Studies in line with the global market, internationality and promotion of lifelong learning. This is how Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) will strive to overcome the competition of higher education institutions and earn the title of the best university in the field of social sciences not only in Lithuania, but also in Europe. Such a vision of the future of the university is seen by the MRU academic community, with JAV having prepared a three-year strategy as an organizational leadership expert.
Professor Inga Žalėnienė, who has been leading MRU for almost two years, admits that the aspiration to become leaders in Europe may sound ambitious at first glance. "Having assessed the potential accumulated at the university over many years of activity, the international partnerships created, and the scientific output, we believe that our community is capable of turning the vision formulated in the strategy into reality. We are taking very clear and measurable steps that will bring us to the ranks of European leaders in social sciences.
We consistently improve the quality of studies, invest in scientific research, innovation, development of IT systems, digitization, develop a harmonious environment, observe the best practices of advanced world universities and try to apply them creatively. I think that these are the key things in order to achieve ambitious goals", emphasizes the rector.
It will strengthen internationality and reputation
MRU has already been recognized as the most international higher education institution in the country by "Reitingai" magazine. In order to improve its international positions, the university will cooperate with more and more advanced foreign universities and research centers, increase the number of effectively functioning international partnerships, and engage more widely in global professional networks. This is expected to attract more researchers to the currently successful scientific teams.
It is also planned to attract twice as many visits of international lecturers to MRU. "Even short visits by experienced professors from abroad provide a lot of valuable knowledge and broaden the horizons of both students and teachers. This allows us not only to feel and respond to global market trends, but also to strengthen the positions of the university and the entire Lithuanian academic community in the international higher education space. Our internationality is highly valued by students, so the great efforts made to attract international level specialists create added value", emphasizes the rector.
One of the strategic goals of the university is to strengthen the reputation of the organization. Last year, for the first time, an opinion survey of different target audiences and public groups was conducted. MRU promises to conduct such a study annually. "We are an exception to the rule - usually universities avoid asking the wider public's opinion about the organization. However, the university community is a significant part of society as a whole, and in order to respond to its needs, we must also pay attention to how they are valued. We are determined to continue to strengthen and publicize the expertise of the university, because the teachers and researchers working here have and can give a lot to society, science and the state," says the rector of MRU.
Will encourage lifelong learning
The university's strategy prepared this year envisages more active promotion of lifelong learning activities. MRU teachers are already actively conducting professional training for business and the public sector. The number of graduates of such short-term programs is planned to increase by 40 percent this year alone.
The rector of MRU notes that there is a noticeable increase in the need of the business and public sector to provide employees with the opportunity to flexibly acquire competencies and skills required for the labor market. "The pandemic highlighted the importance of being able to quickly retrain, acquire the necessary knowledge, and adapt to the global market. Therefore, business and the public sector are increasingly looking for opportunities to provide employees with the necessary competencies quickly, rather than waiting years for them to complete university bachelor's or master's studies.
Far from diminishing the importance of university studies, it complements them and provides even wider opportunities for learning. I am proud that we have excellent professional teachers and researchers in the field of social sciences, and by reacting to changes in the market, we can significantly contribute to the implementation of the needs of the business and public sector communities", observes I. Žalėnienė.
An expert from the USA contributed to the strategy
To the new university strategy for 2021-2023. Ray Smith, Doctor of Organizational Leadership in the USA, who teaches at universities in the USA and the Czech Republic and heads the MRU business administration master's degree program, contributed significantly to its development and moderation. "This expert was used in order to evaluate the university's capabilities globally, we had the opportunity to use a professional approach from the outside." We greatly appreciate that an expert of this level contributed to the new strategy of the university and provided valuable insights", emphasizes Rector I. Žalėnienė.
The needs of the entire community came to the fore in strategy meetings involving university faculty, researchers, and students. The rector of MRU says that the active involvement of the community allowed a multifaceted look at future plans. "The university is an organization performing a complex, important mission in the state, focusing on quality studies that meet the needs of the global market, innovative scientific activities and effective social and economic impact on society. It is a multifaceted, living organization that must respond to the needs of all the people associated with it. Therefore, we are very happy that a large part of the community has been involved in the development of the strategy. This allowed us to see a broader picture and create such a plan, with which we will go purposefully, together with the academic community, and achieve the set goals", notes I. Žalėnienė.
The strategy also envisages investing in the modernization of MRU's information systems, updating the university's infrastructure, student dormitories and improving the energy efficiency of buildings in the coming years.
