Academic year 2025/2026
Published 2026- 10- 09
While choosing what to study is already a significant decision, selecting the right university and country can make the journey even more challenging. Yet, for Ketevani Inasaridze KTU student from Sakartvelo, Lithuania was an obvious choice from the very beginning.
“I’ve always been aware of the historical friendship between Lithuania and Sakartvelo, so when I decided to study abroad, Lithuania was one of the first countries I considered,” says Ketevani, who chose New Media Language studies at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) and later spent a semester on an Erasmus+ exchange in Portugal.
She is passionate about studying New Media Language and exploring the connections between language, media and technology. “It gives us the freedom to explore diverse subjects, and each semester feels completely different,” she says.
Exploring New Horizons Through Erasmus+
Faculty of Social Sciences, Art and Humanities (FSSAH) provides students with many international opportunities, and Ketevani eagerly took advantage of them. During the spring semester, she went on an Erasmus+ academic exchange to the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE) in Portugal.
When she first arrived in Lisbon, she did not expect to be welcomed so warmly. “Because of such an amazing environment, I was able to make friends and build a wonderful, close-knit circle of friends that made the entire experience unforgettable,” says Ketevani.
However, finding equivalent modules abroad and ensuring that they match the requirements of both universities can sometimes be a complex process.
Thanks to KTU’s supportive approach and willingness to find solutions, Ketevani was able to take one class online from KTU while studying in Portugal.
“When my host university in Portugal did not offer a specific required linguistics subject, the International Relations Coordinator at our Faculty seamlessly arranged a hybrid solution with a lecturer, allowing me to take the class online while completing my other modules physically on campus in Portugal,” she explains.
Learning and Growth
Studying at ISCTE allowed Ketevani to discover a different academic environment, where open discussions, interactive classes and close engagement with professors shaped her learning experience.
“I was able to focus entirely on modules that I am genuinely passionate about. The professors were highly professional, and I loved the structure of the classes because they were always very lively and you could participate and ask questions at any point,” she recalls.
Moreover, Ketevani was impressed by the university’s lively atmosphere and well-developed infrastructure, which made everyday campus life an enjoyable experience.
Student associations played an important role in creating a vibrant community, organising cultural weeks, social events and music gatherings.
In addition, networks such as Erasmus Student Network (ESN) offered students opportunities to explore the region through various tours, participate in activities like cultural nights and surf clinics along the coast.
To those who haven’t gone on Erasmus+ academic exchange, Ketevani says not to be afraid. “At the end of the day, you will always gain so much more than you could ever lose,” she says.
Going on this exchange was completely transformational for Ketevani as a person. “It entirely changed my worldview, my belief system and made me realise how beautiful it is to enjoy life to the fullest. If you are unsure about Erasmus+, you are essentially being unsure about having some of the most wonderful experiences of your life,” she says.
Academic year 2025/2026
Published 2026- 10- 12
A Kazakh student from the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (FSSAH), Arailym Abilova, turned her semester in Czechia into more than just studies. For her, it was an experience that changed how she sees the world, which helped he discover how much a person can grow by stepping out of their comfort zone.
KTU offers many opportunities for students, and that’s how Arailym got the chance to take part in an Erasmus+ exchange. “I am the type of person who likes to explore new places and learn about different cultures,” she says. “I chose Prague because of its architecture, history and atmosphere.”
This city came to her mind when she was looking at the list of places where she could go on her Erasmus+ exchange. Arailym was also extremely enthusiastic about the fact that she was going to study at Charles University, one of the oldest and most respected universities in Europe.
“Very quickly, Prague became more than just a place where I studied; it became part of my everyday life,” she recalls her first impressions of the city. When walking to her faculty, Arailym passed areas visited by millions of tourists, where one could see Charles Bridge or the great cathedral at the centre of the city. To most, these are well-known landmarks, and in her case, they became part of her daily surroundings.
“I would occasionally pause and simply look around, still surprised that I was actually studying in such a place,” recalls Arailym.
Studies, People and Experiences Abroad
The semester was also very interesting academically, she says. The lessons were interactive, and students were encouraged to express their views and positions. Arailym recalls especially enjoying a course focused on how different cultures understand social and political issues. The discussions became more profound and interesting because students from many countries took part, she notes.
However, she noticed differences between studying at KTU and studying in Prague. Because there were many international exchange students in Prague, the system felt a little more flexible and international than at KTU. “However, the best thing that I enjoyed in both universities is that the faculty and staff are approachable and friendly,” she says.
At KTU, Arailym never felt insecure, and faculty members were willing to assist students not only with studies but also with other questions. “In Prague, I had a similar experience when I had to switch several courses, and the staff tried their best to fix the problem,” she recalls.
Studies, People and Experiences Abroad
Of course, the Erasmus experience was also about the people Arailym met. Her friends came from many different countries, and even though they had different backgrounds, they quickly became close. One of Arailym’s favourite memories was meeting friends in Budapest, where they explored the city, visited landmarks, and took a boat ride on the Danube. After that, they also visited Bratislava. She also had a chance to travel to Karlovy Vary, which she describes as a unique city known for its mineral springs.
Growth Beyond the Classroom
“Looking back, the semester in Prague was much more than just studying abroad,” she says. It made Arailym more independent, more open to new places, and more confident about meeting people from different cultures. She discovered how much a person can grow simply by stepping out of their comfort zone.
Arailym also actively participates in university life. After her exchange, she became a university ambassador, a member of the Erasmus Student Network, and an exchange counsellor. She is also one of the faces of the University’s admission campaign for the academic year 2026/2027.
For students who are afraid or unsure about going on Erasmus+, she advises not to be afraid to try. “Studying abroad is a good opportunity to meet new people and experience a different culture,” she says. The Erasmus scholarship also helps financially, she adds. “For me, Erasmus was not only about education. It was about new perspectives, new friendships, and memories that will stay with me for a long time.”
Academic year 2025/2026
Published 2026- 10- 13
“I wanted international experience and a different academic perspective” says Umme to describe her decision to spend a semester abroad, and it fits the path she has followed so far. From teaching electrical engineering in Bangladesh to studying energy systems and economics in Lithuania and then Latvia. “KTU’s English-taught master’s program in Energy Technologies and Economics fit that goal well. I found the program well balanced between technical and economic subjects.”
Erasmus took Umme to Riga Technical University, where the courses matched her interests closely. “Ecodesign and Life Cycle Analysis, Energy Efficiency and Energy Audit of Buildings, Socio-Economic Aspects of Energy Supply, and Quality and Environmental Management. Latvia is also close to Lithuania, so it was easy to travel and to compare the two systems” For a student who had already moved from Bangladesh to Lithuania, the exchange pushed her further outside her comfort zone, and she calls it “one of the best parts of my master’s”
Students often have fears of falling behind; However, Umme completed four modules worth 24 ETCS at RTU and every one of them counted towards her KTU degree.
She also shares a message to students unsure about applying to Erasmus+. “Go for it! Feeling nervous is completely normal. I felt the same and it is often a sign that you are about to do something that will help you grow. The exchange did not slow me down it made my studies richer”. Says, Umme a KTU energy Technologies and economics master’s student from Bangladesh.
