The 36^th annual conference of the European Association for International Education (EAIE), considered one of the main events in European higher education, was held in Gothenburg (Sweden) on 9–12 September. Kaunas kolegija Higher Education Institution was represented at the conference by Rita Kmitė, International Coordinator of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technologies, Kristina Kavaliauskaitė, International Coordinator of the Faculty of Business, Povilas Beseckas, Head of the International Relations Unit, and Jolanta Valiaugienė, Coordinator for Development of International Partnerships.

‘This year, the conference brought together more than 7,500 participants from more than 100 countries. During the event, more than 240 different sessions were held, participants could visit over 250 exhibitors, and over 900 organisations presented various proposals. The theme of this year’s conference was perfectly in line with one of the main messages of Kaunas kolegija’s 25^th anniversary – Go-create,’ shares P. Beseckas.

He notes that participation in the EAIE annual conference provides an opportunity to promote Kauno kolegija, present its activities and achievements among other European and world higher education institutions.

‘This is a great opportunity to establish contacts, communicate with universities’ representatives from different countries of the world, and meet with regular international partners. It is also a unique opportunity to simultaneously get acquainted with innovations in the field of international development, hear the good practices of other institutions in implementing international projects or various forms of studies,’ says the Head of the International Relations Unit.

According to him, sustainable international partnerships are extremely important in order to develop internationality in a targeted manner, to integrate international and intercultural aspects into studies, science and organisational culture.

‘It is no less important to gain new ideas from how participants from other countries present their institutions. It was really valuable to participate in sessions where issues related to internationality were discussed, we heard how other institutions are solving emerging challenges,’ adds P. Beseckas.