International online teaching week “In Change We (Ex)change“
During the 1-5 March 2021, Vilniaus Kolegija/ University of Applied Sciences hosted the 7th annual International Teaching Week. Due to the global pandemic the annual event was held online for the first time. Despite the new format the event gathered participants from around 20 different countries. It was a great opportunity to strengthen international cooperation and bring internationalization to local students’ routine.
International guests from the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Turkey, Austria, Poland, Bangladesh, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Slovenia, Denmark, Bulgaria, Ireland, Sakartvel and the Republic of North Macedonia spent a week teaching in all 7 faculties of Vilniaus Kolegija/ University of Applied Sciences.
Ia Mosashvili, Associate Professor from Kutaisi International University School of Computer Science in Sakartvelo described her experience as an opportunity to get to know international students better. During the interview organised by the Faculty of Electronics and Informatics the Professor claimed:
“Students are students, no matter where one teaches. The students from the Faculty of Electronics and Informatics are curious, open, and on their right way“.
International Relations Office took a challenge to keep the traditional format of the event online. Instead of the welcome meeting all participants were invited to an online cooking class of traditional Lithuanian potato pancakes. The event programme also included virtual guided tour of Vilnius, interactive Lithuanian language class, various discussions as well as International evening with a beautiful concert of the folk ensemble “Želmuo“.
The final discussions revealed that the online format of the International Teaching Week was a great opportunity to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation and learn new skills, even if the majority of the participants claimed to have preferred a physical format of the event if the situation allowed.
International Staff Training Week is a subsequent event organised by International Relations Office to take place online during 10-14 May 2021. Registrations are welcome until 15 April. For more information please refer to the official webpage of the event.
Information prepared by: International Relations and Projects Department
