A unique Lithuanian University of Applied Engineering Sciences was presented to the public in Kaunas today after the merger of Kaunas University of Applied Engineering Sciences (KTK) and Kaunas Forestry and Environmental Engineering University of Applied Sciences (KMAIK).
Strategically important for Kaunas region
At the launch event of Lithuanian University of Applied Engineering Sciences, the Vice-Minister of Education, Science and Sport, Dr Justas Nugaras, emphasized that this is a new step in the life of the two universities, which opens a new page, as well as implying new obligations.
"Government initiated the reform of the universities and thus in turn, they had to prepare plans for the future to strengthen both institutions. After the evaluation, it was decided that the best synergistic result would come from combining the potential of Kaunas University of Applied Engineering Sciences (KTK) and Kaunas Forestry and Environmental Engineering University of Applied Sciences (KMAIK).
It is only reasonable that engineering is being strengthened in Kaunas region, where both "Invest Lithuania" and other institutions expect the region to be the place where investments will expand the most and where strengthening engineering will be strategically important. Government, for its part, plans to invest 4 million euros in upgrading science and studies infrastructure as well as strengthening the potential of engineering studies in Kaunas region. According to the Vice-Minister Dr J. Nugaras, the emphasis will be placed on electronics, which is critically important for Kaunas. In the same vein, Andrius Palionis, the Vice-Mayor of Kaunas claimed that Kaunas is historically a city of industry and technology.
"When we look at the labor market, we see that engineers are being snapped up, with first-year students already starting their careers. There is a real demand for the profession, and universities are joining forces to contribute to bringing up the best professionals. The city has only one expectation - the newly formed university to attract and educate as many specialists as possible, and we hope that as many of them as possible will stay in Kaunas", - says A. Palionis, Kaunas Vice Mayor.
According to Dr Lina Girdauskienė, Director of Lithuanian University of Applied Engineering Sciences (LIK), the newly established institution will not only strengthen Kaunas region, but also the engineering sector of the whole country. "From the very beginning, we believed in the reform to strengthen the collegiate sector and realized that quality needed to be improved. We were looking for the best solution not only for the community and the city, but also for the whole country and its industry".
Kaunas is becoming the heart and engine of Lithuanian industry, many modern Lithuanian and foreign capital companies are being established here, so it is really gratifying that Kaunas is the birthplace of a unique Lithuanian University of Applied Engineering Sciences. Dr Lina Girdauskienė comments: "we are happy to have found reliable partners - Kaunas Forestry and Environmental Engineering University of Applied Sciences, with whom we share the same vision. Together we will build a new Lithuanian University of Applied Engineering Sciences and strive to meet all the goals and expectations". She then adds, "we are grateful to the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport for supporting us along the way. I would also like to thank KTK and KMAIK communities who believed in the changes we needed and led us forward. The joint work of all of us will ensure the development of sustainable engineering, the transfer of new knowledge, the success of applied research, the promotion of science, and the training of the professionals that the country needs".
Strengthening engineering potential
According to Dr Remigijus Bakys, Head of Kaunas Forestry and Environmental Engineering University of Applied Sciences, the establishment of Lithuanian University of Applied Engineering Sciences paves the way for the development and further development of the ongoing study programmes and scientific activities. Director adds, "creation of Lithuanian University of Applied Engineering Sciences is a project that has been going on for more than a year and has shown that together, we can create an organisation valuable for our study programmes, our students and our research teams".
"The backbone of KTK is pure engineering study programmes, while the backbone of KMAIK is environmental design and engineering, and the maintenance of country's green and blue mantle. By sharing our strengths, we can raise the level of our study programmes to new heights, and open up new research opportunities for our research teams", says Dr R. Bakys.
Darius Lasionis, Director of Lithuanian Engineering and Technology Industry Association (LINPRA), says that Lithuanian University of Applied Engineering Sciences will play an important role in strengthening Lithuania's engineering potential.
"The vision of "Lithuania: Engineering Country 2030" was born a few years ago, when representatives of the companies in our association expressed the idea of Lithuania being green, beautiful and bold, however, something else is still missing. We need more ambition. That is why we decided that we can become a country of engineering, where the word "creator" is encoded in the word itself - a creative person. Engineers are needed not only in metalworking, electronics, electrical equipment and transport companies, but also everywhere else, in the urban economy, in the energy sector, in road maintenance, etc. Statistics show that Lithuanian engineering industry companies pay 15-20% higher salaries and the trend is to grow even more, because the demand is there and more and more specialists will be needed. The engineering industry generates 5% of the country's GDP and 20% of exports. We believe that we can definitely reach 10% of GDP and 40% of exports and pay even higher wages", LINPRA Director urges the engineering sector to join.
