On October 8 and 9, INSA Toulouse welcomed a delegation from the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), led by its rector, Eugenijus Valatka. These two days of exchanges identified new avenues for cooperation between the institutions, already linked through their joint participation in ECIU University.
The partnership between INSA Toulouse and KTU is well-established, with about ten INSA engineering students participating in mobility to Kaunas annually. This year also marked a new step with the first-time hosting of two KTU students at INSA Toulouse. Within the ECIU University alliance, 16 KTU students were hosted at INSA Toulouse for training modules in 2025-2026.
The visit of the Lithuanian delegation, which included Professor Vaida Kitrytė-Syrpa and ECIU Centre Director Viktorija Kazlauskienė, allowed for a review of existing collaborations and exploration of new possibilities.
Discussions focused on developing student and staff mobility, as well as cooperation in training and research. One avenue considered is the creation of a joint engineering training module, potentially leading to more integrated pedagogical cooperation. Exchanges for young researchers are also planned in chemical engineering, biotechnology, and digital technologies, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies. The updating of Erasmus+ agreements aims to broaden these mobility opportunities.
Further cooperation around summer schools and strengthening ties between the innovation ecosystems of Toulouse and Kaunas were also discussed. The goal is to foster the emergence of projects involving the institutions and their socio-economic partners.
This visit represents a significant step in the relationship between the two institutions. The identified avenues will be further developed for future collaborations. The next meeting is scheduled for March in Kaunas.
