On March 22^nd, 2022, Vydas Gedvilas, President of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LBF), Mindaugas Balčiūnas, Secretary-General, Edas Nickus, Presidential Adviser, and Vidas Butkus, President of the Regional Basketball League (RBL), visited Kaunas University of Applied Sciences. During the meeting, the preparation of joint study programmes, student internships, lectures for students of LBF and RBL specialists, presentation of study programmes to athletes and other possibilities of cooperation were discussed. Today, on March 28^th, these opportunities and intentions were confirmed by the signing of a tripartite cooperation agreement.

Signing the agreement, the director of Kaunas University of Applied Sciences Paulius Baltrušaitis was pleased with the trust of LBF and RBL in the university and revealed that it is expected to keep taking the first steps and develop cooperation.

“We are really value the appreciation that has been made of our institution. I think we should talk not only about the benefits that the university will get but also about the value to the country we are creating by supporting basketball. However, basketball is a particular brand in Lithuania and is beneficial in both science and business.

We hope that this cooperation will develop beyond the first steps and that Kaunas University of Applied Sciences will remain a strong supporter of basketball both in Lithuania and, possibly, outside Lithuania in the future,” said P. Baltrušaitis, Director of Kaunas University of Applied Sciences.

LBF President Vydas Gedvilas also did not hide his joy from the signed cooperation agreement.

“Today is a special day – in the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, we sign an agreement with Kaunas University of Applied Sciences, which is the leading university in Lithuania. We are glad that this university has a study programme in Sports Management, which prepares the basketball managers that are really needed.

Our federation is one of the best in Lithuania, we have many leagues – Lithuanian Basketball League, National Basketball League, Regional Basketball League. I am glad that this is the largest basketball league with 41 teams, covering the whole of Lithuania, all regions, and a lot of young, promising basketball players who will play in the future, both for the Lithuanian national team and for our various national youth teams.

I am glad that today the director of Kaunas University of Applied Sciences is here, who believed in the benefits of this project. I believe that this social project will create additional value and will be beneficial for both the Lithuanian Basketball Federation and Kaunas University of Applied Sciences,” said LKF President V. Gedvilas.

Vidas Butkus, the President of RBL, also felt glad about this cooperation agreement and revealed his hopes of cooperation with Kaunas University of Applied Sciences to become strengthened in the future.

“This day is really extraordinary, when for the first time we, the representatives of basketball, sign such an agreement with the academic community. I am extremely happy and proud that this is Kaunas University of Applied Sciences because I see a great synergy in cooperation with this university. First of all, Kaunas University of Applied Sciences itself will be heard in the most remote corners of Lithuania. The community of Kaunas University of Applied Sciences will also hear more about the Regional Basketball League and increase its awareness among friends and relatives. Therefore, I believe that this synergy is of incredible importance for the growth of basketball,” said RBL President V. Butkus about the potential for cooperation.

The partnership between Kaunas University of Applied Sciences, RBL and LBF is the beginning of future projects aimed at popularizing basketball culture, training strong sports management specialists who would successfully integrate into the world of basketball and contribute to its strengthening, to become active participants in the competitive environment, to contribute to the events gathering a thousand audiences.