Lithuanians in the U.S. and Canada discover career opportunities in Lithuania
Funding allocated by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation (EIMIN) this year made it possible to expand the “Lithuanian Diaspora Student Internship Program” (LISS) and accept 34 undergraduate and graduate students of Lithuanian descent from the U.S. and Canada. During their five-week stay in Lithuania, they completed professional internships, familiarized themselves with the country’s business and innovation ecosystem, the activities of government institutions, and career opportunities.
“We want to show the younger generation how Lithuania is growing; after all, we are a modern, technologically advanced, and innovative country where world-class products are created, cutting-edge businesses are developed, and professional opportunities abound. This experience, which the ministry is helping to facilitate, not only strengthens their connection to Lithuania but also encourages them to return in the future and build a life here,” says Edvinas Grikšas, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
Participants in the internship program also visited the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, where they discussed career opportunities in Lithuania and innovation with Minister E. Grikšas and learned about the country’s economic situation. In addition, the young people completed professional internships at Lithuanian companies, organizations, and government institutions in line with their fields of study. These included the Bank of Lithuania, Invest Lithuania, ILTE, the Innovation Agency, the Center for Life Sciences at Vilnius University, SEB Global Services, Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics, INHUS, and other organizations. Upon successfully completing the program, the students received five university credits.
During the internship program, the students also visited Lithuanian companies and innovation centers – Atrandi Biosciences, Elinta Group, BIOK LAB, “Nasdaq Vilnius,” “Lighthouse HUB,” and the Port of Klaipėda; they met with representatives from the business and public sectors, visited government institutions, traveled throughout Lithuania’s regions, and deepened their knowledge of the Lithuanian language.
Given the geopolitical situation, this year’s internship program placed greater emphasis on civic preparedness. Students participated in lectures and hands-on sessions on civil defense, building resilience, and the role of diaspora youth in civic resistance. They also contributed to efforts to support Ukraine by weaving camouflage nets for Ukrainian defenders.
Participants in the internship program said that their five weeks in Lithuania allowed them to see the country through a completely different lens. Andrius Marchertas, who studies finance and analytics at the University of Minnesota, has already applied to intern in Lithuania again next summer following his internship at ILTE, while Ūla Baranovskytė, who interned at the Center for Life Sciences at Vilnius University, said that after the program she has a much more realistic idea of what opportunities might be available to her in Lithuania. Some of the young people who completed the internship program in previous years have already returned to Lithuania – they live, study, and work here.
The LISS internship program, organized by the Lithuanian American Community, is designed for students of Lithuanian descent in the U.S. and Canada. Its goal is to provide young people in the diaspora with the opportunity to gain professional experience in Lithuania, strengthen their ties to the country, and showcase the potential of modern Lithuania’s economy, innovation, and technology. The Ministry of Economy and Innovation supports the program’s activities, which help young people gain a better understanding of Lithuania’s business environment, innovation ecosystem, and career opportunities.