One of the main strategic goals of the Kaunas University of Applied Sciences is development of internationality. For this reason, a guest from Belgium – Stijn Coenen, general director of the Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, visited the Kaunas University of Applied Sciences today. Kaunas UAS has been in close contact with this higher education institution for several years: it implements international projects, participates in the activities of the Businet association, and provides opportunities for students of the International Business and Logistics study programmes to obtain a double diploma.
Another step towards stronger cooperation was taken today and a double degree agreement in the field of IT was signed.
A double degree studies open opportunities to develop career in the international labour market
S. Coenen, general director of Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, who visited the Kaunas University of Applied Sciences, pointed out that international cooperation between higher education institutions is important for both students and academic staff.
“I think we have a responsibility to develop the talents of the future, society of the future and to do that we need international cooperation not only for our young people but also our lecturers. They need an international mindset, what you do in your own practice is not always the only true or the only way and to figure out what other ways there exist,” said S. Coenen about why international cooperation between higher education institutions is important. The general director added that the signed double degree agreement will open up more opportunities for students of both higher education institutions.
“It’s a very interesting way of rewarding the efforts of international mobility. The Erasmus+ exchange programme gives students the opportunity to get to know the culture of the chosen country, to gain professional knowledge, but by taking advantage of the double diploma option students will get more benefits. Two European degrees in a European higher education area which from my point of view is the strongest area with very good education and you get two diplomas for that effort. I think it’s a great investment for students and for staff because they are challenged to reflect on their own courses, their own content,” S. Coenen, general director of Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, speaks about the benefits of a double degree study programmes.
During the meeting, the challenges of the education system faced by both higher education institutions were also discussed, as well as the possibility of expanding study programmes where students could obtain a double diploma, etc.
Thomas More is the largest university of applied sciences in Flanders, offering more than 30 Dutch-taught and a range of English-taught bachelor degree programmes & postgraduates in the province of Antwerp. Next to that, Thomas More offers exchange programmes in English, for students from partner universities.
General director of Thomas More University of Applied Sciences S. Coenen visited Lithuania together with the Belgian royal delegation, one of the goals of which was to present and better understand the situation of higher education in both countries, the cooperation of higher education institutions with authorities and international partners.
On Tuesday evening, the Belgian monarchs invited distinguished guests to an event at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic, which was also attended by Jolanta Valiaugienė, head of the International Relations Department of Kaunas University of Applied Sciences, and Dalia Ilevičienė, dean of the Faculty of Business of Kaunas University of Applied Sciences.
