In November, Prof. Dr. Dainius Jasaitis assumed the position of Dean of the Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute (AGAI). His vision includes plans to continue the work already underway, implement new yet long-matured ideas, and contribute to the continued growth of AGAI: “For me, it is important not only to maintain what has already been created, but also to bring people together, encourage their initiatives, provide opportunities for professional growth, and achieve new results together.”
– How many years have you been part of the university?
I have been a member of the VILNIUS TECH community for 25 years. After completing my bachelor’s degree in physics, I decided that I wanted to pursue engineering further, so I enrolled in a master’s program at the VILNIUS TECH Department of Physics, Faculty of Fundamental Sciences.
Right at the start of my master’s studies, two professors noticed me and actively encouraged me to pursue an academic path, enter doctoral studies, and launch a scientific career. I won’t deny that I considered it for a long time—it was a major decision—but I felt this direction was truly close to my heart. I also loved the university itself: its academic environment, its people, and its community. In my very first year as a PhD student, I began working as an assistant lecturer at the Department of Physics. That marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life, which continues to this day.
– What roles did you hold at AGAI and the university prior to becoming Dean?
After defending my doctoral dissertation, I spent several years teaching physics to students at the Faculty of Civil Engineering. Later, the Head of the Department of Physics at the time, Prof. Habil. Dr. Antanas Čenys, suggested that I start teaching physics to students at the Antanas Gustaitis Aviation Institute. Since then, my professional career has been closely linked with AGAI for nearly 15 years.
During this time, I became an associate professor and later a full professor. Alongside my teaching activities, I conducted scientific research at the Radiation Research Laboratory, which I later went on to lead. Subsequently, I was appointed Head of the Department of Physics and was also elected to the University Senate.
Five years ago, when the new Rector took office, I was invited to join the newly formed AGAI administrative team as Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs. The AGAI environment was already very familiar to me: I had taught here for many years—first at the Rodūnios Street facility and later at the Linkmenų Street campus—and I knew many of the lecturers and administrative staff. Therefore, it wasn’t an unfamiliar environment, but rather a natural step forward in my career.
Studies have always been one of the areas closest to my heart. I chair the Studies and Students Committee of the University Senate and serve as a member of the Study Evaluation Commission at the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (SKVC). This experience has allowed me to view educational processes not only from the perspective of an educator or faculty administration, but from the vantage point of the university as a whole.
– What is your area of specialization? Why did you choose it?
My research field is environmental physics. During my doctoral studies, I investigated ionizing radiation in living environments. My dissertation supervisor was Prof. Dr. Aloyzas Girgždys—one of Lithuania’s leading specialists in atmospheric physics, who worked at and led the Institute of Physics for many years. Working alongside him showed me just how vast and interdisciplinary environmental physics is, bridging diverse disciplines such as physics, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, and information technology. Moreover, this field has strong intersections with aviation, its technologies, and operational processes.
When I joined AGAI, I began supervising master’s theses, and currently, I am also advising a PhD student whose research is distinctly practical and interdisciplinary, connecting environmental physics and aviation. The dissertation investigates the possibilities of monitoring ionizing radiation using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs / drones). I believe such interdisciplinary topics capture the true essence of modern science, combining knowledge and technology from different sectors to solve real-world problems.
– What motivated you to accept the challenge and take on the role of Dean?
I originally joined the Institute as a team with the then-Dean of AGAI, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Linas Juknevičius. I am very glad that from the very beginning, we shared a common work ethic, values, and vision for where the Institute needed to head. We routinely consulted each other before making decisions, exchanged ideas, celebrated successes, and, of course, worked very hard.
The former Dean accomplished a great deal of goals and oversaw significant initiatives. His work was recognized and valued by the university leadership, leading to an invitation to join the Rector’s team. In turn, I was offered the opportunity to take the helm of the Institute.
I accepted this invitation as an opportunity to carry forward the work that had been started, implement ideas that had been maturing over time, and contribute to the further growth of AGAI. For me, it is not just about sustaining what has already been built, but about bringing people together, fostering their initiatives, supporting professional advancement, and reaching new milestones together.
It is a great responsibility, but also an expression of trust. AGAI is more than just a workplace to me—nearly 15 years of my professional life are tied to this Institute, so its future is something I care about deeply.
– Having stepped into the Dean’s role, what are your main goals and objectives? How will you pursue them?
I believe AGAI is currently moving in the right direction. Over the past few years, the Institute has grown stronger in many areas: the student body is expanding, all study programs are accredited for the maximum term, academic and research infrastructure is expanding, and our numbers of PhD holders and doctoral candidates are rising. We have active international cooperation, ongoing scientific and academic projects, commercial research contracts, and specialized training programs for aviation professionals.
Therefore, one of my primary goals is to ensure the smooth continuation of the work already underway and to help the Institute keep growing stronger. However, maintaining the current standard alone is not enough. We must continually seek new opportunities to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving aviation industry.
I believe great results are achieved when people share a common purpose, trust one another, and feel that their work matters. I would like AGAI employees to remain proactive, feel encouraged to share ideas, take initiative, and work together toward improving the Institute. My goal is to foster an environment where staff feel appreciated and young specialists have ample room to grow professionally.
Another area I want to focus on is establishing a tighter link between studies and scientific research. I want research to be more deeply integrated into the curriculum, offering students greater opportunities to engage in scientific projects. This is beneficial to both students and lecturers, as it brings the coursework into closer alignment with cutting-edge trends in science and aviation technology.
– What will be your first priorities as you begin your term? What are your immediate tasks?
First of all, I want to assemble a strong team with whom we can work in unison, guided by a clear vision and mutual trust. Another critical task is ensuring the smooth continuity of the academic process. The study year is already well underway, so it is vital to keep all operations running smoothly and ensure students do not experience any disruptions due to administrative changes.
There is also a lot of practical work ahead regarding AGAI’s new infrastructure. Construction of the new annex to the Linkmenų building was completed this year, and the facility has been officially certified for use. The focus now is on bringing it to life—furnishing classrooms, the library, and dedicated spaces for student work and leisure. I am very keen to see AGAI students utilizing these new spaces as early as the spring semester.
Another specific and vital aspect of AGAI’s operations is flight training for the Aircraft Piloting program at our Kyviškės base. We already need to start preparing for the spring flight season: reviewing lessons learned from the previous season, scheduling operations, inspecting aircraft maintenance and airworthiness, and preparing for smooth flight training operations.
What makes AGAI distinctive is that we are not merely a traditional university faculty. We operate ten aircraft and flight simulators, and we conduct practical flight and air traffic control training; this requires harmonizing academic activities with stringent aviation safety, technical maintenance, and regulatory requirements. Managing all of this calls for immense coordination, planning, and accountability. Consequently, another key priority of mine is to ensure that the academic and practical aviation components are properly coordinated and function as a unified, seamless system.
– Are there any changes ahead for the faculty?
I believe that change is essential for any organization seeking growth. Even when results are strong, you cannot afford to stand still and assume everything has already been accomplished. The aviation sector is changing at a rapid pace—new technologies are emerging, market demands are evolving, and expectations for specialist competencies are constantly rising. The university must not merely respond to these shifts, but anticipate them.
However, change should never be pursued merely for the sake of the process. For me, every decision must serve a clear purpose and bring value to students, staff, and the Institute itself. I see great purpose in continuing to bridge science and studies, expanding international partnerships, exploring new project opportunities, and involving industry partners more actively in our study programs. It is equally important to provide good working conditions for proactive staff, support their professional development, and help students feel like an integral, valued part of the Institute’s community.
My goal is to preserve and strengthen what AGAI has already built, while continuously seeking new pathways for growth and development. I firmly believe the Institute has tremendous potential, and we will best unlock it by working together.
Galerija
