Stakeholders‘ Meeting Focuses on HEROES Initiatives and Business Engagement
On May 7, a meeting with local stakeholders took place at VIKO, Vilnius University of Applied Sciences, where activities of the European University Alliance HEROES were presented, along with key achievements from its first year and future directions for cooperation.
The discussion covered the main HEROES activity packages, including joint study programmes, challenge-based learning, applied research, lifelong learning opportunities, mobility schemes, the virtual campus, and community-building initiatives. HEROES project team members explored potential areas of collaboration with each partner individually.
Following the meeting, Jolanta Lapinskaitė-Vaitulionienė, Project Manager at Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, highlighted the alliance’s strong focus on practice-based learning, regional resilience, and closer cooperation between higher education and business.
“During the meeting, particular attention was given to student engagement in real company activities and internships, which help develop practical skills and better respond to labor market needs. We also emphasized the importance of social partners in creating long-term impact and strengthening international cooperation. It is encouraging that the role of Vilnius CCIC is seen as an important bridge between the academic community and the business sector,” said J. Lapinskaitė-Vaitulionienė.
Representatives from Agrifood Lithuania DIH also shared their insights: “We are already collaborating with VIKO in project-based activities, so we clearly see the mutual benefits of this partnership. Hackathons and challenge labs initiated by AgriFood Lithuania bring practical problem – solving into the educational process, where students work in teams to address real business challenges. After such events, companies receive concrete solutions, while students gain valuable knowledge and skills,” shared dr. Ingrida Krogertė.
We are pleased with the active engagement of associated partners and the shared commitment to building a resilient, innovative, and internationally connected higher education ecosystem. We also kindly invite other interested stakeholders to become HEROES Friends by filling in the form available via this link HEROESfriends – Heroes.
