The intensive programme “Playful Art and Social Sustainability in Early Childhood Education” of the international programme “Nordplus project Nordic and Baltic Childhood and Culture in a Global Perspective” (NPHE-2023/10174) was implemented at the Department of Pedagogy of the Faculty of Arts and Education of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI). Students and lecturers from partner institutions in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia and Lithuania participated in the programme.

The intensive programme was organised by Asta Jakimavičienė, Head of the Department of Pedagogy, together with lecturers Raimonda Sadauskienė and Jolanta Stūronaitė. Pre-School and Pre-Primary Education study programme students Dija Krasnickaitė, Goda Gedminaitė, Gerda Skvarčiūtė and Aurėja Šarkauskaitė actively participated in the activities of the programme, which lasted the whole week.

Among these activities were lectures on the topics of children’s sustainability education, a visit to the “Vyturėlis” children’s nursery-kindergarten, where the participants of the intensive programme observed how sustainability is applied in the education of children in a real environment.

During their visit to Kauno kolegija HEI, the participants of the programme took the opportunity to see the children’s room established in the Department of Pedagogy, which is intended for educational, creativity-developing, useful skills-building activities for children of community members, and for the learning and practical experience of students of the Pre-School and Pre-Primary Education study programs, as well as other modern spaces for students.

During their free time from the programme activities, the participants from partner institutions explored the places of interest in the city of Kaunas, were interested in the history and culture of Lithuania, and tasted traditional Lithuanian dishes.

Students who have completed the intensive program are awarded 5 ECTS credits.