Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, after five years, is an internationally recognized, advanced and sustainable European higher education institution, which conducts two-cycle studies – professional bachelor’s and professional master’s studies – creating flexible conditions for lifelong learning, developing society and progress-oriented science and art development, fostering the country’s culture and traditions. The activities of the University are based on such values as responsibility, professionalism, openness, respect and sense of community.

The high-quality, learner- and society-oriented higher education studies offered at the KK are PRACTICAL and BASED ON INNOVATION. Strong social partnership, taking into account the changing needs of the national and international labour market, ensures the practical applicability of studies. Representatives of the world of business and other stakeholders (students, graduates, employees, etc.) proactively participate in the preparation of programs, their improvement and the study process itself. Studies are characterized by a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills; combining studies in different fields and creating an environment for the acquisition of diverse competencies, thus ensuring the interdisciplinary nature of studies; using advanced teaching and learning methods that encourage creativity and analytical thinking, focusing on solutions to the challenges of the business world and its development needs. Together with the social partners and other stakeholders at a regional and national level, a lifelong learning ecosystem has been formed to meet the needs of the world of business.

Innovation focused on the needs of the individual and society, with the growing importance of internationality, is essential for the success of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution. Therefore, new technologies are integrated continuously into the studies, value-creating technological solutions are applied; the study content is based on the latest scientific and artistic results, knowledge and achievements. Competence-based teaching/learning applying intelligent technologies to individualize study content and personalize learning. E-learning (s) based on a developed digital infrastructure is treated as a quality tool to ensure the accessibility of studies. Students have the opportunity to do internships in the most advanced national and foreign organizations. At least half of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution staff are professional lecturers-practitioners, together with motivated students and social partners ensure successful the implementation of practical and innovation-based studies.

The Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution develops applied research, experimental development and professional art. This is another area of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution besides studies, but it is essential to ensure the high quality of studies, as this area serves as a basis for the integration of innovations into studies. The researchers of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (lecturers and students) carry out applied research, projects and artistic activities and the dissemination of its results with international partners, present the research results to the international community.

As a partner of the world of business, governmental and non-governmental organizations, the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution conducts applied interdisciplinary research and experimental development in the fields of technology, biomedicine, social sciences, humanities and agricultural sciences, as well as artistic activities focusing on health-friendly environments and technological progress while creating products, services and technological and artistic process innovations to address societal and the business world challenges. By integrating the entrepreneurial aspect into the content of studies and courses, an ecosystem for start-ups has been formed based on applied scientific research, allowing the development and commercialization of solutions developed by the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution researchers.

As we see the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution in 2025 as a progressive European higher education institution, strategic guidelines for increasing the internationalization of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution activities are being set. Internationalization is perceived in the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution community as a tool that significantly contributes to the quality of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution mission. The Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution successful integration into the international alliance of European universities and its active participation in international networks has consistently increased the mutual mobility of students and teachers; more study programs in a foreign language are offered every year; the share of foreign students is increasing; micro-qualification courses are recognized both in the national and international higher education area and in the labour market are provided; the best foreign lecturers from European and foreign universities of applied sciences are attracted; joint diplomas with advanced European universities of applied sciences are awarded; international-level applied research, experimental development and professional art are carried out together with foreign partners.

The Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution works and acts globally responsibly, in line with one of the priorities the EU: accelerating the transformation towards a climate-friendly economy. One of the key principles of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution activities is sustainability, which is emphasized both in the strategic provisions of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution and in its practice, as well as in the implementation of activities. The activities of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution include social, economic, environmental and socio-cultural issues; much attention is paid to the circular economy in terms of both studies and applied research, and to other eco-innovations. The Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution bases its relations with stakeholders on respect for human beings, society and the environment, academic and scientific ethics and other values. The provisions of sustainable development are integrated into the content of study programs.

As an advanced European higher education institution, the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution nurtures a culture of continuous improvement, characterized by continuous learning and effective (self-)evaluation of activities, creating conditions for making appropriate decisions. The Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution is perceived as a constantly learning organization, which ensures purposeful improvement of the qualifications and competencies of employees (lecturers, researchers and other employees); improvement of qualifications and competencies; learning and self-development are perceived as a right and duty of every member of the community; community members share knowledge with other community members. The focus is on attracting new, talented, motivated, inspiring faculty and other staff and designing the internal careers of existing staff. An effective system for increasing the motivation of employees has been created, which encourages the achievement of the highest results of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution activities. Diversity is respected in the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution community, great attention to ensuring equal opportunities and diversity is paid. The community is concentrated, where the values of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution have become a part of daily activities. The Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution is perceived in society as an attractive workplace, creating excellent conditions for value-adding creativity. This led to the formation of the image of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution as an attractive employer. Openness to innovation, the ability to be resilient, and develop key activities in relevant strategic directions and innovative ways allow the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution to respond appropriately to change, initiate and manage it. The mobilization of professional staff, the active attraction of investments and the creation of a suitable environment for their use are the basis of an advanced long-term strategy of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, which enshrines growth.

Although the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution is successful at the international level, no less attention is paid to building the country’s progress. The Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, not only contributes to the growth of the Kaunas region but also creates added value by providing high-quality degree programs relevant to the sustainable development of the Lithuanian economy and society, creating flexible conditions for lifelong learning based on the integration of studies, applied science and art and the world of activities for the progress of the whole of Lithuania.

Students recommend the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution as an institution that prepares competent, civic, socially responsible, creative, entrepreneurial professionals with lifelong learning conditions. Competence-based modules/courses, combined with the needs of the world of business, can be studied flexibly by combining studies with work. Professional competencies that are important for the workplace are developed and students’ citizenship, entrepreneurship, etc.

To implement the following strategic goals that increase the value created by the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, the following strategic priorities for 2025 are set:

• Advanced European higher education institution.
• Institution of higher education focused on the progress of Lithuania.
• Institution of higher education facilitating community and the culture of a learning organization.

To implement these strategic priorities of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution 4 strategic directions of activity have been formed:

1. Practical and innovation-based higher education studies.
2. Applied science and art activities focused on the development of society.
3. A sustainable community that nurtures the culture of the learning organization.
4. Efficient management and optimized infrastructure.

This strategic five-year period focuses on the quality of the implementation of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution mission through the strengthening of the international dimension. It should be emphasized that a qualitative impact on the progress of society is possible by the whole community of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution working and acting together and by basing activities on sustainable funding of studies and applied research.  Creating high-quality added value will increase the visibility of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution and strengthen its reputation.

1. Number of graduates – the percentage of the students who graduated from Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution out of the total number of the students admitted – 75 percent.
2. The percentage of the students of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution from the total number of students in the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution in Lithuania – 20 percent.
3. Change in the proportion of the gain per one full-time equivalent of the academic staff from contracted applied science and art activities – 3.6 times.
4. Change in the level of the quality of scientific publications – 50 percent.
5. The percentage of the students of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution participating in international mobility – 50 percent.

Each strategic activity program has a budget for the implementation of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution strategic activities. Part of the activities foreseen in the strategy is planned to be financed from the main financial sources of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (84 %), i. e. from state budget appropriations and funding received from Erasmus + programs. The remaining part of the activities is planned to be funded by project activities (16 %).

The Council of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution annually reviews and evaluates the operational priorities and approves the annual funding program after evaluating the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution performance, the number of students and the economic situation in the country and the proposals of the Academic Council.