[ad_1]
Vilnius Gediminas University of Technology (VILNIUS TECH), a leader in technology and engineering sciences, has even launched two new sustainability studies programs: Sustainability Technology (Bachelor) and Sustainability Management (Master). Both study programs are currently enrolling and will start this fall.
“Both public and private sector organizations need competent sustainability professionals who understand not only environmental protection but also social, economic and governance factors related to sustainable development. We are the first higher education institution in Lithuania to combine knowledge of environmental engineering, energy, urban infrastructure, other engineering and technologies with sustainable development communication and integration and evaluation of sustainability indicators, creating a dedicated sustainability studies program. We would like to emphasize that sustainability specialist is actually no longer a profession of the future: it is a profession of the present,” says the Deputy Dean of Environmental Engineering at Vilnius Institute of Technology, Dr. Aušra Zigmontienė.
Promising study and work opportunities almost everywhere in the world
Doctor A. Zigmontienė
According to the association. Dr. A. Zigmontienės, the green route adopted and implemented by the European Union (EU), the implementation of the principles of the circular economy, the decarbonization of its activities, as well as the requirement approved from 2027 onwards that almost all companies not only need to focus on sustainability, but also need to provide sustainability reports, has increased the demand for sustainability experts to a record level. According to her, due to the great need for these experts, the Vilnius Institute of Technology created two brand-new sustainability-oriented research programs.
“The studies conducted show that as a result of the ongoing green transition, up to 30 million new jobs will be created by 2030 in the EU alone. Moreover, Europe is expected to become the first climate-neutral continent in the 2050s. The same trend can be seen both in Europe and in other parts of the world, where the same sustainable development goals will require and already require competent sustainability professionals. Sustainability consultants and managers are not a profession that is only relevant to the local labor market, so the demand for these experts will only grow,” comments the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Engineering at Vilnius Institute of Technology.
Sustainable Development Technology: Undergraduate Research in Different Departments
The Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Technology will begin recruiting students in September this year, with the deadline for registration being July 24, through the LAMA BPO system. Including, two more stages of admission – in August. According to VILNIUS TECH, PhD, associate professor at the Department of Environmental Protection and Water Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, and chairman of the committee for the Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Technology study program, Vaidas Šerevičienės, these studies are different from the usual ones, since two faculties of the university – the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and the Faculty of Management – have collaborated to create them.
Associate Professor. Dr. V. Šerevičienė
“Sustainability studies are very popular in Western Europe, while in Lithuania education in this field is provided only in specialized courses through individual training. However, the Bachelor’s degree program in Sustainable Development Technologies, which will start in September this year, is the first of its kind in Lithuania and is designed to provide comprehensive preparation for future sustainability experts. While the main direction is environmental engineering, students will also study important subjects in economic and social aspects: philosophy of sustainable development, communication of sustainable development, etc.”
The Bachelor of Technology for Sustainable Development will last for four years, as is customary for university studies. In these studies you can choose to study not only in Lithuanian, but also in English. Next year there are also plans to admit overseas students to study at our university.
According to school officials, the project will have fewer subjects than general projects, but the credits will be more numerous and complex, covering different disciplines, and encouraging the creation and implementation of various interdisciplinary projects.
“We focus on problem-based teaching and group work so that the study subjects are different but complementary. In one semester, students only study two subjects, but they combine different study subjects and thus reflect interdisciplinary learning. In addition, cognitive practice will take place in the first half of the year – students will visit companies and get a practical introduction to sustainable production, sustainable business and the implementation of sustainable development (ESG) in various fields.” Study Program Committee for the Bachelor of Sustainable Technologies.
Sustainability Management: Interdisciplinary Master’s Degree in Training Sustainability Managers
The MSc in Sustainability Management is designed for future sustainability managers and consultants who help prepare sustainable investment projects and sustainability reports. Like Sustainable Development Technology, MSc in Sustainability Management studies are interdisciplinary, combining the fields of Business Management and Energy & Environmental Engineering.
“The goal of the program is to train sustainability managers who possess not only management skills, but also an engineering knowledge base. A trained specialist will understand the fundamentals of renewable energy, know how to evaluate environmental indicators and the factors they depend on. He will also be able to prepare sustainability reports, and besides, he will have a deeper understanding and thinking about sustainable development.” Dr. Rūta Mikučionienė, Coordinator of the Sustainability Program at Vilnius Tech and Chairperson of the Research Program Committee for the Master in Sustainability Management.
According to Dr. R. Mikučionienė, the uniqueness of these studies lies in the principle of problem-based learning. In addition to a wealth of academic information, future students will solve and study sustainability challenges posed by real companies.
“Throughout the course of studies, students will not only acquire management basics, including sustainable supply chains, project management and other fundamentals, but also engineering knowledge of sustainable cities, buildings and clean technologies in production. All of this is particularly important for a comprehensive understanding of what is sustainable development,” says the Chairman of the Research Program Committee of the Master in Sustainability Management at Vilnius Tech.
The report notes that a two-year master’s program in sustainable development management is available to students in almost all engineering majors, as well as management, economics and most other social science majors.
Environmental Technologies – Updated Research Program
Although two new research programs on sustainability will be launched at the Vilnius Institute of Technology in September this year, another research program that introduces the creation of a sustainable environment but focuses on the implementation of technological and engineering solutions has been running at the university for some time – Environmental Technologies. According to the association. Dr. A. Zigmontienės said that this program is worth choosing for those who want to design, implement innovative technologies in the field of water management, improvement of ambient air quality or waste management and thus contribute to the achievement of corporate sustainability goals.
“Environmental technologies – the course provides basic engineering and environmental knowledge as well as practical skills in selecting technological solutions for water management, wastewater treatment, conservation of natural resources in the region. In the recently updated study program, students will understand and know how to calculate CO2 emissions, assess the environmental impact of a company and get a general idea of what sustainability is,” says the Deputy Dean of Environmental Engineering at Vilnius Institute of Technology Dr. A. Zigmontienė.
[ad_2]
Source link
