Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution Representative Participates in an International Meeting at the European Parliament
On 2–3 June, Gina Zdanavičienė, NEOLAiA Project Communication Manager and representative of Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution (ŠVK), participated in the FOREU4ALL workshop for communication and community engagement professionals from European University Alliances. The event took place at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
Communication and community engagement specialists from European University Alliances discussed effective alliance communication, the importance of dissemination, and explored new ways to engage higher education communities more actively in alliance activities. Particular attention was given to encouraging student, academic, and administrative staff participation in international mobility programmes and strengthening the visibility of European University Alliances.
During the event, alliances also showcased their activities through a dedicated poster session. The NEOLAiA Alliance presented a poster highlighting its key activities, community engagement initiatives, and examples of good practices that encourage students, academic staff, and administrative personnel to participate in alliance activities. The presentation placed special emphasis on innovative approaches to community engagement that help strengthen collaboration among partner institutions and increase awareness of NEOLAiA initiatives.
Participants also worked in thematic groups, developing and refining new initiatives aimed at enhancing community engagement and promoting alliance activities. On the second day of the meeting, the groups continued improving their proposals and creating implementation prototypes. The developed ideas were presented during the closing plenary session.
Gina Zdanavičienė participated in a working group focused on developing the concept of an international student art exhibition. The initiative attracted considerable interest among participants. Its development was inspired by the NEOLAiA Student Art Exhibition organised by ŠVK in May 2026, which became a successful example of creative collaboration among alliance partners. During the meeting in Strasbourg, the initiative was further explored as a potential joint alliance activity capable of fostering student creativity, intercultural dialogue, and more active engagement in alliance life.
Participation in the FOREU4ALL workshop provided the representative of Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution with an opportunity not only to present the experiences of ŠVK and NEOLAiA to an international audience, but also to contribute to the development of new solutions aimed at bringing European university communities closer together, encouraging greater participation in alliance activities, and strengthening collaboration among European University Alliances.
