Nuo Aukštųjų kursų Kaune iki Kauno technologijos universiteto, 1920-1997
LT1997 m. vasario 16 d. sukanka 75 metai, kai atgimusi Lietuvos valstybė įkūrė Kaune Lietuvos universitetą - pirmąją aukštąją mokyklą, kurioje studijos vyko lietuvių kalba. Lietuvos universitetas (nuo 1930 m. - Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas) suvaidino Lietuvos valstybingumui nepaprastai svarbų tautinės kultūros ir švietimo ugdomąjį vaidmenį. Universitetas, parengęs tūkstančius įvairių sričių specialistų, tapo tautos intelekto ir tautinės savimonės puoselėjimo versme, iš kurios gyvybės ir jėgų vėliau sėmėsi kitos mūsų aukštosios mokyklos. Ši gyvybinga versmė, tapusi ir Kauno technologijos universiteto istorine ištaka, gaivino ir stiprino taip pat ir aukštojo inžinerinio mokslo plėtotę Lietuvoje, perimant ir puoselėjant tautines akademines tradicijas bei mokslinį paveldą. Siekdami deramai paminėti tokią reikšmingą sukaktį, KTU senatas ir rektoratas inicijavo šio leidinio parengimą. Leidinio autoriai laiko garbingu uždaviniu naujai pažvelgti į mūsų Almae Matris nueitą kelią, kuriame, kaip ir visos Lietuvos mastu, būta ir vaisingos veiklos tarpsnių, ir karo bei okupacijų sukeltų sukrėtimų. Suprantama, kad, nagrinėdami ir aprašydami Universiteto bei iš jo kilusio Kauno politechnikos instituto veiklą, mes stengėmės daugiau gilintis į inžinerinių studijų raidą, laikydamiesi istorinės tiesos principų. Leidinyje aprašant Lietuvos (Vytauto Didžiojo) universiteto laikotarpį, neužmirštama parodyti ir kitų jo fakultetų veiklos sritis, turėjusias įtakos visų studentų visuomeninio aktyvumo ir tautinės savimonės ugdymui. Leidinio autoriai - įvairių kartų atstovai, tiesiogiai dalyvavę mūsų aukštosios mokyklos gyvenime (kai kurie - ir valdyme) - pradedant tarpukario Vytauto Didžiojo universitetu ir baigiant Kauno politechnikos institutu bei Kauno technologijos universitetu.Todėl pateikiamoje medžiagoje yra nemažai iki šiol dar mažai nušviestų, asmenine patirtimi pagrįstų faktų. Leidinyje stengėmės parodyti žiaurių politinių sukrėtimų bei dvasinės prievartos įtaką Universiteto veiklai abiejų okupacijų sąlygomis, pabrėždami šviesiausių Universiteto asmenybių poziciją. Siekdami nuodugniau supažindinti akademinę bendruomenę su studentijos visuomenine veikla, pateikėme daugiau medžiagos apie studentų organizacijas ir demokratinių principų puoselėjimą jų veikloje, taip pat dalyvavimą pasipriešinimo okupantams judėjime. Pabrėžtina, kad autoriai nesistengė pateikti šiame leidinyje išsamios Universiteto veiklos mokslinės studijos, o daugiau siekė pažintinių tikslų, iš dalies orientuodamiesi į studentiją ir platesnį skaitytojų ratą. Nemaža dėmesio leidinyje skiriama Kauno technologijos universiteto reformos klausimams, atsižvelgiant į nūdienos reikalavimus [p. 7].
ENThis publication was written on the basis of historical facts. It is an overview of the development of technical sciences in Lithuania through 1920-96 starting with the Higher courses in Kaunas, which then became the Lithuanian University, and then Vytautas Magnus University, the Kaunas Polytechnic Institute and finally Kaunas University of Technology. February 16, 1997 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the newly independent Lithuanian State, which recognised the Higher courses that had existed since January 27, 1920 and from these Higher courses created the Lithuanian University - the first higher education institution in the country, in which all courses were in Lithuanian. The Lithuanian University (later in 1930 Vytautas Magnus University) became not only the most important cultural, educational and scientific centre during the years of independence, but also the heart of national identity, which gave life and strength to the other tertiary institutions which were established later. The faculties of Technologies and Natural Sciences-Mathematics alongside with a number of other University divisions played an important role, because they educated versatile engineers in four areas. During the whole period (1922-1950) of its existence, the University prepared 6,327 specialists for different fields in all the structures of government, economics, culture and health care systems. After regaining the Vilnius region, the University helped to restore the Lithuanian University in Vilnius. In 1940, the Lithuanian Seimas decreed that the faculties of Humanities, Law and Mathematics-Natural Sciences be moved to Vilnius. After the war in 1949 the University lost its last centre of Humanities because the Philological faculty was moved to Vilnius University. In 1950, the University was reorganised into Kaunas Polytechnic Institute and Medical Institute.Through all that time of its functioning, Polytechnic Institute prepared more than 62,000 engineers, who determined the development of the soviet Lithuanian economy and the national origin of its leaders. Even under the most severe repression’s the courses at the University, and later - Polytechnic Institute were conducted in Lithuanian, the textbooks and other literature were prepared in Lithuanian, the Lithuanian terminology was created. Famous research centres were established at the Institute which later expanded and became well known outside the borders of Lithuania. In the process of developing Polytechnic Institute, there was a tendency to keep to the Lithuanian academic traditions and the principles of scientific heritage. It should be noted that Polytechnic Institute contributed in forming new higher engineering institutions - Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and Technical Faculty in Klaipeda University. The Lithuanian University (Vytautas Magnus) and Kaunas Polytechnic Institute professors and graduates formed a nucleus of many divisions of Lithuanian Academy of Science. October 31, 1990 is an especially important date when the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Lithuania decreed that Kaunas Polytechnic Institute regain its earlier university status, inherited from the Lithuanian University. In 1988 a crisis occurred in the Soviet Union and liberalisation began in society. Then an independent Lithuanian State was re-established and Kaunas Polytechnic Institute expanded ties with other universities world-wide. Then the conditions were favourable for the Polytechnic Institute {the University of Technology later) to quickly undergo reforms. The reforms allow Kaunas University of Technology to be integrated into Europe and the international academic system as a prestigious Lithuanian institution of higher education.The reform matured and developed during the period of transition to market economy and industrial restructurisation, when sharp economic crisis was followed by inflation and continuous financial shortage. As a part of the reform process, the degree programs at the University have been updated. Now these programmes are offered: a 4 - year B. Sc. programme; a two - year M. Sc. programme; and a one year Diploma Engineer programme. In addition, a doctoral programme has been implemented. Other changes have also occurred. A new curriculum for the degree programme has been created and quality development system for these programmes was established which was based on an analysis of the experience of several universities all over the world and on the results of a student survey. The degree programmes have been changed to reflect individual study plans which are created based on an individual student’s desires and talents, considering their future career plans, and allowing a student to regulate the tempo of his / her progress. In addition, we have attempted to liberalise the degree programmes by allowing students themselves to choose subjects from those at the University and at other tertiary institutions. The credit system and modern entrance selecting procedure were implemented. Finally, new areas of specialisation were added, a humanistic aspect enriched the engineering programmes, and core requirements of the first two years were standardised in all faculties. These reforms were'implemented without disturbing the day-to-day functions of the University: in 1996, the University awarded its 70,000th diploma, and the total all graduated students (including B. Sc. degrees) is close to 75,000. [...].
