Keele University has joined forces with two universities in Lithuania in a move that will boost opportunities for students.

The University has signed Memorandums of Understanding with Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), the country’s largest institution of higher education in biomedical sciences, and Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), which is renowned for having a globally oriented, liberal mindset.

The formal agreements lay the foundation for new partnerships that will see Keele and LSMU co-operate in the fields of genetics, biomedical sciences and pharmacy. The partnership with VMU will focus on working together across life sciences, the environment and biodiversity.

Mark Ormerod, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Keele University said: "We’re delighted to be working with our two new University partners in Lithuania to support this important Talent Attraction scheme that will help bridge a key skills gap for Lithuanian businesses and provide graduates with high quality job opportunities after they complete their studies. This is hopefully the start of a broader and more substantial cooperation for Keele with these two high performing and forward-looking Lithuanian universities."

The first phase of the agreements will see the universities focus on the development of double awards at Master’s level in areas including life sciences and sustainability and biodiversity. The partnerships allow students to gain two qualifications, accessing the teaching expertise, research and facilities of both universities.

The universities will also explore the exchange of students and staff members, development of collaborative research projects and organisation of meetings and workshops.

The MoUs have been signed as part of the Talent Attraction to Lithuania initiative. The Cormack Consulting Group (CCG) is working with the Lithuanian government to address skills shortages in the key sectors of Life and Environmental Sciences and IT/Computing. Both these sectors have attracted significant inward investment to Lithuania, making it a regional leader in these areas and providing highly skilled jobs. The scheme is being backed by the British Embassy, in Vilnius.