On 9–13 March 2026, eight representatives from the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration (FEBA) at Vilnius University participated in the international Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) titled “The Future of Work”, held at UC Leuven-Limburg Hogeschool (UCLL), Hasselt, Diepenbeek Campus, Belgium. The programme brought together 59 students and five accompanying lecturers from 11 countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Poland.
The VU FEBA delegation included third-year undergraduate students of the Management programme – Cesare Roberto Coppolino, Domantas Justas Grobovas, Karina Kandrotaitė and Polina Kutana – as well as first-year master’s students of Human Resource Management – Diana Ambrazevičienė, Vilma Birvydaitė and Karolis Lenktaitis. They were accompanied by Associate Professor Dr Aurelija Ulbinaitė from the Department of Business.
Students worked in eight international teams together with peers from other countries. Prior to arrival, collaboration took place remotely and later continued on-site at the UCLL Diepenbeek campus. Alongside lectures and workshops delivered by local and visiting academics, as well as company visits to Mobile Vikings, Bewel, and Corda Campus, students further developed their projects, enriching them with new insights and perspectives.
“Our FEBA students stood out throughout the programme with their knowledge, leadership in project teams, responsibility, and strong presentations. I was particularly impressed by their ability to bring teams together, the depth of their insights, sharp thinking, friendliness, and respect for others. During the pitch presentations, they represented Lithuania and VU FEBA exceptionally well,” shared Associate Professor Dr Aurelija Ulbinaitė.
During the programme, students explored key topics related to the future of work, including artificial intelligence and data, diversity and inclusion, employee well-being, and the characteristics of Generation Z and other generations in organisations. On the final day, all participants presented and defended their team projects before an international panel of academic evaluators.
Student Domantas Justas Grobovas reflected on his experience:
“Last week, I had the opportunity to participate in an international human resource management project in Hasselt, Belgium, and it was truly a great experience. Working with students from 11 different countries was both enjoyable and eye-opening. We explored how HR management works across different organisations, shared ideas, and developed future-of-work strategies. It was fascinating to see how diverse perspectives lead to more creative solutions.
The week was about meeting new people, learning from one another, and stepping out of my comfort zone. It significantly improved my teamwork and communication skills in an international environment. I am very grateful to the UCLL ‘HRM’ bachelor programme and everyone involved for making this such a memorable experience. I would also like to thank my VU FEBA team – you made this week even better.”
The programme was highly intensive and enriching, combining academic activities at the Diepenbeek campus with cultural experiences in Hasselt, including visits to the old town, city hall, museums, and exploration of Belgian cuisine.
“We are very grateful to the organisers for this intellectually and culturally enriching experience, as well as for the opportunity to build connections and strengthen inter-university collaboration,” concluded Dr Aurelija Ulbinaitė.
