On 5 and 6 March 2025, the UNISA team working on NEOLAiA Work Package 10 (Sustainability and Dissemination) had the opportunity to participate in the face-to-face meeting held at Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences (Šiaulių valstybinė kolegija) in Lithuania. It was an intense and fruitful two day event dedicated to strengthening NEOLAiA’s communication strategy and shaping its future visibility and engagement plans.
UNISA’s contribution to the WP10 discussions
As active members of WP10, we at UNISA participated in strategic discussions aimed at improving the way NEOLAiA is communicated within and outside the Alliance. Together with colleagues from partner universities, we worked on:
- Defining NEOLAiA’s key activities and priorities for 2025
- Identifying how each partner university, including UNISA, can best represent NEOLAiA on campus and engage its academic community
- Developing new strategies to engage students, researchers and external stakeholders
- Reviewing and innovating NEOLAiA’s communication tools and social media presence to make them more interactive and engaging
Our participation focused on ensuring that UNISA’s voice and perspective helped shape the Alliance’s outreach efforts, and on bringing back to our community the best practices and strategies discussed.
Beyond the meeting: experience Lithuanian culture
The meeting was also an opportunity to immerse ourselves in Lithuanian culture, thanks to the wonderful hospitality of our colleagues in Šiauliai.
We visited the famous Rūta chocolate factory, learning about the history of one of Lithuania’s oldest chocolate producers and enjoying a delicious educational tour. We also had the opportunity to get hands on and create our own personalized chocolates, adding a fun and creative touch to the experience.
We also explored the Hill of Crosses, one of the most iconic spiritual sites in Lithuania, which is covered with approximately 100.000 crosses of all sizes, shapes and materials. Although the origins of this tradition are uncertain, since the 19th century the Hill of Crosses has become a symbol of Lithuanian identity and resistance, maintaining its status as a sacred place and a powerful symbol of faith and national resilience.
During the two days we also had the opportunity to taste traditional Lithuanian dishes, discover new tastes and share informal moments that further strengthened the cooperation among all NEOLAiA partners.
Looking ahead: what’s next for NEOLAiA and UNISA
Back from Lithuania, the UNISA WP10 team is ready to put the ideas and strategies discussed into practice. From increasing NEOLAiA’s visibility at UNISA to engaging more students and researchers, our goal is to foster stronger connections between NEOLAiA and our university community.
We are proud to be part of an alliance that is not only committed to academic excellence, but also to intercultural exchange and collaboration.
A special thanks to Šiauliai State University and its wonderful WP10 leader for hosting such a well organized and inspiring event and to all NEOLAiA partners for their continued collaboration!
Stay tuned for more to come on NEOLAiA activities at UNISA!
