From 15 to 19 June 2026, the VU Kaunas Faculty hosted the international “Erasmus+” Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) "ENGAGE+: Immersive Technologies for Customer Experience Management in Digital Business". The programme focused on exploring the application of immersive technologies and customer experience management in the context of digital business.
Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) is a short-term international learning initiative that enables students to participate in lectures and seminars, collaborate on team projects, and gain experience in an international academic environment alongside peers from different countries.
The programme brought together students from Estonia, Croatia, Poland, and the VU Kaunas Faculty who were studying Manufacturing Information Systems, International Business Management, Information Systems and Cybersecurity, and Marketing Technologies. The diversity of academic disciplines created an interdisciplinary learning environment, encouraged collaboration in international teams, and fostered interest in different fields of study and academic cultures.
Students visited the Kaunas-based linen company "Klasikinė tekstilė". Sales Director Donatas Akelis walked the guests through the whole production line, covering everything from fiber spinning, weaving, and finishing to garment manufacturing and sales. The students also got a chance to ask questions, share insights, and discuss topics ranging from partnerships with global brands and showcasing Lithuanian linen at international trade fairs to production automation challenges, government support, labor costs, and how product pricing shifts from the factory floor to the shelves of London stores.
The students were also impressed by the virtual reality (VR) experience at the Sensory Art Center in Vilnius. Representatives of the center introduced the participants to the creative team and innovative solutions that help present the art world to audiences of various ages and different interests. The virtual reality film "Trail of Angels" allowed the students to gain a deeper insight into the work of M. K. Čiurlionis and sparked a discussion on how VR technologies could contribute to boosting learning motivation and enrich university lectures and seminars.
The students also showed a special interest in a tour of the historical architectural complex of Vilnius University, where everyday life intertwines with reading rooms and auditoriums adorned with works of art, as well as the legacy of historical figures. During the BIP week, the students prepared project presentations analyzing unsuccessful advertising campaigns of famous companies—allowing them to put the knowledge gained in lectures and seminars into practice.
An international team of lecturers contributed significantly to the success of the program. Assist. Prof. Dr. Antanas Ūsas interested students in the application of eye-tracking equipment to study customer attention and intensity of interest. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dovilė Balevičienė introduced the impact of communication messages in digital marketing and Prof. Dr. Dalia Krikščiūnienė covered website development as well as visitor behavior analysis technologies. Prof. Dr. Ljubica Milanović (Croatia) shared her knowledge on social media technologies, and Ivan Jajić (Croatia) focused on 3D modeling technologies. Lecturer Kärt Laas from the Estonian Business School presented the transformation of digital media to the students
Although the intensive week in Kaunas has concluded, the teams will continue to collaborate in the future, with upcoming work on the “Simbound” business simulation platform.