Kaunas University of Technology to acquire ISM University of Management and Economics

According to KTU Rector Petras Baršauskas, the move is intended to strengthen interdisciplinary programs and broaden the scope of the university’s programs. This is a response to what he describes as an international tendency for universities to merge and diversify. “These are European tendencies – the consolidation of our greatest potential, to improve the quality of our education and our academic research, to encourage interdisciplinary work, and to cooperate more effectively with businesses. Today, it’s no longer about specialized, niche universities – comprehensive universities are the future of academics. There are many ways to follow this path – partnerships, mergers and consolidations,” he wrote.

“Both of the universities’ operations will remain independent because we are seeking to create a unique educational platform, not to integrate them. The consolidation of these universities’ strengths will allow KTU’s technological and engineering students to gain entrepreneurial skills from one of the best business universities in the Baltics, while ISM students will gain access to a leading technology university’s academic and educational potential,” a KTU representative wrote.

The deal will be completed for an as-of-yet undisclosed sum.