On 29 February, the Rector of Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė, who was elected for a second term of office, took the oath of office at the solemn meeting of the MRU Senate. The Rector took an oath to take care of the implementation of the mission of Mykolas Romeris University, the progress of the University and the well-being of the community, to protect and defend the autonomy and academic freedom of the University, and to honorably represent MRU in Lithuania and the world.

Addressing the community, Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė thanked them for the confidence they have given her to continue her work. "As an MRU alumna, the MRU community is my own and dear to me, and I will continue the work we have started with special responsibility," said the MRU Rector.

The Rector thanked the entire MRU community - students, academic community, administration and was pleased that many of the planned goals had been achieved through joint efforts.

"We can call the past five years a success story of MRU, the authors of which are you, the MRU community," said Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė.

Speaking about the future plans, Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė expressed her conviction that MRU can strengthen its leadership in the field of social sciences and humanities. She stressed the importance of timely change, diversification of income sources, and continuous modelling of activities in the light of innovations. According to the Rector, such qualities will be needed when another stage of MRU's development is launched - the creation of a regional MRU "Sūduva Academy" by consolidating the potential of the University and Marijampolė Higher Education Institution.

 "This is a challenging but manageable task, which will result in a stronger University that will have a positive impact on the development of the whole region," said the Rector.

Speaking about the new strategy of the University, the Rector noted that the aim will be to respond not only to the expectations of the MRU community, but also to the expectations of the society as a whole, as well as to the advanced trends in higher education worldwide. She stressed that MRU's vision is based on studies that meet the highest international standards, international, high-value education, a strong and inclusive academic community, and innovative science based on sustainable progress in society.

On behalf of the MRU community, the Rector was congratulated by the Chairman of the Senate, Prof. Dr. Romas Prakapas.

"Looking at your inspiring and unifying leadership that has helped us to overcome the greatest challenges, we are confident that MRU will achieve all its goals," said the Chairman of the Senate.

The Rector was also congratulated by the Director of Marijampolė Higher Education Institution Alė Murauskienė and other guests.

Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė, who was inaugurated as the Rector of MRU in 2019, holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Law from MRU, has defended her doctoral dissertation in Social Sciences (Law), and has been awarded the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences. Since 2000, she has worked as an assistant and lecturer at the Department of Civil Procedure of the Faculty of Law of the Lithuanian Law University (later MRU), and later became an associate professor at the Department of Civil Procedure of the Faculty of Law of the MRU, a professor at the Civil Justice Institute of the same faculty, a professor at the Institute of Constitutional and Administrative Law of the same faculty, a Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Law for Science and Projects, a Vice-Rector for Science and International Relations at the MRU, and a Vice-Rector for Studies and Research at MRU.

Prof. Dr. I. Žalėnienė, Rector of MRU, was also elected Vice-President of the International Association of Universities (IAU - AIU), Vice-President of the Board of Rectors of the European Reform Universities Alliance (ERUA), Member of the Board of Directors of the European Women Rectors Association (EWORA), Vice-President of the Lithuanian University Rectors' Conference (LURK).