Photo: Jonas Petronis
On 20–24 October 2025, Transform4Europe (T4EU) Week – “TransformEd: Renaissance of Liberal Arts” took place at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) in Kaunas. The event brought together students, researchers, and university staff from all partner institutions to explore the evolving role of the liberal arts in shaping resilient and innovative societies.
Held twice a year at different partner universities, T4EU Week offers a varied programme of lectures, workshops, and cultural activities that strengthen collaboration, foster international exchange, and promote a shared European identity.
From EKA, 9 staff members participated in the event, including the Rector, two T4EU Student Council members, and the Head of the International Relations Office. In addition, 5 EKA students took part in the T4EU Week courses. Additionally, rector Hilkka Hiiop and EKA students Siiri-Liis Huttunen and Riina Lii Parve presented their work in the “How to Reframe Monuments” project during the Critical Heritage academic session.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration within the alliance, Sven Idarand, Secretary General of T4EU, noted: “Being part of the Transform4Europe alliance enables students and staff to take part in study, research, and innovation activities across Europe. The alliance offers access to collaborative networks and shared infrastructure that connect EKA’s strengths with a wide range of disciplines across 11 universities.”
A key highlight of the week was the T4EU Strategic Policy Conference, “Universities Shaping the Future: Building Resilient Societies through Innovation and Global Impact.” The event gathered leading figures and representatives from European institutions, government bodies, academia, and international organisations, emphasising the alliance’s shared commitment to cooperation, innovation, and societal resilience.
The conference, marking the end of VMU presidency year within the T4EU Alliance. Discussions highlighted the importance of cooperation across academia, governance, and society, culminating in the presentation of a Policy Paper on Resilience Competency.
The first day of the conference began with remarks by VMU Rector Ineta Dabašinskienė and European Commissioner Henna Virkkunen, followed by speeches from Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania, and former President of Finland Sauli Niinistö, the keynote speaker of the conference. The day concluded with the handover of the T4EU presidency to Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.”
The second day was marked by the signing of the T4EU Legal Entity, reinforcing the alliance’s foundation for long-term cooperation. The event concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with global partners and final reflections from participants. Effective collaboration across Europe’s diverse regions relies on continuous negotiation, inclusive exchange, and professional integrity. These shared principles serve as a foundation for equitable, transparent, and culturally sensitive cooperation within the T4EU Alliance.
Sandra Mell, Head of the International Relations Office at EKA: “T4EU is significant for EKA not only in terms of shared values and academic collaboration but also through its practical impact. Over the past five years, the alliance has brought in nearly 1.7 million euros, created new positions, and enabled the university to support meaningful and substantial initiatives that might not otherwise have been possible. Although this financial and structural dimension of the partnership is sometimes overlooked, it has been essential for EKA in sustaining and strengthening its international capacity. This is one of the largest projects funded by the European Commission that EKA is involved in.”
The full T4EU Week programme is available here. The conference programme and list of speakers can be found here.
Transform4Europe Alliance is a collaborative network of 11 European universities addressing climate change, digitalisation, and social challenges and is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
Photos: Jonas Petronis
