Prof. Firat Demir (Oklahoma University) recently finished his Fulbright Lead Scholarship Professor and visit at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. The Fulbright scholarship is a scholarship funded by the USA, which can be used to travel to an internship around the world, i.e. scholars can come to VU FEBA and VU FEBA scholars may visit another educational institution.
Although the Covid-19 pandemic shortened and postponed this visit, Prof. Demir spent a very productive 5 months (the spring semester of 2022) at the VU, publishing several papers and starting several new research projects. We are grateful to Prof. Demir for his successful collaboration and look forward to sharing the feedback on his scholarship by Prof. Demir and Dr. Dzemydaitė:
Prof. Firat Demir:
“I have spent my spring 2022 semester at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration as a Core Fulbright Fellow and visiting professor. This long-planned and looked-forward visit was unfortunately delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. My Fulbright visit was initially planned for a 9-month visit and I was going to come with my family to Vilnius. Alas, that was before the global pandemic that changed everyone’s lives and plans around the world, including mine. Despite a shortened and solo visit due to pandemics, I am very grateful that Vilnius University and the Faculty welcomed me warmly in the spring of 2022.
I had a very productive 5 months at VU, published several articles and have started several new research projects. My visit was also particularly helpful for meeting colleagues and engaging with brilliant undergraduate and graduate students. Research seminars were very resourceful and despite limited face-to-face activities, online meetings were very helpful. I am particularly thankful to my hosts, Prof. A. Miškinis and Dr. G. Dzemydaitė who were always very helpful, including during my Fulbright application process. I hope VU faculty and students will also consider applying for a Fulbright visit to the US.
As for the location, Vilnius is a great city for visiting scholars; I particularly enjoyed taking long walks during the cold winter months. Springtime was a particular source of joy with flowers and blooming trees covering the whole city. The art scene was great and concerts should be on the must-do list of any visitor to this city. I should also add that Vilnius is a very safe city, much safer than most I have visited or lived in Europe or the US for the past 20 years.
There have been plenty of external challenges during my visit, including the pandemic and increasing covid cases as well as the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine. Luckily for me, the VU and my colleagues at the Faculty were very helpful and these events did not cause too much of a delay in my research projects, except for changed teaching schedules and platforms. Of course, the shortened duration of my visit and the absence of my family during my visit were the casualties to the Covid-19. Overall, however, I have had five very productive months and I look forward to visiting VU again in the near future.”
Dr. Giedrė Dzemydaitė:
„Prof. Firat Demir is a highly recognized researcher in the field of development economics and international economics. His visit was very valuable from various points of view: network building, sharing of different experiences, and learning from each other. He spent at Vilnius University almost half a year.
We invited Professor to a variety of activities in our department. He was presenting and also participating in our research seminars while giving valuable feedback for research development, he had guest lectures for students, also we had various formal and less formal meetings where we shared our experiences. Overall, we are very thankful for this visit and are looking for the future collaborations. We also hope that other scholars looking for a Fulbright place in Europe will choose our university."