The Erasmus+ programme provides extensive international opportunities for both students and lecturers. The opportunity to practise abroad helps students not only to strengthen their professional and general skills but also to get acquainted with the requirements of the labour market of that country, and to expand their understanding of the social system, economy, and culture. By participating in the Erasmus+ programme, lecturers can share their professional experience with foreign students and improve intercultural competencies.

On 11–15 March, the students of the third-year English for Public Relations study programme, accompanied by the lecturer of the Language Centre of the Faculty of Arts and Education of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) Asta Pukienė, went on a short-term internship at the Rezekne Academy of Technologies in Latvia under the Erasmus+ exchange programme. At the Latvian higher education institution, the lecturer shared her experience and insights about the most common language mistakes and translation inaccuracies in the intercultural context, and the students actively participated in the activities prepared by the Latvians.

Representatives of Kauno kolegija HEI got acquainted with the host institution, academic campus, study programmes, and students’ free time. Participated in practical sessions, discussions together with other Erasmus+ students studying at the academy and communication specialists about their daily work, and internal and external communication features. Students developed public speaking and presentation skills through the performance of a practical task – to observe, analyse and present informational presentations about the city and higher education institution.

Students also had the opportunity to visit several institutions and companies in the city of Rezekne: the concert hall GORS, which surprised with its functionality – it is both a cultural centre and a concert hall, a cinema, an art exhibition space, a restaurant and a residence for artists; in a unique condensed milk company-museum they got acquainted with the history of the city and the times of industrial prosperity, found out the plans for the renewal of condensed milk production; in the Green Synagogue; in the tourism centre; in the museum of culture and history and the municipality of Rezekne.

This mobility of the Erasmus+ programme gave students and lecturer a great opportunity to immerse themselves in an international work environment, to acquire new professional skills and intercultural experience.