Lithuania’s global network of professionals, Global Lithuanian Leaders, in association with the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists is proud to announce the launch of a new program called Talent for Lithuania. The program aims to attract bright Lithuanian graduates of foreign universities to Lithuania for paid professional internships at leading companies operating in Lithuania. The goal: to bring the value of international education to the Lithuanian labor market.
Companies that are joining the growing list of program participants include AIG, Altechna, Barclays, Devbridge, Eika, Eldes, Elinta, Light Conversion, Metasite, Schmitz Cargobull, and Swedbank.
“Each internship will provide a unique experience. Interns will work on specific projects and deal with various issues and challenges that participating companies face,” says Global Lithuanian Leaders Managing Director Kotryna Stankutė-Jaščemskienė. “Companies will be encouraged to set ambitious tasks for interns. For them, in turn, the experience will lead to valuable professional contacts, mentorship and possibly also employment opportunities.”
“There are many Lithuania-based companies that are major players in the global market due to their innovative products and services. They are highly interested in young and motivated employees with a high quality education, because the success of these companies greatly depends on it,” notes Robertas Dargis, President of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists.
Stankutė-Jaščemskienė points out that the interest expressed by companies and their willingness to participate in the program show that business in Lithuania welcomes internationally-educated Lithuanians to their teams.
“We are starting with ten well-known companies and are already compiling an even longer list of companies eager to join us in the next round. The program will be a great tool for work-based learning for recent graduates and for companies – a channel to recruit new colleagues,” says Stankutė-Jaščemskienė.
The founders of the program also hope it will promote the culture of paid internships in Lithuania. This is the reason why the first ten participating companies are so highly valued by the organizers. These companies have agreed that the internships offered by Talent for Lithuania will provide a modest allowance for living expenses. Additionally, European graduates who have graduated less than one year ago can apply for Erasmus+ stipends.
It is expected that the new Talent for Lithuania website will evolve into a database of young Lithuanian professionals who have graduated from foreign universities but are interested in opportunities for professional advancement in Lithuania.
The deadline for the first round of applications is December 10, 2015. More information about the program is available at www.stazuokis.lt.