#EnergySmartSTART programme – raising a new generation of energy engineers

#EnergySmartSTART, a long-term programme uniting various initiatives in the energy sector, was launched to prevent potential challenges in the sector, such as current energy professionals are nearing the retirement age, there is a shortage of qualified employees in the energy sector, ambitious renewable energy strategy. The programme’s goals are engaging people and involving them in the creation of the energy sector, encouraging them to be energy smart, popularising the fields of study strategically important to the energy sector. Excursions to energy objects, volunteer lectures at Lithuanian schools and almost EUR 250,000 in financial aid to higher education institutions developing future energy engineers, which will award the financial aid to students in the form of scholarships – such is the start of the long-term programme and the first steps toward its goals. In the future, the financial aid will be awarded not only for students’ scholarships, but also for improving the quality of the fields of study that are strategically important to the energy sector.

A 16% increase in the number of students choosing electricity engineering and energy engineering studies is great news. Last year there were 178 freshmen in such fields of study while this year there are already 207. Of course, considering the current needs, the numbers are insufficient, but this is a good start.

Renata Augustaitienė, Head Group People and Culture at Ignitis Group, pointed out that financial aid awarded by the energy companies to Lithuanian higher education institutions showcases personal responsibility and obligation to solve challenges that are just around the corner.

“We believe that financial aid for higher education institutions that develop future energy engineers are important means of support, which contribute to making the study programmes that are strategically important to the energy sector more popular and attractive. We have established three priorities in the conditions of using the financial aid awarded by Ignitis Group to higher education institutions: the higher education institutions that were awarded financial support should prioritise students who come from smaller regions when awarding scholarships, i.e., they should come from cities other than Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys or Šiauliai, towns or villages, volunteering related to the energy sector and entry score,” said R. Augustaitienė.

Ignitis Group has awarded EUR 150,000 in financial aid to 8 higher education institutions that will be able to award scholarships to 50 freshmen, which is EUR 300 per month for 10 months. Companies of EPSO-G group awarded EUR 36,000 in financial aid, which will reach 18 first-year students in the form of scholarship. And the Ministry of Energy will award EUR 60,000 in financial aid to higher education institutions, which will be distributed by the latter as scholarships to 20 students.

The largest proportion of the financial aid to higher education institutions will be shared by Kaunas Technology University and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University – 10 students in each university will receive scholarships of EUR 300 a month. Klaipeda State University of Applied Sciences and Vilnius College of Technologies and Design each will be able to award 7 scholarships using the financial aid they received, while Kaunas University of Applied Engineering Science and Kaunas University of Applied Science each will award 5 scholarships, 4 scholarships will be awarded to the freshmen of Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences, and 2 more scholarships – to the freshmen of Panevėžys University of Applied Sciences.

In an effort to spark interest in the energy field, everyone, and especially – student groups, were invited to excursions at energy objects improved by the #EnergySmartSTART programme. Within five months of the programme's launch, 66 excursions took place, which were attended by more than a thousand people in total, and the most popular object was Kruonis Pumped Storage Hydro-plant, an energy sector’s marvel. Student lectures were also very popular, schools from seven counties invited energy professionals to speak in classrooms. 54 lectures carried out by energy professionals took place with over 1,700 students attending.

#EnergySmartSTART is a long-term programme dedicated to students and anyone who is actually thinking about choosing a professional career in the field or who wants to get to know more about the energy sector in Lithuania. The programme invites you to discover yourself in the energy sector, so you can get acquainted with it and take advantage of the opportunities it provides, which are multiplying, here: https://energysmartstart.lt