Vladislav Kežun
Vladislav Kežun is a distance-learning bachelor’s student in Aviation Management study program and living in sunny Bangkok, where he is working in the sales department for FL Technics: MRO Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Services company for the past few years. Vladislav talks about his career in aviation and the peculiarities of this sector.
How did you decide to start your career in the aviation sector? What makes this job interesting and how did you find yourself in Bangkok?
Before working in the aviation sector, I worked in sales for a while with industrialists. However, very quickly I realized that the industrial sector in Lithuania is not very large and there are few prospects. I looked at different sectors and by chance saw an advertisement that an airline was looking for employees. My job interview took place at the Lithuanian airport, and I still remember some conversation word for word “If you have already got into aviation, it is unlikely that you will get out of it.” The words seemed fateful for me.
I have been working for the FL Technics for 4 years. Our market is very large: the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia, so I have been living and working in one of the company’s divisions based in Bangkok.
What does your workday look like?
If the day starts in the office in the morning, I first spend a few hours reading and replying to emails, finishing up my meetings, and getting ready for new ones.
There is no monotony in my work, I have to spend a lot of time flying for meetings with clients. My responsibility is to develop the Asian market, and of course, to make as many successful sales transactions as possible.
Do you sell aircraft parts? what amounts we are talking about and who are your buyers? In what circumstances may a buyer need, for example, an aircraft engine?
The sums are really impressive – we are talking about millions of transactions. The main customers are airlines from different countries. Aircraft engines are one of the most expensive parts of an aircraft. In terms of demand, it occurs when an old engine wears out. Airplanes are designed to last for a long time (e.g., American airplanes have a lifespan of about 30 years), but engine life is fairly perpetual, much like a car’s engine condition is determined by mileage. Therefore, the engines need to be replaced or repaired after some time.
The work is fun, doing well, so what inspired you and why did you decide to start studying Aviation Management?
I studied business management at another high school, but the studies did not live up to my expectations. I studied many different disciplines, but nothing specific. When working with classic sales, such knowledge may be sufficient, but in my case, the chosen field of aviation is very specific and such general knowledge is not enough.
The FL Technics pays a lot of attention to their staff development: I had more than 10 different types of trainings during my first year at work. Those trainings made me realize, how big the industry is and how much space is available for the growth and expansion. This probably had the biggest impact on my decision to study Aviation Management and earn a bachelor’s degree in this niche field.
How do you rate such a choice today? How do you manage to combine work with studies?
Reconciling work with studies is great, Thailand is 4 hours ahead of Lithuania, after work I can listen to all the lectures. In my studies, I highly appreciate the skills and dedication of the teachers. They are not only strong in theoretical knowledge but also practitioners, who are experts in aviation and understand the size, importance, and scale of the market. This form of study is very convenient for a working person, for example, if I have an important meeting with a client in China and I can’t miss it, so I can deliver my homework a few days later, or if I can’t attend lectures remotely “live”, I have the possibility to view the uploaded lecture later. Such understanding, convenience, and individual attention are immensely valuable.
Who would you recommend distance Aviation Management studies?
This is a very specific area, so I recommend distance learning Aviation Management studies for those who already working in the sector and have the basic knowledge to understand the subjects or the terminology. It is also better for students if they are from the same industry. Hence, they can speak the same aviation language, grow their network and share their diverse work experiences of domestic or international airlines.
Read more about Aviation Management Online Study Programme.
Kazimieras Simonavičius University, in cooperation with Vilnius Legal Hackers, is organising an open lecture on Legal Tech Trends in 2020. The lecture will be held on 18th of May at 10 AM by Dr. Martynas Mockus. Duration – 45min.
Topic: Legal Tech Trends in 2020
You will learn:
Dr. Martynas Mockus
Martynas Mockus holds Joint International Doctoral (Ph.D.) Degree in Law, Science, and Technology (http://www.last-jd.eu/) issued by 5 European universities. He was lecturing and lead students, lawyers and public servants in law and computer science domain since 2005. His research interests are legal ontologies, legislation 2.0, and legal issues of disruptive technologies and phenomenons. A few of Martynas’s accomplishments and roles have included:
Registration. Participation is free of charge but the registration is mandatory.
We invite you to participate in an open lecture “The difficult challenge of Cross-Cultural Communication during quarantine period” which will be held on 14th of May at 2 PM. Lecture speaker – Dr. Javed Imran, lecturer at Kazimieras Simonavičius University Business School. Duration of the lecture – 45 min.
Normal life as people knew it has come to a hold after quarantine, restrictions on free movement and nationwide lockdowns. The different ways each nation coping with the huge challenge of coronavirus pandemic and confronting economic and social risks is broadly revealing a lot about their nation’s distinct character and cultural environment. This sudden change and Slowbalization can badly affect us directly or indirectly at personal and or professional level. To deal with the current and post coronavirus challenge, rapid and effective cross-cultural communication is inevitable.
What you will learn in this lecture:
Who this lecture is for:
Dr. Javed Imran (KSU photo)
Dr. Javed Imran teaches Intercultural Communication at KSU Business School and coordinates KSU International programs. He has more than 10 years of experience in the areas of cross-cultural communication, international collaborations, cross-cultural negotiations and international development. He taught in several prestigious universities in Asia and Europe, highlighting mainly the links between diversity, dialogue and development, and fostering global mutual understanding.
He has also provided Internationalization Strategies Advisory Service to institutional leaders and teams interested in developing or reviewing their internationalization policy, strategy, in various programs.
Participation is free of charge but registration is mandatory. Please, register here.
Since last September, Kazimieras Simonavičius University offers not only the full-time form of Aviation Management studies, but also full-time online studies. Online Studies allows lectures and consultations to be held remotely. Kazimieras Simonavičius University is the only university in Lithuania that provides Aviation Management studies onsite and online. Online learning is tailored to working people – students can study wherever they are and when they are able to.
Working in aviation requires industry-specific knowledge, both if the employee works in an administrative field or in an aircraft crew. Some employees start their work without knowing the peculiarities of the sector, so they have to deepen their knowledge not only by working, but also by studying.
Those who want to know better what online learning is, we invite to participate in the open online lecture “Aviation and COVID-19: The Path to Recovery” which is going to be held by KSU Aviation Management lecturer Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anil Padhra on the 5th of May at 6 PM.
More information and registration: https://bit.ly/2yVTw0e
More information about Aviation Management online studies: https://bit.ly/2WdqyRn
KSU partner – Algebra International university (Croatia) invites students to spend the summer in a meaningful and interesting way by participating in the distance Summer School, which will take place on July 5-25.
KSU students will receive a 5% discount on the total price.
Courses offered:
• Artificial intelligence;
• Cyber security;
• Branding;
• Data-driven storytelling.
All offered courses are 6 or 3 ECTS credits, so it is possible to transfer earned credit back to your home institution where you are presently enrolled in a degree program.
Registration is open until May 15, 2020.
All information and registration: https://bit.ly/2xVXlCn
Jonny Andersen
This week a new visiting lecturer – Jonny Andersen, who will teach Ground Services Management, joined the team of lecturers of the Aviation Management study programme at Kazimieras Simonavičius University Business School.
Jonny Andersen is seasoned and tested aviation executive with 25 years of extensive global experience and expertise in leading change, directing airport and ground operations, providing business transformations and managing infrastructure projects.
He has worked as CEO of Kenya Airports Authority where he oversaw an organization with 2000 employees running operations and development of 18 state owned aerodromes in Kenya. Before joining Kenya Airports Authority in Nairobi, Kenya, he worked as Director National Airports at Avinor in Norway with the responsibility of running six airports in Norway. During his course of employment, he also held the position as Senior Vice President Ground Operations at AirBaltic in Latvia.
He is a guest lecturer at the University of Geneva, teaches airport strategy for IATA clients around the world and advices among others AIRBUS on different airport related matters.
Highlights of expertise:
Jonny Andersen is the founder of AirportWorks, an independent advisory practice for airport operators, private and public airport owners as well as institutional investors and regional development banks. AirportWorks provides, through its network of global industry experts, advice in the areas of airport privatization, sustainable optimization of airport systems, infrastructure development and airport strategy planning.
Jonny holds a Master of Science degree from Cranfield University in the UK. He is an associate of Modalis Infrastructure Partners Inc. in Canada and has since 2016 been a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS).
“We are glad that the team of lecturers in Aviation Management study program at KSU is growing rapidly and academic positions are filled by excellent and well-known aviation experts, practitioners, and professors from all over the world. This allows to ensure the exceptional quality of the modules taught in the study program, and at the same time shows that this study program and its team of professional teachers are not subjacent to other famous aviation study programs in Europe”, says Deimantė Žilinskienė, KSU Business School Director.
Kazimieras Simonavičius University in cooperation with Lithuanian Association of Hotels and Restaurants, is organising an open lecture named “Tourism, hospitality and experience industry of Tomorrow”. On April 30th 10 AM, the lecture will be given by Vesa Heikkinen, a Finnish expert of tourism, hospitality, food industry and services. The lecture is intended for tourism professionals, partners, lecturers, students and graduates of Kazimieras Simonavičius University. Duration of the lecture – 45 min.
The topics of the lecture:
Vesa Heikkinen Antero is a Future Researcher in the fields of tourism hospitality, food industry and services. He is a Senior advisor on European tourism, hospitality, experience and food industry, service innovations, principle lecturer at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, and Expert columnist of Aromi journal. He holds a doctoral degree in Pedagogy.
Vesa Heikkinen
Vesa Heikkinen Antero’s research, innovation and teaching areas:
Registration will be held here up to April 29th.
An open lecture, named “Aviation and COVID-19: The path to recovery”, by Dr. Anil Padhra, associate professor at Business School of Kazimieras Simonavičius University, will be held on May 5 at 18 PM.
The lecture is intended for aviation professionals, partners lecturers, students, graduates of Kazimieras Simonavičius University and for all who is interested.
Duration of the lecture – 45 min.
Anil Padhra – KSU Aviation Management bachelor’s study programme visiting associate professor for International Aviation and Aviation Finance modules, Head of Aviation at the University of West London. Anil is a Member of Royal Aeronautical Society, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
He previously held positions as a Senior Lecturer and Principal Lecturer in Aviation at universities in the UK. Anil has experience in developing and designing aviation courses for managers, commercial airline pilots and air traffic controllers. Prior to joining Higher Education, Dr. Padhra held operational roles with NATS (Air Traffic Management), easyJet airline (Operations Research) and British Airways (Aerodrome and Aircraft Performance).
Lecturer holds an Aerospace Engineering degree from the University of Liverpool, a Master’s degree in Aeronautics from Imperial College London and a PhD in Meteorology from University of Reading.
Registration will be held here up to May 4.
Kazimieras Simonavičius University is accepting applications for its Aviation Management Online Studies Programme.
Read more on it at: https://bit.ly/2Sbh9ZJ
Augustė Bajorūnaitė (KSU photo)
Augustė Bajorūnaitė has been carving the sky of the United Arab Emirates for more than four years. The work of a flight attendant takes her to the most interesting and unexpected places in the world. Since September, a new venture has appeared on Augustė’s agenda – Vilnius, Kazimieras Simonavičius University, where she started studying aviation management remotely.
How did it happen that you chose a job of a flight attendant also known as a dream profession?
I never thought of working as a flight attendant as a dream profession. I was working in the real estate sector, while browsing on Facebook, I noticed an announcement that a new crew team was being hired for United Arab Emirates airlines. I thought I would try. I didn’t set high expectations for myself; I was relaxed. Maybe that’s why I passed all the selection stages quite easily and went to Dubai as early as next week. Everything happened very quickly. Thus, began my career as a flight attendant.
What does your typical workday look like?
All days are different. The day and night have no meaning in this work, such as one morning I travel to Australia, the next morning to Dubai. If we have domestic short flight, we fly and return home, but if we have an international flight, we have 2 days off in an another city, and this is enough time to explore the new city, but lack of sleep and the so-called Jet lag sometimes is a challenge.
Also, we should always be well prepared and ready in neat uniforms, hairstyles and makeup before each flight. We can’t turn blonde to brunette overnight, such experiments with looks have to be forgotten.
Maybe you’d like to share an interesting incident that happened during flight that passengers never knew about?
There have been no serious or critical events in my practice yet. There were a few minor cases when we flew to Tanzania and found ourselves right next to a spinning whirlwind. We had to turn a few wheels before the weather changed and we could land.
There are some funny situations when dealing with passengers from different cultures. If we fly from Moscow, we have to monitor the amount of alcohol people consume. One passenger, who had multiple alcoholic drinks, slept so deeply that his awakening was only possible with the shouting of Russian army teams.
The most interesting thing is to watch the passengers flying to Mecca to perform Hajj (a pilgrimage of Muslims that takes place every year). After a certain distance to Mecca, the captain informs the passengers and people start washing and wearing religious clothes called Ihram. From that moment on, flight attendants cannot touch passengers. We also change into formal wear ourselves and thus pay our respects.
Your job is interesting but at the same time risky, maybe it influenced you to think about prospects in aviation, or changing your career direction? What prompted you to choose distance aviation management studies?
Work is really fun and engaging but not for a lifetime, it would be too hard to work in such a stressful mode. Therefore, I started thinking about what I would like to do in the future, and I realized that I really want to stay in aviation industry. I started to think about higher studies but working in such a job makes it very difficult to work and study on campus on permanent bases. I was wondering how I could manage this, but luckily, I discovered distance Aviation Management studies.
Augustė Bajorūnaitė (KSU photo)
How do you assess your choice today, is work and study compatible?
I am very happy with these studies. Firstly, because it is very easy to combine work and studies: lectures are recorded, so you can join and listen at any day and hour. Teachers are not only academics but also practitioners, which is very important because aviation is a very specific field. Co-students are also from all over the world. I recently flew to Bangkok, where I met a classmate living there and working for FL Technics, and later we met in lectures in Vilnius. The third important factor was price. Compared to the Asian and European universities I have considered, the tuition fee offered by this university was the best.
I would recommend this study program first to those who already work in the aviation sector, as it is much easier to understand all the processes that take place in aviation when you have at least a minimum basic knowledge of course, I recommend distance learning to those who have a strong determination and willpower, because there will be no professors or classmates nearby during the lectures, you have to be independent and take the responsibly for yourself.
Read more about Aviation Management Online Study Programme.
A partner of Kazimieras Simonavičius University Big Data Excellence Centre, Futures Platform, has created a view of the world after COVID-19. As Futures Platform team wants to show its support to organisations around the world, access to foresight radar is free of charge.
The radar displays a holistic view of the world after Covid-19 with important drivers of change, and the latest news regarding them. On this radar you can see all aspects of the change, which hopefully will help you in decision-making and planning for the future.
The news on the topics is refreshing daily. Futures Platform futurists are also continuously researching the topic and they will update the radar with new findings. Thus the radar is worth visiting frequently.
To access radar click here.
Diogenis Papiomytis
A remote lecture, named “The State of the Aviation Industry post COVID-19”, by Diogenis Papiomytis, a lecturer at Business School of Kazimieras Simonavičius University, will be held on April 20 at 5 PM. The lecture is intended for aviation professionals, partners lecturers, students and graduates of Kazimieras Simonavičius University. Duration of the lecture – 45 min.
Diogenis Papiomytis – KSU Aviation Management bachelor’s study programme visiting lecturer for International Aviation module, Senior Manager at IATA Consulting. He is an expert of industry research reports and strategy consulting projects, with clients coming from Airlines, Airports, Aircraft Manufacturing and Aviation Aftermarket segments. Lecturer has an experience in the Commercial Aviation research and consulting practice of Frost & Sullivan, a global aviation consultancy. He previously worked in Corporate Strategy department as Corporate strategy Manager of CEO Office at Etihad Airways and as a Senior Lecturer in Aviation Studies at Buckinghamshire New University in the UK. Diogenis holds a BA (Hons) in Modern Languages and International Business, a MSc in Air Transport Management from Cranfield University and a MBA from Cass Business School at London City University.
Kazimieras Simonavičius University’s Big Data Competence Centre, in cooperation with the team at the strategic insight tool Futures Platform, is organising an open lecture on future insights named “Future or futures?” The lecture speaker will be Finnish scientist, futurologist and insights expert Dr. Tuomo Kuosa. The remote lecture will be held on April 8 at 4PM. We invite you to participate!
Often we associate predicting the future with mysticism, however, for long years now, this has also been an object of scientific study. Future insights are a means of thinking about the future, pondering on it and planning, creating innovations in various areas of public activities in pursuit of increased efficiency and increasing competitiveness in the face of contemporary global changes.
Futures Platform expert, futurologist Dr. Tomas Kuosa, who holds 15 years of experience in strategic insights, the development of future studies methodology and other areas related to future predictions will discuss:
Registration will be held here up to April 7.
Dr. Tuomo Kuosa
Dr. Tuomo Kuosa is one of the founders of Futures Platform, the head futurologist and the director of the content team. He has more than 15 years of experience in strategic insights, horizon scanning, scenario, future studies methodology creation, public change forecasting and lectures on the future. Dr. T. Kuosa has written tens of academic works and four books on insights. He works in Finland and Singapore, consulting various organisations around the world.
Futures Platform is a strategic insights tool, which helps companies plan their operations in consideration of changes looming in the future. The tool was created and commercialised by Finnish scientists and specialists in 2016. It allows to foresee trends and form a broad perception of social changes in technology, economics, the environment and politics. The unique Futures Platform information vault holds data on more than 700 future phenomena. More about Futures Platform can be found here: https://bit.ly/2QXhm1N
Big data studies, research and practical application are some of the priorities of Kazimieras Simonavičius University, thus the university has founded its Big Data Competence Centre – a platform for international big data and data economics cooperation. More about the centre can be found here: https://bit.ly/3bFW8xe
Kazimieras Simonavičius University is accepting applications for its Future Insights and Strategic Management Studies Programme. This is the first educational future studies programme in Lithuania. Read more on it at: https://bit.ly/2R31bjJ
