Alumni club

While winter holidays are full of traditions and customs, sometimes it is great fun to look at everything in a playful and inventive way. That is exactly how VILNIUS TECH is sending its greetings this year, having lifted a flying Christmas tree into the sky. This gravity-defying Christmas surprise, according to its creators - innovators from the Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute (AGAI) - inspires creativity and proves just how interesting, fun, and festive engineering can be.   It is unlikely that one often sees a Christmas tree cutting through the sky; most people choose more grounded options for the holidays. However, the young innovators from the VILNIUS TECH AGAI Aeronautics Laboratory do not seek light and simple solutions - they are constantly working on creative technical projects, fulfilling various prototyping orders, and constructing unmanned aerial vehicles.   They pay close attention to the quality of studies, working with students and their final theses, so it is no surprise that the flying tree - equipped with four motors, a flight computer, and a GNSS receiver capable of executing automated missions - was created by a mixed team.   Both graduates and current laboratory employees, as well as students participating in racing drone workshops, contributed to this festive initiative: Aleksandr Lapušinskij, Laurynas Arštikys, Dominykas Petrulaitis, Kasparas Vincentas Mičiūnas, Benediktas Ščiučka, Arnoldas Novikevičius, Mantas Peleckas, Domantas Gramata, Justas Novikovas and Paulina Somaryuk.   "Our team is united not only by professional competencies but also by a very clear, shared passion for aviation, technology, and creativity. Innovation and creativity are like part of our DNA: we try to look at any project, even a complex engineering task, originally, and this leads to new, unexpected solutions that brighten the life of our university community.   This tree is also a creative project that demonstrates how technology can merge with a festive mood," says Aleksandr Lapušinskij, Head of the VILNIUS TECH AGAI Aeronautics Laboratory. Truth be told, this is not the first drone-flown tree created by the innovators. However, the first one was simpler - without an autopilot, with a single motor, and manually controlled aerodynamic surfaces.   "The current tree is much more modern; furthermore, its control is simpler, and its design is more aesthetic," the interviewee adds.   The team designed and manufactured it from start to finish in their laboratory: the shape was achieved by gluing foam boards, which were painted and decorated with Christmas ornaments, while the drone was constructed from an aluminum frame, onto which electronic devices and motors were mounted.   Nevertheless, the process was not without challenges, as it was necessary to reconcile several seemingly contradictory things - maintaining a lightweight yet sufficiently strong structure, hiding the propellers, and simultaneously ensuring a stable and safe flight.   "The biggest challenge was finding the balance between aesthetics and the laws of physics: what looks good on the ground does not necessarily fly well in the air, so we had to make compromises, adjust shapes, reduce weight, and rethink fastening solutions.   Everything had to be done within a limited time, but that is exactly what turned this project into a fun creative challenge. Some solutions were born spontaneously - by testing, observing the result in real conditions, and relying on experience. It was most fun to creatively construct from what we had in the laboratory and see the tree come to life," say The Aeronautics Laboratory team.   According to A. Lapušinskij, such projects always remind us that engineering involves not only calculations and drawings but also intuition, experimentation, and creative freedom, demonstrating that technology can be playful and create a festive mood.   "This is precisely what the tree we created symbolizes - even complex tasks can be solved with childlike curiosity, and engineering can be not only precise and rational but also creative and joyful. At the same time, it invites us to move forward, experiment boldly, and meaningfully combine traditions with innovations," shares A. Lapušinskij. The Aeronautics Laboratory team wish the same for other members of the VILNIUS TECH community and everyone reached by this greeting - more playfulness and creativity, without forgetting childhood curiosity and an open, sincere view of the world.   "May that inner child living within each of us boldly lead toward new ideas, discoveries, and creation, while engineering curiosity encourages us to ask, create, and not be afraid to try. May technology and science always walk alongside humanity, community, and warmth. We wish everyone peaceful, bright holidays, inspiration for the coming year, and joy in both work and daily moments," the creators of the tree send their greetings on the occasion of the most beautiful holidays of the year.   Link to the video greeting - here.

Dear VILNIUS TECH community,     May the upcoming holidays be a bright time after active year, and the coming New Year be full of innovative ideas that will turn into success stories.   Our biggest end-of-year wish is to give a shelter to Kherson National Technical University in Ukraine, furnished with our own modular furniture. The first shipment of furniture is on its way to Ukraine #ShelterOfLight ✨    Let's set up this shelter together: https://bit.ly/3ZaohYU.

An Alumni Evening took place at the VILNIUS TECH Sustainability Centre to address current hot topics: alumni engagement, sustainability, and their impact on the university as  well as business environment. Each speaker shared their insights and encouraged discussions on the long-term effects of strong collaboration between universities, businesses, and alumni. Dr. Milena Serzante, Director of the VILNIUS TECH Strategic Partnership Centre, emphasized the importance of alumni engagement. In her presentation, she highlighted that by sharing their experiences alumni not only create value for the university but also contribute to innovation development. “Alumni involvement allows students to see real career opportunities, while the business community finds new talents with fresh ideas and solutions,” she explained. Dr. Serzante presented the opportunities and benefits available to university alumni: free studies in elective courses, the chance to exercise for free at the Sports and Arts Centre, free or discounted participation in university-organized conferences, a 10% discount on second bachelor’s or master’s studies, among others. Darius Snieska, President of the VILNIUS TECH Alumni and Friends Club, encouraged greater alumni community involvement in university activities. He pointed out that alumni can provide support not only through advice but also by actively participating in university reforms and development projects. “Alumni can provide invaluable experience and help the university adapt to market needs,” said Snieska. VILNIUS TECH Rector Prof. Dr. Romualdas Kliukas emphasized that alumni and the business community ideas are always welcome at the university and invited them to contribute more actively to university initiatives. “We are open to new ideas and always appreciate alumni initiatives that contribute to the university's growth and benefits both the academic community and businesses,” stated the rector. Prof. Dr. Donatas Cygas, Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Engineering, presented changes and key reforms within his faculty. He drew a special attention to the support of alumni and business that contributes to the university’s scholarship system. “Many business representatives are already supporting university reforms by providing scholarships to the best students. This is an important step toward attracting talented youth and fostering innovation,” the dean remarked. Doc. Dr. Raimondas Grubliauskas, head of the Sustainability Centre, identified sustainability as one of the main strategic goals of universities. He noted that sustainability is not only an environmental protection measure but also a crucial factor in business decision-making. “A sustainable university is our aspiration, as it opens up opportunities for long-term growth that benefits society as a whole,” said Dr. Grubliauskas. The main speaker of the event, Tomas Dauskurdas, a graduate of Building Energy and head of “Lords LB Asset Management – ESG,” emphasized that sustainability is not just a “nice idea” but part of business decision-making. He spoke about the importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles, corporate responsibility, and efforts to comply with EU sustainability standards. “Forward-thinking companies regard sustainability as a key decision-making factor, as it determines their long-term competitiveness,” he stated. Dauskurdas also pointed out the EU taxonomy requirements that direct investments toward sustainable projects. The VILNIUS TECH alumnus emphasized that integrating sustainability into business processes and monitoring risks is necessary not only due to regulatory environments but also because of increasing attention from investors and consumers. It was also highlighted that sustainability is not a short-term trend; it is a long-term strategy that helps organizations grow and become more competitive. The Alumni Evening demonstrated that collaboration between universities and businesses can become a significant force encouraging a responsible and sustainable action from both the academic and business communities. Alumni engagement and sustainability solutions are integral to modern responsible business practices, so the future university should consistently integrate these ideas into its strategy and activities. We invite you to participate in other Alumni Evenings. The next event, titled “Robotic Solutions: What is holding back progress and how artificial intelligence is changing production?” will take place on November 19 at 6 PM at the VILNIUS TECH Faculty of Mechanics, in the Industrial Robotics Laboratory, Plytines st. 25. More information will soon be posted in the alumni Facebook group. We encourage active registration, as the number of participants is limited: https://forms.office.com/e/vZX47SUv0B   Speaker Slides Shared: Dr. Milena Serzante, Director of the VILNIUS TECH Strategic Partnership Center Universiteto ir jo alumnų partnerystė Doc. Dr. Raimondas Grubliauskas, Director of the VILNIUS TECH Sustainability Center Tvarumo centro vizija, misija ir veiklos Tomas Dauskurdas, Graduate of Building Energy, Head of “Lords LB Asset Management - ESG” Inžinieriaus vaidmuo įgyvendinant tvarumo tikslus