“Some people think that studying civil engineering – boring, unpopular. Not at all. At our faculty, you can learn to design unique structures, bridges, develop the skills of real estate development specialists, and create innovative construction solutions. Unfortunately, recently, the number of people wishing to study in civil engineering study programs in Lithuania has been decreasing, although we do not feel a shortage of students,” – says Prof. Dr. Algirdas Juozapaitis, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU).
According to the professor, interest in technological sciences in Lithuania is not great – people more often choose to pursue career heights in the fields of management, law, or medicine.
“It is true that the civil engineering specialty receives a significant and stable number of applicants every year, and recently new study programs have also become popular,” says A. Juozapaitis.
For the best distributed to students 2,600 EUR scholarship basket
During VGTU Career Days, the most advanced and academically active students and doctoral students of the Faculty of Civil Engineering were awarded traditional scholarships established by the real estate development company Eika. The scholarship basket worth EUR 2,600 was distributed among six students of the first and second cycle of studies of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of VGTU (EUR 350 each) and one doctoral student (EUR 500).
“This is the fifth year that we have consistently supported the best students of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, who will later enter the market and apply their knowledge. Every specialist needs a financial incentive or motivation at the beginning of their studies or career to improve their skills and accumulate knowledge, because the market needs professionals of the highest competence – construction managers, real estate development specialists, engineers,” says Domas Dargis, CEO of Eika.
According to A.Juozapaitis, not only financial incentives are important for students, but also the attention of companies. “Young people understand that by deepening their knowledge, being advanced, they may be invited to do internships in well-known companies in the future, and perhaps later get a job in them. “Eika” applies the Western model, patronizes future specialists – students, when it provides scholarships to both bachelors, masters, and doctoral students, and later provides the opportunity not only to do internships, but also to start working in this company. This is an important motivation for students of our faculty,” – A. Juozapaitis has no doubt.
Scholarships for students, which have been distributed over five years in the amount of more than 12 thousand euros, are one of the measures of the talent development strategy. 30 students have received scholarships over 5 years. “Eika Academy” has been operating since 2012.