€180,000 for Lithuanian students to study engineering abroad

Ignitis Group is expanding its support for students pursuing relevant fields of study to encourage the development of high-level engineering professionals and attract new talent to the energy sector. The company is contributing EUR 180,000 to the State Study Fund, which will finance the tuition and living expenses of students studying abroad in engineering master's programmes relevant to the energy sector. 

Students who have been invited to study, or are already studying, study programmes of interest to the company in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom are eligible. Students enrolled in the first year of study are supported for the entire duration of their studies. For students already studying, it starts in the year they are studying. To apply for support, you need to apply to the National Study Fund. 

"Attracting highly qualified engineers and other technical specialists ready to meet Lithuania's energy goals is vital for the energy sector. It is important to train such specialists at Lithuanian universities and use the potential of students who have chosen to gain their knowledge at foreign universities," says Giedrė Žlibinienė, the head of the #EnergySmartSTART programme. 

According to G. Žlibinienė, many talented young people in Lithuania can successfully study in prestigious European or US scientific institutions, and later bring the accumulated knowledge to Lithuania and successfully use it to modernise our country's energy sector. However, studies at such universities are usually expensive, and living abroad can also be higher than in Lithuania. This is why support for Lithuanians studying abroad is essential. 

"Certain stereotypes and outdated attitudes are still often a barrier to attracting more people to the energy sector and engineering study programs, and it is also important to break them down through educational work. This is a major part of our efforts. We aim to raise students' awareness, even at school, of the career prospects offered by today's energy sector, the modern technologies underpinning the green transformation, and the unique opportunities to contribute to the changes the world needs. The financial support provides an additional incentive to pursue this career path," says Žlibinienė. 

The financial support for students is part of the #EnergySmartSTART information and education program, which brings together various energy initiatives. Through this programme, Ignitis Group has been providing scholarships to students studying engineering-related study programmes at Lithuanian higher education institutions for several years. In 2022, Ignitis Group provided scholarships to first-year students at higher education institutions for a total of around EUR 150,000. In 2023, scholarships were provided not only to first-year students but also to second-year students - a total of around EUR 300,000.In 2024, scholarships were provided to first- and second-year students - a total of up to 300,000 EUR. 

The #EnergySmartSTART programme is aimed at schoolchildren, students and anyone interested in energy. The programme combines various initiatives of energy companies - educational projects, excursions for schoolchildren and meetings with professionals, financial support for students, and various forms of introduction to career opportunities in the energy sector.