Between 10^th and 14^th November, a delegation from the Faculty of Arts and Education at Kaunas Kolegija Higher Education Institution – including Vice Dean for Studies, Renata Sedliorienė; Vice Dean for Science and Arts, Dr Justina Petrulionytė-Sabonienė; Associate Professor at the Language Centre, Dr Marijana Prodanović; and International Activities Coordinator, Kristina Juodeikienė – visited the HCT-Al Ain Campuses of the Higher Colleges of Technology (UAE).

The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) is the largest institution of applied higher education in the UAE and a leader in the fields of applied and technological sciences. Founded in 1988, it comprises 16 campuses across the UAE, serving over 25,000 students and boasting more than 80,000 graduates. The institution offers 43 study programmes in business, IT, engineering, medicine, and education.

The HCT Al Ain campus offers courses in business, engineering, health sciences, and education. During their visit, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with the campus leadership, explore its infrastructure, and present Kaunas kolegija, the UNINOVIS alliance, and various ongoing international and research projects. The discussions focused on potential areas for cooperation, including joint study projects, research initiatives, and opportunities for lecturer and student exchanges. The delegation also met with the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee, which highlighted its areas of focus in innovation development. The committee members expressed particular interest in the activities of Kaunas kolegija’s Faculty of Business, leading to presentations not only on the Faculty of Arts and Education’s study programmes and research events, but also on the Faculty of Business and the activities of ideaPoint.

Dr Marijana Prodanović, Associate Professor at the Language Centre of the Faculty of Arts and Education, led a session on Intercultural Communication and Teaching Excellence for HCT Al Ain’s academic staff. This training was based on the Intercultural Language Association (ICC) programme Training in Intercultural Teaching, which is also implemented at Kaunas kolegija. The lecturers were so impressed by both the content and delivery of the training that they expressed interest in adopting the entire certified programme.

The delegation also met with the head of the Education study programme and faculty members. HCT Al Ain offers two education-related study programmes: a Diploma in Teaching Assistant (comparable to the short-cycle teaching assistant courses offered in Lithuania) and a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), which shares similarities with Kaunas Kolegija’s Pre-school and Pre-primary Education programme. During the meeting, the two institutions discussed the parallels between their programmes, opportunities for Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), and potential long- and short-term exchanges for lecturers and students.

Renata Sedliorienė commented, ‘For comparison, their Early Childhood Education programme spans four years, but like us, they place significant emphasis on innovation and practical training, with extensive cooperation with external partners.’ She also added, ‘It was fascinating to learn that each of their study programmes includes a dedicated module on the implementation of artificial intelligence. I was also surprised to discover that, by law, local lecturers teach local students in English.’

Vice Dean for Science and Arts, Dr Justina Petrulionytė-Sabonienė, remarked, ‘I was pleasantly surprised by the openness of UAE academics to other cultures, and their genuine interest in how we organise our study and research processes at Kaunas Kolegija. Through our conversations, it became clear that both their institution and ours are undergoing a similar transformation, with applied science activities becoming increasingly important. Moreover, we discovered that we share a common understanding of applied research – to carry out research and creative activities that directly serve the needs of society and the community in which we live today.’

During their visit to the UAE, the Vice Deans also attended the Biomaterials Library: Lithuanian and Baltic Creatorsexhibition, part of the Dubai Design Week 2025. The exhibition showcased innovative biomaterial experiments and design objects that highlight the principles of sustainable design, circular economy, and responsible creation. Kaunas Kolegija’s own fashion designer, textile artist, and researcher, Indrė Mikuckė – who also lectures on the Fashion Design programme in the Faculty of Arts and Education – presented her biomaterial experiments, created according to the latest trends in sustainable biomaterial design.