Creativity, Community, and Internationalization
The community of Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution presented the NEOLAiA student art exhibition and summarized the achievements of the project over the past two years.
On May 11, the community of Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution gathered for a warm and inspiring event – the opening of the NEOLAiA Student Art Exhibition and the presentation of the activities, achievements, and results of the project over the last two years. It was a meeting filled with creativity, ideas, togetherness, and pride in what ŠVK community is creating together.
Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution has been part of the NEOLAiA European University Alliance since 2020 and has actively participated for the past two years in NEOLAiA project activities funded by the European Commission. Participation in this international project means much more than partnership for the institution – it is an opportunity to grow together with European universities, strengthen the region, build international connections, and open new opportunities for students and staff.
Today, students and staff have more opportunities to participate in international mobility programs, carry out joint projects, contribute to research, share experiences, and be an active part of the European academic community. This was clearly reflected in the atmosphere of the event – openness, creativity, and a strong sense of community.
Student Creativity That Speaks Louder Than Words
One of the most memorable highlights of the event was the NEOLAiA student art exhibition. Ten students from the institution participated in the competition, presenting a total of 13 unique works created using different techniques. Visitors could see paintings, photography, videography, textile art, woodcrafts, and mixed-media works.
Each piece told its own story – about people, the world, emotions, togetherness, and creative courage. The students’ works not only revealed talent but also reminded everyone that creativity is a way to speak about what is important, sensitive, and real.
The student voting also attracted great interest, with students actively participating in selecting their favourites. Although the winners were announced, it was repeatedly emphasized during the event that every work was unique and worthy of attention.
The winners of this year’s competition were:
1st place – Aleksandra Jezerskaja (Business and Institution Management study program) for the work “When the World Cracks”
2nd place – Dovydas Purauskas (Construction study program) for the work “Discover the World”
3rd place – Emilija Kasparaitė (Multimedia Technologies study program) for the work “Waiting for a Surprise 2” and Viktorija Kavaliauskienė (Social Work study program) for the work “Patterns of Togetherness”
This exhibition became a wonderful reminder of how many talented, creative, and courageous people are part of the institution’s community.
Two Years of Growth, Ideas, and International Opportunities
After the opening of the art exhibition, participants were invited to reflect on the two-year journey of NEOLAiA within the institution’s community.
The staff implementing the project presented the key activities and achievements across various work packages – from project management and the improvement of teaching and learning to mobility, entrepreneurship, multilingualism, digital transformation, and open science initiatives.
During this period, new international opportunities were created for students and staff, training sessions and summer camps were organized, virtual mobility activities took place, partnerships were strengthened, innovative teaching and learning methods were developed, and collaborative spaces between universities from different countries were established.
Throughout the event, it was strongly felt that NEOLAiA is not just a project. It is a community that encourages growth, the sharing of ideas, the creation of change, and a bold vision for the future.
A Community That Inspires the Future
At the end of the event, participants were invited to continue informal conversations, explore the student artworks, and share impressions over a cup of coffee.
This afternoon once again demonstrated that a strong community is born when creativity, people, and a common goal come together. Today, the community of Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution can be proud not only of its international achievements but also of the people who, through their ideas, work, and initiatives, are building an open, creative, and European higher education institution.
