From Vilnius to Nijmegen: Building Global Bridges for Academic and Industrial Cooperation

21 July 2026, 10 pm

From Dialogue to Partnership: Shaping the Future of Global Higher Education Collaboration

From Vilnius (Lithuania) to Nijmegen (Netherlands): Building Global Bridges for Academic and Industrial Cooperation

Great international collaborations often begin with a simple conversation. For us, this remarkable journey began during the International Teaching Week at Vilnius University Business School in Vilnius, Lithuania, held from 4–8 May 2026.

It was during this prestigious international academic event that Prof. Dr. Pradeep Kumar, President of IEEF, had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Yassine Talbj, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Beyond being an accomplished academic, Mr. Talbj is an inspiring scholar, mentor, and passionate advocate for entrepreneurship education. The discussions quickly evolved from academic exchanges into meaningful conversations about innovation, internationalization, entrepreneurship, and the future of global higher education.

Those conversations sparked a shared vision—to create an international cooperation framework that bridges academia, industry, and entrepreneurship across countries and continents. What began in Vilnius soon became a journey of collaboration, bringing together institutions and partners from Pune (India), Warsaw (Poland), Mittweida (Germany), and, ultimately, HAN University of Applied Sciences in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

This visit to the Netherlands represents the first strategic step toward exploring a sustainable model of academic and industrial interlinking among our partner institutions. The objective extends beyond traditional academic cooperation; it seeks to establish a dynamic ecosystem that integrates higher education, entrepreneurship, research, innovation, industrial engagement, and global mobility. Such a model has the potential to generate meaningful opportunities for students, faculty members, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders while fostering knowledge transfer across international borders.

At the center of this emerging collaboration are three visionary institutions:

• Indo-European Education Foundation (IEEF), Warsaw, Poland
• Marathwada Mitra Mandal (MMM), Pune, India
• HAN University of Applied Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands

Together, these institutions aspire to develop a long-term partnership that strengthens internationalization through collaborative research, entrepreneurship education, faculty and student exchange, innovation projects, industrial cooperation, executive development programmes, and joint academic initiatives. More importantly, this partnership aims to create an enduring bridge between Europe and Asia—connecting ideas, cultures, institutions, and industries through shared knowledge and mutual trust.

In today's interconnected world, internationalization is no longer measured solely by exchange programmes or institutional agreements. It is defined by the ability to build strategic partnerships that create lasting value for society. Universities are increasingly expected to collaborate beyond national borders, engaging with industry, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and global communities to address complex challenges and prepare future generations of leaders.

The partnership envisioned by IEEF, MMM, and HAN University reflects this contemporary approach. It is a commitment to transforming dialogue into action, ideas into innovation, and relationships into sustainable global cooperation. By combining academic excellence with entrepreneurial thinking and industrial engagement, this initiative seeks to establish a model of collaboration that can inspire similar partnerships across continents.

As we celebrate this important milestone, we also celebrate the friendships that make such collaborations possible. Every successful partnership is built upon trust, respect, and a shared commitment to excellence. The conversations that began in Vilnius have now opened new doors in Nijmegen, creating a promising roadmap for future international initiatives.

I extend my sincere gratitude to Mr. Yassine Talbj for his exceptional hospitality, generosity, and unwavering enthusiasm in hosting us at HAN University of Applied Sciences. Your friendship, professional insight, and commitment to global collaboration have been instrumental in shaping this exciting new chapter of our international journey, said Prof. Kumar.

Today, we proudly celebrate the beginning of a new roadmap for internationalization. Together, Indo-European Education Foundation (IEEF), Marathwada Mitra Mandal (MMM), and HAN University of Applied Sciences reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing global higher education, entrepreneurship, research, innovation, and industry collaboration.

From dialogue to partnership, and from partnership to lasting global impact—our journey has only just begun!