Lithuania is failing to retain talent – only one in 20 graduates remains in the country to work.
For Nethra, who comes from India, autumn in Lithuania is the best time for long walks. Yet six years ago, she did not even know where Lithuania was.
“I studied for my bachelor’s degree in France and was browsing online for the best universities in Europe. I found that Vilnius University is one of the oldest, providing an education on par with other European universities, and that the cost of living in Vilnius was affordable,” said Nethra, who now lives in Lithuania.
She has been in Lithuania for five years, completed a master’s degree in economics, and decided to stay and work here.
“Vilnius is the Silicon Valley of the Baltics. There are so many opportunities, so many start-ups, and the environment is very international. Also, the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s peaceful and beautiful, and in 15 minutes you can be in a park. A good work-life balance is very important to me,” said Nethra.
However, data collected by the capital’s foreign relocation and integration centre showed that Nethra was one of the few who stayed in the Lithuanian capital after studies.
“It’s a real shame, because the number of international students is growing rapidly – last academic year, there were around 6,000 in Vilnius alone. A large proportion of them are studying high-value-added professions and could easily strengthen the job market,” said International House Vilnius director Indrė Laučienė.
Lithuania is attractive to international students, many of whom come from South Asia, Germany, Morocco, and India, but the largest group is Ukrainians, according to Vilnius University.
“A good education, an EU diploma and a qualification recognised internationally – that’s what draws them here,” said Vice-Rector for Studies at Vilnius University Valdas Jaskūnas.
However, by investing in the education of foreign students, the country fails to reap the benefits of that investment.
“The main problem is that Lithuania, as a state, now has a business attraction strategy, but no talent or brain attraction strategy. If we look back, universities were the first to start competing for international students, as demographic decline and a sharp drop in student numbers became critical,” Jaskūnas.
He added that a previous study by the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education also showed that very few foreign students find employment in Lithuania after graduation, even though about one-fifth said they would like to stay.
“Language is a critical factor for foreigners – it’s one of the main reasons they leave Lithuania,” said Jaskūnas.
“There’s also a lack of connections – most believe that if they don’t have Lithuanian friends who can recommend them or write references, they won’t find a job. So some don’t even try, because those myths are deeply rooted,” said Laučienė from International House Vilnius.
Employers say there is still a shortage of highly qualified specialists in fields such as medicine, bioengineering, and high technology, and that both the state and employers themselves should do more to retain them.
“Of course, steps should be taken to keep them here. Employers also share responsibility – they should be more active in career fairs and more proactive in offering jobs to international graduates,” said Deputy Director-General of the Lithuanian Business Confederation Emilis Ruželė.
He also noted that integration should begin from day one. The state should provide more opportunities to learn Lithuanian, as the government currently emphasises language proficiency, but there is still a shortage of suitable courses.
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