Baltic Institute of Technology: digitalization accelerates our efficiency

Since 2016, the Baltic Institute of Technologies has been organizing digital professions training for adults who want to acquire new professional skills or deepen their knowledge in the field of technology. Among the training programs offered are cybersecurity, data analytics, programming, testing, process automation, digital design and others.  

Currently, the Baltic Institute of Technologies is taught by more than 200 experts in their field, who have work experience in the largest IT companies both in Lithuania and in other countries. The training is focused on the practical part and future skills. Since its establishment, the Baltic Institute of Technologies has already prepared and graduated more than 4 thousand graduates. 

Although the COVID-19 pandemic that swept the world a few years ago is almost forgotten, it is precisely because of it that distance learning has become more active. As Lina Skrupskelienė, head of the Baltic Institute of Technologies, recalls, before the pandemic, most of the training took place live, in classrooms, although those gathered at that time still sat at computers.  

“The training directions we have chosen, focused on digital technologies, are inseparable from the use of the latest technologies. For us, the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the possibilities of distance learning, and at the moment we cannot even imagine that it could be otherwise. Especially since our students, adults, many of whom have small children or live in other cities, find it more convenient to sit down to study remotely after returning home from work than to go to an educational institution,” says L. Skrupskelienė.  

With the digitalization of training solutions, the desire to expand the use of digital solutions for everyday administrative needs has also naturally matured. Among them is the signing of documents remotely with eSignatures.  

“Like all educational institutions, we follow all the procedures applied to us by the Ministry of Education and Science and we keep records. Sometimes up to 100 signatures on different documents may be required per day. Physically processing such a volume of documents – printing, signing, scanning or sending by mail – is too complicated, and the time allocated for this could be used much more efficiently,” says the head of the Baltic Institute of Technologies. 

After transitioning to 100 percent electronic document signing, L. Skrupskelienė jokes that, as a result, the printer ink cartridges at the Baltic Institute of Technology are almost drying out. 

“Signing documents with an eSignature is not only a sustainable solution (because we reduce printing costs). but we can also ensure data protection. When sending a contract or other important document by email, there is no guarantee that important data will not fall into the hands of cybercriminals or unauthorized people – it could be that at that time the person’s email is “hacked” or they do not have access. Meanwhile, when an invitation to sign a document is sent to a person with “Mark Sign”, they must identify themselves, which is why both we, as the initiators of the contract, and the person signing are more protected,” says L. Skrupskelienė.  

According to her, it is worth celebrating that digitalization is currently taking place not only among business enterprises, but also among public sector organizations.  

“Until recently, we had to carry boxes full of documents to the ministry, now everything is handled electronically. It is only a matter of time before all state institutions will have fully transitioned to such more efficient documentation management and eSignatures.” concludes the head of the Baltic Institute of Technology.