At the launch event of Lithuanian University of Applied Engineering Sciences, the Vice-Minister of Education, Science and Sport, Dr Justas Nugaras, emphasized that this is a new step in the life of the two universities, which opens a new page, as well as implying new obligations.

“Government initiated the reform of the universities and thus in turn, they had to prepare plans for the future to strengthen both institutions. After the evaluation, it was decided that the best synergistic result would come from combining the potential of Kaunas University of Applied Engineering Sciences (KTK) and Kaunas Forestry and Environmental Engineering University of Applied Sciences (KMAIK).

It is only reasonable that engineering is being strengthened in Kaunas region, where both “Invest Lithuania” and other institutions expect the region to be the place where investments will expand the most and where strengthening engineering will be strategically important. Government, for its part, plans to invest 4 million euros in upgrading science and studies infrastructure as well as strengthening the potential of engineering studies in Kaunas region. According to the Vice-Minister Dr J. Nugaras, the emphasis will be placed on electronics, which is critically important for Kaunas. In the same vein, Andrius Palionis, the Vice-Mayor of Kaunas claimed that Kaunas is historically a city of industry and technology.

“When we look at the labor market, we see that engineers are being snapped up, with first-year students already starting their careers. There is a real demand for the profession, and universities are joining forces to contribute to bringing up the best professionals. The city has only one expectation – the newly formed university to attract and educate as many specialists as possible, and we hope that as many of them as possible will stay in Kaunas”, – says A. Palionis, Kaunas Vice Mayor.

According to Dr Lina Girdauskienė, Director of Lithuanian University of Applied Engineering Sciences (LIK), the newly established institution will not only strengthen Kaunas region, but also the engineering sector of the whole country. “From the very beginning, we believed in the reform to strengthen the collegiate sector and realized that quality needed to be improved. We were looking for the best solution not only for the community and the city, but also for the whole country and its industry”.