In today’s teaching / learning context, more often we pay attention to innovative and creative learning methods and their application. On 26-28 of March,  representatives from various European countries gathered at NOVIA University of Applied Sciences (Jakobstad, Finland) to discuss and share experience about creative learning application in studies and higher education. The academic community representatives of 14 universities from Italy, France, Austria, Finland, Greece, Poland, Ukraine, Turkey and Lithuania were participated in the events of this international week. 

The international event “Applying Creative Teaching Methods in the Field of Culture” is a part of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University’s ongoing Nordic-Baltic Business Network project funded by the Nordic Ministers (The Nordic Council of Ministers). The project is aimed at students and lecturers' short-term mobility between the institutions participating in the project.  Although the project is coordinated and organized by the Faculty of Transport Engineering, Faculty of Logistics and Transport Management Department (the project is initiated and implemented by the lecturer Rimvydas Labanauskis), other faculties engage in the activities as well. Collaboration with NOVIA University of Applied Sciences continues from 2017 when VGTU lecturers of Transport Engineering and Business Management faculties participated in the international week in Turku, Finland. This year, in Jakobstad, where the international week events were held, the Faculty of Creative Industries, represented by the Department of Entertainment Industries lecturer Asta Perikienė and vice-dean, the Department of Creative Communication lecturer Angelė Tamulevičiūtė, actively joined the activities of the project. They discussed and shared experience about applying creative learning/teaching methods in the studies process. “In 2018 NOVIA was elected as the most entrepreneurial university which has managed to attract the most funds, private foundations and sponsors among all Finnish applied sciences universities, therefore our university partnership and active Creative Industries and other faculties involvement in this project is very important and beneficial”- said project manager, Logistics and Transport management department lecturer Rimvydas Labanauskis.
During the seminar “Creating New Methods and Using Digital Applications for Music Teaching” lecturer of NOVIA University of Applied Sciences Matas Granfors introduced various applications which are being integrated into music teaching. Presenting a project with the US university, Matas shared his experience in integration of digital applications into the study process at Finnish higher education institutions. Gabriele Alisch, another lecturer at NOVIA University of Applied Sciences, introduced and shared her experience about the portfolio methods and its application in the study process. Gabriele also invited all the participants to test different creative methods and application of theatre elements into learning/teaching study process.  “Participation in the project provides an opportunity to meet researchers from different countries and share experience. The fact that the project participants represent different fields of science is especially valuable as through communication with different fields specialists you can notice new approaches and opportunities to solve various issues and promote cross-border collaboration between scientists”, said dr. Asta Petrikienė, the Creative Industries Faculty’s Department of Entertainment Industries lecturer. Not only pedagogical experience, methodology of study process organization was shared during the meetings. In addition to that the participants were  looking for the ways that would help to solve issues beneficial for the community. “It is not a secret that Finland is considered a creator of one of the most qualitative education system around the world, therefore, I believe our involvement in this project is a big opportunity and benefit in the professional field.  Meeting partners and participating in this project has already encouraged us to think about new projects with Finnish higher education institutions, opening new opportunities for students and the whole academic community”- said Angelė Tamulevičiūtė, a participant of the project activities, vice dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries.