In 2017 Vilnius University and an American-Lithuanian Juozas Sidas Sidzikauskas, with the initiative of the Vilnius University Foundation, signed a donation agreement for the support of history studies and research at Vilnius University. With this support, Juozas Sidas cherishes the memory of his uncle, a famous interwar Lithuanian political figure, diplomat Vaclovas Sidzikauskas (1893–1973).

The support of Juozas Sidas allows to strengthen the areas where resources are most lacking: research infrastructure and the preparation of international high-level publications on the topic of Lithuanian history.

In 2017, the donation was allocated for three areas: renewal of the infrastructure of the Faculty of History, dissemination of scientific results and promotion of researchers. Most of the funds were used to upgrade the computer classroom for faculty members and students. This technology helps to ensure the connection between the studies and research carried out at the Faculty of History with the applied fields by using the achievements and tools of physical and technological sciences in history, archeology, heritage studies (GIS, ESRI, ArcGIS software – maps, databases, archeological drawing and sketching, etc.).

In 2017, part of the support allowed a greater dissemination of research and internationalization of the researchers of the Faculty of History by facilitating the publication of 11 academic articles on  Lithuanian history at international publications. Also the Vaclovas Sidzikauskas Award for Historical Research was announced. The award is granted each year during the celebration of the end of the academic year at St. John’s Church.

Vaclovas Sidzikauskas Award Laureates:

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Marija Drėmaitė (2017). For research on interwar and Soviet-era Lithuanian architecture (monographs: Progreso meteoras: modernizacija ir pramonės architektūra Lietuvoje 1918–1940 m., Vilnius: Lapas, 2016, and Baltic Modernism. Architecture and Housing in Soviet Lithuania, Berlin: DOM Publishers, 2017).

• Dr. Tomas Vaiseta (2018). For research on the history of psychiatry in Lithuania (monograph: Vasarnamis, Vilnius: Lapas, 2018).

• Prof. Dr. Arūnas Streikus (2019). For the monograph Minties kolektyvizacija: cenzūra sovietų Lietuvoje, Vilnius: Naujasis židinys-Aidai, 2018.

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eligijus Railas (2020). For the monograph Lietuvystės Mozė. Jono Basanavičiaus gyvenimo ir ligos istorija, Vilnius: Naujasis židinys-Aidai, 2020.

• Dr. Norbertas Černiauskas (2021). For the scholarly study 1940. Paskutinė Lietuvos vasara, Vilnius: Aukso žuvys, 2021.

• Prof. Dr. Arūnas Streikus (2022).

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nerijus Šepetys (2023).

• Dr. Aelita Ambrulevičiūtė, Prof. Dr. Marija Drėmaitė, and Giedrė Polkaitė-Petkevičienė (2024). For the bilingual book series Prabilę namai (Houses that Talk, 2018, 2024) and the monograph Vilniaus gyvenamosios infrastruktūros modernėjimas ir miesto plėtra 1870–1940 metais, 2022.