Vilniaus kolegija (VIKO) is the largest accredited higher professional education institution in Lithuania, which was founded in 2000. VIKO mission is: to provide modern higher education studies that meet European standards, to ensure the development of nationally and internationally recognised applied research and professional art in effective cooperation with the world of business, in order to ensure the success of students’ professional careers and the well-being of the Vilnius region and the State of Lithuania through the efforts of the socially responsible academic community.
VIKO has about 600 qualified educators and about 6 600 students in 58 study programmes within 9 faculties: Electronics and Informatics, Economics, Business Management, Health Care, Pedagogic, Arts and Design, Agrotechnologies, Design, Civil Engineering and Technics.
There are 19 research fields and 4 art fields represented at VIKO. Research Groups and Research Priorities reflect the priorities of Horizon Europe and the European Universities Alliance HEROES. Important to mention, that Students are also included in research groups according to the activities of the research/art direction.
VIKO has gained its international recognition and successfully integrates into the common field of European higher education. VIKO is the only higher education institution in Lithuania, which has been awarded the diploma of the Knowledge Economy Forum for Innovations.
VIKO has strong expertise in: non-formal education strategies; problem-based learning; project based learning; ethical competence; facilitation of team-based learning; recognition and validation of non-formal and informal education; education of learning to learn competence; creation of methodical material; implementation of quantitative and qualitative researches in EU-funded projects, entrepreneurship education, etc.
VIKO successfully implements the concept of lifelong learning – consistently implemented formal and informal qualification courses in the most relevant topics during the past 10 years. Due to the diversity of study programmes the faculties have been meeting the broad needs of the society, while learner-oriented studies and mobility help students develop skills needed for the changing labour market.
VIKO’s faculties encourage a unique approach towards studies, where students have the opportunity to experience the university creative learning environment, gain real-world business experience and forward their entrepreneurial ideas. Close collaboration and partnerships with Lithuanian and international businesses and organizations ensure that VIKO’s students gain the most up-to-date knowledge and international experience that are essential for today’s employability and successful career prospects. VIKO graduates employability – 97 %.
VIKO is a member of numerous international (EURASHE, SPACE, ENPHE, AEC, VETNNET, CDIO, ELIA, EAEC, Baltic Sea Network, Comenius Association, ILITE Network, PEN-Worldwide) and national (Knowledge Economy Forum, INFOBALT, Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts and others) organizations, associations and networks.
Every year, VIKO carries out about 40-60 different projects from different programs, such as COST, INTERREG, Erasmus+, Nordplus, those funded by the Research Council of Lithuania, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, etc. VIKO is a member of the European Universities Alliance HEROES (“Higher Education for Resilience-Oriented and Empowered Societies” No 101175280 https://www.heroesuniversity.eu/), which was launched in 2024 with Erasmus+ funding for European Universities. The HEROES Alliance consists of nine partners which are committed to transforming the talents of a new generation of EU citizens into superpowers that advance the smart regional resilience of people businesses and nature.