The European Commission awarded Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution the Certificate of Quality  – Erasmus Charter for Higher Education for the period 2021–2027.  The award of an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education is a prerequisite for Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution to apply and participate in learning mobility of individuals and/or cooperation for innovation and good practices under the Programme.

In signing this Charter, Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution confirms that its participation in Erasmus+ is part of its own strategy for modernisation and internationalisation. This strategy acknowledges the key contributions of mobile staff and students, as well as their participation in European and international cooperation projects, to the quality of its higher education programmes and student experience – more information is available in the Charter.

Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution has participated in the Erasmus+ programme since 1999.

The Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution Erasmus for Higher Education Charter No. 101011394 – KK ECHE 2021.

To participate in the new stage of the Erasmus+ programme and receive the Erasmus Higher Education Charter, Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution had to prepare and submit an Erasmus Policy Statement to the European Commission. The application submitted by Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution was evaluated with a maximum of 100 points out of 100 possible.

Summary

As a public, multidisciplinary institution, Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution has defined its mission to provide high-quality higher education focused on practical activities and the needs of learners and society, promote applied research, and engage in art activities. Internationalisation is one of the main priorities in Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution’s strategic aspirations, which acknowledges the shared vision of the EHEA and supports the EU Modernisation and Internationalisation Agenda for HE. The Learning mobility and Cooperation among organisations and institutions are the key actions to promote:

• Student and staff’s physical, blended and virtual mobility
• Deepening collaboration with the selected key partners
• Establishment of the system of remote course delivery
• Development of joint degree or double-degree programmes
• Development of professional and horizontal competences and skills among the staff members
• Participation in educational and/or research projects. 

Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution will implement the measures to promote the Fundamental Principles of the Erasmus programme. Participation in the Erasmus programme will support the achievement of the strategic goals and enhance Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution’s internationalisation outreach. By 2023 through participation in the European University Initiative it plans that at least 50% of the students and teachers will benefit from the new possibilities of the Erasmus+ programme mobility, be it physical, virtual or blended, with the ratio of incoming and outgoing students and teachers 1:1. The impact of the international engagement inside and outside the university will be measured by the graduates’ employment nationally and internationally through alumni surveys, the employers’ feedback on the quality of our studies, the number of awarded European degrees, the scope of international e-learning activities, the number of cooperation agreements signed will associated partners and other stakeholders, the number of joint research articles with international partners.

Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution is represented in various international associations and networks:

• EURASHE (European Association of Institutions in Higher Education);
• EAIE (European Association for International Education);
• BUSINET (Network for the Development of Business Education Programmes);
• ICEIGATM (International Circle of Educational Institutes for Graphic  Arts: Technology and Management);
• ENPHE (European Network of Physiotherapy in Higher Education);
• EFRS  (The European Federation of Radiographer Societies)

UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT (a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption).