Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) Faculty of Medicine Vice Dean for Science Dr Giedrė Jarienė, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technologies Vice Dean for Science Dr Lina Skinulienė, Faculty’s International Coordinator Rita Kmitė, and International Partnership Development Coordinator Jolanta Valiaugienė visited Thomas More University of Applied Sciences (UAS) on 20–22 November.

Kauno kolegija HEI and Thomas More UAS have close cooperation ties: currently, three joint double diploma study programmes are being implemented in the fields of international business, logistics and information technologies, and joint international projects are being implemented. Kauno kolegija HEI used the good experience and example of Thomas More UAS to start developing entrepreneurship and creating the Entrepreneurship and Creativity Centre.

During the visit to Belgium, representatives of Kauno kolegija HEI discussed new areas for further cooperation in developing the internationality of studies, projects and applied science activities. Aspects of institutional management and organisational development were also compared, the Thomas More UAS visited the nursing, midwifery, communication, and media living laboratories, and got acquainted with science centres by visiting the Centre of Expertise Sustainable Biomass and Chemistry.

‘A closer partnership with higher education institutions in Europe and beyond is a fundamental basis for the development of internationality. Cooperation between higher education institutions is increasingly being developed and is becoming an exchange of academic and non-academic staff that determines not only student mobility but also high-quality cooperation in the areas of teaching, research, knowledge transfer, organisation and process management. Thomas More UAS is a very important partner of Kauno kolegija HEI, with whom we will continue to develop cooperation and strive for it to cover as many areas as possible,’ shares International Partnership Development Coordinator J. Valiaugienė.

Both institutions have become part of European university alliances: Thomas More – HEROES alliance, and Kauno kolegija HEI – UNINOVIS Data for L.I.F.E. During the visit, Head of the International Office Inge Vervoort at Thomas More UAS emphasised that this is another area in which both institutions will be able to exchange experiences, thus creating added value to cooperation and contributing to the successful development of both alliances.

‘We are grateful to all members of the Thomas More UAS community who participated in the meetings for their businesslike and sincere discussions, detailed presentations, and clearly expressed interest in working and creating together. We sincerely thank Inge Vervoort and Krishna Coenen for the excellently prepared agenda, shared insights, and time given to us,’ says J. Valiaugienė, thanking the partners.