Director of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution Paulius Baltrušaitis, together with the representatives of six other European universities from France, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain and Albania on 13 January, at the University of Málaga (Spain) signed an agreement on the establishment of the UNINOVIS – Data for L.I.F.E. European University Alliance.

One of the main strategic goals of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution is to increase the internationality of the its’ activities, therefore, in order to strengthen and develop the international cooperation necessary for the realisation of this goal, the partners of the UNINOVIS alliance are visiting the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution this week: Manuel Glattbach (Coordinator of Strategic University Cooperations), dr. Daniel Wimmer (Head of Internationalisation), prof. dr. Robert Grebner (Director) from the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (Germany) and dr. Niina Jallinoja (Director), Mira Grönvall (Head of Competence Area), dr. Tapio Kujala (President), dr. Eeva-Liisa Viskari (Senior Specialist) from Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland).

The partners’ visit will strengthen cooperation

Both Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt and Tampere University of Applied Sciences, are partner institutions of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution. The aim is to strengthen and develop international cooperation with these institutions. According to Director of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution P. Baltrušaitis, the visit of the partners will allow to intensify and speed up the implementation of the projects that are already started.

“During the visit, we are going to detail the nearest activity plans, to review further plans at the levels of rectors, directors and faculties, as the faculties of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution will also be visited. We also aim to start implementing what we have agreed on in the UNINOVIS programme,” says the director of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution.

“For example, one of the partners is planning to carry out a management study programme similar to the one that we have at Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, so during the visit we will discuss the possibilities of having a study programme with similar content – this would allow to provide high quality exchange programmes.

Also, we are planning to discuss a new study programme with our partners from Germany – our goal is to have so-called mobility windows, so that identical study subjects would be taught during the semester. Certain specialisations could also appear – one at Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution and another at partners’ institution. In this way, students would have a wider choice, and after choosing a specialisation that is carried out at a partner higher education institution, they could go to another country,” shares P. Baltrušaitis.

More international opportunities for staff and students

The director of Kauno kolegija Higher Education institution points out that strong international cooperation would open up more opportunities for both employees and students, would allow to ensure an even higher quality of studies, and a more diverse content of study programmes.

“Each higher education institution has areas in which it is stronger and more specialised. By having similar study programmes, we will be able to ensure that students will acquire high-level competencies – they would be able to study subjects in institutions that are strongest in that field,” shares P. Baltrušaitis.

Lecturers will have wider opportunities to share their knowledge, gain international experience, and carry out larger projects.

“A strong international network will allow lecturers to enhance cooperation with colleagues from foreign higher education institutions, who are teaching similar subjects. 

This is a great opportunity to share teaching experience, go to partner institutions and share best practices, expand research groups, as a larger circle of researchers working in the same field appears. At the same time, it is an opportunity to carry out larger projects, larger scientific programmes,” says the director of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution and adds that it is also planned to establish study hubs.

“With our partners, we are also talking about study hubs where students could come physically, acquire certain competencies, and after returning to their country, they could continue to study remotely. This would make it easier to ensure that students will acquire knowledge at the higher education institution that is the strongest in their chosen field,” shares P. Baltrušaitis, Director of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution.