In four years, Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) will apply to become a university of applied sciences, so the scientific potential of the higher education institution is being consistently strengthened. This year, new researchers joined the Kauno kolegija HEI, who will contribute to the development and expansion of this field.
One of these researchers is Dr Marijana Prodanović, whose areas of interest include but are not limited to: English Linguistics, Intercultural Pragmatics, and emerging issues in ELT – she has addressed them in over 50 scientific papers, 2 monographs, and 4 coursebooks.
Pursuing a second PhD
Dr M. Prodanović, who recently joined the team of the Faculty of Arts and Education started her higher education path right upon completing her MA degree studies in English Philology, meaning she has been part of the sector for over a decade now. In the meantime, Dr M. Prodanović has been awarded her first PhD degree from the University of Belgrade (Serbia).
‘From that moment up to now – I’ve been in charge of study programme/curriculum development, international affairs in higher education, teacher development, and constant scientific research work. The work has been embodied via the positions I’ve held – language department head, language centre head, vice-dean, international office head, dean, the work has also resulted in 5 books and over 50 papers I’ve authored,’ says Dr M. Prodanović.
Currently, apart from engagement in linguistic matters – that is, teaching and exploring such issues via her scientific-research work, much of Dr M. Prodanović’s focus is on the field of EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction) and its characteristics in international education on a global scale.
‘This novel passion of mine has motivated me to initiate a series of international trainings and start working on my second PhD (at the University of A Coruna, Spain) that will be specifically addressing communication models (with the emphasis put on EMI) in international education settings,’ shares the associate professor of the Language Centre of Kauno kolegija HEI.
Focus on the development of a research team of the faculty
‘The love story with Kauno kolegija HEI started a while ago – back in 2018 – when I first visited the institution, as a member of an exchange programme. After that – I somehow kept returning there – for different reasons, training, teaching activities, conference participation, project design/development activities, blended intensive programmes, and other,’ remembers Dr M. Prodanović.
She shares that in the meantime some true friendships have been established and Kauno kolegija HEI has become a place where she does feel at home.
‘At one point – we all concluded that the bond we’ve created could be somehow formalised and now you can find me teaching at the Faculty of Arts and Education,’ says the associate professor of the Language Centre of Kauno kolegija HEI.
Other than that – though teaching has always been one of Dr M. Prodanović’s greatest passions, she says she’s very committed to the development of a research team of the faculty at the moment: ‘We’ve joined our forces in increasing the faculty visibility, scientific strength, and exploiting its vast potential to the fullest.’
Dr M. Prodanović: ‘Both my colleagues and students are beyond supportive’
The associate professor of the Language Centre of Kauno kolegija HEI admits that the work dynamics she is experiencing now doesn’t allow her to settle down – so, she has been cruising Europe, navigating between Lithuania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Spain with many other destinations coming at play frequently.
‘This leaves not much room for me to try to learn at least some basics of Lithuanian – but I must say that both my colleagues and students are beyond supportive and don’t let me feel foreign at any moment,’ shares Dr M. Prodanović.
She says the same goes for the city of Kaunas – her home away from home – where the people she meet locally (e.g. bakery, coffee shop, supermarket, etc.) have already met her and her needs.
‘Anyhow, I would love to be able to repay the hospitality shown and at least communicate with them in the language closer to them – so let’s say that Lithuanian could be my next to pursue,’ says the associate professor of the Language Centre of Kauno kolegija HEI.
