Alumni benefits, sustainability, and innovation – a discussion on the future university and sustainability

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