A million to Lithuanian youth from Ignitis Group

Ignitis Group, a renewables-focused integrated utility, is encouraging students to choose electrical and energy engineering studies by allocating financial support. To attract new talents to the energy sector and to create a hub of 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. Students preparing for their exams also have an opportunity to participate in free remote physics and maths lessons. We are also planning to allocate financial support to Lithuanians who are planning to learn skills that are important to our state in foreign universities.

In 2022, Ignitis Group has launched the #EnergySmartSTART programme and allocated around EUR 150 thousand to first-year students at higher education institutions. In 2023, we allocated around EUR 300 thousand in total for scholarships for first- and second-year students. And in 2024, we have already signed agreements with education institutions regarding the allocation of up to EUR 300 thousand in total for scholarships for first- and second-year students. What’s more, we are planning to allocate EUR 200 thousand and offer an exclusive opportunity for Lithuanians looking to pursue a master's degree in top renewable energy engineering programmes at European universities to get a scholarship. In order to provide Lithuanian students who are preparing for the exams access to the top-quality physics and maths lessons, we distributed 500 packages of remote lessons, which were valued at around EUR 50 thousand.

“Lithuania may become a hub for the future energy professionals of the entire Baltic region. The demand for energy specialists is growing every year. It is estimated that just Lithuania alone will require at least 2,500 additional qualified specialists by 2030. 1,500 will be offshore specialists. Through the #EnergySmartSTART programme launched by Ignitis Group, we are encouraging students to choose electrical and energy engineering studies and contribute to Lithuania's goal of becoming an electricity exporter. We are also implementing various initiatives: organising tours, meetings with professionals for students, visiting schools, organising events, remote lessons, granting scholarships,” said Giedrė Žlibinienė, Lead of #EnergySmartSTART Programme.

Since 2022, Ignitis Group has been signing agreements with higher education institutions in Lithuania regarding the allocation of monthly scholarships of EUR 300 to students who have chosen electrical and energy engineering studies. The scholarship duration is 10 months. The higher education institutions that provide electrical and energy engineering studies award scholarships in accordance with the established procedure. Nine higher education institution have received the scholarship funds from Ignitis Group so far, including Kaunas University of Technology, VILNIUS TECH, Vilnius College of Technology and Design, Kauno Kolegija Higher Education Institution, Klaipėdos Valstybinė Kolegija Higher Education Institution, Kaunas University of Applied Engineering Sciences, Šiaulių Valstybinė Kolegija, Panevežys University of Applied Sciences and Klaipėda University.

Financial support is a part of #EnergySmartSTART, an information and education programme, which unites various energy initiatives and is owned by Ignitis Group. According to G. Žlibinienė, scholarships, lessons and events incentivise students to choose the energy studies and popularise the energy and engineering professions.

The #EnergySmartSTART programme is dedicated to students and anyone who is interested in energy topics. The programme unites various initiatives of energy companies, including tours and meetings with professionals for students, scholarships and introductions to career opportunities in the energy sector. You can learn more about the programme on the website www.energysmartstart.lt