VIKO lays the groundwork for the HEROES Friends programme in the Vilnius region

On 15 April, Vilniaus kolegija and the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts jointly organised a practical training on AI in advertising, bringing together around 40 representatives from small and medium-sized enterprises and marketing professionals. The training was part of the AIforSMEs initiative.

For the VIKO team, this was more than just a training day—it marked one of the first concrete steps in laying the groundwork for the HEROESFriends programme in the Vilnius region. As a partner in the HEROES European University Alliance, Vilniaus kolegija is actively building sustainable connections between the Alliance and regional companies and organisations, working closely with local stakeholders. The Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts plays a key role in this ecosystem, and joint events like this provide a natural platform to introduce the Alliance to the business community, understand its challenges, and explore how challenge-based learning, student internships, applied research, and shared training initiatives can respond to real needs.

During the event, Joana Lapkovskaja, Head of VIKO’s Service to Society and Community Office, presented the Alliance to participants:

“As both a Chamber member and a HEROES Alliance partner, Vilniaus kolegija is looking for the points where regional business needs and international academic cooperation meet. This is the kind of synergy we are proud to foster—one that connects businesses to an international context and contributes, step by step, to the competitiveness of Lithuania and the wider European Union.”

Each conversation with a regional company, each shared event, and every stakeholder engaged in dialogue brings the HEROESFriends network in the region one step closer to becoming a reality.