Marijana Prodanovič, Dean of the Faculty of Philology of the University of Bosnia and Herzegovina (University Sinergija), visited the Language Centre of the Faculty of Arts and Education of Kaunas University of Applied Sciences and gave lectures to students. It is not her first visit – M. Prodanovič visited here four years ago, and it is nice to come back, as she said.

M. Prodanovič began her visit by looking over the Academy of Arts spaces in Žaliakalnis, where she met with the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Education, Jolanta Bareikienė. She introduced the guest to the exciting and rich history of the Academy of Arts associated with the Kaunas Art School. She told about personal exhibitions of famous Lithuanian artists – school graduates – curated by PhD. Inga Valentinienė, which is dedicated to the centenary of the Kaunas Art School and is exhibited in the “Owl Hill“ gallery of the Academy of Arts every month.

M. Prodanovič, together with the dean of the faculty and the coordinator of International activities, Kristina Juodeikienė, continued the conversation over a cup of tea after viewing the personal exhibition “The Mountain” by the sculptor Evaldas Pauza, which is currently exhibited in the “Owl Hill”gallery. During the conversation, it was discussed that both – the Language Centre of the Faculty of Arts and Education and the University of Bosnia and Herzegovina – face the challenge that graduates are less and less choosing to study languages. After leaving school, they tend not to study in any higher education institution but start working and reflecting on where and what speciality they would like to study. Deans shared their observations that young people lack motivation and perseverance and are pursuing their goals firmly. Both agreed that it was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the impact of the pandemic is not only negative. “We are proud that the quality of studies at Kaunas University of Applied Sciences did not suffer. It was a difficult, complicated period, but we overcame the challenges”, – said the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Education. “The quarantine period highlighted the problem of young people and students’ inability to concentrate, lack of motivation and ambition. Maybe it is related to the fact that children should be given more independence, allowed themselves to try to solve their problems?”, – the guest asked rhetorically.

Deans also talked about the opportunities offered by Erasmus+, which students should make more use of because experiences gained during their studies or internships abroad are invaluable. The dean of the University of Bosnia and Herzegovina shared positive experiences gained in communicating with students from Spain, Turkey and Portugal.

In December, J. Bareikienė invited M. Prodanovič to participate in the international scientific-practical conference “Art, Design, Languages and Education: Innovations in Theory and Practice” (ADLE) organized by the faculty this year at the end of their conversation. The dean of the University of Bosnia and Herzegovina is finishing a book on intercultural communication, which she would like to present at the conference. J. Bareikienė said that she was looking forward to M. Prodanovič’s book and its presentation. Also, the Head of the Faculty gave the guest small presents – the calendar notebook dedicated to the centenary of Kaunas Art School, with reproductions of works by school graduates and sweet gifts from “Kaunas – European Capital of Culture 2022”.

After the conversation with the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Education, M. Prodanovič, together with the International coordinator K. Juodeikienė looked over the spaces of the Academy of Arts where Design, Image Design and Fashion Design programmes are located, also visited the workshops of the Glass, Ceramics, Leather and Textile Arts study programme.

M. Podanovič, Dean of the University of Bosnia and Herzegovina, continued her visit to the Language Centre at the Faculty of Arts and Education, where she met Renata Sedliorienė, the head of the Language Centre, and gave lectures on intercultural communication to students.