Bilateral agreements

Since 1992, while encouraging bilateral cooperation with the neighbouring countries and more remote countries in Western and Central Europe, Asia and other continents, the Ministry of Education and Science has been developing cultural cooperation agreements and participating in their preparation for execution.

Cooperation agreements and contracts are signed with the following countries:

• Bulgaria, in the field of education, science, studies and culture (effective from 1997);
• Spain (1997), Greece (1998), Israel (1998), United Kingdom (1998), Finland (1999), Hungary (1999), Poland (2000), Holy See (2000) and Slovenia (2002) in the field of culture, education and science;
• Italy (1998), in the field of culture, education, studies, science and technologies;
• USA (1994), in the field of science and technologies;
• China (1992), in the field of science and technologies;
• China (1993), Venezuela (1993), Romania (1997) and Columbia (2001), in the field of culture;
• Turkey (1999) and Mexico (2003), in the field of education, culture, arts and sport;
• Ukraine (1993), in the field of education, science and culture;
• Uzbekistan (1995), in the field of culture and arts;
• Uzbekistan (1995), in the field of education, science and technologies;
• France (2003), in the field of culture, education, science, technologies and engineering.

A number of other agreements and contracts were signed, including those on exchange of study visits with the Czech Republic (2000) and Sweden (1994); on co-operation between young people and exchanges with Poland (1997); on cultural exchanges and cooperation with Venezuela (1993); on provision of employment for people on study visits to upgrade their professional qualifications and command of the language with Germany (1993).

Cooperation with the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) is developed on the basis of both bilateral agreements and multilateral programmes.

Together with Sweden, Lithuania is responsible for implementation of the Baltic Region Education Agenda 21 in that region. The Ministry of Education and Science is engaged in bilateral and multilateral cooperation ensuring effective involvement in education programmes and projects of international organisations. Various activities in education, including mobility and placements of specialists, study visits and exchanges are organised. Lithuania and the Swedish Institute for Special Education Development are carrying out a project ’The Development of the Special Teaching Materials Procurement System’.

In 2002, five cooperation agreements (with Belarus, Flanders, France, Mexico, Ukraine and the Walloon Region in Belgium) followed by two others (with Serbia and Montenegro) in 2003 were concluded and measures provided for in the bilateral cooperation programmes were implemented. Meetings of the joint advisory commission made up from representatives of the Lithuanian and Belarusian Ministries of Education and Science and of the Lithuanian-Polish bilateral commission concerning textbooks were held.

In 2004, the Lithuanian members of the Joint Committee for cooperation between the Governments Lithuania and Italy in the fields of culture, education, studies, research and technologies were appointed.

In 2004, a programme for cooperation with Spain in the fields of education and culture for 2004-2008 was approved.

In 2005, an agreement regarding mutual recognition of documents granting a right to higher education and also of partial studies, higher education qualifications and degrees in science and arts was concluded between the Governments of Lithuania and Poland.

Subject to agreement between the Ministries of Education and Science of Lithuania and the Belarus on cooperation in the field of education, a cooperation programme for 2005-2009 was concluded.

A cooperation agreement in the field of education, higher education and scientific research for a period of 2006-2008 was concluded between the Ministries of Education and Science of Lithuania and the Hungary.

In 2005, the process of implementation of international agreements and arrangements in the field of research was organised: support was provided to the bilateral cooperation in the field of research and technological development between Lithuania and the Ukraine; financing was granted to the second stage (2005-2006) of Gilliber, the Lithuanian-French integrated action programme in the field of research and experimental activities; funds were allocated for the development of further cooperation (in the field of high energy physics) between the Government of Lithuania and the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).

In 2006, the national project ’Time for Leaders‘ was developed in consultation with experts from the Leadership Centre at the University of Manchester.

In 2008, a bilateral international agreement on a cooperation programme in the field of education was concluded with Slovakia. Cooperation under the DUO-Korea sub-programme in support of exchanges between students, lecturers and researchers of institutions of science and studies for the period 2008-2009 was established with Korea.

In 2009, an updated Programme for Cooperation between the Lithuanian and Flemish Governments for 2009–2012 was signed pursuant to the Agreement between the Governments of Lithuania and Flanders. Implementation of the Programme provides a framework for the countries to support the mutual exchange of students and researchers and promote a closer collaboration between institutions of research and higher education.

In 2009, the Governments of Lithuania and t Germany signed an agreement on the equivalence recognition of higher education qualifications and degrees.

In 2009, the Government of t Lithuania and the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers signed the agreement on the mutual recognition of qualifications granting access to higher education and also higher education qualifications and degrees.