Nowadays, studies, science or the experience of students without internationality are unimaginable. It creates value for everyone – higher education institutions, employers, students and society. It is important to find new and sustainable ways and effective incentives to promote international cooperation. One of them is the creation and strengthening of European university alliances.

Such and similar insights were expressed by experts who participated in the international forum The Role of European Universities Alliances in Shaping the Future of Education and Research held in Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) in April, which was included in the International Week programme held annually at this higher education institution.

The international programme initiated by Kauno kolegija HEI integrated activities and topics related to resilience building, networking and digitalisation. The International Week became a space for both knowledge sharing and important discussions about the future of European higher education.

The International Week, held in Kaunas and Alytus, brought together representatives of universities from various countries from the UNINOVIS alliance, of which Kauno kolegija HEI is also a member. The international network, which connects higher education institutions from France, Germany, Italy, Finland, Spain, Albania and Lithuania, 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 organisers of the programme, the idea of ​​university alliances has already managed to take root in the European higher education area. It was born almost a decade ago when French President Emmanuel Macron first proposed an initiative for closer cooperation between European universities. Today, this initiative unites 65 European university alliances, which include over 570 higher education institutions from 35 countries.

Internationality is an integral part of higher education

According to the leaders of Kauno kolegija HEI, membership in a strong international alliance opens up new perspectives for students and researchers and serves Kauno kolegija HEI in achieving the status of a university of applied sciences. This achievement is a significant contribution to strengthening the Kauno kolegija HEI’s position in the international arena, implementing joint study programmes, and strengthening scientific potential.

The alliance is formed from universities of applied sciences and classical (academic) universities, bringing together a particularly large community: 125 thousand students, 11 thousand employees, and 57 associated and social partners.

According to Kauno kolegija HEI Director Dr Andrius Brusokas, the alliance opens up wider opportunities to strengthen the quality of studies and develop applied science and art at an international level. Kauno kolegija HEI had already established in its strategy a vision of becoming an advanced and sustainable higher education institution a few years ago.

Dr A. Brusokas also notes that today internationality is understood as an integral part of a higher education institution, enriching not only the study experience but also providing an opportunity to contribute to solving global challenges.

‘International cooperation opens the door to new ideas, innovations and methods that can be applied in both research and practical activities. In addition, in today’s globalised world, universities must ensure that their students are prepared to work and cooperate in international teams, which is why internationality is becoming an integral part of modern higher education,’ says Dr A. Brusokas.

He notes that this year’s International Week, organised by Kauno kolegija HEI, was attended by over 70 participants from 21 countries: ‘I believe that it is precisely such events that allow us to build relationships, share experiences and create joint projects.’

The desire to connect is consistent and deliberate

Kauno kolegija HEI Vice Director for Research and Development Dr Inga Stravinskienė reveals that the UNINOVIS alliance application was assessed by European Commission experts as being of extremely high quality. 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,’ recalls Dr I. Stravinskienė and is happy that extremely warm, trust-based cooperative relations have been established between the partners.

Over the past year, together with UNINOVIS partners, 5 Erasmus+ inter-institutional cooperation agreements have been signed, strategic partnership agreements have been signed with Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences, a double diploma agreement has been signed with the largest university in Albania, the University of Tirana, the Gilibert project has been won, etc.

‘The long-term strategy of this alliance integrates studies and applied data science, focusing on research and innovation. All activities planned 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, Vice Director for Research and Development.

The European Universities Alliances initiative can have a transformative effect

Kristina Sutkutė, Head of the Division for Institutional Review, Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education, who participated in the forum, notes that internationality is no longer just a desirable factor that creates added value for studies. It is an essential element of the activities of a higher education institution in the European higher education area.

‘Studies, science or the experience of students are unimaginable without internationality. Today, we are no longer talking so much about the undeniable value created by internationality for everyone – higher education institutions, employers, students and society, but about diversity and ways that enable internationality to be integrated everywhere,’ says K. Sutkutė.

The Head of Division for Institutional Review points out that the European Universities Alliances Initiative has the potential to have a transformative effect at the institutional, national and European levels.

The European Universities Alliances Initiative offers a format of cooperation that is unprecedented in the higher education space, creating conditions for the creation of a new type of powerful and influential organisations in the European higher education space. Participation creates the prerequisites for the development of long-term, closer partnerships, which increases their impact and enables the consistent pursuit of innovation,’ K. Sutkutė notes.

According to her, the impact of institutional cooperation in studies has already been felt through joint programmes, but in this context, the European Universities Alliances Initiative enables much closer integration not only of academic activities but also of administrative processes.

‘This aspect might not seem very important to many, but it can have a long-term and strong impact on institutions even beyond the boundaries of this initiative. Such cooperation ensures a close and consistent exchange of good practices and joint development of systems in such processes as strategic planning, programme development, and quality assurance. The results of higher education institution evaluation show that shortcomings in these processes sometimes prevent higher education institutions from achieving higher quality of studies,’ emphasises K. Sutkutė.

How international cooperation contributes to regional development

Jerke Verschoor, Strategic International Advisor at the Hague University of Applied Sciences, which participates as an associate partner in the UNINOVIS alliance, is convinced that international cooperation affects almost all aspects of higher education institutions.

‘Collaboration with researchers and students from other countries provides an opportunity to look at the same things from a different perspective, thus gaining more valuable insights. Joining forces in carrying out research projects also creates broader opportunities to contribute to the development of areas or solving problems that are important in the global context, such as stopping climate change, and developing technologies. Together we can have a greater impact,’ says J. Verschoor, who delivered a presentation entitled Building Capacity to Make More Impact in Europe at Kauno kolegija HEI’ International Week.

J. Verschoor reveals that in the Netherlands, universities of applied sciences maintain strong ties with regional companies, local government institutions and communities. This, he says, allows us to ensure that scientific research and other ongoing projects meet the needs of a specific region.

‘Meanwhile, international cooperation between higher education institutions, sharing new ideas, collaborating in research, and exchanging students, lecturers, and researchers, contributes to faster regional development. It also allows attracting new investments, stimulating the economy, and increasing the competitiveness of the region. Although this is not an easy path, it can undoubtedly contribute to promoting innovation,’ shares J. Verschoor.

He adds that by pooling their accumulated experience and available resources, institutions can create effective solutions and enrich the learning experience: ‘It is not the task of one higher education institution, but of all of us – to prepare and empower generations of students so that they are ready for a rapidly changing world.’