevant competency • Searching for a problem-solving algorithm and using already adapted schemes when encountering the same or a similar problem; planning. • Ability to take on a leadership role in problem solving. • Applying creativity in finding effective ways to solve problems. What is not considered relevant competency • Inability to apply tried and tested problem-solving schemes when encountering a problem that has been solved before. • Avoiding taking responsibility for solving the problem. • Choosing ineffective ways to solve the problem.

Openness to change

What is considered relevant competency • The choice to "step out of your comfort zone," take risks when there is uncertainty, and many alternatives for action. • The feeling of discomfort when changing roles, in unusual situations, and the ability to adapt to this. What is not considered relevant competency • Growth and development in a comfortable environment. • Inability to be flexible in uncertain conditions.

More information about future competencies.

Self-reflection

If you want to present the knowledge and experience you have gained to your employer in the future, describe the experience you have gained and collect documents confirming it.

Self-reflection is based on a set of five questions designed to reveal each competence.

We recommend discussing these questions with the managers and/or career advisors involved in the activities you participate in.

Have any questions regarding „Achieve more“? Get in touch!

You can always write to us at