Aurelijus Vaškys, a lecturer at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and international relations coordinator at Vilnius College (Vilnius Higher Education Institution), took part in an international week held at Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Venlo (the Netherlands) from 12 to 16 October 2026. The aim of the visit was to share academic experience, familiarise himself with study organisation practices and develop international cooperation. The week’s programme provided an opportunity to interact with representatives of foreign institutions, lecturers and students, and to discuss prospects for joint activities.
Aurelijus Vaškys delivered a presentation titled “Lithuania as a Business Context” to students of the “Communication and Culture” module, framing the topic within the context of communication and culture. During International Week, he also participated in the opening event, a discussion, a study-abroad session, and a cultural fair. These activities provided an opportunity to establish new academic connections and exchange intercultural experiences. By observing students’ final presentations and attending Career Day events, he gained insight into the students’ work and their opportunities for professional development.
During meetings with colleagues from Fontys, Lennart Tange and Danielius Rateikė, discussions centred on computer science, artificial intelligence systems and the activities of the Green Tech Lab. The visit also included an introduction to the student platforms. During the ‘Talent-based Education’ session and whilst visiting the ALE project, discussions centred on talent-based education, micro-credentials and the optional study programmes (minors) offered by Fontys. Ways of organising studies that give students more opportunities to take their interests and individual learning needs into account were discussed.
During the ‘Global HEROES’ workshop led by Michelle Greene, the participating institutions discussed opportunities to jointly develop a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) project and to expand joint international study activities. During the discussion, ideas were exchanged regarding further cooperation and the involvement of partners. The experience gained and the contacts made during the visit will help to strengthen the international dimension of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and to develop new joint initiatives.
