Dr. Gintautas Bareikis has been nominated for the Best Lecturer of the Year award at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Vilnius University. This decision was made by the students and the university committee. What motivates a scientist in their work? What qualities does he hope to instill in his students before they enter the world? Here is an interview with Dr. G. Bareikis.
This year, you have been recognized as the best lecturer at VU MIF. What does this award mean to you?
Like any award, I believe it holds significance for everyone. It demonstrates that the work you do is meaningful and that it can inspire young people to take a greater interest in the subjects you teach as well as in scientific achievements.
Does the evaluation motivate you as a teacher?
Perhaps to some extent, but what truly motivates me the most is the students' interest in the subject, their eagerness to understand the material, the discussions that occur after lectures and during tutorials, and the genuine communication we share.
What are your teaching goals, and what skills do you aim to develop in your students?
I believe our collective goal at the Faculty and at the VU is to ensure that students who graduate feel that their time here was meaningful and engaging. I want to see students having discussions in the corridors about the topics covered in lectures.
In essence, I aim for students to develop independent learning skills, to read and comprehend scientific texts, to apply the theoretical material they have studied, and to demonstrate that the skills they have acquired are relevant and applicable in practice.
Lastly, I hope our graduates will cultivate a respect for both the school they graduated from and the country they live in.