Ms. Sirima Sirimattayanan, Senior Program Officer from the Office of International Affairs (OIA), Office of Development and External Affairs (ODEA), represented the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) at the International Staff Training Week: Internationalization 360°, hosted by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), Lithuania, from 20–24 April 2026.
Supported through the European Union’s Erasmus+ International Mobility Scheme, the program brought together higher education professionals from around the world to exchange experiences and explore approaches to advancing internationalization in higher education. The initiative aligns closely with AIT’s commitment to expanding global partnerships, strengthening academic mobility, and fostering international collaboration.
The week began with orientation activities and networking sessions that connected participants from institutions across different regions. During the Poster Market, universities shared their institutional profiles, internationalization priorities, and partnership interests, creating opportunities to identify potential areas for collaboration. A Living Library Workshop encouraged discussions on global education trends, mobility programs, and models for international cooperation, while cultural activities and a Lithuanian language crash course provided participants with insights into local traditions and culture.
These early exchanges offered valuable opportunities for AIT to benchmark its internationalization efforts against European institutions and explore approaches to enhancing student and staff mobility, global engagement, and institutional partnerships.
A key focus of the program was sustainability and interdisciplinary education. Visits to VILNIUS TECH’s Sustainability Hub and faculties specializing in environmental engineering, civil engineering, mechanics, electronics, and transport highlighted how European institutions integrate sustainability across teaching and research. The experience resonated strongly with AIT’s academic mission and opened possibilities for future Erasmus+ initiatives, including joint research, capacity-building projects, and mobility programs in sustainability and engineering-related fields.
Innovation and creativity formed another important dimension of the program. Visits to the Faculty of Architecture, Faculty of Creative Industries, and the Innovation and Creativity Center “Linkmenų fabrikas” showcased approaches to innovation ecosystems and industry-linked learning. These experiences reflected AIT’s ongoing efforts to strengthen innovation, entrepreneurship, and practical learning within its own international education framework.
The final days of the program focused on institutional engagement and student support systems through visits to the Faculty of Business Management, Marine Academy, and interactions with the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). Discussions highlighted effective practices in international student integration, mobility management, and student support services — areas that remain central to AIT’s internationalization agenda.
During the training week, Ms. Sirima also joined celebrations marking VILNIUS TECH’s 70th Anniversary, further strengthening connections with European partners. She additionally met with Prof. Dr. Romualdas Kliukas, Rector of VILNIUS TECH, and Ms. Aleksandra Sokolova, Director of the International Relations Office, to exchange perspectives on institutional priorities and explore opportunities for future collaboration.
Participation in the program contributes directly to AIT’s broader strategy of strengthening engagement with European higher education institutions under the Erasmus+ framework. It supports the expansion of staff and student mobility opportunities, reinforces existing partnerships, and creates pathways for future initiatives, including joint research activities, dual degree opportunities, and thematic collaboration in sustainability, engineering, and innovation.
Beyond institutional partnerships, the experience also provided valuable insights into European practices in international office management, student services, and global engagement strategies. These learnings will contribute to the continued development of AIT’s international programs and help strengthen the Institute’s position as a globally connected higher education institution actively collaborating with partners across Europe.
Edited by: Office of Communications and Public Affairs
