What does sustainability truly mean in higher education institutions? What sustainable methods can be applied to address relevant issues in various areas, both in studies and while working at a college or university? What joint sustainability-themed projects can be carried out among partner institutions in the alliance? These and similar questions were examined during the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt in Germany.
The blended intensive programme “Sustainability as a Guiding Compass” involved partners from the European University Alliance UNINOVIS from Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Albania and Lithuania. Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution was represented by Project Department Head Lina Kuraitienė, Senior Specialist Vytautė Giedraitienė, Head of Strategic Planning and Quality Management Department Kristina Adomaitienė, International Project Manager of the Faculty of Business Wilfred Ledoux Tchasse Simo, and Associate Professor of the Faculty of Technologies Jurgita Mikašauskaitė-Tiso.
During the virtual meeting prior to the physical mobility, participants presented sustainability initiatives and best sustainable practices at their institutions. From June 3-7 in Wurzburg, Germany, the hands-on workshops provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of sustainability principles and how to effectively integrate them into university operations, study programmes, research, and community activities. Presentations covered topics such as sustainability and e-learning, sustainable food production, examples of sustainability-related projects at partner institutions, climate change mitigation and energy solutions, sustainability in the UNINOVIS university alliance, the statistical perspective of sustainability, sustainable internationalisation, and more.
The diverse perspectives from the alliance countries’ higher education institutions enriched peer learning. Participants generated ideas for joint sustainability-related projects for Erasmus calls in capacity building, Erasmus Mundus, and innovation alliances. The blended intensive programme equipped participants with the knowledge and skills to become change agents promoting sustainability as the guiding compass at their higher education institutions.
