VDU investigation confirms fake farmer training sessions as participants admit non-attendance

An internal investigation by Vytautas Magnus University (VDU) has uncovered serious irregularities in EU-funded farmer training programs, including cases where listed participants admitted they never attended, LRT reports.

The probe, launched after a pre-trial investigation into allegedly fictitious training sessions, found insufficient oversight and sloppy record-keeping in the university’s Agriculture Academy. Random checks revealed some participants had skipped sessions entirely, while project managers failed to physically attend contact training.

University rector Ineta Dabašinskienė announced in a letter to staff that disciplinary action would be taken against responsible employees. “The information about unclear training organization shocked us all,” she wrote, acknowledging the findings as “painful” but necessary to prevent future violations.

The investigation identified flaws in project management, including inadequate documentation and unverified participant lists. While procedural gaps are being addressed—with revised rules and strengthened controls—specific disciplinary measures remain pending.

Earlier media reports by 15min.lt triggered the scandal in mid-May, alleging that training sessions under two major EU-funded projects (covering livestock welfare and plant protection) had no attendees despite budgeting €298,935 for 327 courses and 3,135 farmer certifications. Vigilijus Jukna, then-chancellor of the Agriculture Academy, was dismissed following the revelations, along with a project manager. Jukna had also served as an advisor to Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė but was removed from that role after the scandal broke.