KAUNAS COLLEGEKAUNAS COLLEGEInstitution of Higher non-university Education

The main factsThe main facts

• After the Higher Education Law has come into force in Lithuania in year 2000, the binary system of higher education has been introduced.

• According to it the non-university higher education institution- Kaunas College- was established incorporating 7 former higher professional schools.

• Kaunas College was accredited and the permanent status was received in March, 2005;

• More than 8200 students and 621 teachers at present;• Studies are organized in 8 academic divisions;• Studies oriented towards PRACTICAL ACTIVITY ; • Studies last from 3 to 4 years (120 national credits, 180

ECTS); • Graduates obtain PROFESSIONAL BACHELOR degree;• Provide higher professional education in the areas of social

sciences, health care, social work, technologies, humanities and arts who would meet social and economic requirements of Kaunas region and the state;

Study programsStudy programs

Hum anities 3

Biom edicine 11

Arts 5

Social sciences

12

Technologies12

Kaunas College is currently providing 43 study programs in 5 study areas:

Tourism and Hotel Management Tourism and Hotel Management SStudy tudy PProgramrogram(1)(1)

• Is implemented in Tourism and Hotel Management Department, Business Management Faculty of Kaunas College.

• The students have a possibility to study in Kaunas and Druskininkai, the spa resort city where Kaunas College has it’s branch.

Tourism and Hotel ManagementTourism and Hotel Management Study Program (2) Study Program (2)

• The program was started in 1993. Tourism and Hotel Management higher education study

program was implemented in Kaunas College in 2000.• There are 2 specializations: - Tourism Management - Hotel Management.

• Students who successfully complete their studies get qualification of Tourism or Hotel Manager

• Graduates acquire skills to work as hotel managers, travel operators, travel agents and guides in tour companies and travel agencies, in tourism information centres, airline companies, etc

Tourism and Hotel Management Tourism and Hotel Management SStudy tudy PProgramrogram (3) (3)

• Total number of students – 485• Full time students – 296 (99 students in

Druskininkai)• Part time students – 189

Demand for Demand for Tourism and Hotel Management Tourism and Hotel Management Study programStudy program

Form of studies

Student admission (year 2006/2007)

Number of

applicants

Competition

Number of

applicants by first priority

Competition

by first priority

Full time 772 8,5 457 4,76

Part time 243 4,05 133 2,22

Tourism and Hotel Management

Number of credits

%

General subjects 30 25

Subjects for Acquisition of Professional Qualification

54 45

Subjects of Professional Specialization

10 8,3

Professional internships 20 16,7

Final work 6 5

Total: 120 100

Structure of Study ProgramStructure of Study Program

Development of Teacher QualificationsDevelopment of Teacher Qualifications

Teachers continuously enhance their qualificationin master (second master degree) and doctoral studies, in different professional courses, seminars, conferences, internship programs, when participating in projects.

Applied Scientific Research (1)Applied Scientific Research (1)

Kaunas college has set priority directions of applied scientific research;

The Centre of Applied Scientific Reasearch has been established, The

Board of Scientific Research has been organized and the Order of The

Sponsorhip of Scientific Research has been formulated.

RESEARCH PRIORITIES:• Technological research;• Labour market research;• Educational research.

Applied Scientific ResearchApplied Scientific Research (2) (2)

The teachers perform research in education, management and business fields:• Periodical assessment of Study Program Performance;• Continued research of career opportunities for Tourism and Hotel

Management speciality graduates;• Determination of motivating factors in selection of Recreation and

Tourism field study programs; • Research on employers’ requirements for the competence of

Tourism and Hotel Managers (pursued);• Continuous research on the employability of graduates;• The teachers have recently performed the applied research ordered

by companies and organizations.• Also research is performed under international projects, e.g.

research of the qualification needs and training in tourism industry.

• Students acquire and develop professional competencies during their studies and traineeships;

• by studying abroad under Erasmus program (2003/2004 -9 students, 2004/2005 -10 students, 2005/2006 -16 students, 2006/2007 -18 students);

• by accomplishing traineeship abroad under EU programs and according to bilateral agreements in summer;

• by participating and giving presentations in conferences, e.g. International students’ conference “International Tourism Development: Topicalities, Problems and Perspectives” (e.g. 13-14/04/2005; 07/04/2006)

Development of Development of SStudent tudent CCompetenceompetence in Tourism in Tourism and Hotel Management Program (1)and Hotel Management Program (1)

Development of Development of SStudent tudent CCompetenceompetence in Tourism in Tourism and Hotel Management Program (2)and Hotel Management Program (2)

• by working in the exhibitions: e.g., STUDIES 2006, VIVATTUR’06,

• by organizing and participating in various events: Competition of Young Entrepreneurs, Events for the World Tourism Day, conferences, etc.

• by being involved in the publishing of Kaunas College magazine “Siena” (“The Wall”)

Cooperation with Social PartnersCooperation with Social Partners

• Membership in Lithuanian Tourism Association;• Membership in Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant

Association;• Membership in Kaunas Chamber of Industry,

Commerce and Crafts.• Continuous cooperation with other higher

education institutions and universities in Lithuania and abroad, business enterprises and municipalities (Kaunas, Kelmė, Druskininkai).

Trends of Tourism and Hotel Management Study Trends of Tourism and Hotel Management Study Program Development StrategyProgram Development Strategy

• Continuous enhancement of teachers’ qualifications;• Study program quality improvement, preparation and

implementation of new specializations or study programs;

• Arrangement and implementation of international studies;

• Strengthening of specialists’ competitiveness (building of competences);

• Development of applied research (in cooperation with Lithuanian and foreign education institutions and business enterprises)

Projects, funded by European Structural FundsProjects, funded by European Structural Funds

Project Name Department

FundingLt.

Creation of the Open College TF 657 148

Expansion of Electronic Studies at Lithuanian Colleges TF 478 285

Adoption of International Standards When Preparing the Specialists of Tourism and Hotel Management

VVF 595 402

The Development and Implementation of Professional Training Continuity, while Realizing Technological Study Programs

TF 503 259

Modernization of Health Care and Social Work Practical Training system

MSMSC 443 119

Creation of Innovative Training Measures ETF 401 848

Expansion of the training infrastructure of Geo-information system specialists, oriented towards technological innovations and euro-integration (BPD 1.5)

KF2 938

457,41

Creation of Innovative Training Measures for the Development of “Geo-Information systems” study program.

KF 831 730

Implementation of Innovative Solutions in Studies of Publishing and Multimedia Technology.

TF 515 364

TOTAL:TOTAL: 7 364 612,417 364 612,41

International Relations (1)International Relations (1)

• Kaunas college actively cooperates with more than 130 partner institutions (100- under Erasmus program) from EU countries, Turkey, Canada, Belarus, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russian Federation,Canada, etc.

• College actively participates in 31 international projects under various international programs (EU Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus, Grundtvig, Comenius).

• Each year more than 100 College students spend their study period (3-10 months) in one of College international partners’ higher education institutions or business enterprise.

• The number of incoming students is growing every year. At present there are 20 students from 4 countries studing under Erasmus program at the college.

International Relations (2)International Relations (2)

Kaunas College is the member of :

• European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE),

• European Association for International Education (EAIE), • a Network for the Development of Business Education

Programmes (Businet), • Baltic Sea Sustainable Development Network, • European Association of ERASMUS Coordinators (EAEC) • European Association of Farmacy Faculties, • New Youth Monitoring Program to Highlight European

Abilities (NYMPHEA).

International Projects (1)International Projects (1)

In year 2006/2007 Kaunas College has been participating in 31international project, out of which 8 - Leonardo da Vinci

program pilot projects; 8- mobility projects:• „EVOLEARN- Evolutionales E-learning System for Professional

Further Education 2006-D/2006/06/B/F/PP-146558. • “StandardCare“ 2006-UK/06/B/F/PP-162_508 • „POOL-Project Organisation On Line“ 2004-A/04/B/F/PP/158-

128 • „POOLS – Production of Open Online Learning Systems“ 2005-

UK/05/B/F/LA-162355• „CICS –Core Skills in the Care Sector“ 2005-DE/04/2/F/PP-146-

386• „Transfer of Competencies for Vocational Training in

Ecological Agrarian Sector of Baltic States” (TracoEcoBalt) 2004-LT/04/B/F/PP-171000.

• „European Network Sustainable Agriculture Education” (ENSA) NL/03/B/F/NT/157314

InternationalInternational Projects (2)Projects (2)

• “TRIA –Assessing the Risk at Work“ 2004-CY/04/B/F/PP-167403

Partnership: coordinator -Cyprus Workers Confederation,

other partners from Denmark, Germany, Greece, Romania.

The TRIA project responds to the sectorial need for

training of employees and employers, especially those that work in small firms and/or are self-employed. It developed a comprehensive training course dealing with the risk assessment process at workplace of different economic activity sectors and the best practices to be followed in order to improve safety and quality of work, and introducing a new approach in vocational training. One of the sectors –Hotel and Restaurants

• “EU-EQT. Development of European Qualification in Tourism Management” D/02/B/F/PP/112670 http://www.eu-eqt.de

• Partnership: Coordinator - vocational training organization Deutsche Angestellten-Akademie, ,Germany, other partners - vocational training organizations from Austria, France, Italy, Greece and Hungary.

• Project partners cooperated with social partners in their home countries aiming to determine the need of new qualifications and skills in tourism (especially accommodation) sector in the light of EU enhancement needs.. The task was accomplished through the survey of hotels, travel agencies and tourism information centres’ employees. The analysis of analogous surveys in different countries resulted in the content of specialist training and competence enhancement courses.

International Projects International Projects (3)(3)

International Projects (4)International Projects (4)

• "Learning Service" D/02/B/F/PP/112644

• Partnership: Coordinator - Arbeit und Leben, Germany. Other partners – from Denmark, Germany and Cyprus

• Project goal – Innovations in service industry (retail trade), aimed at retaining the attractiveness and distinctiveness of town centers in the light of growing competition in retail sector..

International Projects (5)International Projects (5)

• Targetted Dissemination of Vocational Training for Rural Tourism. IS/99/1/72015/PI/III.3.a./CONT.

• Coordinator – RIT Technology Court, Island. Material from 17 European countries.

• Project goal – dissemination of modules for rural tourism development and promotion, supplementing the modules with new data and adjustment of modules to distance learning.

International Projects (6)International Projects (6)

• Q-TOUR E/98/1/61686/PI/1.1.1.a/CONT

• Partnership: Coordinator - Fondo Formacion, Spain. Partners from Greece, Belgium and Germany.

• Project goal – assessment of vocational training of hotel and restaurant specialists, adjustment of new study programs to the requirements of new labor market and social economic challenges.

International Projects (7)International Projects (7)

• Grundtvig 2 project : “CELCIT-To Develop Competences In E-Learning and Certification In Tourism”

• Partnership: National federation of Teachers –Centre of the Initiative for Europe, Italy. Other partners from Spain, Romania.

• The project aims to develop the European dimension of training the trainers and to reduce the gap between the school education and the work market, identify training needs and exchange work experience necessary for developing a new professional role, "tourism development agent", and for ensuring training in giving worth and safeguarding cultural and environmental assets. Enrich the professional and methodological competences of the adult educators in training, define the contents of an e-learning course that allows to get various relevant competences, make all partners to acquire a common frame of reference on which to structure the legal recognition of qualifications.

International Projects (8)International Projects (8)

• Strategical Planning and Development of Tourism in Kaunas, Lithuania BSPF/9811/021

Participants: Kaunas Municipality, Funen County (Denmark),

• Ecos-Ouverture 2.3 DETOUR. Developing Tourism in Urban Europe Partners - Kaunas Municipality, Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry

and Crafts, local authorities and educational institutions of Derby (England), Gent (Belgium), Patras (Greece), Maribor (Slovenia), Veszprem (Hungary). Goal – development of tourism in these towns.

• Lithuanian-Danish project “Networking in Lithuania”; Partnership in NordBalt program with Finnish, Estonian and Latvian

partners.

• Lithuanian-Canadian cooperation project with Niagara College regarding tourism specialist development

• Lithuanian- French cooperation project “Tourism development through human resources”

Department of International RelationsKaunas College Pramones pr. 20LT-50468 Kaunas

Lithuania www.kauko.lt

E-mail:jolanta@kauko.lt