On 28–29 October, the Director of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) Dr Andrius Brusokas, Vice Director for Organisational Development Dr Inga Stravinskienė, Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technologies Dr Tomas Makaveckas and International Partnership Development Coordinator Jolanta Valiaugienė visited Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK).

During the visit, Kauno kolegija HEI’s representatives participated in meetings with TAMK President Dr Mikko Naukkarinen, heads of various departments and persons responsible for various fields of activity, got acquainted with the achievements of this higher education institution in developing applied science, project activities, developing internationality and entrepreneurship.

‘The visit to TAMK was a great opportunity to discuss how, through cooperation, to further develop relevant areas of activity for both institutions, creating added value for each other and contributing to the development of the European University Alliance,’ says International Partnership Development Coordinator J. Valiaugienė.

TAMK is an important strategic partner of Kauno kolegija HEI, both institutions belong to the European University Alliance UNINOVIS.

TAMK President Dr Mikko Naukkarinen presented the aspects of strategic leadership development to the representatives of Kauno kolegija HEI, Head of External Funding Development Anna-Maria Mäkelä, and Head of Innovation Development Dr Markus Aho introduced the work of TAMK in the development of scientific applied activities and innovations.

‘We also visited TAMK’s Living Labs of various fields (health, engineering, automotive, transport engineering, 3D printing, etc.), Vice President for Studies Dr Katja Komulainen shared her insights about the development prospects of TAMK,’ shares J. Valiaugienė.

Finland is famous for its education system, so Juha Lahtinen, representative of TAMK’s School of Pedagogical Innovations and Culture, during the meeting helped to understand more clearly the peculiarities of Finnish education and how TAMK spreads its expert experience in developing competencies in the field of professional pedagogy and conducting training in various countries of the world.

‘Director of the School of Business and Media Dr Niina Jallinoja’s presentation of TAMK’s internationalisation development strategy, emphasising the contribution of each community member to its implementation, was also very useful,’ notes International Partnership Development Coordinator J. Valiaugienė.

TAMK has a lot to do in developing international studies and education exports to other countries of the world. Tanyu Chen, one of the leaders of this activity, shared her insights on how it could be developed at Kauno kolegija HEI.

‘At the end of the visit, senior lecturers Kaisa Kokko and Hanna Saraketo introduced the concept of entrepreneurship at TAMK and the development of student ideas. A valuable experience was also a visit to the Proakatemia, where the Entrepreneurship and Team Leadership study programme is implemented while developing a business,’ says J. Valiaugienė.

Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Technologies Dr T. Makaveckas during the visit with the Director of the School of Industrial Engineering Dr Hanna Kinnari-Korpela and Director of the School of Built Environment and Bioeconomy Jouko Lähteenmäki discussed inter-faculty cooperation opportunities.

‘We are grateful to all members of the TAMK community who participated in the meetings for business-like and sincere discussions, detailed presentations and the clearly expressed motivation of TAMK community members to work and create together. Many thanks to TAMK Coordinator of the UNINOVIS alliance Tiina Koskiranta, and Anna-Maria Mäkelä for the well-prepared agenda of the visit, the shared insights and the time allocated to us,’ says International Partnership Development Coordinator J. Valiaugienė.