On 24–26 April 2023, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lina Zabulienė and Junior Assistant, doctoral student Indrė Trečiokienė from the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University, together with their colleagues from other university faculties and research centres, visited the University of Bergen (BU).
During the visit, the researchers had the opportunity to get acquainted with the activities of their Norwegian colleagues and peers, to discuss pedagogical practices and innovations in BU’s Learning Lab, get acquainted with the University Pedagogy Programme and also the activities of iEarth – the Norwegian Centre of Educational Excellence. The achievements of the educational initiatives and activities were presented at the Transformative Learning and Teaching Conference. At the conference, Indrė Trečiokienė, Junior Assistant, also presented the newly introduced optional course in the Pharmacy Study Programme, namely, Intercultural Competences in Pharmacy Practice, that is delivered by a group of international lecturers from Copenhagen, New Zealand and Lithuania.
On the left: Meeting at the Medical Education Centre. In the photo, from the left: doctoral student Indrė Trečiokienė, Vice-Dean of Education, Prof. Marit Øilodr, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lina Zabulienė, and Head of the Medical Education Centre, Assoc. Prof. Monika Kvernenes. / On the right: Meeting with the lecturers of the Centre for Pharmacy and the directors of the Pharmacy Study Programme at the University of Bergen. / Personal archive.
In addition to the meetings planned for the group as a whole, the researchers from the Faculty of Medicine also visited the Medical Education Centre and the Pharmaceutical Centre at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Bergen. During the meetings with colleagues, they discussed the challenges of teaching, learning, and opportunities for cooperation.
The visit was part of the ongoing project, Optimisation of the Network of Higher Education Institutions and Improvement of the Quality of Studies Through the Merger of Šiauliai University with Vilnius University, No.09.3.1-ESFA-V-738-03-0001 (2020–2023). The project is financed by the European Social Fund under Measure No 09.3.1-ESFA-V-738, Improvement of the Higher Education Institutions Network, Priority 9 of the Operational Programme for the Investment of European Union Funds for the period 2014–2020, Public Education and Enhancement of the Human Resources Potential.
On the left: Presentation of a poster presentation. Pictured: doctoral student Indrė Trečiokienė and session moderator, Assoc. Prof. Robert Kordts (BU). / On the right: After the conference. In the photo, from the left: Dr. Inga Milišiūnaitė, Head of the VU Centre for Educational Competences, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lina Zabulienė, Assoc. Prof. Robert Morris Gray Jr (BU), and doctoral student Indrė Trečiokienė. / Personal archive.