VU Faculty of Law Received the Lithuanian-American Innovation Social Impact Award
On 9 April, the Faculty of Law at Vilnius University (VU) received the Lithuanian-American Innovation Social Impact Award for a project contributing to solutions and positive change in the social field. This award was given to the project “AI knowledge twins” led by the Faculty's senior lecturer, Dr Paulius Jurčys, and PhD Goda Strikaitė-Latušinskaja, which, for the first time in the world, has integrated digital counterparts of teachers into the learning process. The award was taken by Dr Vigita Vėbraitė, Dean for Studies of the VU Law Faculty.
The “AI Knowledge Twins” were developed in collaboration between VU’s Faculty of Law and the US-based technology company Prifina Inc. The project's outcome was the creation of Paul AI and Goda AI – virtual counterparts of Dr Jurčys and G. Strikaitė-Latušinskaja. Law students are able to ask these digital replicas subject-related questions, seek clarifications, and thus independently deepen their understanding of the material taught.
“This project and this award demonstrate that legal education can be innovative and responsive to the needs of a changing society,” said Dr V. Vėbraitė during the award ceremony. The ability to receive instant answers from the lecturers’ AI twins has helped reduce students’ anxiety, boost their self-confidence, improve AI literacy skills, and enhance critical thinking. A noticeable increase in student engagement during lectures and discussions was also observed.
According to G. Strikaitė-Latušinskaja, this award highlights that law studies can meet modern students' needs. “Artificial intelligence knowledge twins are just one example of how technology can contribute to significant changes in education. This is an encouragement for our entire community to continue to develop, aiming for such tools to become assistants for students and everyone seeking knowledge and personal growth,” the lecturer said.
The Lithuanian-American Innovation Awards are organised by the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation, the US Embassy in Lithuania, the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, and the Innovation Agency.