Lithuanian students have lectures that help save lives

In the last academic year, over 50 Ignitis Group's employees visited around 8,000 students and gave over 300 lectures. Another 1,800 students, teachers and undergraduates participated in the tours organised at power and cogeneration plants.

Ramunė, who works at Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius (ESO), has one of the most surprising stories to tell. Ramunė often speaks to students about safe behaviour around electricity and gas devices, how electricity and gas comes to our homes and ways to save money. There once was a fire at the house of a student who attended her lecture, but the child stayed cool and knew what to do. The student remembered the information presented at the lecture that you must turn off the electricity and call the emergency services. By taking action, the student saved their life and the health and property of other residents of the apartment building.

Ignitis Group’s employees who visit schools have learned that students are curious, active but have outdated knowledge about the energy sector and believe that the energy sector comprises only wires and pipes. So, each lecture usually becomes a unique story. Neringa visited a school in Panevėžys, where her grandparents used to work. Eglė spoke about her career path during an integrated English lesson, assuring that women can be the best energy professionals (maybe it is hard to believe, but we still receive questions in schools whether girls can study engineering). When Rimgaudas was talking about what ESO does and about how electricity is generated from renewable energy sources, he also allowed students to get a closer look at an electric vehicle and learn about its benefits. Rolandas showed students how the smokestacks of Elektrėnai Complex were dismantled. Justas presented children the equipment that a gas defect specialist uses.

The purpose of the lectures is to encourage students to choose electrical and energy engineering studies. In order to attract new talents to the energy sector and to develop future energy professionals in Lithuania, the company is allocating nearly EUR 1 million to support the Lithuanian youth. The financial support is being allocated to students who choose undergraduate studies in Lithuanian higher education institutions (EUR 3,000 per student per year). Students preparing for their exams also have an opportunity to participate in free remote physics and maths lessons.

What is the most important asset in a project? Ignitis Group's employees who visit schools often ask this question when giving lectures across Lithuania. Students usually answer that it's the money. But when they learn that it's the people, the students start to wonder.

Lithuania has all the potential to generate enough electricity and even sell the surplus to Western countries. What it requires is specialists who would help implement the goals important to Lithuania.

The company’s employees, who volunteer to do this in their free time, are already prepared to visit schools during the upcoming academic year. We can say with confidence that those who see the purpose in working in the energy sector and see the curious eyes of children are getting increasingly motivated to work here.