Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI), in cooperation with Tampere University College (Finland) and Copenhagen University College (Denmark), is implementing the Nordplus programme project “Promotion of transprofessional trauma-informed approach” (NPHE-2023/10096), the implementation of which is supported by representatives of the Department of Social Work of the Faculty of Arts and Education of Kauno kolegija HEI.

This year, the project activities focus on providing services to war refugees. Third-year students of the Social Work study programme Agnė Eitmantytė and Gabija Maksvytytė, together with their lecturer Ilona Kupčikienė, visited Copenhagen University College on a study visit on 22–24 September. During the visit, the representatives had the opportunity to gain international professional knowledge in institutions providing social services to war refugees: Danish Refugee Council – Project MindSpring for refugees from Ukraine, Danish Military Psychological Institute, Kompaskonsult.

During the visits, students learned how to apply a trauma-informed approach to social services provided to war refugees, organising discussions to develop an interdisciplinary approach to service provision. On 25 September, lecturers from the Department of Social Work Povilas Beseckas and Ilona Kupčikienė participated in a project partners’ meeting, during which they discussed future project activities and planned an intensive study week, which will take place in May 2025 at Tampere University College (Finland).

Kauno kolegija HEI aims to develop internationality in a targeted manner, integrating international and intercultural aspects into studies, teaching and research. This is especially relevant in preparing young people for the complex challenges of the global modern world. Therefore, the experience and knowledge gained during the visit will be applied both in the work of lecturers and in the professional preparation of students.