Representatives of Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences at the European Association of Higher Education institutions EURASHE conference
On 22nd May, Dr. Nedas Jurgaitis, Deputy Director of Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences and Dr. Renata Šivickienė, lecturer at the Department of Business and Accounting, participated in the 33rd Annual Conference of the European Association of Higher Education Institutions (EURASHE), "STRONGER TOGETHER. Fostering Transnational Cooperation in Applied Universities", which took place in Austria, at the University of Applied Sciences in St. Pölten.
The Deputy Director was invited to speak at the plenary session "Promoting Transnational Cooperation among European Universities" as a member of the European University Alliance "NEOLAiA", and at the same time represented Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences and the whole Lithuanian delegation in the European Association of Higher Education Institutions.
The plenary session included a lively discussion on the role of European University Alliances in promoting transnational cooperation. The Deputy Director presented the strategic objectives of the NEOLAiA Alliance, highlighted the importance of alliances for the mission of colleges and universities of applied sciences in the regions, and the new opportunities opened for participation in high-value research projects funded by Horizon Europe and the European Research Council (ERC).
N. Jurgaitis stressed the role of the NEOLAiA Living Lab in preserving the vitality of regions, and the involvement of all stakeholders in the activities of such labs, including citizens (Citizen Science). The panellists discussed the challenges of developing alliances, in particular the creation of a single European university, the establishment of a single legal entity, the formation of governing bodies, the drafting of regulatory documents (charters, policies, procedures), and the individual opportunities for involvement of all stakeholders and citizens.
Much attention was paid to the recently launched EU Higher Education Package. The package consists of three initiatives: the European Degree Project, a proposal for a Council Recommendation on a European Quality Assurance and Recognition Framework for Higher Education and a proposal for a Council Recommendation on attractive and sustainable careers in Higher Education.
N. Jurgaitis highlighted that the European University Alliances will be among the first to try in practice the European degree for their students. The Higher Education Package also includes other areas of importance for the College and NEOLAiA: simpler and better-quality assurance, and creating the conditions for attractive and sustainable careers in higher education.
To conclude the discussion, the participants conveyed their greetings to the European Ministers of Education and Science as they gather for the Bologna Process Conference in Tirana, Albania. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Bologna Process, N. Jurgaitis wished the Ministers to take measurements to involve more colleges and universities of applied sciences in European University alliances, as this is the only way to ensure the inclusiveness and diversity of the European Higher Education Area.
The plenary session brought together Sofie Mols, Vice-President for Innovation and International Relations at the Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Belgium; Andrean Lazarov, Quality Assurance Officer at the University of Agribusiness and Rural Development in Bulgaria; and Michael Roither, Vice-Rector for International Relations at the University of Applied Sciences in Burgenland, Austria, for a joint debate. The plenary session was moderated by Mr. Michal Karpišek, former Secretary General of EURASHE, representative of the European University Alliance E³UDRES² and the University of Applied Sciences of St. Pölten in Austria.
