Prof. Dr. Antanas Čenys, Vice-rector for Research and Innovation at VGTU, notes that one of the most important news is higher scholarships for doctoral students. After so many years, the scholarships are finally higher than the national average net monthly salary, which was at 751,7 EUR in the last quarter of 2018. Starting this year, the first year doctoral students shall receive monthly scholarship of approx. 760 EUR, and second-fourth year doctoral students – 830 EUR.
“Until now doctoral studies have not been very popular and many doctoral students had to work in addition to their studies. The truth was that a doctoral student – young, smart, twenty-something person – could not subsist for 400-450 EUR per month and had to have additional income. We are very happy that the situation has changed. Now the scholarship matches the situation in the market. Moreover, doctoral students will be allowed to work part time at the university. They will have the right to teach or participate in projects,” says Vice-rector.
According to A. Čenys, the research topics of VGTU doctoral students meet the needs of modern business or focus on specific topics that are important for future scientists. Vice-rector says it is likely that higher scholarships will attract more of the latter doctoral students.
“The university is going hand in hand with the latest trends in the Lithuanian society; thus, PhD topics are in the areas of finance technologies, artificial intelligence, machine learning – research in these areas is especially promoted by the university. On the other hand, there are excellent master students who want to analyse the topic of their interest. In such case they find a supervisor, contact them, discuss the topic and start the work. Both ways are equally good. I believe that higher scholarships will be an additional incentive to choose the research path at the university, which often offers more freedom to realise one’s potential, than in business, which, usually, is more strictly regulated,” says A. Čenys.
Contributed to the research of internationally recognized scientists
Dr. Arvydas Rimkus, a senior researcher at VGTU’s Research Laboratory of Innovative Building Structures, notes that international aspects are also very important. A specialist, who received an award from the President HE Dalia Grybauskaitė for his PhD thesis, says that during his doctoral studies at VGTU he visited universities of Kobe (Japan), Ghent (Belgium), Girona (Spain), Minho (Portugal). Also he participated in numerous international conferences, cooperated with software developers from the Czech Republic, and contributed to the activities of FIB – a task group that works on the norms of construction.
“I have analysed theories, but also carried out experiments during my studies. VGTU’s laboratories in building structures are some of the most modern in the Baltic region. I have carried out experiments there, and, together with my colleagues, we have created a patented invention. Doctoral studies at VGTU provided me with opportunities to cooperate and contribute to the research of internationally recognised scientists. Active participation in international research networks is very rewarding in terms of professional development. It opens doors to high level research activities, and further international cooperation after the doctoral studies,” A. Rimkus shares his personal experience.
Vice-rector notes that PhD thesis is important not only to realise one’s research potential, but also for their long term career prospects. “If you look at the lifetime salary curve, you will notice that salary of a person with PhD increases constantly as compared to the person who does not have PhD. It is likely that at the start of career salaries are similar, but with time there is an increasing gap, and PhD in any research area gives you a competitive advantage,” says A. Čenys.
