VMU Agriculture Academy presents a new dual-degree program “Aquamatics”: a sustainable future – in the hands of highly knowledgeable specialists | VDU Žemės ūkio akademija

VMU Agriculture Academy presents a new dual-degree program “Aquamatics”: a sustainable future – in the hands of highly knowledgeable specialists

How to address the challenges posed by climate change – this thought is relentlessly discussed in the minds of those shaping a sustainable future. To create harmony between resource use and the needs of humanity, highly educated specialists are required. In response to this need, Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) presents a new dual-degree Master’s program in English, “Aquamatics”, created in collaboration with the Silesian University in Katowice, Poland.

Knowledge delivered by professors from three universities

Raimundas Baublys, a lecturer at the Department of Water Engineering at VMU Agriculture Academy Faculty of Engineering, junior researcher, and one of the creators of the “Aquamatics” program, reveals that this program is unique in that it combines natural and engineering sciences, which provides greater opportunities for graduates to view current environmental protection issues and problems in a much broader and deeper way, addressing both theoretical and practical water management issues by linking environmental protection, engineering, and sustainability.

“This enables graduates of the program to be highly educated specialists. The program is structured so that VMU provides knowledge in engineering and the necessary skills, while Silesian University professors deliver knowledge in biology and natural sciences and develop practical skills through hands-on activities,” says Raimundas Baublys. He adds that the dual-degree program stands out in that students spend one semester studying at another university involved in the program’s creation.

“In our case, students in this program study their second semester at Silesian University, and students from Silesian University enrolled in the program come to Vytautas Magnus University to study engineering modules in the third semester. Finally, students prepare and defend their final theses at the university they enrolled in. It is also worth mentioning that some modules are taught by professors from the University of Trieste in Italy, which further enhances the program’s uniqueness. The program is taught in English, which might seem like an additional challenge to some, but given that students will gain knowledge and skills taught in English by professors from three universities, we view this as another aspect of the program’s distinctiveness and versatility. Graduates will be able to apply their skills in the international market,” says Raimundas Baublys.

Raimundas Baublys, a lecturer at the Department of Water Engineering at VMU Agriculture Academy Faculty of Engineering, junior researcher, and one of the creators of the “Aquamatics” program

Water protection and sustainable development challenges – in the hands of graduates

Students of this program will be able to contribute to scientific projects carried out at the universities during their studies by selecting a topic for their final thesis. “Most of the ongoing projects are international, so participating in these activities will allow students to familiarize themselves with the principles of implementing international projects, expand their connections with foreign scientists, and, most importantly, their final thesis will be directly focused on current and future challenges, which, through scientific research, students will be prepared to solve. Moreover, if students want to delve deeper into their chosen topic, they will have all the opportunities to extend their research in doctoral studies, which opens even greater opportunities for both the student’s personal development and contributing to global scientific progress,” says the researcher, adding that graduates of the “Aquamatics” program will be well-prepared to contribute to solving current water protection and sustainable development challenges.

Graduates will face an international job market

Graduates of the “Aquamatics” program will be able to work in institutions that form and implement environmental policies: government and municipal institutions (Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Department under the Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Agency under the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, municipal administrations), as well as in the environmental and water management sectors as project planners and construction project managers, in the aquaculture sector, or, seeing new opportunities and niches in the market, they may even start their own businesses, applying their knowledge and implementing the latest technologies aimed at solving the newest challenges.

The group of creators of the international study program Aquamatics

“Of course, the education provided by this program will not only allow graduates to present themselves as specialists on the national market but also position them as highly knowledgeable specialists able to enter the international job market, presenting themselves as capable of solving challenges not only on a national but also an international level. With the changing climate and the increasing number of climate-related challenges, the demand for specialists in this field is rapidly growing, so graduates of this program will be well-prepared to contribute to solving these challenges,” says the researcher.

Looking for environmentally friendly solutions for a sustainable future

As creating a sustainable future becomes an increasingly common need and necessity, graduates of the “Aquamatics” program will not only be knowledgeable about the conservation of biodiversity and the responsible use of natural resources, but they will also contribute to the creation of a sustainable future. By studying modules such as Hydrology and Hydrogeology, Water Resource Management and Modeling, graduates of this program will be able to assess both surface and groundwater resources and their sustainable use in industry, production, and agriculture, where optimizing the use of water resources is becoming an increasingly urgent issue at both national and global levels.

“Focusing on these global changes, the “Aquamatics” program includes a module on Climate Change Crisis Management. Studying these and other issues, the anticipated modules such as Restoring Damaged Water Systems, Fish Resources, and Aquaculture, as well as delving into Hydraulic Structures and Hydropower, will be particularly beneficial. By applying remote sensing for environmental monitoring and agriculture, along with reliable data analysis, students will be equipped to make sustainable, eco-friendly decisions.This fosters the promotion of responsible consumption and production,” lists the researcher, highlighting the benefits provided by the “Aquamatics” program.