Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) continues to implement the project “Preparation of a Gender Equality Plan and Implementation of Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities Measures to Achieve Changes in Organisational Culture at Kauno kolegija”.

The project aims not only to prepare the Kauno kolegija HEI Gender Equality Plan, but also to initiate a change in the organisational culture of the Kauno kolegija HEI through real measures, ensuring work-life balance, gender balance in management and decision-making, gender equality in employment and career advancement, and integrating the gender aspect into the content of applied scientific research and studies. This aims to contribute to the fostering of the Kauno kolegija HEI’s values ​​and the implementation of strategic goals.

The Kauno kolegija HEI community is actively involved in project activities that promote open dialogue, respect and equal cooperation. Welfare Manager Smiltė Juraitė emphasises: ‘Promoting gender equality is not just a formal commitment – ​​it is an investment in a stronger, more open and innovative organisational culture. Every step towards equality increases employee and student satisfaction, promotes mutual respect and ensures that every member of the community feels seen, heard and valued.’

Last year, three significant project events were held, attended by 150 Kauno kolegija HEI employees. The Kauno kolegija HEI management and heads of academic and non-academic departments and divisions participated in the discussion “Integrating Gender Equality into the Activities of Kauno kolegija”. Later, employees were invited to training courses on “How to Recognise Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in Higher Education”, and at the end of the year, both students and employees participated in a roundtable discussion “Challenges of Equal Opportunities and Diversity in Higher Education Institutions”.

All open trainings organised during the project implementation, in which members of the Kauno kolegija HEI community are invited to participate, are related to the prevention of violence and harassment and actions aimed at eliminating other forms of inequality. This includes discrimination based on gender, race, nationality, origin, language, social status, faith, beliefs or opinions, age, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, religion, etc.

The Gender Equality Project at Kauno kolegija HEI is not only a formal measure, but also real changes that strengthen the organisational culture, increase the involvement of employees and students and promotes respect for each other.

The project is implemented under the Science Development Programme of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, Progress Measure No. 12-001-01-02-01 “Strengthening innovation ecosystems in science centres” activity, focused on the implementation of the priorities of the European Research Area, aiming at institutional changes, and is financed under the 2021–2027 European Union funds and/or the Economy and/or the Economic Recovery and Resilience Enhancement “New Generation Lithuania” measure, i.e. from the funds of the European Union’s NextGenerationEU programme.