Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science
 |
|
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Established | 1992 |
| Director | Ramūnas Vilpišauskas |
|
Academic staff
|
66 |
| Students | Around 750 |
| Location |
 Vilnius, Lithuania
|
| Website | IIRPS |
Institute of International Relations and Political Science or IIRPS (Lithuanian: Vilniaus universiteto Tarptautinių santykių ir politikos mokslų institutas) is a branch of Vilnius University which prepares political science and international relations specialists and carries out policy research. This is one of the most prominent social science institutions in Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic sea region.
IIRPS prepares three degree programs: Bachelor of Political Science, six graduate (master's degree) programs - European Studies, Comparative Politics, International Relations and Diplomacy, Public Policy Analysis, Politics and Media and Eastern European and Russian Studies (the latter is taught in English), and also postgraduate studies. Currently there are more than 750 students studying in IIRPS. As of 2015, 1830 students have defended BA and 1072 masters students have defended their MAs as well, while 51 students defended political science PhD dissertations.
The director of the Institute since June 10, 2009 has been professor Ramūnas Vilpišauskas.
The Institute of International Relations and Political Science (IIRPS) of Vilnius University was established on 7 February 1992 by the agreement between Vilnius University and the Supreme Committee for the Liberation of Lithuania. It became the first political science research institution in independent Lithuania. Having commenced its activities with a two-year programme in international relations, at present IIRPS VU is a faculty-level core academic unit of Vilnius University, wherein studies in political science on all three levels (bachelor, master and PhD) and scientific research are conducted.
While first focusing mostly on educating the future members of the Lithuanian diplomatic corps, the Institute has gradually enlarged its program to include subjects relevant to public administration, non-governmental and private institutions.
The first director of the Institute was lawyer, former judge of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania, professor Egidijus Kūris. Kūris held this position from 1992 to 1999.
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