Project coordinator: SMK College of Applied Sciences
Project partner: Student Representation of SMK College of Applied Sciences
The aim of the project is to strengthen the overall academic and social environment of SMK College of Applied Sciences by exploring key aspects of student integration and creating community-building activities that unite local and international students across all campuses.
Description
Currently, more than 4,000 students study at SMK University of Applied Social Sciences. Most students study at one of the institution’s branches located in Lithuania’s three largest cities – Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda. Around one quarter of the students are international students enrolled in full-degree studies.
Despite initiatives carried out by the administration, the student representation, and the international student network ISN SMK, students still have limited opportunities to participate in joint activities with students from other campuses. In addition, student representatives and SMK academic and administrative staff observe that local and international students tend to socialize mainly within their own national groups.
The separation between students from different campuses and nationalities limits opportunities for academic collaboration, reduces participation in university and student organization activities, makes it more difficult to build a shared SMK student identity and sense of belonging, and prevents students from fully benefiting from intercultural communication experiences.
Successful integration and community-building among local and international students is a strategic objective for SMK, significantly influencing student satisfaction and academic performance.
Project activities
Conducting an empirical study on the academic and social inclusion of international and local students
Preparing a research report and recommendations
Organizing and implementing “Connect & Belong” community events
Conducting participant satisfaction surveys regarding the community events
Implementing a public communication campaign
Expected project results
- Academic and social integration experiences, needs, expectations, and challenges of international and local students studied through quantitative and qualitative research involving at least 150 students, of whom at least 40% will be international students.
- A research report prepared with recommendations tailored to the institution’s context for strengthening integration and community-building activities.
- Students from different campuses become familiar with other campuses and their students through three “Connect & Belong” community events – one in each of the Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda campuses – with a total participation of at least 300 participants, of whom no less than 40% will be international students.
- Intercultural communication and community spirit among students from different campuses encouraged, with at least 70% of survey respondents positively evaluating the impact of the “Connect & Belong” events on strengthening their sense of integration and belonging.
- The ideas of integration and community-building promoted publicly through a communication campaign including social media visibility of project activities, video materials from the events, and a press release about the project results.
Project implementation period: 21.05.2026 – 30.11.2026
Project grant: EUR 12,632.76
The project is funded by the state budget.
More information:
Akvilė Gerulskytė, Project manager