For almost four years, Klaipeda State University of Applied Sciences has been cooperating with the National University of Ostroh Academy, Ukraine. The NUOA is a higher educational institution, first founded in 1576 and then re-established in 1994. It is located in small town Osthoh, famous for its great historical significance. NUOA enjoys an excellent reputation all over Ukraine and abroad.
The cooperation between our Institution and NUOA began in 201 6, when the KVK delegation visited Ukrainian institution in order to discuss possible directions for further cooperation. The meeting was successful, and the universities signed an agreement to establish official partnership and academic exchange. Both sides started working on joint projects and thereafter the fruitful cooperation was launched.
First, NUOA became a partner of KVK within the framework of Erasmus+ programme. As of today, four KVK students from Business Faculty have already took part in the mobility, and two will start their studying in Ostroh Academy in a week. As for Ukrainian youth, one NUOA student spent one semester studying in KVK via Erasmus+ last year, and one is currently studying Tourism Business here. Also, starting from this year, there is a possibility to become an Erasmus+ trainee and spend two months in NUOA, working in different units of the university or local organizations, as one student from Ostroh is currently doing in International Relations Department of KVK.
In addition, KVK together with NUOA has implemented three joint international projects on youth exchange. The first one was aimed at developing the competencies necessary for an active social, public and professional life, and took place in Klaipeda in 2018, when Ukrainian students came to KVK for one week. After that, “Let`s make a bridge” project was continued in 2019, when KVK students visit Ostroh and, together with Ukrainian colleagues, put into action a volunteer start-up “#full_bowl”, designed to help homeless animals. In addition, the joint sport project was successfully implemented last year. The main aim of “Sport as a life motto for the European youth of Ukraine and the Republic of Lithuania” project was to promote healthy lifestyle and popularize sport activities. The mutual youth exchange took place, and competitions in different kinds of sport were held.
To sum up, KVK and NUOA have a lot in common. The universities are both not big in size, and have around three thousand students for now. Both KVK and NUOA are interested in creating new international possibilities for their faculty and administration staff, as well as for students. Sharing mutual fondness, the institutions look forward for future joint projects and exchanges.
