MERIT Project Showcases Collaborative Innovation: Project Meeting in Vilnius

The latest General Assembly (GA) of the MERIT project, hosted by Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) from June 17–19, 2025, marked a significant milestone in academic-industry synergy, international engagement, and strategic forward planning. Held across various venues in Vilnius, the three-day event gathered project partners, stakeholders, and special guests, culminating in a powerful statement on the future of higher education, skills-based learning, and artificial intelligence (AI).

A Meeting of Minds: Progress Reflections and Future Objectives

From the outset, the event was structured to reflect not only the substantial progress achieved in the MERIT project, but also to set a clear trajectory for the future. In the opening sessions an overview of the project mission and an in-depth review of key performance indicators (KPIs) were done. This evaluation served as a foundation to justify the results delivered to date – a critical component of project transparency and growth.

The workshops that followed throughout the event were forward-looking, with partners collaboratively setting new objectives. Sessions explored how to enhance program quality, monitor competencies, and integrate hands-on learning experiences into MOOCs and beyond. The dialogue consistently emphasized practical, scalable improvements aligned with evolving labour market needs.

International Industry Engagement Workshop: AI in Action

An important part of the GA was the Industry Engagement Workshop on AI, held on the afternoon of June 18. This workshop represented a key pillar of MERIT’s commitment to aligning education with industry needs, inviting voices from across sectors and geographies to contribute.

Speakers from Humanitas University, Exacaster, Torrens University, and Kramer Consulting contributed powerful insights into both the opportunities and pitfalls of AI integration in organizations and education. The day concluded with a dynamic panel discussion on AI-related skills and a vibrant networking session, cementing new links between industry partners and academic institutions.

Strategic Advisory Board and the Path Ahead

The final day featured a session with the MERIT Advisory Board (AB), where concluding remarks were made on the achieved results, and feedback was gathered. This served as a strategic checkpoint, validating current directions while offering critical external perspectives on how to scale impact further. The Advisory Board feedback formed a path to new ideas, oriented on more significant impact towards development of advanced digital skills in Europe.

Looking ahead, key themes emerged: the need to foster alumni communities, integrate AI competencies more dynamically into curricula, and prepare for upcoming funding calls that will shape technical collaboration and capacity building.

Conclusion: Innovation Through Collaboration

This General Assembly not only reinforced the MERIT project’s strong foundations but also spotlighted how deep collaboration across borders and sectors is driving meaningful educational transformation. With active engagement from global academic institutions, local innovators, and pan-European stakeholders, MERIT continues to position itself as a model for responsive, future-proof higher education.

By aligning educational excellence with industry realities and technological frontiers, MERIT is proving that real progress happens when diverse expertise meets shared goals. The Vilnius meetings were not just about reflecting on what has been done, but envisioning what comes next.

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