Jolanta Valiaugienė

Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) consistently develops its internationality and aims to become an advanced European university of applied sciences and an equal player in the European research space. However, according to Coordinator for Development of International Partnerships  Jolanta Valiaugienė, Kauno kolegija HEI is a complex and socially responsible organisation, which consists of many different but closely related departments.

‘Therefore, it is particularly important to form a unified understanding of strategic internationalisation and to envisage and implement measures for its comprehensive and sustainable development in all departments and at all levels,’ says J. Valiaugienė.

She notes that in order to implement this, on 8–9 October, Kauno kolegija HEI is organising a training cycle on the topic of comprehensive development of internationality in higher education.

Sandra Slotte

The seminars will be led by Sandra Slotte who is Senior Policy Advisor, Internationalisation at Arcada University of Applied Sciences. S. Slotte also is a member of the strategy and management expert community of the European Association of International Education (EAIE).

‘Comprehensive and sustainable internationalisation of higher education promotes the integration of local and global perspectives across all aspects of the higher education institution. It fosters diversity, inclusivity, awareness, empathy, and global competencies among all students and staff. It prepares graduates to address local and global challenges responsibly, to collaborate with people different from themselves, and to remain adaptable and resilient in ever-changing environments,’ says S. Slotte.

Training on the topic of comprehensive and sustainable internationalisation in higher education will include:

    • internationalisation strategy and management of higher education
    • internationalisation opportunities and the development of global skills for ALL students
    • improvement of employees’ competence
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)
    • the impact of internationalisation on employment and added value in the labour market
    • the importance of maintaining contact with graduates abroad and ensuring lifelong learning

The training content will be adapted to each target group.

Cooperation with Arcada University of Applied Sciences is an example of consistent, continuous cooperation. Project activities, lecturers exchanges, and intensive programmes for students are organised with this Finnish higher education institution.

The training is organised as part of the EMTE project “Creation of the Comprehensive International Development Programme of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution to Become a European University of Applied Sciences” in accordance with the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, Science Development Programme Progress Instrument 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, to achieve institutional changes, and is financed under the 2021‒2027 European Union funds and/or Economic and/or the “New generation Lithuania” measure for revitalising the economy and increasing resilience from the funds of the NextGenerationEU programme of the European Union.