The first bachelors of Landscape Architecture have just graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), and a two-year Master's degree programme in this specialty will start in autumn. Landscape architects have not been trained in Lithuania for a long time, so the labour market is very much looking forward to the new specialists and the first Master's degrees. 

In today's world, the field of landscape architecture is wide and encompasses many areas of environmental design. Landscape architects shape the public spaces of cities, contribute to the overall vision of the city, address the regeneration of damaged landscapes and, above all, continuously strive to improve the quality of the environment. When it comes to creating the environment, people are looking for professionals who can also focus on sustainable water management, renewable energy, productive landscapes and other environmentally friendly solutions. 

In June, VILNIUS TECH awarded diplomas to the first nine graduates of the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture programme. Almost all the graduates of the Bachelor's degree programme have chosen to study the Master's degree in Landscape Architecture since autumn. Linda Kepežinskaitė puts her decision to continue her studies simply: "my desire to improve my professional skills led me to the Master's degree". 

Lukas Garlauskas also chose to pursue a Master's degree to further his knowledge: 'Without theoretical knowledge, you learn from your mistakes, and theoretical knowledge can help you avoid mistakes'. Garlauskas emphasised that a Master's degree will give you the opportunity to specialise, to go deeper into topics that you might not be able to devote time to when you're just working in practice. Graduates shared that the news that the Master's programme will offer lectures in the afternoon has only made their decision to study easier, as they will be able to combine their studies with work. 

Vaiva Marozienė, Landscape Architect and Ecologist at "Vilnius City Parks", participated in the defence of the students' final projects and appreciated the professionalism of the graduates: "I would like to congratulate the graduates on knowing a lot, on the broad and contextual solutions, and on the wide-ranging perspective". Giedrė Čeponytė, Chief Specialist of the Landscape Architecture Subdivision of the Urban Environment Division of Vilnius City Municipality, also agreed: "I was pleased with the diversity of the topics chosen and with the exaggeration of topical issues, such as sustainable water management, and the solutions".   

G. Čeponytė also noted that the visible qualitative results of the students are inseparable from the multifaceted analysis of the territory, the analysis of examples and the involvement of the community in the design process. The specialists wished the Landscape Architecture studies to grow, with more focus on dendrology and inviting students to study for a Master's degree - to deepen their knowledge, which is increasingly needed in practice and more diverse.

Landscape architects are increasingly in demand: they work for state, municipality and private design firms, tackling local, neighbourhood and citywide landscape management and development challenges. The Faculty of Architecture at VILNIUS TECH currently offers the only Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes in Landscape Architecture in Lithuania. 

News photo: Rimgaudas Barauskis.