“I’ll enroll, study, get my diploma, and that’s it—my career begins!” Admit it—this thought might have crossed your mind when choosing what and where to study. But is knowledge and a diploma enough for a successful career? Every year, hundreds of students receive diplomas and enter the job market, so how can you stand out?

Soft skills are essential ingredients for success in the 21st century, both professionally and personally. These skills help you stand out, solve problems, achieve better results, and, of course, build self-confidence. So, what are they, and how can you develop them?

Communication

Why is it important?

• Clear and empathetic communication is the foundation of effective teamwork, alignment with clients, and collaboration with managers. The ability to express your thoughts and understand others helps avoid misunderstandings and conflicts.
• Today, communication is not limited to face-to-face conversations; it also includes polite, clear interactions through emails, social media, and phone calls. Regardless of your business field or position, communication with people is unavoidable.

How to develop it?

• Practice active listening—try to hear not just words but also emotions. For example, during conversations, ask questions that show you’ve truly listened.
• Learn to tailor your message to your audience: are you speaking/writing to a friend or a manager?
• Actively participate during lectures—it’s a great way to improve verbal communication skills.
• Practice writing clear and concise messages (e.g., emails). Don’t hesitate to ask for feedback on your texts and how to improve them.
• Study non-verbal communication—observe body language, eye contact, and tone of voice. These aspects reveal a lot about the other person.

Teamwork

Why is it important?

• One person’s weakness can be another’s strength, which means a team can accomplish tasks that would be impossible or difficult for an individual.
• Diverse perspectives and ideas within a team generate more solutions and help find unique approaches and innovative decisions.
• Teamwork teaches you to trust others’ abilities, accept their decisions, and let go of the need to control everything.
• It helps you learn to express your opinions clearly and respect others’, which is valuable for finding compromises in conflicts and even in personal relationships.
• In a team, you have the opportunity to learn from others, especially if they have different skills or experiences.

How to develop it?

• Participate in group projects and learn to share responsibilities. Don’t try to do everything yourself—trust others’ skills.
• Practice empathy and openness—listen to others’ ideas and suggestions.
• Get involved in volunteer activities at the college: the Student Association, “Profadienis,” various competitions, and other events.
• Spend time getting to know your team members—a stronger bond helps you better understand their strengths and weaknesses.
• Resolve disagreements openly and amicably—listen, understand, seek compromises, and don’t take everything personally.

Critical Thinking

Why is it important?

• Critical thinking helps evaluate information objectively. In the 21st-century world, filled with misinformation and AI tools, this skill is indispensable.
• It encourages deeper analysis of complex situations, identification of problems, and making informed decisions at work and in everyday life.

How to develop it?

• Ask yourself questions: “Why is this important?” “Are there alternative solutions?”
• Spend more time assessing the situation before making a decision.
• Analyze real-world problems or cases related to your studies or work. Ask questions like “What other possibilities exist?” “What could I do differently?”
• Dedicate time to reading and analyzing news or articles. Look for diverse opinions and sources, and evaluate facts critically.
• Actively participate in discussions during lectures where you need to justify your opinion and respond to arguments.
• Reflect after making significant decisions: what worked well, and what could have been done differently?

Emotional Intelligence

Why is it important?

• Recognizing your own and others’ emotions helps build strong relationships, manage conflicts effectively, and better understand colleagues.
• Emotional intelligence also aids in managing stress, staying motivated, and adapting to changes.

How to develop it?

• Practice self-awareness—notice how you react to stress or conflicts.
• Develop empathy by trying to see situations from others’ perspectives.
• Practice observing your emotions: when you feel frustrated or irritated, take time to name and understand the reasons behind these feelings.
• Learn to ask empathetic questions to understand how others feel (e.g., “Why do you think you feel this way?”).
• Manage stress through mindfulness or meditation—it helps you respond consciously rather than impulsively to emotions.
• Compliment others and express gratitude—it fosters a positive atmosphere.

Creativity

Why is it important?

• Creativity isn’t just for artists. This ability, inherent in everyone, helps generate new ideas, solve problems, and adapt to unexpected situations. Employers are looking for people who can come up with innovative solutions to traditional challenges.
• Creativity is also the foundation of innovation and competitive advantage.

How to develop it?

• Try new activities that push you out of your comfort zone, such as cooking, music, or even cold-water swimming.
• When faced with a problem, write down as many ideas as possible, even if they seem illogical or funny—creativity often arises from freedom to experiment.
• Read about innovations and new approaches to problems in your field—it might inspire fresh ideas.
• Play creative games, complete creative tasks, or participate in brainstorming sessions that encourage you to seek unexpected solutions.

This September marks the 32nd anniversary of our work, and that is just incredible!

We would like to wish:

• To our students – the courage to apply the knowledge you’ve gained!
• To our lecturers – creativity in teaching!
• To our administration – new ideas and smooth implementation!

Thank you all for being a part of Vilnius Business College! 💚💙💚

This year, the Student Council of Vilnius Business College organized teacher awards in four categories, with all our college students participating in the voting process.

The winners are:

• Most Beloved Teacher of 2024 – Skaistė Didžiulienė (Department of Foreign Languages)
• Most Inspiring Teacher – Dr. Violeta Jadzgevičienė (Department of Information Technology)
• Teacher with the Most Professional Experience – Aušra Gaivenienė (Business Department, “Team Academy” Coach)
• Teacher with the Most Interesting and Engaging Teaching Style – Aušra Kandola (Department of Foreign Languages)

Vilnius Business College sincerely congratulates our teachers!

Thank you for your dedication, professionalism, and attention to our students!

On 6th of May, 2024 an evaluation of the Information Technology Study Programmes Will Take Place at Vilnius Business College.

Here is agenda of the visit:

Evaluation 6th of May, 2024 Agenda

From 6th till 8th of February 2024, VBC students of the “Team academy” method receive guests from the United Kingdom, who, like the Lithuanians, study business management and marketing according to the above-mentioned method.

Getting to know  from different countries is part of their studies, as it is an opportunity to exchange ideas, business insights and experience, make new connections, get inspiration and motivation.

These three days are full of excitement and activities for our students and their coachers!

Is it possible to become a lecturer when you start your studies in college? How do entrepreneurs transition into the teaching profession and leave their business behind? When does the moment come when your studies lead you to inspiration to learn more and have the courage to take on new challenges? In this blog, we present two real stories about Vilnius Business College students who became college instructors. How did they make it?

The only one without a diploma among everyone with degrees

“When I first entered the lecturers’ room, it felt strange. I entered not as a student but as a lecturer. I was equal amongst them. I will never forget it,” says Vytautas Šulus, an alumnus of Vilnius Business College who became a lecturer more than five years ago.

After a high school, Vytautas dived straight into the business world, and he first sat in a student’s desk at almost thirty. The reason was his employees, who all had an education except for him, the business owner. Understanding that he felt out of place and that he needed to study, Vytautas decided to study programming as he was already seriously interested in computers at that time. He chose extended studies at college as the best option for him.

“I came to study, and I never regretted it for a second because it gave me a lot in life and education and became a strong reason to continue learning. Studying at an older age benefited me because I knew better what I wanted,” said V. Šulus.

Photo from the personal archive by V. Šulus

Education and career shift

Studying at Vilnius Business College inspired Vytautas to open another company dealing with computer maintenance and sales, which was the business he always wanted. Motivated by his studies and his favorite IT field, he later studied business informatics and cyber security studies and obtained a master’s degree. While still running his business, Vytautas regularly took on many interns who he had to teach quite a few things. That’s when he realized that he had a lot of knowledge and the desire to share it. This naturally led to the idea of becoming a lecturer.

“I wrote to my thesis supervisor, Violeta Jadzgevičienė, who is also the head of the IT department, and thus, I returned to Vilnius Business College, but this time as a lecturer. Vilnius Business College is a very friendly institution that cares about its students. I have a lot of respect to my college and all the community there, so I feel a strong desire to give back since it gave me an opportunity to learn,” he commented his career turn.

Vytautas Šulus: “The students don’t let me to get old “

Currently, Vytautas Šulus teaches courses in cybersecurity and operating systems at our college. Teaching has become his main job, pushing his business to the background. He takes great pleasure in sharing his knowledge and experience, and is a popular lecturer amongst students. He is thankful to the young people for not letting him to get old. “Teaching is constant self-improvement. I have to be ready to answer all students’ questions, so I need to be curious, stay updated on innovations, and think deeply. When I interact with students, I am not just their lecturer; I am their friend and helper. I believe everyone has the potential to learn and succeed. The key question is whether the student wants it, and that’s very clear when standing in front of the class,” Vytautas Šulus notes.

Transitioning to teaching after receiving the professor’s approval

Laimonas Matukas is another alumnus of Vilnius Business College who studied programming and returned to the college in the autumn of 2023 as a lecturer. An experienced programmer, he received an offer to teach Java programming at our college and decided to give it a try after consulting with his father, a professor at Vilnius University. “I received the answer that teaching is a wonderful experience that has much to offer. I decided to give it a go. Although only a short time has passed, I can confirm that teaching at the college is genuinely interesting,” says Laimonas Matukas.

Photo from the personal archive by L. Matukas

Understanding that experience alone is not enough

Laimonas Matukas, in his earlier years, did not rush to get a diploma and instead, dove headfirst into programming, not caring about his education. He developed a lot of experience, and various courses helped him along the way. However, there came a time in his life when it was evident that he needed education. After finding a kindred spirit and his fate-friend, he started looking for where and what to study. Extended studies and an appealing program (Programming and Internet Technologies) were the reasons why both chose Vilnius Business College.

“I knew a lot about programming, so studying wasn’t difficult. What was new and change my perspective of thinking was the projects and their management. These skills were truly beneficial for me in my job,” recalled the alumnus. After receiving his diploma, he continued his work and taught in one academy.

Teaching motivates ongoing self-improvement

When asked how it feels to teach at the same educational institution where he studied, Laimonas Matukas first mentioned the motivation of the students: “College students put in a lot of effort, even if they don’t always show it openly.” The challenge for him was to make the lectures engaging and beneficial for students with different levels of expertise. “It seems like I know a lot, but the questions students ask force me to follow the latest trends, delve into nuances, and think critically. I’m glad that working at the college forces me to continuously improve my knowledge in the field,” Laimonas Matukas concluded.