After a five-year period, Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution sees itself as an internationally recognised, advanced and sustainable European higher education institution, which conducts two-cycle studies – professional bachelor’s and professional master’s studies – creating flexible conditions for lifelong learning, developing society and progress-oriented science and art development, fostering the country’s culture and traditions. The activities of the institution are based on values such as responsibility, professionalism, openness, respect, and a sense of community.

The high-quality, learner- and society-oriented higher education studies offered at Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution are practical and innovative. Strong social partnership, taking into account the changing needs of the national and international labour market, ensures the practical applicability of studies. Representatives of the world of business and other stakeholders (students, graduates, employees, etc.) proactively participate in the preparation of programmes, their improvement and the study process itself. Studies are characterised by a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills; combining studies in different fields and creating an environment for the acquisition of diverse competencies, thus ensuring the interdisciplinary nature of studies; using advanced teaching and learning methods that encourage creativity and analytical thinking, focusing on solutions to the challenges of the business world and its development needs. Together with social partners and other stakeholders at the regional and national levels, a lifelong learning ecosystem has been formed to meet the needs of the business world.

Innovation focused on the needs of the individual and society, with the growing importance of internationality, is essential for the success of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution. Therefore, new technologies are continuously integrated into the studies, and value-creating technological solutions are applied. The study content is based on the latest scientific and artistic results, knowledge, and achievements. Competence-based teaching/learning applies intelligent technologies to individualise study content and personalise learning. E-learning, based on a developed digital infrastructure, is considered a quality tool to ensure the accessibility of education. Students have the opportunity to undertake internships in some of the most advanced national and international organisations. At least half of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution staff are professional lecturers-practitioners, together with motivated students and social partners, ensuring the successful implementation of practical and innovation-based studies.

Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution develops applied research, experimental development and professional art. This is another area of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, in addition to studies. Still, it is essential to ensure the high quality of studies, as this area serves as a basis for integrating innovations into the curriculum. The researchers of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (lecturers and students) carry out applied research, projects and artistic activities, and the dissemination of their results with international partners, presenting the research results to the international community.

As a partner of the world of business, governmental and non-governmental organisations, Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution conducts applied interdisciplinary research and experimental development in the fields of technology, biomedicine, social sciences, humanities, and agricultural sciences, as well as artistic activities focusing on health-friendly environments and technological progress while creating products, services and technological and artistic process innovations to address societal and the business world challenges. By integrating the entrepreneurial aspect into the content of studies and courses, an ecosystem for start-ups has been formed based on applied scientific research, enabling the development and commercialisation of solutions developed by researchers at Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution.

As we envision Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution in 2025 as a progressive European higher education institution, strategic guidelines for increasing the internationalisation of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution activities are being established. Internationalisation is perceived in  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution community as a tool that significantly contributes to the quality of  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution mission. Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution successful integration into the international alliance of European universities and its active participation in international networks has consistently increased the mutual mobility of students and teachers; more study programmes in a foreign language are offered every year; the share of foreign students is increasing; micro-qualification courses are recognised both in the national and international higher education area and in the labour market are provided; the best foreign lecturers from European and foreign universities of applied sciences are attracted; joint diplomas with advanced European universities of applied sciences are awarded; international-level applied research, experimental development and professional art are carried out together with foreign partners.

Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution works and acts responsibly globally, in line with one of the EU’s priorities: accelerating the transformation towards a climate-friendly economy. One of the key principles of  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution activities is sustainability, which is emphasised both in the strategic provisions of  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution and in its practice, as well as in the implementation of activities. The activities of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution encompass social, economic, environmental, and socio-cultural issues. Much attention is paid to the circular economy in both studies and applied research, as well as to other eco-innovations.  Kauno kolegija, a Higher Education Institution, bases its relations with stakeholders on respect for human beings, society, and the environment, as well as academic and scientific ethics and other values. The provisions of sustainable development are integrated into the content of study programmes.

As an advanced European higher education institution, Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution nurtures a culture of continuous improvement, characterised by continuous learning and effective (self-)evaluation of activities, creating conditions for making appropriate decisions. Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution is perceived as a constantly learning organisation, which ensures purposeful improvement of the qualifications and competencies of employees (lecturers, researchers and other employees); improvement of qualifications and competencies; learning and self-development are perceived as a right and duty of every member of the community; community members share knowledge with other community members. The focus is on attracting new, talented, motivated, and inspiring faculty and staff, as well as designing internal career paths for existing staff. An effective system for increasing employee motivation has been created, which encourages the achievement of the highest results in the activities of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution. Diversity is respected in Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution community, and with great attention paid to ensuring equal opportunities and diversity. The community is concentrated, where the values of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution have become an integral part of daily activities.  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution is perceived in society as an attractive workplace, creating excellent conditions for value-adding creativity. This led to the formation of the image of Kauno kolegija as a Higher Education Institution that is an attractive employer. Openness to innovation, the ability to be resilient, and the development of key activities in relevant strategic directions and innovative ways enable Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution to respond appropriately to change, initiate it, and manage it effectively. The mobilisation of professional staff, the active attraction of investments and the creation of a suitable environment for their use are the basis of an advanced long-term strategy of  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, which enshrines growth.

Although Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution is successful at the international level, no less attention is paid to building the country’s progress. Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, not only contributes to the growth of the Kaunas region but also creates added value by providing high-quality degree programmes relevant to the sustainable development of the Lithuanian economy and society, creating flexible conditions for lifelong learning based on the integration of studies, applied science and art and the world of activities for the progress of the whole of Lithuania.

Students recommend Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution as an institution that prepares competent, civic, socially responsible, creative, and entrepreneurial professionals with lifelong learning opportunities. Competence-based modules/courses, combined with the needs of the world of business, can be studied flexibly by combining studies with work. Professional competencies necessary for the workplace are developed, including students’ citizenship and entrepreneurship.

To implement the following strategic goals that increase the value created by  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, the following strategic priorities for 2025 are set:

• Advanced European higher education institution.
• The institution of higher education focused on the progress of Lithuania.
• Institution of higher education facilitating community and the culture of a learning organisation.

To implement these strategic priorities of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution, 4 strategic directions of activity have been formed:

Efficient management and optimised infrastructure.

Practical and innovation-based higher education studies.

Applied science and art activities focused on the development of society.

A sustainable community that nurtures the culture of the learning organisation.

Strategic priorities	Strategic goals	Strategic activity programmes	Objectives
Advanced European higher education institution An institution of higher education focused on the progress of Lithuania. Institution of higher education facilitating community and the culture of a learning organisation	To conduct practical and innovative higher education studies	Practical and innovation-based higher education studies	To conduct studies and other educational services relevant to the progress of the state and regional development.To develop learner-centred studies and training services.To develop the international openness of studies.
	To develop applied science and art activities at the national and international level, focused on the development of society	Applied science and art activities focused on the development of society	To conduct applied science and art activities with Lithuanian and foreign social partners and disseminate their results.To develop innovative and sustainable products, services and technological process innovations in cooperation with social partners.To strengthen the interaction between applied science and art activities and studies
	To build a sustainable community that nurtures the culture of the learning organisation	A sustainable community that nurtures the culture of the learning organisation	Mobilise and retain professional staff.Nurture the culture of the learning organisation.Strengthen community sustainability and employee well-being.
	To increase the efficiency of management and optimise the infrastructure in the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution	Efficient management and optimised infrastructure	To optimise the management of the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution by strengthening the integration of different areas of activity.To develop the provision of services based on innovative technologies, increasing the efficiency of the digitised activity processes of  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution.To optimise the infrastructure of  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution.To ensure the financial sustainability of  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution

This strategic five-year period focuses on the quality of implementing  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution’s mission through the strengthening of its international dimension. It should be emphasised that a qualitative impact on the progress of society is possible through the entire community of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution working and acting together, and by basing activities on sustainable funding of studies and applied research. Creating high-quality added value will increase the visibility of  Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution and strengthen its reputation.

• Number of graduates – the percentage of the students who graduated from Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution out of the total number of students admitted – 75 per cent.
• The percentage of students from Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution among the total number of students in Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution in Lithuania is 20 per cent.
• Change in the proportion of the gain per one full-time equivalent of the academic staff from contracted applied science and art activities – 3.6 times.
• Change in the level of the quality of scientific publications – 50 per cent.
• The percentage of students from Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution participating in international mobility is 50 per cent.

Each strategic activity programme has a budget for implementing Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution’s strategic activities. Part of the activities foreseen in the strategy is planned to be financed from the main financial sources of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (84%), i.e., from state budget appropriations and funding received from the Erasmus+ programmes. The remaining part of the activities is planned to be funded by project activities (16%).

The Council of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution annually reviews and evaluates operational priorities, and approves the annual funding programme after assessing Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution’s performance, the number of students, and the economic situation in the country, as well as the proposals of the Academic Council.