This year, the European Commission approved the funding of a significant project for the European University Alliance UNINOVIS, in whose activities Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) actively participates. The international network connecting universities from France, Finland, Italy, Spain, Germany and other countries will reach a new stage of development in the next few years, the result of which is the application of data science in various fields.
According to the Kauno kolegija HEI leaders, membership in a strong international alliance opens up new perspectives for students and researchers and serves Kauno kolegija HEI in its pursuit of the status of a university of applied sciences. This achievement is a significant contribution to strengthening the institution’s position in the international space, implementing joint study programmes, and strengthening its scientific potential.
According to Kauno kolegija HEI Director Dr Andrius Brusokas, the approval of the UNINOVIS alliance project application is an appreciation of several years of focused work in forming a sustainable academic network based on applied data science, which involved all alliance partners.
‘This achievement of Kauno kolegija HEI is extremely significant and important both for our institution and for the entire Lithuanian higher education sector. At the same time, it is also recognition of Kauno kolegija HEI as a sustainable higher education institution in the international arena,’ notes Dr A. Brusokas.
According to the Director, the alliance opens up broader opportunities to strengthen the quality of studies and develop applied science and art at an international level. Kauno kolegija HEI had established in its strategy a vision to become an advanced and sustainable higher education institution several years ago.
‘I am very pleased with this achievement of Kauno kolegija HEI and the work of the entire team over several years. Since 2021, we have been purposefully following this path, together with partners, creating and forming the UNINOVIS alliance. It is obvious that the approval of this alliance’s application makes a significant contribution to the implementation of Kauno kolegija HEI’s vision and related strategic goals, fostering academic and scientific culture, and developing studies and science in an international environment,’ he says.
The desire to connect is consistent and deliberate
Kauno kolegija HEI Vice Director for Organisational Development Dr Inga Stravinskienė reveals that the UNINOVIS alliance application was assessed by European Commission experts as being of extremely high quality and scored as many as 94 points out of 100. Such an assessment, according to her, demonstrates the strong cooperative ties of the alliance partners and the targeted results they are seeking in the international space.
‘It is important to mention that the latest achievement is not accidental. This network of partners has been forming for almost three years: joint international projects were prepared and won, student and lecturer exchanges took place, joint scientific applied research, transfer of good practices and other initiatives were carried out. We created a lot, we believed in what we were creating, and finally – this significant assessment!’ recalls Dr I. Stravinskienė and is happy that extremely warm, trust-based cooperative relations have been established between the partners.
The alliance is formed from applied sciences and classical (academic) universities, bringing together a particularly large community: 125 thousand students, 11 thousand employees and 57 associated and social partners.
Dr I. Stravinskienė reminds that in four years Kauno kolegija HEI will apply for the status of a university of applied sciences, and the fact that it belongs to the UNINOVIS alliance will significantly contribute to achieving this status.
‘The long-term strategy of this alliance integrates studies and applied data science, focusing on research and innovation. All activities envisaged in this project will significantly contribute to Kauno kolegija HEI’s achievement of the status of a university of applied sciences, based on the values and requirements of the European higher education area and the European research area, sustainability goals, green and digital transformation,’ shares Dr I. Stravinskienė.
Value for studies and the academic community
The partnership with the alliance members, which has been established over the past few years, is now intensifying even more, focusing on the implementation of the goals of the UNINOVIS alliance, which ensures the wider use of data science in all academic fields.
The leaders of Kauno kolegija HEI emphasise that the approval of the alliance application also means greater responsibility not only in implementing the goals and objectives set out in the application but also in a long-term partnership agreement to cooperate to become a European university.
‘This alliance is unique due to the large number of associated partners, including regional government organisations, business associations, companies, student self-government organisations, and higher education institutions in other regions of the world,’ adds Jolanta Valiaugienė, Coordinator of International Partnership Development at Kauno kolegija HEI.
The agreement of the heads of the higher education institutions belonging to the alliance to cooperate by pooling academic, scientific, human and infrastructure resources significantly strengthens the capacities of all alliance members in completing academic programmes, expanding research opportunities and creating conditions for new student experiences. Meanwhile, joint activities will have a positive impact on the professional development of employees.
‘For Kauno kolegija HEI to achieve the status of a university of applied sciences, the expanded and agreed cooperation opportunities in scientific research, combining the resources and expertise of all partners, are particularly relevant. Winning the European Universities Initiative project has created greater opportunities for financing research, i.e. greater opportunities to receive European research funding and grants for the activities of the alliance,’ says J. Valiaugienė.
The leaders of Kauno kolegija HEI note that in implementing the lifelong learning paradigm, studies and training services focused on the needs of the learner will be developed together with partners.
The higher education institutions participating in the UNINOVIS alliance have agreed to introduce innovative teaching methods and develop joint study programmes, which will open up opportunities for Kauno kolegija HEI students to study at several institutions and receive joint diplomas from these higher education institutions. Also, by pooling resources, the range of courses offered will expand by providing micro-credentials.
The project also plans to create study hubs, where students from higher education institutions participating in the UNINOVIS alliance will be able to come, acquire certain competencies, and upon returning to their country, continue their studies remotely. This will make it easier to carry out exchanges and ensure that students will gain knowledge at the higher education institution that is strongest in their chosen field.
About the UNINOVIS
UNINOVIS aims to become a source of advanced data science competencies and skills for both current and future generations, promoting a sustainable and inclusive European society. The goal of the alliance is to create an international and interdisciplinary European university from seven higher education institutions with common management, teaching, international relations and research structures. The alliance is focused on the wider use of data science in all academic fields.
UNINOVIS has four main missions: to provide Lifelong learning in data; to integrate innovation ecosystems for collaborative education and interdisciplinary research around data sciences; to foster green and digital transition for sustainability within the Alliance and in European society at large; to achieve Excellence in comprehending, analysing, utilising, managing, and safeguarding data.
UNINOVIS alliance, which unites seven European higher education institutions in France, Lithuania, Germany, Finland, Spain, Italy, Albania (Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, University of Málaga, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, University of Tirana) is part of the European Universities initiative of the European Commission. The coordinator of this alliance is Sorbonne Paris Nord University in France.
