Faculty of Philosophy

Sukurta: 14 December 2023

fsf 9 Universiteto, LT-01513 Vilnius
Tel. 266 7601
E-mail:
http://www.fsf.vu.lt
Dean – Prof. dr Jonas Dagys

STAFF
There are 265 academic staff and 95 doctoral students in the Faculty of Philosophy: 37 Professors, 73 Associate Professors, 7 Partnership Professors, 59 Assistant Professors, 5 Junior Assistant Professors, 8 Teaching Assistants, 38 Lecturers, 11 guest Lecturers, 9 Researchers, 18 Postdoctoral fellows.

INSTITUTES OF THE FACULTY
Institute of Asian and Transcultural Studies
Institute of Educational Sciences
Institute of Philosophy
Institute of Psychology
Institute of Sociology and Social Work

RESEARCH AREAS
• The historical genesis, nature and role of modern philosophy.
• Psychological factors of society, community and personality development.
• Educational policy in Lithuania: coherency issues within national and global ranges.
• Sociological analysis of the structure and change of society.
• Social work and social welfare development.

DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS MAINTAINED IN 2022
Edita aukienė – Children’s Sleep Problems and the Use of Modern Information Technologies: Interactions in the Early Developmental Period.
Dovydas Caturianas – Philosophy of Consciousness as the Centre of Political Philosophy in the works of Eric Voegelin.
Ieva Daniūnaitė – Links Between Negative Life Experiences, Posttraumatic Stress, and Psychosocial Functioning in Adolescence.
Marius Markuckas – The Idea of Transhumanism from the Perspective of Historical Ontology.
Timofej Murašov – The Problem of the Return to the Origins of Thinking in Lev Shestov’s Philosophy.
Raimonda Sadauskaitė – Preparing for Retirement: Psychological Factors in the Pre-Retirement Age and Links with the Psychological Well-Being During Retirement.
Vytautas Sinica – Philosophical Foundations of the Unification Project of Modern Europe.
Marija Vaštakė – Men and Women‘s Experiences of Reflexivity in Existential Therapy Supervision.
Veronika Urbonaitė-Barkauskienė – „Some Walls Just Get Dirty“: Fluid and Socially Constructed Graffiti Spaces of Vilnius – From the Late Soviet Era to 2022.
Dovilė Valaitė – The Interaction of Traditional Religious Therapy and Western Psychotherapy in Islam: A Comparative-Anthropological Study.

MAIN CONFERENCES ORGANIZED IN 2022
1. International conference "Old Discipline, New Trajectories: Theories, Methods and Practices in Anthropology", Vilnius University, Lithuania, June 16-18, 2022.
2. International conference "Philosophy and Logic: Historical and Contemporary Issues“, Vilnius University, Lithuania, May 27-28, 2022.
3. "Trauma and Culture". International conference of Cross-cultural Perspectives on Youth Stress and Resilience, Vilnius university, Lithuania, February 22, 2022 (online).
4. International Common Study Programme in Critical Criminology "Normalisation of Emergent Deviances: Re-Building the ‘Brave New World?" (Winter Common Session), Vilnius University, Lithuania, November 27-30, 2022.
5. International Doctoral School on Education Research, Druskininkai, Lithuania, December 6-10, 2022.

MAIN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2022
1. Victor C. De Munck and Elisa J. Sobo (eds.). 2022. The Anthropology of Power, Agency, and Morality: The Enduring Legacy of F. G. Bailey. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
2. Jakaitienė, A., Želvys, R., Raižienė, S., Dukynaitė, R., Stumbrienė, D., Vaitekaitis, J., Ringienė, L., Žilinskas, J., Žilinskas, A. (2022). (Un)measurable effectiveness and efficiency of education [(Ne)išmatuojamas švietimo efektyvumas ir našumas]. Monograph. Vilnius: VU leidykla.
3. Duoblienė, L., Baranova J. (posthumously). The Award of the Meilė Lukšienė Prize for the set of works "Educational philosophy for Lithuania: encouraging cultural literacy and philosophy discipline at school (2014-2022)". Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport.
4. Milerius, N., Narušytė, A., Davoliūtė, V., Brašiškis, L. Everyday Representations of War in Late Modernity. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2022.
5. Kazlauskas, E., Jovarauskaite, L., & Gelezelyte, O. (2022). Measuring Mental Health Professionals’ Trauma Care Competencies: Psychometric Properties of the Novel Readiness to Work with Trauma-Exposed Patients Scale. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0001231.
6. Sharp, C., Kerr, S., & Barkauskienė, R. (2022). The incremental utility of maladaptive self and identity functioning over general functioning for borderline personality disorder features in adolescents. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 13(5), 474–481. https://doi.org/10.1037/per0000547
7. Sociological Analysis of Society and Culture, 1922-2027, Prof. habil. Dr Zenonas Norkus (Project Supported by University Budget)

INSTITUTE OF ASIAN AND TRANSCULTURAL STUDIES

5 Universiteto, LT-01513 Vilnius
Tel./fax +370 268 7256
E-mail
http://www.atsi.fsf.vu.lt/en/
Director – Dr Kristina Garalytė

STAFF
Professors: Prof. (HP) Dr A. Beinorius, Prof. Dr D. Brandišauskas (part-time), Prof. Dr V. de Munck.
Associate professors: Dr K. Garalytė, Dr V. Jaskūnas (part-time), Dr R. Pranskevičiūtė-Amoson (part-time), Dr L. Poškaitė, Dr K. Šliavaitė (part-time), Dr D. Švambarytė, Dr D. Valančiūnas.
Associate professor in partnership: H. Ph. N. Diab.
Assistant professors: Dr E. Jančenkas (part-time), Dr K. Dolinina (part-time), Dr V. Korobov.
Teaching assistants:  B. Astrauskas (part-time), F. Belafatti (part-time), M. Ignotas, J. Ignotienė,  I. Kondrataitė (part-time), M. Larbi, Š. Rinkevičius (part-time), G. Sereikaitė (part-time).
Lecturers: V. Bačianskas (part-time), Han Wang (part-time), I. Nagytė (part-time), N. Statkienė, V. Vidūnas, T. Voicechovič, N. G. Vosyliūtė (part-time).
Guest lecturers: Assoc. Prof. Dr K. Andrijauskas, Assoc. Prof. Dr I. Balčaitė,  D. Janavičienė, A. Litvinas, Assist. Prof. Dr M. Lebednykaitė, J. Kašelionytė-Radet, Assoc. Prof. Dr G. Miškinienė, M. Orechova, J. Razumaitė, Assist. Prof. Dr K. Simonson, D. Yumru.
Senior researchers: Prof. Dr A. Beinorius, Prof. Dr V. de Munck.
Researchers: Dr R. Berniūnas, Dr V. Bartochevis, V. Dranseika, Dr K. Jonutytė, Dr E. Liutkevičius, Dr V. Silius.
Doctoral students: B. Astrauskas, I. Kondrataitė, D. Lobzang, D. Plachovičiūtė, Š. Rinkevičius, D. Sabaliauskienė, G. Sereikaitė-Motiejūnė, J. Stankus, U. B. Starkutė, M. Šulskutė.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Religion, philosophy and traditional knowledge systems in Asia
• Asian languages and literature
• Visual and performative cultures in Asia
• Human and animal relations
• Everyday religiosity: contemporary practices and lifestyles
• Identities in crisis

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2022
Projects Supported by the University Budget
Research theme: Cultural Studies of Asia (leader Prof. Dr Audrius Beinorius)

Main publications:

1. Dalia Švambarytė. 2022. Klasikinės japonų literatūros antologija. Vilnius: Vilniaus universiteto leidykla, 2022.
2. Renatas Berniūnas, Vytis Silius and Vilius Dranseika. 2022. Moralization East and West: Moralizing different transgressions among Chinese, Americans, and Lithuanians. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, vol. 25, no. 2, p. 185-197. DOI: 10.1111/ajsp.12479
3. Valaitė, Dovilė and Renatas Berniūnas. 2022. Majnūn or mental disorders: between cultural traditions and Western psychology in Jordan. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11013-022-09787-0

Research theme: Anthropology of Asia (leader prof. Dr Donatas Brandišauskas)

Main publications:

1. Victor C. De Munck and Elisa J. Sobo (eds.). 2022. The Anthropology of Power, Agency, and Morality: The Enduring Legacy of F. G. Bailey. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
2. Kristina Jonutytė. 2022. Taming the City: Unfinished Religious Expansion in Buryatia, Ethnos. DOI: 10.1080/00141844.2022.2156577
3. Kristina Garalytė and Karina Simonson. 2022. From the margins: positionality in area studies. Acta Universitatis Carolinae. Studia Territorialia, vol. 22, no. 1, p. 13-37. DOI: 10.14712/23363231.2022.7.

International Research Projects
South Asian Cinema and Video Online Distribution (VOD) Research Network. The project is funded by UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/W006464/1), 2022-2024. Team: Prof. Dr Valentina Vitali (University of East London, Principal Investigator), Dr Deimantas Valančiūnas (Co-Investigator).
Sharing a colonial past under British rule and separated by regional tensions since 1948, South Asian nations have all been equally exposed to Hindi cinema for decades. Within the region, Hindi cinema made in India has been simultaneously a shared medium and a modern form of cultural colonisation. Video online distribution (VOD) is now beginning to destabilise this film industrial configuration, enabling the global circulation of films from South Asian countries that, until recently, were confined to the domestic market. By bringing together filmmakers from different South Asian countries with scholars and combining theoretical approaches with the experience of creative industry professionals, this network enables research that explores how the operation (distribution, commissioning and production) of VODs is shaping ideas of South Asian identity and regional relations. It will be the first network to research the operation of VODs from this methodological and geographic perspective. Networking also stimulates transnational dialogue among nationals who share common historical and cultural influences but have entertained conflictual political relations. Third, networking enables us to address questions of content, aesthetics, and representation from different professional windows, implementing an interdisciplinary, comparative methodology that, based on localised angles, will be relevant to the study of the impact of VODs on independent cinema in other regions.

National Research Projects
Between Choice and Determinism: Cultural Variations in Experiencing and Conceptualizing Free Will, Luck, and Randomness (Transcultural Approach: India, China, Mongolia, Thailand, USA, Lithuania). (No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-01-0111). Co-funded from EU Structural Funds. Team Leader: Prof. Dr Audrius Beinorius. Team: Dr Vytis Silius, Dr Renatas Berniūnas, Vilius Dranseika. 2018–2022
The task of the project is to carry out a transcultural textual-historiographical and empirical-anthropological study to reveal the connection between the theoretical-intellectual traditions and everyday conceptions of free will, destiny, choice, and luck in different cultural contexts of contemporary Europe and Asia. The project will also seek to ascertain how the notion of free will is conceptualised in various traditions and how it is approached experientially on a popular level. Previous similar studies did not consider the cross-cultural element, nor did they evaluate the influence of non-Western intellectual traditions on everyday practice and conceptualisation. The current project proposes a critical assessment of the possibility to generalise the research results conducted in Western cultures. This way, we seek to include different systems of knowledge and action from various civilisational fields (India, China, Mongolia, the US, and Lithuania) into a fruitful intellectual dialogue and to make comparisons on an empirical level by applying the methodologies of Cognitive Studies.

National Research Projects: Project of Researcher Groups
Love Relationships in Contemporary Lithuania and Their Effect on Marriage, Fertility and Family Choices. (P-MIP-21-258). The Research Council of Lithuania. Research Leader: Prof. Victor de Munck. Researcher: Dr J. Charenkova. 2021–2024.
The project aims to answer the question, “Are monogamy, marriage and family no longer normative features of the human life cycle?” This project investigates the interaction between three theories explaining this question in a way that has not yet been studied. Theory 1: Lesthaege and Van Kaa (1986) used the term second demographic transition to describe the shift by Western nations to sub-replacement fertility rates and decreasing marriage rates. This shift was said to be caused by three factors: (1) technological advances in contraception; (2) an increase in female socio-economic status, and (3) Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in which Westerners now seek self-actualisation or “individualisation” rather than meeting basic subsistence needs. Theory 2: Giddens (1992) presciently argued that romantic love and its affiliation with marriage and family was changing to “confluent love,” a purely agent-based love, where pleasure was the goal. Ilouz (2012; 2019), Regenerus (2018), and Slater (2016) are among the many that amplified and provided evidential support for Giddens’ perspective. Theory 3: May (2010) concluded that while sexual norms vary across time and place, the features of intimate romantic love remain a “constant.” Thus polyamory and confluent love are fashionable but will not replace love, marriage, and family as portals through which humans pass. This study relies on quantitative and qualitative methods to illuminate an anthropological perspective on how the three theories interact. We will start with a “bottom-up” inductive approach to discover what styles of love relations people choose and why they do so. The research will describe the various styles as well as the values, ideologies, and behavioural patterns associated with these different relational forms. From these descriptions, we will use top-down approaches to test hypotheses about each of these styles, focusing in particular on aspects that facilitate or resist the decision to marry or have children.

Human and Predators’ Interactions: Relations With Animals in the Context of Changing Environment. (P-MIP-21-49). The Research Council of Lithuania. Lead Researcher: Prof. D. Brandišauskas. 2021–2024.
The main aim of this proposal is to conduct ethnographic field research and contribute to the theoretical discussions of human/animal relations in the scope of the “ontological turn” that occurred in anthropology as well as other sociocultural sciences over the last decade. Participant observation will be conducted in different indigenous communities of East Siberia, interacting with wild and domestic animals by observing them on a daily level. The research will mainly focus on human interactions with predators and will aim to reveal how these interactions shape economic, ecological, political, or religious practices and experiences. The case studies will also focus on the issue of how we can analyse the “point of view” of animals in the study of their relationships with humans and what methodological approaches can allow an ethnography of animals.
Main publication:
1. Donatas Brandišauskas. 2022. Good to Eat and Good to Dream About: What Do Nomadic Evenki Eat in Taiga? Etnografia. 1 (15): 28–55. Doi 10.31250/2618-8600-2022-1(15)-28-55

National Research Projects: Postdoctoral Fellowship Projects
Emigration of People of Lithuanian Origin to South America and Their Integration Into the Societies of São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo According to the KSAK Model. (09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0161). The Research Council of Lithuania. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr V. Bartochevis, Research Supervisor: Prof. V. Čiubrinskas. 2020–2022.
Isolation or assimilation is a common phenomenon in the process of interaction between immigrants and the host society, but people of Lithuanian descent have managed to avoid it in host societies in São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo. Without renouncing their identity, people of Lithuanian origin have integrated and become a valuable part of the host societies, contributing to the development and prosperity of those countries both economically and socially as well as culturally. This is a part of the history of Lithuania – and at the same time, of Europe – with South America, which is still very little studied. The goal is to analyse the integration of people of Lithuanian descent into the societies of São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo through the KSAK model.
Research visits:
1. February, 2022. Portugal. Braga Local Support Center for Immigrant Integration (Centros Locais de Apoio à Integração de Migrantes), Albufeira Local Support Center for Immigrant Integration (Centros Locais de Apoio à Integração de Migrantes), Católica de Portugal University.
2. April, 2022. Portugal. National Immigrant Integration Support Centers (Centros Nacionais de Apoio à Integração de Migrantes), Local Immigrant Integration Support Centers (Centros Locais de Apoio à Integração de Migrantes), University of Minho.
3. June, 2022. Spain and Portugal. Cruz Roja Espanola, CEAR - Comision Espanola de Ayuda al Refugiado, National Centers for the Integration of Immigrants (Centros Nacionais de Apoio à Integração de Migrantes), Guimarães Branch of the University of Minho.

Urban Religion and Spatiality in Multi-Ethnic Post-socialist Ulan-Ude (The Research Council of Lithuania. (09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0059). Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr K. Jonutytė, Research Supervisor: Prof. D. Brandišauskas. 2021–2023.
This social anthropology research project explores the dynamics of the interrelation between religion and urban space in the Republic of Buryatia (Russian Federation). Buryatia is significant as a multi-ethnic region in Southeast Siberia, which is strongly affected by centre-periphery tensions, resource extraction, and changing geopolitics, as well as rapid urbanisation and the revival of religion (mainly Buddhism but also Christianity and shamanism). The project will explore how these processes shape local society in the changing multi-ethnic urban space, as well as how the urban space itself influences identity and sociality. It will pay special attention to the cultural-religious revival of Buryat Buddhists, which has significant social and political consequences on local, state-, and international levels. These questions will be explored through the prism of religion, bearing in mind its link with ethnicity and politics, as its role in postsocialist multiethnic contexts is growing. The project will use theories of urban religion and spatiality, and it will aim to make a contribution to this field. The researcher will conduct ethnographic fieldwork in Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryatia. It will consist of participant observation, interviews, as well as analysis of various sources and of urban spaces. The postdoctoral researcher will aim to prepare a monograph on urban religion and spatiality in Ulan-Ude and submit it to an international publisher. She will also prepare and submit an academic article, give two presentations at international conferences as well as a seminar presentation, and will write a popular article. She will conduct a research stay at the Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit of the University of Cambridge (the UK).
Main publication:
1. Jonutytė, Kristina. “Taming the city: unfinished religious expansion in Buryatia”. Ethnos. DOI: 10.1080/00141844.2022.2156577.

Dealing With Traumata: Involvement of Spiritual Beings in Christianity. (09.3.3-LMT-K-712-23-0116). The Research Council of Lithuania. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr E. Liutkevičius, Research Supervisor Prof. D. Brandišauskas. 2021–2023.
The objective of this ethnographic research project is to examine the relationship between human and spiritual beings within Christianity by studying how religious communities seek to heal people suffering from alcohol and drug abuse. The researcher will have a particular focus on the personal and social stages of trauma, along with the experienced healing strategies and practices. The researcher was alerted to the issue of religious rehabilitation during his previous research conducted among Ukrainian Baptists, from whom he learned about the perception of previously drug-addicted believers towards the active role the Holy Spirit takes during the healing process, as well as their understanding that Satan and demons are often involved. This not only affects their healing process, but spiritual beings start interacting and participating in people’s day-to-day lives in such a way that this affects their perception of reality and the meaning they attribute to daily activities. The goal is to conduct an ethnographic research project within the discipline of the Anthropology of Christianity and investigate the interrelations between humans and spirits and how these are expressed during the healing processes that seek to help people recover from drug and alcohol abuse.
Main results:
1. Research visit at Aarhus University, April-May 2022.
2. Public lecture “When political engagement changes religious tradition: Ukrainian Baptists.” Aarhus University, the Department of Global Studies, 27 April, 2022.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
Universities
University of Delhi (India)
Jawaharlal Nehru University (India)
Tribhuvan University (Nepal)
National Sun Yat-sen University (Taiwan)
Tohoku University (Japan)
Yarmouk University (Jordan)
Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland)
Jagiellonian University (Poland)
University of Tartu (Estonia)
Aarhus University (Denmark)
Uppsala University (Sweden)
University of East London (UK)
University of Leipzig (Germany)
University of Granada (Spain)
Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)
Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore (Lithuania)
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre (Lithuania)
Academic networks
Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (currently coordinated from Denmark)
Nordic Center in India (currently coordinated from India and Finland)
Baltic Alliance for Asian Studies (currently coordinated from Latvia)
Society for Anthropological Sciences (currently coordinated from the USA)
Libraries and cultural associations
National Central Library (Taiwan)
Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania
Asian Art Center (Lithuania)
Lithuania-India Forum (Lithuania)
Arabic Culture Forum (Lithuania)
Vilnius University Confucius Institute (Lithuania)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
Prof. Audrius Beinorius
• editorial board member of the journal Studia Orientalia Tartuensia https://www.tyk.ee/sot
• editorial board member of the International Journal of Indo-Baltic Culture and Studies http://ibj.dsvv.ac.in/editorial-board/
• editorial board member of the journal Liaudies kultūra https://www.lnkc.lt/go.php/lit/Liaudies-kultura/28
• editorial board member of the journal Sovijus http://www.sovijus.lt/wordpress/?page_id=1622
• member of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR)
• member of the European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR)
• member of the European Society for Astronomy in Culture (SEAC)
• member of the Baltic Alliance of Asian Studies (BAAS)
Prof. Donatas Brandišauskas
• board member of the Lithuanian Association of Anthropologists (LAA)
• member of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA)
• member of the International Society for Academic Research on Shamanism (ISARS)
• member of the International Federation of Rock Art Organizations (IFRAO)
• member of the National Geographic Society, Explorer (NGS)
Prof. Victor de Munck
• editor of the Journal of Globalization Studies https://journals.indexcopernicus.com/search/details?id=31857
• managing editor of the journal Structure and Dynamics (e-journal) https://escholarship.org/uc/imbs_socdyn_sdeas/editorialboard
• editorial board member of the journal EthnoAnthropoZoom Editorial Team | EthnoAnthropoZoom/ЕтноАнтропоЗум (ukim.mk)
• member of the American Anthropological Association (AAA)
• board member of the Lithuanian Association of Anthropologists (LAA)
• executive board member of the Society for Anthropological Sciences (SAS)
Dr Kristina Jonutytė
• president and founding member of the Lithuanian Association of Anthropologists (LAA)
• member of the American Anthropological Association
• member of the European Association for Social Anthropologists (EASA)
• member of the Lithuanian Society for the Study of Religions (LSSR)
• member of the European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR)
• member of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR)
Assoc. Prof. Kristina Garalytė
• member of the European Association for South Asian Studies (EASAS)
• member of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR)
• member of the European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR)
• member of the Lithuanian Society for the Study of Religions (LSSR)
• board member of the Lithuanian Association of Anthropologists (LAA)
• board member of the Baltic Alliance for Asian Studies (BAAS)
Irma Kondrataitė
• member of the Lithuanian Association of Anthropologists (LAA)
Assist. Prof. Dr Karian Simonson

• member of the African Studies Association (ASA)
• member of the Art Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA)
• member of the Lithuanian Society of Art Historians (LDID)
• member of the South African Visual Art Historians (SAVAH)
Assoc. Prof. Dr Loreta Poškaitė
• editorial board member of the journal Sinología hispánica. China Studies Review: http://revpubli.unileon.es/ojs/index.php/sinologia/about/editorialTeam
• member of the Lithuanian Society for the Study of Religions (LSSR)
Assoc. Prof. Dr Rasa Pranskevičiūtė-Amoson
• section editor of the academic journal Open Theology https://www.degruyter.com/journal/key/opth/html#editorial
• president of the Lithuanian Society for the Study of Religion (LSSR)
• member of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR)
• member of the European Association for the Study of Religion (EASR)
• chairman of the Audit Committee of the European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR)
• member of the International Study of Religion in Eastern and Central Europe Association (ISORECEA)
• member of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA)
• member of the International Society for Ethnology and Folklore (SIEF)
• member of the SIEF Working Group: Body, Affects, Senses, and Emotions
• member of the Lithuanian Association of Anthropologists (LAA)
Assoc. Prof. Kristina Šliavaitė
• member of the Lithuanian Association of Sociologists (LAS)
• member of the Lithuanian Association of Anthropologists (LAA)
• member of the European Sociology Association (LSA)
Assoc. Prof. Dr Deimantas Valančiūnas
• editorial board member of book series “South Asian Literature in Focus” (Routledge)
• member of European Society for the Study of English (ESSE)
• member of Lithuanian Society for the Studies of Religions (LSSR)
• member of European Association for South Asian Studies (EASAS)
• member of International Gothic Association (IGA)
• member of Memory Studies Association (MSA)
• member of International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR)
• member of European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR)
Dr Vytis Silius
• member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of the European Association for Chinese Studies https://journals.univie.ac.at/index.php/jeacs/about/editorialTeam
• member of the European Association for Chinese Philosophy (EACP)
• member of the European Association of Chinese Studies (EACS)
• member of the Baltic Research Centre for East Asian Studies (AsiaRes) member of the Lithuanian Society for the Study of Religions (LSSR)
• member of the European Association for the Study of Religions (EASR)
• member of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR)

BEST REPORTS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES ABROAD
Victor de Munck
Paper: “Changing Patterns of courtship: Insisting on personal autonomy within an ‘enduring love relationship’”, at the 2022 American Anthropological Association Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, 9-13 November, 2022.
Karina Simonson
Paper: “Representations of African Urbanities in Soviet Lithuanian Children’s Visual Culture”. African Studies Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, USA, November 17 – 19, 2022.
Rasa Pranskevičiūtė - Amoson
Paper: “Acting in the Underground: Life as a Hare Krishna Devotee in the Republic of Lithuania”. International virtual conference The Intersection of Hinduism and Contemporary Society (1979–1989), Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, June 2 – 3 2022.
Deimantas Valančiūnas
Paper “Your Girlfriend is a Bloody Ghost! The Comic Gothic/Horror in Indian Cinema”. International Gothic Association (IGA) conference “Gothic Interruptions”, Dublin, Ireland, July 26 – 29 2022.
Audrius Beinorius
Paper: “‘Malleable Fixity’: On Destiny, Agency and Indian Astrologers”. The 5th BAAS (Baltic Alliance of Asian Studies) conference: „Asia in Transition / Tradition as the Source of Change”, Tallinn University, September 23 – 25 2022.
Donatas Brandišauskas
Paper: “Malevolent spirits and contemporary rituality among nomadic Evenki reindeer herders and hunters of East Siberia (Russian Federation).” International Society for Academic Research on Shamanism (ISARS) conference, Sarawak, Malaysia, August 25 - 30 2022.

MOST IMPORTANT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS RECEIVED FOR R&D ACTIVITIES
1. Kristina Jonutytė received the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Young Scholars’ Stipend.

CONSULTATIONS PROVIDED BY THE UNIT TO THE PUBLIC OR ECONOMIC ENTITIES
1. Gabija Vosyliūtė. Hindi language interpretation service for the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania for interviews with migrants and asylum seekers from South Asia. January–July 2022.
2. Donatas Brandišauskas. Motivational training lecture “Mobile collectives in the Siberian taiga” for the staff of the Office of the President of Lithuania. 28 October 2022.
3. Jurgita Ignotienė. Expert consultant for the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania for the organisation of the exhibitions and celebratory event for the commemoration of the centenary celebration of the diplomatic relationships between Japan and Lithuania. Throughout 2022.
4. Vytis Vidūnas. Expert on the project “The Archive of the Oral History of Lithuanian Romanis” (by the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania and The Centre of Romani Society). Participation in the public presentation of the project results. http://www.romuplatforma.lt/en/presentation-of-the-lithuanian-roma-oral-history-archive. February 9 2022.
5. Fabio Belafatti. External consultant at DebunkEU.org https://www.debunkeu.org/when-you-can-t-trust-your-eyes-civic-resilience-course-teaches-to-recognize-false-information

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
1. Radio show on anthropology “Ten ir atgal” (13 show series on the national radio LRT Klasika. Author and host of the show – Kristina Jonutytė. https://www.lrt.lt/tema/homo-cultus-ten-ir-atgal. Broadcast 2022/06-09.
2. The screening of the film “Managers of Luck” (about Indian astrologers), director Eglė Vertelytė, 2022. The film is a result of the project “Between choice and determinism: cultural variations in experiencing and conceptualising free will, luck, and randomness” („Tarp pasirinkimo ir determinizmo: kultūrinė laisvos valios, sėkmės ir atsitiktinumo patyrimo bei konceptualizavimo įvairovė”) (No. DOTSUT-22 (09.3.3-LMT-K-712-01-0111)/LSS-250000-56). Leader of the project – Prof. Dr Audrius Beinorius. (https://www.fsf.vu.lt/naujienos/fakulteto-ivykiai/4728-dokumentinio-filmo-managers-of-luck-perziura). The film was screened at the ‘Pasaka’ cinema on 2022/06/21.
3. Dalia Švambarytė: Public Lecture, “The Realm under Heaven Inside the Scattering of Millet: Images of the State of Japan in Japanese Literature” as a part of the event series co-organised by the Japanese Embassy in Lithuania and the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania commemorating the centenary of the official friendship between Japan and Lithuania. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLSSnFvJvBs&ab_channel=Lietuvosnacionalin%C4%97MartynoMa%C5%BEvydobiblioteka. 2022/11/22.
4. “Conversations in Anthropology” – a public online international conversation series. It is a joint initiative of the Society of Anthropological Sciences and the Institute of Asian and Transcultural Studies at Vilnius University. Moderator: Victor de Munck, Kristina Jonutytė. https://www.sasciconf2021.fsf.vu.lt/conversations-in-anthropology. 2021/02–2022/04.
5. An interview with Loreta Poškaitė in the journal IQ, “One needs to know China in order to understand her”. https://iq.lt/kultura/kas-nori-suprasti-kinija-turi-ja-pazinti/267205.
2022/09/27

INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES

9 Universiteto, LT-01513 Vilnius
Ph: 8 5 268 7099
E-mail:
Director – assoc. prof. Sandra Kairė

STAFF
Professors: Habil. Dr V. Dagienė (part-time), Dr L. Duoblienė, Dr I. Kestere (part - time), Habil. Dr R. Želvys, Dr R. Bilbokaitė (part-time).
Associate professors: Dr J. Abramauskienė (part-time), Dr B. Autukevičienė (part-time), Dr M. Brėdikytė (part-time), Dr V. Grabauskienė, Dr E. Jasutė (part-time), Dr A. Juškevičienė, Dr Sandra Kairė, Dr A. Meškauskienė, Dr V. Grabauskienė, Dr R. Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė, Dr S. Neifachas, Dr E. Sakadolskis, Dr V. Schoroškienė, Dr I. Stonkuvienė, Dr A. Žemgulienė, Dr Vita Venslovaitė.
Assistant professors: Dr D. Lepaitė (Part-time), Dr O. Mockaitytė-Rastenienė, Dr G. Stupurienė (Part-time), Dr Š. Nagrockaitė (maternity leave), Dr G. Stonkuvienė, Dr S. Šabanovas.
Junior assistant professors: J. Labokas, R. Bružienė (maternity leave), I. Ivanavičė, A. Giniotaitė, V. Voidogaitė.
Lecturers: J. Sidabrienė, J. Garbauskaitė-Jakimovska, N. Venskuvienė, J. Vaitekaitis, K. Viršulienė, S. Boguckienė (part-time), R. Aškinytė (part-time), J. A. Juozaitis (part-time)
Partnership professors: K. Kaminskas (part-time)
Partnership associate professors: V. Būdienė (part-time)
Postdoctoral fellows: Dr Julija Tuleikytė, Dr G. Stupurienė, Dr Dovilė Stumbrienė.
Doctoral students: K. Alshinbayeva, J. Bagdonaitė, E. Burokė, R. Bružienė, R. Gajauskaitė, A. Giniotaitė, G. I. Ivanauskienė, I. Ivanavičė, J. Labokas, K. Levanaitė, M. Orechova, V. Voidogaitė.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Education policy
• Globalization and localization in education
• Education management in Lithuania
• Higher education
• Culture of education
• Studies of Lithuanian educational heritage
• Dialogue between cultures in education
• Problems of personal identity
• Philosophy of education
• Research of curriculum development
• Childhood education and didactics
• STEAM
• Gender differences in education and science

RESEARCH AREAS AND MAIN RESULTS IN 2022
Education and Training Culture for Sustainable Development. Lead: Prof. L. Duoblienė
This research agenda focuses on the national education and training culture in the context of sustainable development, specialising in:
a) theoretical and practical studies of the philosophy, anthropology, and history of education and training in the light of intercultural dialogue, identity formation, and school cultures; and
b) problems of Eurocentric and global approaches to general education in local contexts.
Main publication:
1. Duoblienė, Lilija; Garbauskaitė-Jakimovska, Justina. Antropocenas švietime ir švietimas antropocene: viešasis ir akademinis diskursai apie ateitį (Anthropocene in education and education in the Anthropocene: public and academic discourses about the future) // Filosofija, sociologija. Vilnius: Lietuvos mokslų akademijos leidykla. ISSN 0235-7186. eISSN 2424-4546. 2022, t. 33, No.1, p. 4-13. DOI: 10.6001/fil-soc.v33i1.4664

Development of Global and Local Education Policy. Lead: Prof. R. Želvys
This research agenda focuses on the development and compatibility of global and national education policies, specialising in:
a) shifts in educational policy and the development of education in Lithuania;
b) transformations of higher educational institutions; and
c) comparative analysis of international studies in education.
Main publications:
1. Jakaitienė, A., Želvys, R., Raižienė, S., Dukynaitė, R., Stumbrienė, D., Vaitekaitis, J., Ringienė, L., Žilinskas, J., Žilinskas, A. (2022). „(Un)measurable effectiveness and efficiency of education“ [(Ne)išmatuojamas švietimo efektyvumas ir našumas]. Monograph. Vilnius: VU leidykla.
2. Leišytė, Liudvika; Peksen, Sude; Rose, Anna-Lena; Želvys, Rimantas. The teaching-research nexus in the Lithuanian higher education compared to other European higher education systems // Teaching and research in the knowledge-based society: historical and comparative perspectives / Editors: Futao Huang, Timo Aarrevaara, Ulrich Teichler. Cham : Springer, 2022, chapter 8. ISBN 9783031044380. eISBN 9783031044397. p. 137-160. (The Changing Academy – The Changing Academic Profession in International Comparative Perspective, ISSN 2214- 5346, eISSN 2543-0378 ; vol. 23). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-04439-7_8.
3. Želvys, Rimantas. Research capacity in Lithuania since independence // Building research capacity at universities: insights from post-soviet countries / editors: Maia Chankseliani, Igor Fedyukin, Isak Frumin:. Cham : Palgrave Macmillan, 2022. ISBN 9783031121401. eISBN 9783031121418. p. 75-96. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-12141-8.
4. Zhumabekova, Kyrmyzy; Želvys, Rimantas; Algozhaeva, Nursulu; Murzagulova, Meiramkul. Studying future educational psychologists' readiness for innovation management competencies in universities of Kazakhstan // International journal of instruction. Basel : Gate Association for Teaching and Education (GATE). ISSN 1694-609X. eISSN 1308-1470. 2022, vol. 15, no. 4, p. 233-258. DOI:0.29333/iji.2022.15414a.
5. Dagienė, V.; Jasutė, E.; Navickienė, V.; Butkienė, R.; Gudonienė, D.. Opportunities, quality factors, and required changes during the pandemic based on higher education leaders’ perspective // Sustainability. Basel: MDPI. ISSN 2071-1050. 2022, vol. 14, iss. 3, art. no. 1933, p. 1-18. DOI: 10.3390/su14031933.

Changes in Educational Curricula and Teacher Training. Lead: Assoc. Prof. R. Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė
This research agenda focuses on changes in education curricula and methods and their incorporation into teacher training. Focal research themes include:
a) aspects of creating and implementing educational curricula;
b) theoretical and practical challenges of integrating educational curricula;
c) possibilities of applying teaching innovations, especially within STEAM education;
d) issues in early childhood education; and
e) challenges and their solutions in teacher training.
Main publications:
1. Stupurienė, G.; Jevsikova, T.; Juškevičienė, A.. Solving ecological problems through physical computing to ensure gender balance in STEM education // Sustainability. Basel : MDPI. eISSN 2071-1050. 2022, vol. 14, iss. 9, art. no. 4924, p. [1-16]. DOI: 10.3390/su14094924.
2. Bagdžiūnienė, Dalia; Kazlauskienė, Aušra; Nasvytienė, Dalia; Sakadolskis, Emilija Alma. Linking supportive school leadership and teacher resilience: The mediating role of job resources // Frontiers in education. Lausanne : Frontiers Media SA. eISSN 2504-284X. 2022, vol. 7, art. no. 999086, p. [1-17]. DOI: 10.3389/feduc.2022.999086.
3. Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė, R., & Pupeikienė, J. (2022). Orientavimasis aplinkoje ir jos pažinimas: veiklos įvairovės ir mokymosi tyrinėjant aspektai [Orientation in the environment and its cognition: Diversity of activities and aspects of learning through inquiry]. Gamtamokslinis ugdymas bendrojo ugdymo mokykloje / Natural Science Education in a Comprehensive School, 28, 36-56. https://doi.org/10.48127/gu/22.28.36

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2022
Projects Supported by the University Budget
Feasibility Study on the Digitisation of Matema Methodology for Primary School Mathematics Learning. Vilnius University funding. Leader: Vaiva Grabauskienė, researcher: Dr Oksana Mockaitytė-Rastenienė. 2022–2023.
An original Lithuanian methodology, MATEMA, has been created by the executors of this project and is founded upon scientific knowledge of learning mathematics. It is dedicated to primary school children to learn mathematical reasoning by using a set of intentionally and specifically designed material tools. This project aims to provide the basis for and start the development of an innovative digital tool that would implement the ideas of MATEMA, the methodology of mathematical learning. This tool will aim to make teachers’ jobs easier (especially when working remotely) and improve the mathematical achievements of primary school children. In this project, it is planned to conduct fundamental research into the possibilities of digitalising the MATEMA methodology.
Main results:

Analysis of mathematical learning digitalisation research problematics.

National Research Projects
Futuristic Scenarios of Lithuanian General Schools. (S-MIP-20-58). The Research Council of Lithuania, Research Leader: Prof. Dr Lilija Duoblienė. Researchers: PhD students: J. Garbauskaitė–Jakimovska and J. Vaitekaitis, Dr S. Kontrimienė, Assoc. Prof. S. Kairė. 2020–2022.
This project examines the future of Lithuanian schools as a foundation for creating and developing the state. The main aim is to research the changes in the general education provided by schools by projecting the future rather than diagnosing the past. The research aims to grasp the potentially and/or virtually projected insights for the future – conscious or subconscious – by raising the following questions: Where will the Lithuanian school of general education turn? To what extent will it follow the existing trajectories of other countries? To which extent will it choose a distinctive way that depends on the sociocultural context of Lithuania? In this research, the analysis of the educational strategies of the EU, as well as other international and national documentation, will be conducted. The analysis will be connected to futuristic discussions and insights in the public discourse. We plan to investigate and map the logic puzzles of the possible scenarios and provide insights that are liberated from the logic sequences of the members of the educational community and experts.
Main publications:
1. Duoblienė, L. Garbauskaitė-Jakimovska, J. Anthropocene in Education and Education in Anthropocene: public and academic discourses about the Future [Antropocenas švietime ir švietimas Antropocene: viešasis ir akademinis diskursai apie ateitį] // Filosofija. Sociologija. 2022, 33(1).
2. Kontrimienė, S., Duoblienė, L., Vaitekaitis, J., & Garbauskaitė-Jakimovska, J. The Future is Certain… Or Is It? Developing Scenarios For The Probable and Desirable Future of School. International Conference on Education, Research and Innovation (ICERI). Adana, Turkey, 05-06 August 2022.
3. Duoblienė, L., Kairė, S., Vaitekaitis, J. The Anthropocene in Educational Discourse: moving from academic insights towards official documentation. In press Journal of Environmental Education.
4. Kontrimienė, S., Duoblienė, L., Vaitekaitis, J., & Garbauskaitė-Jakimovska, J. (2022). The future is certain… or is it? Developing scenarios for the probable and desirable future of school (article due to be published in the International Journal of Management and Applied Science in January 2023).

Effectiveness and Efficiency Analysis of Education Systems in EU Countries Employing Secondary Big Data. The Research Council of Lithuania. Research leader Prof. Dr A. Jakaitienė. Partner from the Institute of Educational Sciences VU – Prof. R. Želvys, Lect. J. Vaitekaitis. 2018–2021.
The aim of the project is to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the education systems in EU countries. An integrated secondary analysis of the data of international studies of educational achievements (PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS, 2003–2018) and macro-data on the EU countries is being planned. For a more thorough analysis of Lithuanian education, merging the databases of the assessment of achievements in lower secondary education (PUPP) with the state maturity examination (VBE) is to be done.
Main publications:
1. Jakaitienė, A., Želvys, R., Raižienė, S., Dukynaitė, R., Stumbrienė, D., Vaitekaitis, J., Ringienė, L., Žilinskas, J., Žilinskas, A. (2022). „(Un)measurable effectiveness and efficiency of education“ [(Ne)išmatuojamas švietimo efektyvumas ir našumas]. Monograph. Vilnius: VU leidykla.
2. Stumbrienė, D.; Želvys, R.; Žilinskas, J.; Jakaitienė, A. Using PIRLS and TIMSS data for the assessment of efficiency and effectiveness of primary education in post-socialist and old democracy EU member states = Efektyvumo ir našumo vertinimas pradiniame ugdyme naudojant PIRLS ir TIMSS~duomenis // Lietuvos statistikos darbai = Lithuanian journal of statistics. Vilnius : Vilniaus universiteto leidykla. ISSN 1392-642X. eISSN 2029-7262. 2022, vol. 61, p. 1-15. DOI: 10.15388/LJS.2022.29667.
3. Stumbrienė, D., Želvys, R., Žilinskas, J., Dukynaitė, R., Jakaitienė, A. (2022). Effeciency and effectiveness analysis based on educational inclusion and fairness of European countries // Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Vol. 82, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seps.2022.101293
4. Želvys, R., Jakaitienė, A. (2022) Struktūrinės ir sisteminės švietimo reformos: ar struktūriniai pokyčiai gali laiduoti švietimo kokybę ir laiduoti socialinį teisingumą? // Socialinis ugdymas – ISSN 1392-9569, T. 57, Nr. 1, p. 6-18 [Structural and systemic reforms in education: can structural changes improve eduycational quality and ensure social justice?] https://etalpykla.lituanistikadb.lt/object/LT-LDB-0001:J.04~2022~1668615336219/J.04~2022~1668615336219.pdf

"New Man" in Soviet Schools: The Case of Lithuania. (Project No. S-LIP-19-68). Leader: Irena Stonkuvienė. Project team: Iveta Kestere and Akvilė Naudžiūnienė. 2019-2022.
The aim of the project is to research a process of raising a "New Man" in Lithuanian schools during the late Soviet period. It seeks, with the assistance of an interdisciplinary approach (combining history, anthropology, educational sciences, etc.), to present the notion of a "New man" and its genesis both in theoretical and comparative contexts. The analysis of textbooks, education programs, plans and methodical documents, pedagogical press and other historical sources will be implemented, and then in the scope of this project, we will analyse how the formation of the "New Soviet Man" was influenced by the ideological clichés and educational ideals of that time, which are reflected in the organisational process of the educational system, in the educational content, its principles and methods. While analysing the transformation of Soviet schools, we aim to determine if educational elements, which formed Soviet Man, were transferred to the educational practices of post-Soviet schools in Lithuania.
Main result:
1. Stonkuvienė, I., Ivanavičė, I. What is hiding under “socialistic internationism with human face”? Case of Schools is LUSSR [Kas slepiasi už “socialistinio internacionalizmo su žmogiškuoju veidu?” LSSR mokyklų atvejis]. Presentation at National conference of Lithuanian Educational Resaearch Association, October 13-14, 2022 “Educational practice and research in turbulent world”.

National Research: Postdoctoral Fellowship projects
"Like the Ocean We Rise": Learner-Education Relation in the Epoch of Anthropocene. (Project No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0162). Research Fellow: Sandra Kairė, Supervisor: Dr Irena Stonkuvienė. 2020–2022.
The main task of postdoctoral research is to reveal the relation of young people who participate in youth activism movements to education and identify essential changes in the educational processes of the children of the Anthropocene. The research fellow will accomplish comparative qualitative research (cases of Lithuania, Germany, and Austria) that aims to combine posthuman and ethnographic research methods. The fellowship research project is intended to develop inquiries into educational sciences by focusing on the most relevant, albeit underexplored themes in educational sciences not only in Lithuania but also internationally, namely, the Anthropocene and youth activism on climate change. The empirical research focuses on educational practice, i.e. teaching and learning; thus, the project will contribute to broadening the understanding of educational practitioners of the change in education during the Anthropocene epoch and especially of the change in a learner’s identity. The results will contribute to rethinking relevant topics that are widely discussed in the Lithuanian context: what changes are needed in educational practice and renewed curricula, and how should we consider the learner and their learning processes?
Main publication:
1. Kairė S. (2021, published 2022). Ugdymas antropoceno epochoje: nuo teoretikų iki klimato kaitos aktyvistų [Education in the Anthropocene: from theorists towards climate activists] // Acta Paedagogica Vilnensia, 47, p. 10-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15388/ActPaed.2021.47.1
2. Kairė. S. Somerville, M. Learning through creative practices in the Anthropocene: young climate activists in urban spaces // Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education. In press.
3. Scientific intership in Institute of Education at Western Sydney university, Australia (May, 2022)
Presentations:
1. Kairė S., Tuleikytė J. (2022 June 27). National seminar. Future of education: from theoretical insights towards experiences of young climate activists. Faculty of Philosophy VU. https://www.fsf.vu.lt/naujienos/fakulteto-ivykiai/4741-kvieciame-i-nacionalini-mokslo-seminara-ugdymo-ateitis-nuo-teoriniu-pasvarstymu-iki-klimato-kaitos-aktyvistu-patirciu
2. Kairė. S. (2022 May 27). Learner-education relation in the epoch of Anthropocene. Western Sydney university. Presentation for the international “Planetary wellbeing and human learning” research group. Visiting Fellow in the Institute of Education at Western Sydney University.
3. Kairė S. (2022 May 29). Children of the Anthropocene and changing relation with educational practices. Presentation for research schoolars in the Institute of Education at Western Sydney University, Australia.
4. Kairė S. (2022 December 22). Presentation of postdoctoral internship results at the XX Education Forum “Revealed Reality of Education and Practical Solutions for the Future” (Lithuanian Educational Research Association).

P. Freire and Z. Bauman: Education as (De)humanisation. (Project No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0227). Research Fellow: Julija Tuleikytė, Supervisor: Lilija Duoblienė. 2020-2022.

The postdoctoral research aims at comparing Freire's and Bauman's social philosophies of education, humanisation, and dehumanisation, as well as checking the hypothesis that Bauman’s “humanisation through metaphors” is the critical pedagogy of liquid modernity. The postdoctorate fellow’s research focuses on the role of education in terms of humanisation and/or dehumanisation within the social conceptions of Paulo Freire and Zygmunt Bauman. Both authors analyse social relations from the perspective of critical theory, construct different modes of critical pedagogy, and display them as alternatives for the situation of the social reality they diagnose. The research aims at comparing Freire and Bauman’s critique of social relations – the banking model of education (Freire) to adiaphorisation (Bauman), as well as their respective methods of critical pedagogy – “conscientização” (Freire) and “humanisation through metaphors” (Bauman). The research also aims to verify the hypothesis that the contemporaneity and philosophical implications of Bauman’s “humanisation through metaphors” allow it to be implemented in education as a method of Freire’s “conscientização”, overcoming the latter one’s modern drawbacks in the face of the postmodern perspective of social reality.
Main results/presentations:
1. Tuleikytė, J. (2022 May 19). „Paulo Freire and Zygmunt Bauman: Education as (de)humanisation“, Presentation at Paulo Freire Academic Conference “Democrary, Citizenship and Sustainability”, University of California, USA.
2. Scientific intership at Paulo Freire Institute in Sao Paulo, Brazil (March – April, 2022, August – September 2022)
3. Kairė S., Tuleikytė J. (2022 June 27). National seminar. Future of education: from theoretical insights towards experiences of young climate activists. Faculty of Philosophy VU.
4. Tuleikytė, J. Teaching visit and course „Globalisation: Culture and Education“ read for second and third cycle students. University of Sao Paulo, Brazil (15.08.2022-25.08.2022)
5. Tuleikytė J. (2022 December 22). Presentation of postdoctoral internship results at the XX Education Forum “Revealed Reality of Education and Practical Solutions for the Future” (Lithuanian Educational Research Association)

Integrated Teaching of Computing: Attitudes and Digital Competences of Primary School Teachers. (Project No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-23-0083). Researcher: Gabrielė Stupurienė, Leader: Valentina Dagienė. 2021–2023.
The aim of the postdoctoral project is to increase the scientific competencies of postdoctoral fellowships by analysing and identifying the factors that influence primary school teachers’ attitudes and intentions to include the subject of Informatics in primary education and to identify the relationship with teachers’ digital competencies.
The main task is to carry out qualitative and quantitative surveys to ascertain the attitudes of primary school teachers towards the integration of Informatics. In 2021, an analysis of the scientific literature was performed. Questionnaires using qualitative and quantitative research instruments were designed, and their content validity was performed by experts.
Main publications:
1. Stupurienė, G.; Gulbahar, Y. Informatics at primary education: teachers’ motivation and barriers in Lithuania and Turkey // Informatics in schools. A step beyond digital education : 15th international conference on informatics in schools: situation, evolution, and perspectives, ISSEP 2022, Vienna, Austria, September 26–28, 2022 : proceedings / editors: Andreas Bollin, Gerald Futschek. Cham : Springer International Publishing, 2022. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-15851-3_3.
2. Stupurienė, G. Informatics at primary education: teachers’ motivation and barriers in Lithuania and Turkey.// 15th International Conference on Informatics in Schools: Situation, Evolution, and Perspectives, ISSEP 2022, September 26-28, 2022. https://issep2022.ifs.tuwien.ac.at/?page_id=17

The Performance Assessment of Education Systems in Post-socialist and Old Democracy EU Member States From the Perspective of Equity. (Project No. S-PD-22-87). Researcher: Dovilė Stumbrienė, Leader: Rimantas Želvys. 2022–2024.
The postdoctoral project aims to conduct a fair and robust assessment of the performance of education systems at the country level to reduce inequality and promote convergence across EU geographies. The results will allow the redistribution of efforts/resources to where they are most needed to reach the outcomes envisaged, giving due attention to the most vulnerable segments of society. This project intends to contribute to the aim of ET2030 to ensure the fulfilment of all citizens through the development of an innovative way to evaluate the performance of education systems of post-socialist and old democratic EU member states.

Contractual Research
Integrated Science Education in Lithuania: Achievements and Future Perspectives. S-REP-21-3). The Research Council of Lithuania. Research leader: Dr Aušra Kynienė. Researchers: Assoc. Prof. Rita Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė, Assoc. Prof. Asta Meškauskienė, Dr Jurga Turčinavičienė, Dr Grita Skujienė, and PhD student: Vytautas Kavaliauskas. 2021–2022.
A major overhaul of the education system is underway, including the upgrading of the preschool, primary, and general education environment and content, adapting it to students with different educational needs, and integrating sustainable development, creativity, entrepreneurship, and STEAM competencies. During the project, it is planned to single out the best models of integrated science education, the impact of STEAM / STEM activities on the quality of education, to find out the need to improve competencies relevant to teachers and to recommend adjusting the qualification programmes, training, and seminars offered to them. These project goals will be pursued in a consistent way with teachers, students, school leaders, and parents through tests and questionnaires, comparing educational attainment in different types of schools, different types of settings, and the gender of the learners.
Main result:
1. Kynienė, A., Makarskaitė - Petkevičienė, R., Meškauskienė, A., Turčinavičienė, J., Skujienė, G., Kavaliauskas V., Girkontaitė, A. (2022). Integrated science education in Lithuania. Main results and recommentations. Vilnius university.
https://www.fsf.vu.lt/dokumentai/mokslo_rezultatu_platforma/Integruotas_gamtamokslinis_tyrimas.pdf

Improving Mathematical Reasoning at School. (S-DNR-20). The Research Council of Lithuania. Research Leader: Prof. Rimas Norvaiša. Researchers: Assoc. Prof. Jonas Dagys, Assoc. Prof. Vaiva Grabauskienė, Prof. Alfredas Račkauskas, Dr Oksana Mockaitytė-Rastenienė, PhD student Ieva Kilienė, PhD student Vytautas Miežys; Lecturer Antanas Augaitis, and Assoc. Prof. Bronė Narkevičienė. 2021–2022.
In this project, we aim to provide grounds for the urgency of improving mathematical reasoning in schools, as well as to define the necessary conditions for realising this goal and to develop appropriate tools in accordance with the findings. The project includes concrete updating, re-adjusting and supplementing the descriptive list of mathematical concepts used at school. It also incorporates deepening the content of the school mathematics programme in the fields of creating problem-solving tasks and boosting intellectual motivation. Moreover, here, the methods for the proper preparation of teachers and improving their qualifications are being set. For these objectives, we apply the results of the most up-to-date school mathematics research and further research still being developed. This project aims to justify the need to develop mathematical reasoning in schools and to provide the necessary conditions and appropriate tools for doing so. Specifically, it updates, clarifies, and complements the description of the basic concepts of school mathematics, deepens the content of school mathematics in the areas of the development of text-based tasks and the promotion of intellectual motivation, and develops appropriate tools for the professional development and training of mathematics teachers. To this end, the latest research findings in school mathematics are being applied and further developed.
Main results:
1. Preparation of methodological material: developing mathematical reasoning at school. Methodological material; guidance for developers of the mathematics module; explanatory guide on school mathematics concepts: http://mif.vu.lt/lt3/mokslas/projektai/163-lt/institutai/matematikos#2021-m-baigto-projekto-matematinio-samprotavimo-mokykloje-tobulinimas-rezultatai

Computink II: Reviewing Computational Thinking in Compulsory Education: State of Play and Practices from the Field. (Tender reference Areas (2021)2442977 of 2021/04/09). Contract funded by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, conducted together with partners: CNR-ITD (Italy) and European Schoolnet (EUN). Researchers from Vilnius University: Leader: Prof. Dr V. Dagienė. Researchers: Dr E. Jasutė and Dr G. Stupurienė. A publication with a detailed research report was developed and accepted by the JRC. https://computhink2study.eu/; https://www.itd.cNo.it/en/research/projects/computhink-ii.html
Main publication:
1. Bocconi, S., Chioccariello, A., Kampylis, P., Dagienė, V., Wastiau, P., Engelhardt, K., Earp, J., Horvath, M.A., Jasutė, E., Malagoli, C., Masiulionytė-Dagienė, V. and Stupurienė, G., Reviewing Computational Thinking in Compulsory Education, Inamorato dos Santos, A., Cachia, R., Giannoutsou, N. and Punie, Y. editor(s), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2022, ISBN 978-92-76-47208-7, doi:10.2760/126955, JRC128347. https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC128347

International Research Projects
MOST Meaningful Open Schooling Connects Schools to Communities. (Horizon 2020 (871155 MOST)) Coordinator: Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg. VU Institutional Csoordinator: Assoc. Prof. Eglė Jasutė. 2020–2023.
MOST supports European school students and citizens in developing science knowledge, transversal skills and competencies in working scientifically. MOST enables and encourages its target groups to pursue scientific careers and, in the long term, will raise the number of scientists in Europe. To achieve this, our Consortium of 23 partners from ten European countries (higher education institutions, schools, non-formal education providers, ministries, municipalities, and enterprises) proposes a powerful Open Schooling idea. The project opens up formal science education and establishes partnerships between schools and their communities (families, science education providers, citizens, businesses, etc.) to work jointly on environmental school-community projects (SCPs). These participatory projects directly respond to the needs and values of those involved, benefit the communities as a whole and make schools agents of community well-being. MOST’s learning impact is boosted through an educational research-based approach that raises interest in science, scientific literacy, and environmental responsibility.
Main results:
1. 20 SCPs were implemented in four Lithuanian schools. The total number of participants of all SCPs implemented in the first reporting period reached 407, while there were 25 participating teachers. An important aspect of the project is the involvement and development of teachers’ skills in helping students to carry out research. Students were actively involved in environmental projects as problem-solvers; they are building up knowledge on sustainable development and on their role as responsible citizens. Opportunities to act as scientists improve students’ abilities and understanding of how science works and how new solutions are reached. In the first round of the project, 333 students participated. The outcomes of the SCPs were educational videos, presentations, and posters; these results were open and shared by social networks.
2. The European Open Schooling Network (EOSnet) has been established – the website provides information on Open Schooling and its impact and possibilities: https://icse.eu/eosnet/

iHub4Schools. Accelerating Digital Innovation in Schools through Regional Innovation Hubs and a Whole-School Mentoring Model Start. (Horizon 2020-DT-TRANSFORMATIONS-21-2020). Coordinator: Tallinn University. VU Institutional Coordinator: Prof. Valentina Dagienė, Vilnius University. 2021–2023
The overall objectives of the project are: 1) To establish Regional Innovation Hubs as sites of moderating and multiplying school-to-school mentoring structures (dyads or triads) to scale up the digital innovation on local, regional, and national levels and throughout each country. 2) To establish co-creation teams and national stakeholder networks to enhance the collaboration between the universities, schools, industry partners, and policy stakeholders to address the challenge of bringing rapidly developing technologies to schools. 3) To build a knowledge base of evidence-informed pedagogy-grounded technology-enhanced learning (TEL) strategies and whole-school peer-learning methodologies. 4) To develop a locally, methodologically and technologically adaptable whole-school mentoring model that embraces both inter- and intra-school levels and that integrates continuous monitoring methodology, including novel evaluation approaches and the Learning Analytics Toolbox. 5) To co-create an incentive scheme as part of the model for schools and teachers to support them in acting as mentors and mentees 6) To integrate the results of the project into an elaborated policy recommendations package that includes a handbook and a toolkit on how to establish regional innovation hubs and implement school-to-school, whole-school mentoring model in other countries with different educational policy, socio-cultural and digital maturity contexts.
Main results:
1. Collected data from teachers at different schools in Lithuania. The VU team has proposed two new didactical methods for the digital acceleration of schools. Intensive work has been done alongside Estonian and Finnish teams on improving school digital leadership. The project has also promoted ViLLE (Virtual Learning Environment based on Learning Analytics) in Lithuanian schools for teaching mathematics and informatics, adaptation to our schools and renovated curricula.

NordPlus Assessing CT in Nordic Maker Education. (NPHZ-2020/10096). Nordplus Horizontal programme. Coordinator: Oulu University, Finland. VU Institutional Coordinator: Prof. Valentina Dagienė, Vilnius University. 2020–2022.
This two-year project is a starting point for a long-term interdisciplinary and intercultural collaboration towards developing a Nordic approach to integrating computational thinking (CT) in K-12 education. In this project, our aim is to build a common understanding of CT among the collaborators and widen our thinking about how to include future technologies (e.g., AI, autonomous transportation, cyber security) into CT through perspectives from different fields, such as educational sciences and computer science. The project involves schools and universities as participating institutions. Through this project, we are enhancing the professional development of teachers who are interested in applying CT and maker education in their classrooms and building networks among participating institutions. As an outcome of the project, we will develop a versatile assessment tool that can be used in various cases in different conditions (e.g., curriculum, activity, pupils’ grade level and interests). In this way, we tackle the challenges of the current effort to integrate CT into the school curriculum.
Main results:
1. We organised a workshop with our international partners (Finland, Sweden) and a group of teachers from Lithuania. Materials for schools (primary and lower secondary) on Computational Thinking were prepared. A workshop in was organised at Linnaeus University, Vaxjo, Sweden, for a group of Swedish teachers on teaching Computational Thinking by using Bebras tasks.

STEMkey - Teaching standard STEM topics with a key competence approach. (KA203-214856C6-EN_200420). Erasmus+ KA2. Coordinator: Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg. VU Coordinator: Dr Agnė Juškevičienė. 2020-2023.
Our objective is to transform the grasp of (future) STEM teachers towards teaching standard topics. To achieve this, we will rethink and reshape the delivery of fundamental STEM subject knowledge in the context of key competency development. Future teachers need to be encouraged to refrain from teaching with the sole purpose of transferring knowledge about a single STEM subject isolated from other STEM subjects. This simply does not live up to the challenges of today or tomorrow anymore. They need to understand the relationship between knowledge, skills, and attitudes, how they affect each other and how they have an effect on their students’ learning experiences and personal lives. They also need to see that STEM subjects are relevant to our lives and our societies and that they are interlinked with each other. To achieve this objective, we will develop teaching modules to be used in HE programmes for future STEM teachers; they will cover all STEM disciplines and exemplarily deal with topics from each discipline (e.g. ‘light’ representing physics education, ‘algorithms’ representing informatics or ‘the periodic system’ representing chemistry). Each module applies various tested and proven innovative educational approaches, such as digital learning or real-life contextualisation. As STEMkey places a strong focus on establishing and nourishing a strong strategic partnership, network options will play an important role; we plan to link to existing initiatives on national and European levels and thus embed our results within existing relevant “knowledge pools” (e. g. digital online repositories) and Europe’s STEM education landscape. The STEMkey Partnership Platform serves as the main operational base for our project and the partnership. It serves many purposes: external promotion, internal and external communication, dissemination, and multiplying results to a wide user group.
Main results:
1. Developed modules “Algorithms and Data” https://icse.eu/hrf_faq/stemkey-module-12-on-algorithms-and-data/

Development of STEAM Education. (Project No. 2020-1-LT01-KA201-077935). Erasmus+KA2. Coordinator: National Agency for Education, Lithuania. VU Institutional Coordinator: Dr Gabrielė Stupurienė. 2020–2023.
The objective of the Development of the STEAM education project is to lead European schools in the improvement of existing STEAM approaches and to guide them in fostering young Europeans’ interest, skills, and careers in maths, science, engineering, and technology, as well as the arts. The project also aims to provide schools with the necessary toolbox to engage their students, teachers, and other members of the community in STEAM-related activities by developing an appropriate STEAM school strategy. Providing adequate guidance and underpinning innovative activities to be developed at the national level, the Project will expand a network of STEAM schools involving not only teachers and administrators but also other stakeholders, e.g., STEAM/research/ non-formal education centres.
Main results:
1. Electronic book: “A Practical Handbook on Effective Development and Implementation of STEAM Teaching at School“ https://dose-project.eu/?page_id=38 The following researchers from Vilnius University contributed to this book: Dr Gabrielė Stupurienė, Julija Grigorjevaite, Dr Paulius Lukas Tamošiūnas, Dr Jurga Turčinavičienė, Dr Violeta Šlekienė, and Dr Vidita Urbonienė.
2. The Professional Development Program for STEAM teachers was developed and available online: https://dose-project.eu/?page_id=399. Dr Vidita Urbonienė contributed to this programme.
3. Collection of STEAM hands-on good practices that were gathered through an international “STEAM Challenge.” https://dose-project.eu/?page_id=40
4. The final “Developing STEAM Education” conference in Lithuania for teachers and policymakers on 2022/12/13. https://www.nsa.smm.lt/2022/12/13/konferencijoje-steam-ugdymo-tobulinimas-apdovanoti-geriausi-steam-issukis-projektai/?fbclid=IwAR13poPvkhZzYVyifn_24F8G_CdxTxhUlX7Miz0d2zgesUdeWeEPWMrMwTw

TrainDL Teacher Training for Data Literacy & Computer Science Competences. (Project No. 626145-EPP-1-2020-2-DE-EPPKA3-PI-POLICY). Erasmus+KA3. Coordinator: Gesellschaft für Informatik. VU Institutional Coordinator: Prof. Valentina Dagienė. 2023–2023
The Teacher Training for Data Literacy & Computer Science Competences project will conduct activities in Austria, Germany, and Lithuania, focusing on the transferability of digital education competencies. The consortium aims to specifically identify how data literacy and competencies on artificial intelligence (AI) can become structurally implemented into the training of teachers, both in the course of their university education and for in-service STEAM subject teachers, in order to reduce the digital gap. Big Data processes and AI have already changed the economic, social, and political environment for people of all backgrounds. Holistic digital education, therefore, needs to be accessible to all European citizens. This can most effectively be achieved through the respective educational systems. Therefore, pre-service and in-service teachers and policymakers will have the opportunity to co-create best practices on how these future skills can be anchored in the national systems and in European strategies. Tests will be designed and carried out to ascertain how the modules and formats of data literacy, computer science (CS), and AI education can be adapted for teacher training so that differences in the availability of computer science education can be balanced across European countries. The main target groups involved are pre-service and in-service teachers as well as policymakers in education (national and sub-national ministries, agencies, and curriculum-setting bodies). Through a participatory approach rooted in systems thinking and action research, the hypothesis, measures, and their transferability will be tested and evaluated in three project cycles. This collaborative process shall produce a continuous exchange and a metric to evaluate the status quo of data literacy in computer science education, leading to a European teacher education monitor. Based on these findings, curriculum recommendations and a policy framework for data literacy and AI shall be introduced to the appropriate European stakeholders.
Main results:
1. Together with the Berlin Freie University team, the Vilnius University team prepared didactical material on how to teach artificial intelligence in lower and upper secondary schools. The materials were tested in several schools in Germany, as well as in Lithuanian schools. https://train-dl.eu/en/materials. Several workshops for teachers in different towns were organised. Materials for primary school teachers with a focus on data literacy were prepared.

3C4Life. Erasmus+KA3 project (No. 626 139-EPP-1-2020-2-DE-EPPKA3-PI-POLICY). Coordinator: Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg, Germany. VU Institutional Coordinator: Lina Vinikienė. 2020–2024.
3C4life tests an all-digital STEM teacher environment with an occupational advancement concept with four innovative elements: 1. A sequential process of triggers gradually and sustainably ensuring the involvement of STEM teachers in occupational advancement: low threshold attraction, supported activation, shared advancement. 2. Unfolding of the enormous variety of vertical and horizontal career perspectives. 3. Needs-driven competence development through co-shaping processes. 4. Professional advancement through communities of practice. Through this complementarity, teachers can tailor their careers to their very own needs and pinpoint update their teaching. Thus, they become motivated agents rather than dulled consumers in a lifelong continuum of learning and teaching. 3C4Life will develop an online platform for future STEM student teachers, young teaching professionals as well as experienced in-service STEM teachers to increase the attractiveness of the STEM teaching profession in the partner countries (and abroad).
Main results:
1. 3C4Life project partners have developed an online platform (https://www.teach4life.eu/) that provides ideas and impetus for didactic development through videos, activities, and ready-to-use assignments, as well as resources on professional development and career opportunities specifically for STEM teachers. In the part of Career, partners show a diverse career landscape which aims to give inspiration, orientation and information about different career paths and new career opportunities for STEM teachers within the field of education. In the part of Collaboration, teachers can exchange their ideas and knowledge with colleagues in your countries as well as within Europe. In the ‘competency’ part, modern concepts and teaching approaches, such as inquiry-based learning, authentic contexts or interdisciplinary questions, are explained and underpinned with example tasks for class.
2. Vilnius University, together with the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, carry out the field trials in each partner country. This includes implementing the policy measure, data collection, and reporting on implementation.

Fostering STEM Education in Schools. (612855-EPP-1-2019-1-TR-EPPKA3-PI-FORWARD) EDUSIMSTEM. Erasmus+ KA3. Coordinator: Ministry of National Education General Directorate of Innovation and Educational Technologies, Turkey. VU coordinator: Dr Anita Juškevičienė.
This project is mainly aimed at teachers and students in K-12 schools to gain STEAM methodology through teacher training, online platform, curriculum, learning scenario studies, policy-making documents, etc. 2019-2022
Main results:
Guidance for policymakers is being developed. Many virtual and live meetings with focus groups are planned: ministries, educational institutions, and business sector representatives. In spring 2023, the project will launch a virtual environment SimuLearn to implement the prepared STEAM learning scenarios. Teachers will be able to easily access the content of the platform and test different STEAM learning scenarios on various topics: Street Lighting in a Smart City, Waste Collection in a Smart City, Mission to Mars, COVID-19 Pandemic, Theme - Mobility in a Smart City. Teachers will find both theory and a user guide on the platform. The scenarios are easy to implement, and all scenarios are visualised through block programming, so teachers will not need any additional hardware.

ARMDOCT – Reforming Doctoral Education in Armenia in Line With the Needs of Academia, Industry and EU Practices. (No. 609850-EPP-1-2019-1-AM-EPPKA2-CBHE-SP). Erasmus+CBHE project. 2020-2023. Coordinator: Eurasia International University (EIU), Armenia. VU Institutional Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. T. Bulajeva.
The overall objective of the project is overcoming the developmental lag of Armenia in the organisation of Doctoral Education (DE), the transition from a two-level DE system to a one-level system of awarding scientific degrees, leading to reforming Doctoral Education (DE) in Armenia in line with the Salzburg Principles. It implies the revision and elaboration of new national policy, legal framework, and institutional procedures supporting integrative and internationally-oriented doctoral studies.
Main results:
1. Project Partners’ Study Visit to Vilnius University May 3-5, 2022.
2. Project Partners’ Study Visit to the University of Teramo, Italy (November 15-17, 2022) was attended by T. Bulajeva and R. Želvys.
3. The VU Feedback report on REGULATIONS FOR ORGANIZATION OF ADMISSION AND STUDY AT THE THIRD CYCLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
4. The VU Feedback report on Appendix to Regulations for Credit System Implementation in the Third Cycle of Higher Education (PhD program/Doctoral program)
5. VU Review of the Code of Conduct for Scientific Integrity; VU Feedback on ARMDOCT on the document Research Project

TeaEdu4CT – Future Teachers Education: Computational Thinking and STEAM. (No. 2019-1-LT01-KA203-060767). Erasmus+ KA2 project. Coordinator: Vilnius University. Project Leader: Prof. Valentina Dagienė. 2019-2022.
Objectives of the project: 1) to improve pedagogical skills and competencies of future teachers that are related to the teaching and training of various aspects of CT; 2) to develop a deeper understanding of future teachers in CT. The methodology is based on an approach to develop and test a set of subject/educational environment-specific educational modules with the possibility of integration into future teacher curricula. The motivation is based on the ongoing European reform of approaches to STEM education and, therefore, the needs and importance of the educational aspects related to CT. The project focuses on curriculum development activities for the education and training of future teachers. Target group – future teachers involved in STEM education and, in particular, those who are concerned with CT aspects and appropriate curriculum development. Another target group consists of future teachers of preschool institutions (kindergartens), primary schools, and lower and upper secondary schools of various subjects, including foreign languages, art, and the humanities. The project results in a set of modules developed for training future teachers on various aspects of CT as related to STEM project-based education. The developed modules are self-sufficient, which allows them to be included in study programmes and form a part of the coherent CT curriculum for STEM and related subjects.
Main results:
1. Set of modules for teacher education in STEM and Computational Thinking: https://www.fsf.vu.lt/ct4teachers#modules
2. Dagienė, V. Jevsikova, T., Stupurienė G., Juškevičienė, A. Teaching computational thinking in primary schools: Worldwide trends and teachers’ attitudes. Computer Science and Information Systems 2022 Volume 19, Issue 1, Pages: 1-24, https://doi.org/10.2298/CSIS201215033D

Euro-Asian Collaboration for Enhancing Stem Education/EASTEM. (No. 598915-EPP-1-2018-1-SE-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP). Erasmus+ CBHE. Coordinator: Uppsala University. VU Coordinator: Prof. Dr Valentina Dagienė. 2018–2022.
EASTEM aims to bridge the gap between industry and universities, facilitating the employability of graduates through student-centred competency development. Based on key issues identified by our needs analysis, EASTEM addresses three key issues in student-centred competency development: staff development for lecturers, establishing STEM Education centres, and facilitating industry engagement and competency integration into educational programmes.
Main result:
1. Collaboration with Asian universities (in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia).

STEAM-CT Erasmus+ (No. 2019-1-BE02-KA201-060222). Coordinating institution: VIVES University College, Belgium. Institutional Leader: G. Stupurienė. (https://www.fsf.vu.lt/naujienos/fakulteto-ivykiai/105-en/2950-steam-ct#modules-intellectual-outputs. 2019-2022.
The aim of the project is to strengthen teaching and learning computational thinking skills from preprimary to lower secondary (3 to 14 years old) by integrating the learning of these skills within ‘real life’ STEAM contexts. The integrated approach of STEAM will help to make computational thinking more concrete and connected to the real world and, therefore, more understandable for children. The focus will be on the process of problem-solving instead of the use of (expensive) technological tools and materials. So teachers will be supported to teach ‘computational thinking’ with easily applicable and accessible materials and tools.
Main publications:
1. Stupurienė, Gabrielė; Jevsikova, Tatjana; Juškevičienė, Anita. Solving ecological problems through physical computing to ensure gender balance in STEM education // Sustainability. Basel : MDPI. eISSN 2071-1050. 2022, vol. 14, iss. 9, art. no. 4924, p. [1-16]. DOI: 10.3390/su14094924.
2. Dagienė, V. Jevsikova, T., Stupurienė G., Juškevičienė, A. Teaching computational thinking in primary schools: Worldwide trends and teachers’ attitudes. Computer Science and Information Systems 2022 Volume 19, Issue 1, Pages: 1-24, https://doi.org/10.2298/CSIS201215033D

Youth Volunteer Educators E-learning Program for Young Migrants and Refugees (e-VELP). (Project No. 2019-3-DE04-KA205-018805). Erasmus+KA2. Coordinator: Teachsurfing, Germany, VU Institutional Coordinator: Dr Sandra Kairė (until 2021/09), PhD student: J. Garbauskaitė-Jakimovska (since 2021/10). 2020–2022.
The e-VELP project will enable young migrants/refugees to create and offer free workshops where they share their knowledge and culture with local communities. The project will develop the e-learning platform and supplementary offline activities that both aim to guide VEs and VE-Trainers in their progressive journey. The e-VELP project moves beyond a classic e-learning platform. Its aim is not only to teach migrant/refugee youth new skills but also to create and expand a live and active community of migrant/refugee youth passionate to share knowledge (Volunteer Educators) and youth workers passionate to support them (Volunteer Educator Trainers). Project consortium: Teachsurfing (Germany), CESIE (Italy), GEYC (Romania), SIC (Cyprus), Vilnius University (Lithuania).
Main result:
1. E-learning platform and asynchronous online course for young migrants and refugees: Volunteer Educator Course (accreditated by Institute of Educational Sciences, Vilnius University). E-learning platform and online course available: https://evelp.teachsurfing.org/

A Practical Toolkit for Integrating eLearning in Higher Education Curricula (Online HE). (KA226 – Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness. Ref. No.: 2020-1-RO01-KA226-HE-095434). Erasmus+ KA2 Project, Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices. Promoter /Coordinator: University of Pitești, Romania. VU Coordinator: Eglė Jasutė. 2021-2023
The project aims to build the capacity of Higher Education teaching staff, academics, and learning designers to integrate eLearning into their educational programmes. Through specific deliverables and actions, it will raise awareness of the need and value of adopting quality eLearning, promoting cooperation among all stakeholders involved in Higher Education, including policymakers. During the project implementation period, the following will be produced: 1. The Toolkit for integrating eLearning in Higher Education in order to support Higher Education institutions and instructors to adopt a strategy when designing, developing, and implementing effective eLearning courses. 2. Training courses that enable Higher Education staff to understand all basic elements needed to be able to effectively design, develop and implement innovative and interactive eLearning courses for university students and adults. 3. eLearning platform and MOOC that include hands-on online activities to empower academics to integrate eLearning in their teaching practices; and 4. Policy and practice guidelines for Higher Education institutions that promote and improve the integration of online teaching and learning in Higher Education. The project covers the following target groups: higher education faculty and instructors, policymakers and university leadership teams, learning designers, educational technologists, as well as support staff and higher education students (indirect target group).
Main result:
1. The training course programme aims to support a group of HE professionals to understand all basic elements needed to be able to effectively design, develop and implement innovative and interactive eLearning courses for university students and adults while acknowledging the potential of eLearning in the HE sector.

Women’s Legacy: Our Cultural Heritage for Equity. (Ref. No. 2020-1-ES01-KA201-083060). Erasmus+ KA2 project. Promoter/Coordinator: Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (Conselleria d’Educació, Cultura i Esport, in Valencian) of the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain. VU Institutional Coordinator: Dr D. Lepaitė, Researchers: Assoc. Prof. Dr V. Venslovaitė, Dr S. Kontrimienė. 2021–2023.
The project aims to respond to a common European need: to recover women’s cultural contributions and include them in their rightful place in educational materials in order to recognise their role as protagonists of culture and history, thereby restoring their social value and the cultural heritage that has previously been hidden. The project will make a decisive contribution to the inclusion of women protagonists in history and culture and their legacy in educational content. The five intellectual products made by the project team will be published in a digital, accessible, and free format in order to facilitate and encourage the transmission in the classrooms of a complete and truly universal culture, with the aim of recovering the European cultural heritage, helping to eradicate gender inequalities from the grassroots.
Main result:
1. A resource bank (under development): https://womenslegacyproject.eu/open-resources/. Multiplier event / Conference “Woman legacy: our cultural heritage and equity”. 2022 October 24, Vilnius university.

PLACEDU – Digital Social Place for the Next Normal in Education. ERASMUS+ project (Vilnius University, Nuvierza v Ljubljani, Haskell Island and others). Project Leader: Simonas Šabanovas, Researcher: Karolina Levanaitė. 2021–2023
The PLACEDU project aims to increase the capacity and readiness of Higher Education Institutions (HEI) to manage an effective shift towards e-learning. The challenge of the project is to determine what is lost in the learning environment when it is shifted to e-learning. Therefore, PLACEDU creates a structured platform where educators will learn more about how to enhance their remote learning in a way that motivates students. Project consortium: University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), CSI Center for Social Innovation Ltd. (Cyprus), Out of the Box International (Belgium), University of Iceland (Iceland), Social Policy Academy (Greece), Vilnius University (Lithuania).
Main result:
1. Under the coordination of Vilnius University, part R1 has already been completed and implemented – "Ethnography of Digital by Digital" (National country reports and project research report). A remote meeting of partners took place in Ljubljana (Slovenia).

JANUS: e-Pedagogy and Virtual Reality Based Robotic Blended Education (JANUS). (No: 2020-1-PL01-KA226-HE-095371). VU Institutional Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Dr Agnė Juškevičienė.

The proposed project aims at setting up the foundations related to the application of Virtual Reality (VR), in Blended Learning settings, with particular focus on the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. The project-related activities can be broadly classified into the following categories: (1) e-Pedagogy: Development of an educational framework to support the design of the VR learning activities and a user manual to guide the practices that educators will follow when conducting the educational activities. In addition, prior to the conduct of the intervention, a series of workshops will be delivered to prospective teachers to equip them with the necessary skills and traits on how to utilise the custom-made prototype efficiently and effectively. (2) A Virtual-Learning Platform aligned to the principles of well-established educational theories and instructional design techniques and a prototype VR platform will be developed.
Main results:
1. Theoretical and Conceptional Framework about E-pedagogy and Blended and Virtual Reality Learning.
2. V. Dagienė. Blended learning supporting skills development. International Conference on “Industry 4.0 technologies in solving industrial problems and supporting trainings and education process”. 12th Conference Lean Learning Academy 27 May 2022.

Computational Thinking and Mathematical Problem Solving, an Analytics Based Learning Environment (CT&mathABLE). (2022-1-LT01-KA220-SCH-000088736). Project Leader: Valentina Dagienė, researcher Eglė Jasutė. https://www.fsf.vu.lt/ct-math-able#project-consortium. 2022-2025
The aim of the CT&MathABLE project is to provide a learning-analytics-based framework to support individualised learning trajectories for students aged 9-14 across Europe.
Objectives:
1) Improve school the digital skills and self-awareness of students based on learning analytics;
2) Enhance computational thinking (CT) and algebraic thinking (AT) through interactive tasks;
3) Integrate the STEM approach for task-based learning;
4) Create instruments for CT Assessment with learning analytics, and
5) Provide interactive tasks and assessment instruments in a format that can be integrated with various learning management systems.
Planned CT&MathABLE delivers:
- personalised learning trajectories (learning paths) in CT and Mathematical competencies combining a learning architecture and cutting-edge learning analytics technologies with interactive tasks that have been proven to engage learners in accelerated intellectual development;
- competency frameworks for integrated and automated assessment of learning in CT and Mathematics;
- large-scale libraries of interactive tasks designed explicitly to hone CT and Algebraic skills.
Main result:
1. A taxonomy of interactive tasks of informatics (‘Bebras’ tasks) is being developed.

DECART Designing higher Education Curricula for Agility, Resilience & Transformation. (No. KA220-HED-7E4A0FDA). VU: Partner. Coordinator: IMT Atlantique Bretagne Pays de la France Loire. Head of the VU part of the project: Prof. V. Dagienė. 2022–2025.
The DECART project proposes a framework and tools to guide STEM & Management educational leaders in innovative curriculum design and programme transformations according to unpredictable VUCA contexts. As such, the project aims to identify and share innovative curricula between project partners and international associated partners, to propose models and processes for curriculum change and transformations, and to assess and improve the interoperability and resilience of curricula.
Activities: DECART implements and operates three collaborative Intensive programmes for higher education programme leaders from the partnership, conducts quantitative and/or qualitative analysis, and reflects on original curriculum structures and properties. For external communication and dissemination, both onsite and online multiplier events are organised to share the methodological results and tools so as to confront and promote innovative curricula design thinking and transformations.
Main result:
1. DECART delivers several reports which include shared understanding of curriculum structures in partner countries and VUCA scenarios to assess agility and resilience as guidelines for curriculum design and transformations. A common Body of Knowledge is delivered, including change & transformation processes to inspire programme leaders. Learning materials with guidelines are produced (co-design and leadership workshops, crisis serious games), along with publications, brochures, and videos.

Development of Computational Thinking Learning Paths via Bebras-like Tasks with Analytics. (No. NPHZ-2022/10045). Nordplus Horizontal. VU: Partner. Head of the VU part of the project: Prof. V. Dagienė
To be able to combine and prepare learners for a greener future, Computational Thinking skills are becoming fundamental knowledge like maths and communication. In this project, the top researchers in the Nordic and Baltic countries are joining forces to be able to educate learners about computational thinking on a large scale. The project has brought together top computing education researchers from four different countries to take on the challenge of creating scalable solutions that can be used to provide effective education through a research-based and data-driven approach.
The project aims to build common understanding towards CT education in schools by developing concrete CT learning paths, didactical material, and assessment tools using learning analytics. Through this project, we widen our thinking towards CT, considering how to include advanced digital technologies in CT and integrate a holistic view of CT with green solutions into Nordic and Baltic schools.
In the long term, the aim of the project is to develop a pedagogical approach to learning CT in schools. Despite unique cultural highlights in regions, Nordic and Baltic countries share a fundamental culture and attitude, as reflected in the school curricula. In order to develop pupils’ competencies to deal with the rapid development of digital technologies like data mining, AI, and machine learning, it is essential to build a suitable approach to integrating CT into school curricula. The project is structured as two layers of a network: the first is collaboration among Nordic and Baltic universities in order to create CT learning paths resources and didactical material, and the second layer consists of local activities and collaboration among universities and schools within a country.
Main results:
1. An international workshop was organised in Lithuania, and many teachers were involved in creating tasks on Computational Thinking.
2. Pluhár, Z.; Kaarto, H.; Parviainen, M.; Garcha, S.; Shah, V.; Dagienė, V.; Laakso, M-J. Bebras challenge in a learning analytics enriched environment: Hungarian and Indian cases // Informatics in schools. a step beyond digital education: 15th international conference on informatics in schools: situation, evolution, and perspectives, ISSEP 2022, Vienna, Austria, September 26–28, 2022 : proceedings. Springer, 2022. p. 40-53. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 13488). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-15851-3_4.

ICSE Academy – European Collaboration and Mobility in the Professional Development of Pre- And In-Service Stem Teachers (proSTEM). (Number: 101052670 — proSTEM). Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Vidita Urbonienė. Researcher: Assoc. Prof. Asta Meškauskienė. 2022–2025
The ICSE Academy supports the EU’s endeavours to minimise the amount of low-performing STEM (science, maths, technology, engineering) learners. It does so by investing in a new era of a high-quality STEM teacher workforce by innovating based on existing best practices in teacher education and transnational exchange strategies. This approach draws on mobility and collaboration as an integral part, thereby supporting young and established STEM teachers across Europe. The ICSE Academy will use a systemic approach to inform national and European policy based on a profound policy needs analysis. It will include targeted dissemination/communication and institutionalised exchange structures (e.g. round tables).
Main result:
1. A partner meeting was held in Freiburg.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
Radboud University (Netherlands)
KU Leuven University (Belgium)
University of Latvia (Latvia)
University of Cambridge (UK)
University of Lisbon (Portugal)
TU Dortmund University (Germany)
University of Education Freiburg (Germany)
Dublin City University (Ireland)
Utrecht University (Netherlands)
Granada University (Spain)
University of Lisbon (Portugal)
University of Graz (Austria)
University of Sydney (Australia)
Western Sydney university (Australia)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
Dr Associate Professor Sandra Kairė
• Member of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LETA).
• Member of International Association of Intercultural Education (IAIE).
• Member of UNESCO National Coordination of Associated Schools Network
• Member of the international research network "Planetary wellbeing and human learning group" (Institute for Interdisciplinary Research into the Anthropocene) (since 2021). Australia, network coordinator Prof. Dr Margaret Somerville, University of Western Australia. Collaboration with network members on a postdoctoral research fellowship on education in the Anthropocene
• Member of the Youth International Cooperation Agency's network of trainers in non-formal education.
• Member of the Youth International Cooperation Agency's project selection committee for Erasmus+ Youth 2021-2027 and European Solidarity Corps 2021-2027
• Executive Secretary of the scientific journal Acta Paedagogica Vilnensia.
Dr Associate Professor Emilija Sakadolskienė
• National Association for Music Education
• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
• Lithuanian Composers' Union, Musicology Section
• Lithuanian Music Teachers' Association - Board Member
• American Educational Research Association AERA
• Lithuanian Educational Research Association LETA
Junior Assisstant Ingrida Ivanavičė
• Member of Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LETA)
Junior Assistant Rūta Bružienė
• Member of Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LETA)
Junior Assistant Juozapas Labokas
• Member of Lithuanian Educational Research Asociation
Dr Assistant Šarūnė Nagrockaitė:
• Member of the working group for the Internship Regulations at the Faculty of Philosophy;
• Member of the Association for Improvement of Schools.
• Member of Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LETA), www.lera.lt;
• Member of the Association for Improvement of Schools
Dr Assistant Simonas Šabanovas
• 10th National Conference GEOGRAPHY: SCIENCE AND EDUCATION (October 21, 2022, member of organizational comittee)
• Vice President of the Lithuanian Geographical Society
• Member of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association
• Member of the Lithuanian Geography Teachers Association
Dr Associate Professor Irena Stonkuvienė
• The 6th LERA conference, 13-14 10 2022, Kaunas (member of scientific committee);
• Member of European Education Research Association (EERA);
• Board member of Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LERA),
• Chair of Education History Network (EHN) http://www.lera.lt/en/valdyba/;
• Member of ISCHE (International Standing Conference for the History of Education)
• Member of the Society of Politics, Education and Comparative Inquiry in European States (SPECIES)
• Board member of the Baltic Association of Educational Historians
• editor-in-chief of the journal Acta Paedagogica Vilnensia, http://www.vu.lt/leidyba/lt/mokslo-zurnalai/acta-paedagogica-vilnensia
• editorial board member of the Società di Politica, Educazione e Storia http://www.spes.cloud/riviste/rivista2021_2.pdf;
• member of the scientific council in the Family Upbringing/ Wychowanie w http://wwr.uni.wroc.pl/en/scientific-council;
• editorial board member of the Journal of Education, Culture and Society https://jecs.pl/index.php/jecs/about/editorialTeam;
• editorial board member of the journal IJGE: International Journal of Global Education http://www.ijge.net/index.php/ijge/about/editorialTeam
• editorial board member of The European Journal of Teaching and Education (EJTE) https://dpublication.com/journal/EJTE/EditorialTeam
• Member of Council at Vilnius university Faculty of Philosophy

Dr Associate Professor Asta Meškauskienė
• member of Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LERA), www.lera.lt;
• member of the Lithuanian Association of Teachers of Ethic. http://www.etikai.lt/apie-mus/nariusarasas
Dr Assistant Professor Daiva Lepaitė
• Tuning Community member
Dr Professor Lilija Duoblienė
• Member of the Scientific Committee of the EDiTE Network Doctoral Conference (Budapest, 2022)
• Member of international network EDiTE (The European Doctorate in Teacher Education)
• Member of European Education Research Association (EERA), https://eera-ecer.de/;
• Board member of Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LERA), chair of
• Educational Philosophy and Policy committe, http://www.lera.lt/;
• Member of International Network of Philosophy of Education (INPE), http://www.internationalnetworkofphilosophersofeducation.org/;
• Member of Council at Vilnius university Faculty of Philosophy;
• Chairperson of Committee of Doctoral studies in Education (VU, KU, MRU) and leader of Vilnius Doctoral School of Educational Sciences.
• Lilija Duoblienė & Valentina Dagiene (co-chairs). 12th International Doctoral School on Education Research.
Lecturer Justina Garbauskaitė-Jakimovska
• Member of Lithuanian educational research association (LERA), www.lera.lt;
• Member of Youth researchers network in Lithuania, https://www.jrd.lt/informacijadirbantiems-su-jaunimu/tyrimu-uzklausos
Dr Associate Professor Vaiva Grabauskienė
• member of the Editorial Committe of NOMAD, Nordic Studies in Mathematics Education. University of Gothenburg, Sweden. http://ncm.gu.se/5870-2
• member of Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LERA) LETA | Lietuvos edukacinių tyrimų asociacija (lera.lt)

Dr Associate Professor Vaiva Schoroškienė
• Member of Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LERA), www.lera.lt; (2020-2022)
• member of International Board on Books for Young People (Department in Lithuania), www.ibbylietuva.lt

Dr G. Stupurienė
• Expert of SELFIE for TEACHERS international network:
• https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/communities/en/community/digcompedu-community/news/selfieforteachers-expert-network-workshop-2-3-june-2022-jrc
• Volunteer at Bebras National and International Challenge on Informatics and Computational Thinking networks.
Dr Tatjana Bulajeva
• From 2013 Editorial Board Member of the journal Acta Paedagogica Vilnensia, Vilnius university, Vilnius University Publishing House http://www.vu.lt/leidyba/lt/mokslo-zurnalai/acta-paedagogica-vilnensia/redakcine-kolegija
Lecturer Jurga Sidabrienė
• LETA Lithuanian Educational Research Association, Primary Education Section, member;
• Lithuanian Union of Artists, member
Dr Kęstutis Kaminskas
• Since 2019, member of the editorial board of magazine Gimtoji kalba
• Since 1990, member of the Lithuanian Language Association, the Association Lituanistų sambūris.
Lecturer Nadia Venskuvienė
• Lithuanian educational research association (LERA).
Dr Associate Professor Sergejus Neifachas
• National Association of Childhood Researchers
• Lithuanian Association of Heads of Preschool Education Institutions
Dr Associate Professor Agnė Juškevičienė
• Member of Children's Identity & Citizenship European Association (CICEA). http://www.cicea.eu/
• Member of the Lithuanian Association for Social Emotional Education. http://dramblys.lt/customPages/lseu-asociacija
• Peer-reviewed scientific publications of the scientific journals "Pedagogika" and „Acta paedagogica Vilnensia“
Dr Associate Professor Rita Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė
• Member of the Board of the Lithuanian Education Research Association LETA, Head of the Preschool Education Network. http://www.lera.lt/tinklai/
• Member of the MMC "Scientia eduologica" of the Lithuanian scientific society.
• Member of the editorial board of Journal of Baltic Science Education (ISSN 1648-3898 print., ISSN 2538-7138 online). http://www.scientiasocialis.lt/jbse/
• Member of the editorial board of the journal "Natural Science Education" (ISSN 1648-939X; Copernicus Index). http://www.gu.puslapiai.lt/GUwww/indeks.htm
• Member of the editorial board of the journal "Education: Policy, Management, Quality" (ISSN 2029-1922; JournalSeek, "Copernicus Index"). http://gu.puslapiai.lt/SVIETIMAS_PVK.htm
• Member of the council of Vilnius "Vyturios" primary school (representative of social partners).
Lecturer Jogaila Vaitekaitis
• member of Lithuanian educational research association (LERA), www.lera.lt
• Educational Philosophy and Education Policy Network.
Dr Associate Professor Vita Venslovaitė
• Since 2014 Member of International Network of Philosophers of Education (INPE)
• Member of Lithuanian Educational Research Asssociation (LERA)
Habil. Dr Professor Rimantas Želvys
• editorial board member of the journal Acta Paedagogica Vilnensia, http://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/acta-paedagogica-vilnensia;
• editorial board member of the journal Pedagogika, http://www.pedagogika.leu.lt/index.php/Pedagogika;
• editorial board member of the Iranian Journal of Comparative Education (Iran) Iranian Journal of Comparative Education - Editorial Board (cesir.ir);
• editorial board member of the journal Bulletin of the Kazakh State Women’s Teacher Training University (Kazakhstan) Редакционный совет (kazmkpu.kz);
• representative of Education Policy Centre (Vilnius University) in Network of Education Policy Centres (NEPC), http://www.edupolicy.net/.
Dr Associate Professor Aušra Žemgulienė
• Member of Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LERA), www.lera.lt
• member of European Education Research Association (EERA) EERA European Educational Research Association | EERA (eera-ecer.de);
• member of The World Education Research Association (WERA) World Education Research Association (WERA) (weraonline.org)
• member of the European Alliance of Social Sciences and Humanities (EASSH) EASSH - European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities - EASSH

BEST REPORTS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES ABROAD
1. Kairė, S. Juškevičienė, A. Supporting refugee learners from Ukraine in Lithuania: Teachers’ experiences. Intercultural Conference 1-2/10/2022 Intercultural Education on the Move: Facing Old and New Challenges. (2022, online).
2. Agnė Juškevičienė, I. Skiauterienė-Bilbokaitė., S. Sabaliauskas, I. Donielienė, Innovative Lecturer: Using Digital Tools in the Study Process. The 3rd Barcelona Conference on Education, 20-23 September, 2022.
3. Emilija Sakadolskienė, Rūta Girdzijauskienė: report Constructing musical meaning through metaphor analysis. 29th EAS Conference Music and meaning. 19 May 2022 - Belgrade, Serbia.
4. Emilija Sakadolskienė, Milda Brėdikytė: report Moving Early Childhood Professionals Towards Spontaneity through Narrative Play - Mission Possible? EuNet Meryc Conference Childhood and Music Making: Exploring, Communicating, Improving Music Making. 24 February 2022. Vienna, Austria (online).
5. Lilija Duoblienė. Education in Anthropocene: hope for people yet-to come. 11 World Environmental Education Congress. Building Bridges World Congress on Environmental Education. 14-18 March 2022, Prague.
6. Sidabrienė J., Developing students' critical thinking in art lessons. The 4th International scientific and practical online conference: „ARTISTIC EDUCATIONAL SPACE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MODERN EDUCATION PARADIGM“ (Ukraine, 2022).
7. Doc. Dr Rita Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė, Nadia Venskuvienė: Oral presentation „Application of natural science argumentation skills in primary education“ in the XX International Scientific Conference the Multidimensionality of the Education in the 21st century, Poland, Sedlce-Chlevicka, June 7-9, 2022.
8. Rimantas Želvys: 5-th international APIKS conference. Aveiro (Portugal). Presentation “Work Satisfaction Among Academics: Despite or Due to Lithuania’s New Public Management Reforms?” (with A.-L. Rose, L. Leišyte ir S. Peksen), March 2-4, 2022.
9. Stonkuvienė, I., Purvaneckienė, G. Kitchens untelsils for girls, cars for boys? Gender stereotypes in preschool education in Lithuania. EDULEARN22. 14th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies, 4-6 July, Spain.
10. Stonkuvienė I. School-Family Communication and Collaboration Implementing Distant Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic. Taiwan Education Research Association. TERA2022. Forum. Panel "Opportunities and challenges on distance learning and online education during the pandemic and the post-pandemic era: voices from practitioners and researchers in Lithuania and Taivan". 5th, November, 2022.

MOST IMPORTANT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS RECEIVED FOR R&D ACTIVITIES
1. Duoblienė, L., Baranova J. (posthumously). The Award of the Meilė Lukšienė Prize for the set of works "Educational philosophy for Lithuania: encouraging cultural literacy and philosophy discipline at school (2014-2022)". Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport
2. VU Rector Award 2022 for the best scholarly publication in the category of social sciences Baranova, J.; Duoblienė, L.. Multimodal education: philosophy and practice. Washington: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, 2021. 334 p.
3. Želvys, R. The Degree of Honorable Professor of Zhetysu University named after I. Zhansugurov, Kazahstan.
4. Dagienė, V. Exclusive award for the services to the IOI community (International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI).
5. Dagienė V. 2022 M.K. Čiurlionis Foundation Award "Lithuanian Luminaries for Mathematics and Informatics".

MOST IMPORTANT PARTICIPATION CASES OF RESEARCHERS IN WORKING GROUPS OR COMMISSIONS SET UP BY STATE AUTHORITIES, STATE AND MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS, BUSINESS ENTITIES
Sandra Kairė
• Expert in working group for national teacher competences model in Lithuania at Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Lithuania
• Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. Member of Working Group for Creation of National Research Program for Educational Sciences (2022)
• Member of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research into the Anthropocene (Institute for Interdisciplinary Research into the Anthropocene), Western Sydney university, Australia), an international network of researchers in the Planetary wellbeing and human learning group (since 2021).
• Australia, network coordinator Prof. Dr Margaret Somerville, University of Western Australia. Collaboration with network members on a postdoctoral research fellowship on education in the Anthropocene.
• Member of the Youth International Cooperation Agency's network of trainers in non-formal education.
• Member of the Project Selection Committee of the Agency for International Cooperation for Youth Erasmus+ Youth 2021-2027 and European Solidarity Corps 2021-2027.
Valentina Dagienė
• Expert of EUREKA Eurostars program at European Commision
Emilija Saldoskienė
• Lithuanian Music Teachers' Association - Board Member.
• National Association for Music Education.
Rūta Bružienė
• Member of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association.
Simonas Šabanovas
• Member of the General Education Council, Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania.
Irena Stonkuvienė
• Member of the Lithuanian Education Council (LRS, 2019-2023).
• Member of the Motivation Assessment Commission for Education Studies, LAMA BPO, 2020, 2021, 2022
Asta Meškauskienė
• Expert at the Centre for Quality Assessment of Studies
Daiva Lepaitė
• Expert at International Tuning Academy (an International Higher Education and Research Centre. Peer review of 4 study programs in Latvian universities.
• Peer review of study programs at Lithuanian Universities, Latvian Universities
• Development of study programs at Universities in Azerbaijan, North Macedonia
Lilija Duoblienė
• Expert at Lithuanian Research Council
• Member of Council at Vilnius university Faculty of Philosophy (2003-2022)
• Member of Committee of Doctoral studies in Education (VU, VDU, KU, MRU) and chairperson of Vilnius University group)
• Chairperson of the committee of MA studies program „Educational sciences“.
Vaiva Schoroškienė
• Member of the Lithuanian Education Council (LRS, 2019-2023)
Tatjana Bulajeva
• Expert of Study Quality Evaluation Centre (External national and international auditing, expertise of quality evaluation of university and non-university colleges (institutions and study programmes).
• Evaluation of Lithuanian Science Academy Projects (since 2012)
• Consultation and expert evaluation of newly developed or updated HE study programmes.
• Competence development and training of HEIs teaching staff
• Competence development and assessment methodology description (group member, expert)
Jurga Sidabrienė
• Lithuanian Union of Artists, member
Doc. Dr Rita Makarskaitė-Petkevičienė
• Member of the Board of the Lithuanian Education Research Association LETA, Head of the Preschool Education Network. http://www.lera.lt/tinklai/
• Member of the MMC "Scientia eduologica" of the Lithuanian scientific society.
• Member of the Teacher of the Year Election Commission of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports.
• Member of the expert group of the national STEAM competition „Our experiment“ (at the non-formal education center for students of Lithuania)
• Chairwoman of the evaluation committee of the national contest „Lietuvos gamtininkas“ (for students in grades 1-4) (at the non-formal education center for students of Lithuania).
• Member of the national level evaluation committee of the school educational spaces 2018, 2020, 2022 competition (at the non-formal education center for Lithuanian students)
Vita Venslovaitė
• Expert of the project Optimising the Network of Higher Education Institutions and Improving the Quality of Studies by Merging Šiauliai University with Vilnius University (No. 09.3.1-ESFA-V-738-03-0001).
• Member of the Accreditation Commission for Teacher Competence Improvement Programmes at the Faculty of Philosophy of Vilnius University.
Rimantas Želvys
• Expert of the Lithuanian Research Council
• Expert of the Agency for Innovations
• Expert of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences

CONSULTATIONS PROVIDED BY THE UNIT TO THE PUBLIC OR ECONOMIC ENTITIES
Creation of original Lego Kit for mathematic teaching MATEMA. A licensing agreement was signed with the small business company ‘Robotikos laboratorija’ MB [Laboratory of Robotics] on Mathematic didactics with ‘Lego’. http://simpo.lt/lt/pradinukams/56-matema-1-4-klasei.html). Consultants: Assoc. Prof. Vaiva Grabauskienė and Oksana Mockaitytė-Rastenienė.
Knygų startas. Concept of a place for reading. A service agreement was signed with Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania. Assoc. Prof. Dr V. Schoroškienė.

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
Tuleikytė, J.
• The Lecture of the Year or Lectio prima „The Suitcase of an Educated Man: Fire, Water, Humiliation, Dignity?“ (Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of Lithuania, January, 4 2022).
• „The Contemporary World: Dehumanisation and Humanisation“ open lecture at University of Sao Paulo, School of Eduction ( 24 May 2022). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6BbB4TCvk8
Kairė, S.
• LRT, Art Hive. Sandra Kairė, Doctor of Education: we must learn to adapt to the uncertainties of the future, (2022) https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/kultura/12/1650128/edukologijos-mokslu-daktare-sandra-kaire-turime-mokytis-prisitaikyti-prie-ateities-neapibreztumo?fbclid=IwAR2B_To8tGqjxzaveVS724AW7lR303ztqHxp7a3QfPEic4TG1CAvqW104Fo
• Changes in learning in the Anthropocene: experiences of young climate activists. Besikeičiantis mokymasis antropoceno epochoje: jaunų klimato kaitos aktyvistų patirtys. (2022). Švietimo naujienos: https://www.svietimonaujienos.lt/besikeiciantis-mokymasis-antropoceno-epochoje-jaunu-klimato-kaitos-aktyvistu-patirtys/
• Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. Video: Becoming good teacher: how and when? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbtcZgeaGfk
• Video: https://www.sviesa.lt/ilgoji-pertrauka/ilgoji-pertrauka-31-sveciuose-vu-ugdymo-mokslu-instituto-direktore-sandra-kaire Šviesa, 2022.
• National dialogue “Policy and practice of education and science: between vision and reality”, March 28, 2022, Vytautas Magnus university. Presentation “Information technologies and professionalization of teachers’ activities? Pro and contra” https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ul1upXrJXQO8WPxCgkFcr4P9rc1W462L/view
Kairė, S., Duoblienė, L.
• National Leadership Forum “Meaning of Education Today”. Panel disussion with S. Kairė and L. Duoblienė “Children of the Anthropocene and the Future of Education”.
Ingrida Ivanavičė
• Presentation "Friendship of Nations as a Soviet School Project" at the public seminar "Consilium Educationis.", general theme of the Consilium: "Peace, Equality, Fraternity, and Other Myths of Soviet Education", (VU, 2022).
Simonas Šabanovas
• more than 100 different commentaries on TV, news portals and radio in 2021 and 2022.
Lilija Duoblienė
• Presentation on "Doctoral Study Forms: consortium and doctoral school" for the participants of the ARMDOCT project international partners' visit" (VU, 2022, May 5)
• Lecture for seniors of University III "The Anthropocene and Education" (2022, 14 April)
Vaiva Grabauskienė, Oksana Mockaitytė-Rastenienė
• "MATEMA Workshop" at the Millennium Schools Programme Contact Fair, (April 2022).
Jurga Sidabrienė
• Participation in expert activities: evaluation of preschool and pre-school children's drawing contests, commission member (2019-2022).
• Participation in expert activities: Art Olympiad evaluation, commission member (2019-2022).
• Practical educational activities to teachers and students of Lithuanian educational institutions. The Art of Exploration project of the Creative Connections Association. (2021-2022).
• Seminars for art pedagogues of preschool and pre-school education institutions "Preschool and/or pre-school education programs", Art education qualification improvement program for art pedagogues of preschool and pre-school education institutions, Kaunas district education center (lecturer J. Sidabrienė). (2019-2022).
Agnė Juškevičienė
• Perception of the quality of education: exam results are "just statistics", student progress is more important. From: 15 min. 10 February 2022. The notion of education quality: exam results are "just statistics", student progress is more important | 15min.lt
Viktorija Voidogaitė
• Series of article on bernardinai.lt: „Kaip inkliuzija Lietuvoje tapo įtraukiuoju ugdymu?“ (2022) https://www.bernardinai.lt/kaip-inkliuzija-lietuvoje-tapo-itraukiuoju-ugdymu/?fbclid=IwAR3vdH4WU-ovPH-h-1xyDF8zDZ3_rFVyQUnI5CsDKFTtTX3NG5MYPEuAmX8; „Ką reiškia, kad įtrauki mokykla skirta visiems?“ (2022) https://www.bernardinai.lt/ka-reiskia-kad-itrauki-mokykla-skirta-visiems/?fbclid=IwAR22c054WsCOIg18raSgkmseQoiLBnfBGH7fF7QgRlNyIxTtrqEFtie31P; „Įtraukus katalikiškas ugdymas“ (2022) https://www.bernardinai.lt/itraukus-katalikiskas-ugdymas/?fbclid=IwAR1uM5E49eaOknFXhObNI8k7Pd4LotwixtwtxsUK-1MOR7__SUuk6dNnkDw
Jogaila Vaitekaitis
• Artice on delfi.lt: „Po neįtikėtinais šalių sėkmės pavyzdžiais – baisi realybė: to negalime praleisti pro akis“ ( 2022) https://www.delfi.lt/tvarilietuva/ekonomika/po-neitiketinais-saliu-sekmes-pavyzdziais-baisi-realybe-to-negalime-praleisti-pro-akis.d?id=89279461&fbclid=IwAR2Lp_MgYPw2JhyH9vHV7xxaiOag_6mEYIO7XwBBGpCsg0TdN8U10Z2d41w
Želvys, R.
• National dialogue “Policy and practice of education and science: between vision and reality”, March 28, 2022, Vytautas Magnus university. Presentation “Structural and systematic educational reform: does structural changes has impact on quality of education?” https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ul1upXrJXQO8WPxCgkFcr4P9rc1W462L/view
• Forum of socionoms. “For rich children – good schools and best university, and for poor?”. Presentation “For children from rich families – best universities?”, May 17, 2022. Faculty of Philosophy, VU. https://www.facebook.com/VU-Socialinis-darbas-83215574932/videos/socionom%C5%B3-forumas/3204050283216045
• Žinių radijas discussion “What will bring bigger control of learner outcomes”, December, 23. 2022. https://www.ziniuradijas.lt/laidos/dienos-klausimas/ka-duos-didesne-moksleiviu-pasiekimu-kontrole?video=1

INSTITUTE OF PHILOSOPHY

Universiteto g. 9, LT-01513 Vilnius
Tel. +370 5 266 7617
E-mail:
Director – Prof. Dr Jonas Dagys

DEPARTMENT FOR CONTINENTAL PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Head – Prof. Habil. Dr (HP) Rita Šerpytytė
E-mail:

STAFF
Professors: Dr (hp) R. Šerpytytė, Dr K Sabolius, Dr N. Milerius, Dr P. Montani (part-time).
Associate professors: Dr D. Bacevičiūtė (part-time), Dr V. Daraškevičiūtė, Dr M. Gutauskas, Dr A. K. Pažėraitė.
Assistant professors: Dr S. Maslauskaitė-Mažylienė (part-time), Dr B. Ulevičius (part-time), Dr B. Gelžinytė (part-time).
Research fellows: Dr I. Šatkauskas (part-time), Dr J. Saldukaitytė (part-time), Dr G. Mažeikis (part-time), Dr D. Pollefeyt (part-time), Dr E. C Sferrazza Papa (part-time).
Doctoral students: D. Barusevičius, E. Bolšakovas, P. Dumbliauskas, J. Grigas, A. Pocius, M. Ramanauskaitė-Vildė, K. Rybačiauskaitė, M. Šulskus.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Premises of phenomenological and hermeneutical philosophy and possibilities of its development
• Philosophical reflection of everyday world
• Philosophy of cinema
• Philosophical investigations of imagination
• Basic problems of phenomenology
• Religion and the challenges of the contemporary world
• Philosophy of religion
• Nihilism, secularization, postsecularization
• Religion and visualization

MAIN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2022
1. Milerius, N., Narušytė, A., Davoliūtė, V., Brašiškis, L. Everyday Representations of War in Late Modernity. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2022.

2. International symposium Technology and Imagination, Vilnius University, June 3, 2022. <https://www.vu.lt/en/news-events/news/vu-international-symposium-will-bring-together-researchers-from-around-the-world-to-discuss-technology-and-imagination>
Lähdesmäki, T., Baranova, J., Ylönen, S.C., Koistinen, A.-K., Mäkinen, K., Juškienė, V., Zaleskienė, I. Learning Cultural Literacy through Creative Practices in Schools Cultural and Multimodal Approaches to Meaning-Making. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2022.

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2022

Projects Supported by the University Budget
Contemporary research on the tradition of continental philosophy and religious studies. Prof. R. Šerpytytė, 2019–2024.
During the year 2022, two volumes (vol. 22–23, 24–25) of scholarly journal Religion and Culture were published and two research visits took place (prof. R. Šerpytytė “Istituto italiano per gli studi filosofici” (Naples, Italy), June 16–27, 2022; La Sapienza-University of Rome, October 22–29, 2022).
Main publication:
1. Grigas, J. Nerimas ir baimė kaip kasdienybės nuotaikos Heideggerio Būtyje ir laike [Anxiety and fear as moods of everydayness in Heidegger’s Being and time], Problemos 101: 105-117, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Problemos.101.9.

National Research Projects
Theory of Milieu: Philosophical Premises of Environmental Education. (P-MIP-22-266). Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania Prof. Dr Kristupas Sabolius. Implementation period: 2022–2025.
In light of the challenges posed today by the imminent ecological crisis, the relationship between the individual and the environment can be described as a “wicked problem” which can only be approached by combining perspectives of different academic disciplines – social and natural sciences as well as the humanities. The intricate character of the matter does not allow for unambiguous solutions and complicates the effort to discover an appropriate theoretical scale that would clarify and yet retain the complexity of the problem. The aim of this project is the philosophical conceptualisation of the idea of MILIEU and the development of a novel theory of environmental education and its initial methodological guidelines. The project leans on an innovative hypothesis that we can create a philosophical theory of education by replacing the abstract term “environment” with a concrete and elaborate notion of “milieu”, thus enabling new ways of interaction among the knowledge and methods of separate disciplines. Throughout the project, “milieu” will be given a twofold consideration – both as a fundamental problem of environmental studies and philosophy. Even though it is customary to treat “milieu” and “environment” as synonymous terms, conceptually, they differ significantly. The idea of “environment” is based on a difference (that which is “other”) from the individual, whereas “milieu” implies the being’s association with its surroundings. Even though it is widely used in various academic fields, the term’s potential is yet to be examined in educational and philosophical contexts. Therefore, the project will be conducted following a dual – philosophical and educological – approach and thus will stand out by its originality: the concept of “milieu” is considered here as a synthetic term allowing for a novel interpretation of the environment through a consideration of relational networks and emphasising aspects of change, action and participation, crucial in processes of education as well.
During the year 2022, within the framework of this project series of events were organised:
• The ongoing seminar “Reading Milieu” (Terpių seminaras) was initiated (6 events carried out) <https://www.fsf.vu.lt/naujienos/fakulteto-ivykiai/4942-reading-milieu-terpiu-seminaras>;
• One open-public interdisciplinary seminar on the Concept of Milieu was organised <https://www.fsf.vu.lt/mokslas/mokslo-renginiai/5129-tarpdisciplininis-seminaras-terpes-samprata>;
• Two researchers of the project (Kristupas Sabolius and Audrius Pocius) visited La Sapienza-University of Rome for a planned research period (2022/10/30–2022/11/07).

Nations and Their Religions: Concepts of Religion and Politics of Identity in late 19th Century –21st century Lithuania. (No. P-LIP-22-136). Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. Assoc. Prof. Aušrelė Kristina Pažėraitė. 2022–2024.
The aim of the project is to explore academic and public intellectual discourse on religion and its development in Lithuania in the 19th –21st centuries, as well as various ideological and cultural factors that made an impact on the discourse. The idea of the project will be implemented using critical discourse analysis of academic and public intellectual discourse on the religiosity of Lithuanian peasants of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, Lithuanian Jews, and the contemporary Pagan community Romuva. These cases are chosen as perfect illustrations of problems related to the conceptualisations and classifications of religion, their links to problematic categories of folk, ethnicity, and others, as well as their importance in politics of culture, religion, and identity. The research project is based on the perspective of religion as a discursive category and on an analysis of discourse as a practice that interacts with a political, social, and religious context. Through this dialectical interaction, objects, social identities, social relations, and systems of knowledge and belief are created. The analysis of the Lithuanian discourse on religion and its development is interesting and significant because the discourse reveals many influences: influences of discourses created by actors of imperial Russia, romantic nationalism, the Soviet period and contemporary identity politics.

The Reception of Emmanuel Levinas’ Thought in Contemporary Philosophical Discourse. (Agreement No. S-LIP-22-62). Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania according to The National Lithuanian studies development programme for 2016–2024. Assoc. Prof. Danutė Bacevičiūtė. 2022–2024.
The project is intended to research the reception of Emmanuel Levinas’ thought in contemporary philosophical discourse, focusing on the relationship of contemporary philosophers towards his attempt to positively define the meaning of metaphysics. The rethinking of the “renewal” of metaphysics in Levinas’ philosophy will include the analysis of his philosophical concepts – transcendence, immanence, the Other etc. – in relationship with the concepts of contemporary philosophical discourse – radical immanence, speculative turn, plasticity, etc.
The aim of the project is to conduct complex research into the reception of Levinas’ thought in contemporary philosophy, considering the relationship of contemporary philosophers to his “renewal” of metaphysics as pivotal. This aim will be pursued by analysing the efforts of contemporary philosophers to oppose Levinas’ “radical alterity of the Other” with “radical immanence” or the “plasticity of the other”. At the same time, the possibility of the further development of Levinas’ project of “ethics as first philosophy” will also be explored, linking the latter to the idea of liberating ethics itself. The project will not only make a significant contribution to the further research of the Lithuanian-Jewish-French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas, as Levinas’ philosophy will be explored in the context of contemporary philosophical debates but will also pay special attention to the “Lithuanian” reception of Levinas’ thought in the writings of Alphonso Lingis and Arvydas Šliogeris.

Ontology of Law. (P-MIP-21-51). Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Prof. Rita Šerpytytė, 2021–2024.
The project “Ontology of Law” is intended for the ontological research of Law, revealing and substantiating the fundamental connection between Being and Law. This relation with Being will be revealed not in the perspective dictated by the concepts of modern thinking, when the focus is on the search for foundations of positive law and positive norms, but on the origin of Law beyond positive law and positive norms, the origin of the phenomenon of Law itself, revealing the ontological meaning of Law, considering positive laws as a result of certain thinking of Being. The aim of the project is to answer the question “What is Law?” by a systematic study of the concepts that raised the question of Law ontologically, showing that the “real” basis of Law is negative.
As was conceived in the Project application, the orientation of the research was not the metaphysical, philosophical methodology established by modern thought, but rather, the philosophical hermeneutical approach – interpretation (reconstruction and deconstruction), comparative, interdisciplinary methods, and the etymological and historical analysis of classical philology. During the year 2022, four articles were published, two public lectures and three papers were presented to national and international audiences.
Main publications:
1. Šerpytytė, R. Apie realybę ir įstatymą, arba ką veikė Platonas Sirakūzuose? [On Reality and Law, or What was Plato Doing in Syracuse?] Problemos, Priedas 2022: 44-55, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Problemos.Priedas.22.4
2. Šerpytytė, R. Apie Įstatymo ontologiją ir Būties užmarštį [On the ontology of Law and the oblivion of Being]. Religija ir kultūra 22–23: 8-16, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Relig.2018.12.
3. Dumbliauskas, P. Spirit of legality: Hegel’s critique of law and turn to ontology in the Frankfurt fragments. Religija ir kultūra 22–23: 17-30, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Relig.2018.13.
4. Sferrazza Papa, E. C. Critical Remarks on Schmitt’s Political Realism. Religija ir kultūra 22–23: 31-40, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Relig.2018.14.

The Future of Humanity: New Scenarios of Imagination (DOTSUT-229) (09.3.3-LMT-K-712-01-0078). The project has been funded by the EU Structural Funds programme’s priority axis 9, “Educating the society and strengthening the potential of human resources”, objective 9.3.3 “, Strengthen the skills and capacities of public sector researches for engaging high-level R&D activities”. Prof. Kristupas Sabolius, 2017–2021.
In 2022, in the framework of this project, an international symposium, Technology and Imagination, was organised (Vilnius University, 2022/06/03). (https://www.vu.lt/en/news-events/news/vu-international-symposium-will-bring-together-researchers-from-around-the-world-to-discuss-technology-and-imagination) and four papers were presented.
Main publication:
1. Šatkauskas, Ignas. Of Pharmakon: Hallucination in Amerindian Perspectivism and Speculative Materialism, Journal of Psychedelic Studies 6(1): 54-62, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1556/2054.2022.00212 .

Modernity and the Holocaust in Lithuania: Philosophical Analysis of Moral Dilemmas. (S-MOD-21-8). Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. Dr Jolanta Saldukaitytė, 2021–2022.
The idea of historical progress underpins the modern conception of history. What does such a conception have in common with the problem of the Holocaust? Bauman discerns a link between the two in his book Modernity and the Holocaust. Every genocide event challenges the community of a country to reflect on the problem of moral values in history and raises questions concerning the relationship between different nations, between the individual and the nation or state, the present and eternity, as well as the social responsibility for historical events.
The project investigates the possibility of considering the relationship between the Holocaust and modernity in Lithuania from the perspective of Western moral philosophy. In an international philosophical discourse, the Holocaust is considered from different perspectives: the philosophy of history, political or moral philosophy, and the philosophy of education. As regards the philosophy of history, the Holocaust raises the problem of moral values in history, while as a question of political philosophy, it poses the problem of criminal and political guilt. As a question of moral philosophy, it raises the question of moral and metaphysical guilt and responsibility. The novelty of this project is an attempt to reflect the relation between modernity and the Holocaust in Lithuania from all possible perspectives of practical philosophy, stressing the theme “Vilnius Gaon’s conception of the wisdom of silence (teshuva) and Levinasian question: “Do I not kill by being?” It takes into consideration insight by the historian T. Snyder that the image of Auschwitz, which is meant to remind us of humanity’s inhumanity, by an ironic displacement actually enables our forgetfulness, letting us distance ourselves from what happened in our streets to our neighbours, and ofttimes by our neighbours. The question then is not only what or how it happened but what does the ‘what and how it happened’ mean for us ¬– what does it reveal about humanity, including our own.
During the year 2022, five articles were published, ten papers were presented, and two international seminars were organised.
Main publications:
1. Anckaert, L. Agamben and the Biopolitical Understanding of the Shoah, Problemos, Priedas 2022: 55-67, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15388/Problemos.Priedas.22.5
2. Mažeikis, G. The Roads of the Others: E. Levinas and T. Adorno, Problemos, Priedas 2022: 68-83, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15388/Problemos.Priedas.22.6
3. Pollefeyt, D. The Violence of Being. The Holocaust in the Philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas, Problemos, Priedas 2022: 84-93, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15388/Problemos.Priedas.22.7
4. Saldukaitytė, J. Levinas and responsibility in the face of violence: a view from Lithuania // Religions: Special issue: Contemporary continental philosophy and Jewish thought 13 (2): 1-15, 2022. DOI: 10.3390/rel13020185.
5. Saldukaitytė, J. On Metaphysical Guilt and Infinite Responsibility: K. Jaspers and E. Levinas, Problemos, Priedas 2022: 94-109, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15388/Problemos.Priedas.22.8

The Problem of Experience in Classical German Philosophy. (09.3.3-LMT-K-712-23-0135). Postdoctoral fellowship programme Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania with EU Structural Funds. Supervisor: Prof. Rita Šerpytytė. Postdoctoral Researcher: Dr Brigita Gelžinytė, 2021–2023.
The project aims to explore the problem of experience and reason in classical German philosophy. The content of this research lies in the Schelling-Hegel controversy regarding the possibility of reason’s self-determination, as they approach this issue from different opposing understandings of what they call “the experience of consciousness” (Erfahrung des Bewußtseins). In search for a “synthetic” view to this controversy, this project investigates and employs the connection between noetic activity found in Aristotle’s ‘Metaphysics’ and the notion of ‘hexis’, characterising the latter's modality. The novelty of the project lies in disclosing the essential role of experience in German idealism, as well as in the attempt to introduce modal dimensions to the discussions of the performativity of reason.
During the year 2022, one article was prepared, and one paper was presented.
Main publication:
1. Gelžinytė, B. „Thinking in the stillness of life: some remarks on Hegel’s notion of experience“. Philosophy Today 67:3 (forthcoming 2023, June-July).

The Problem of Perspective in Phenomenology and Amerindian Perspectivism. (09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0065). Postdoctoral fellowship programme Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania with EU Structural Funds Supervisor: Prof. Kristupas Sabolius. Postdoctoral Researcher: Dr Ignas Šatkauskas. 2020–2022.
The aim of the project is a comparative analysis of the notion of perspective in phenomenology and in Amerindian perspectivism. The main point of divergence between these positions is in the treatment of the problem of the world-horizon. Phenomenology assumes the unity of the world, while Amerindian perspectivism theorises multiple worlds, which results in an inversion of the phenomenological notion of perspective: multiple worlds and the unitary perspective of subjectivity.

Main publications:
1. Šatkauskas, I. Amerindinis perspektyvizmas ir pirmojo asmens perspektyvos įveika [Amerindian perspectivism and the overcoming of the first-person perspective]. Problemos, 102: 159-171, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Problemos.2022.102.12.
2. Šatkauskas, I. Divergences and Convergences of Perspective: Amerindian Perspectivism and Phenomenology. Open Philosophy 5(1): 308-329, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1515/opphil-2022-0199 .

The Everyday and the Representation of War Trauma in Late Modernity. (No. S-MOD-17-1/LSS-250000-273). Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Prof. Nerijus Milerius, 2017–2022.
The aim of the project is to explore the philosophical status of the everyday in late modernity, to research the transformation of the traumatic experience of war into performance, and the exploration of aesthetic forms which would convey the trauma and yet resist the tendency to exploit this experience for the purpose of creating a spectacle. The project has four goals. First, to reflect upon the relationship between the philosophical interpretations of the everyday and modernity. Second, to analyse the wave of philosophical reflections on the everyday, as presented by Henri Lefebre, Guy Debord, Michel de Certeau and the other authors of late modernity, as well as to assess their impact. Third, to analyse the transformation of war, which is the opposite of the everyday, into the everyday itself or to use the words of Guy Debord, a spectacle intended for consumption. Fourth, to explore the forms of representation in cinema, photography, and video art which resist the consumptive visualisation of war.
In 2022, in the framework of this project, one monograph and two articles were published.

Main publications:
1. Milerius, N., Narušytė, A., Davoliūtė, V., Brašiškis, L. Everyday Representations of War in Late Modernity. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2022. (Identities and Modernities in Europe). ISBN 9783031071348. eISBN 9783031071355. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-07135-5.
2. Milerius, N. Narratives of historical memory and their touristic function: the case of Sergei Loznitsa’s Austerlitz. Acta Universitatis Sapientiae - film and media studies 21(1): 1-16, 2022. DOI: 10.2478/ausfm-2022-0001.
3. Brašiškis, L. Spectres of war in Deimantas Narkevičius’s Legend Coming True and Sergei Loznitsa’s Reflections. Acta Universitatis Sapientiae - film and media studies 21(1): 17-35, 2022. DOI: 10.2478/ausfm-2022-0002.

International Research Projects
ONLENHER – Ontology. Language. Hermeneutics. The project was completed under the guidance of Dr Maria Teresa Oñate Zubia. Prof. Rita Šerpytytė is a member of the international group of investigation ONLENHER at the National Distance Education University (UNED) in Spain. <https://www.catedradehermeneutica.org/onlenheres-2/>
In 2022, the paper “Il problema della realta‘e l‘interpretazione della legge: dai presocratici ad Agamben” by Rita Šerpytytė was delivered at the Hercritia and UNED (Madrid, Spain) international congres “Heidegger, Vattimo y alrededores. Nuevas perspectivas de la hermeneutica Critica”, September 27–30, 2022. <https://www.catedradehermeneutica.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/programa-congreso-HERCRITIA-50uned.pdf >

Contractual Research
The Book of Memory of Telšiai: The Life of the Jewish Community Interrupted by the Holocaust. Implemented by the Samogitian museum “Alka”. The project is funded by Lithuanian Council for Culture, Telšiai District Municipality, Good Will Foundation. Project Participant: Assoc. Prof Aušrelė Kristina Pažėraitė.
In 2022, in the framework of this project, one paper was presented and one article published (Pažėraitė, A. “Būti žydu”: egzistenciniai žydiškumo apmąstymai Emmanuelio Levino filosofijoje ir Chaimo Grades kūryboje po Holokausto“ [‘“Being Jewish’”: Existential Reflections on Jewishness in the Philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas and the Works of Chaim Grades after Holocaust’], conference “Holokaustas Žemaitijoje: istorijos ir atminites atodangos”: https://www.muziejusalka.lt/renginys/moksline-konferencija-holokaustas-zemaitijoje-istorijos-ir-atminties-atodangos. 2022/09/23.

Main publications:

1. Pažėraitė, A. „Emmanuelis Levinas ir Chaimas Grade „žydų klausimu“: poholokaustinės refleksijos“. In Holokaustas Žemaitijoje: istorijos ir atminties atodangos. Žemaičių muziejus „Alka“, 2022, pp. 59–72.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies of Luigi Pareyson, Turin (Italy)
University of Turin (Italy)
University of Eastern Piedmont (Italy)
Sapienza – University of Rome (Italy)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)
University of Lisbon (Portugal)
National Distance Education University (UNED) (Spain)
The Pontifical University of John Paul II Cracow (Poland)
University of Salerno (Italy)

OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Prof. Rita Šerpytytė
• Member and national representative (correspondent) of International Association for Philosophy Teachers (Association Internationale des Professeurs de Philosophie, enregistrée á Bruxelles), http://www.aipph.de
• Editorial Board Member of the scholarly journal HYBRIS: Revista de Filosofia (HYBRIS: Journal of Philosophy) (since 2014) http://revistas.cenaltes.cl/index.php/hybris/about/editorialTeam
• Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal Religija ir kultūra (Religion and Culture), http://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/religija-ir-kultura
• Member of the organizing committee and jury of Lithuanian Philosophy Olympiad; https://olimpiados.lt/straipsniai/skelbiamas-kvieciamuju-i-lietuvos-mokiniu-filosofijos-olimpiados-nacionalini-tura-sarasas ; https://www.lmnsc.lt/uplfiles3/2021_renginiu%20grafikas.pdf
• Member of the Catholic Academic Exchange Service (KAAD) in Lithuania, https://www.kaad.de/en/stipendien/osteuropaprogramm/#toggle-id-11
• Board member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association http://filosofai.lt/nariai/
• Member of scientific committee of the series of publications Ombre del diritto („The Dark Side of Law“), University of Salerno, Italy) (since 2021) < http://www.castelvecchieditore.com/categoria-prodotto/ombre-del-diritto/ >
• Member of the international association Association for Teachers of Philosophy at Schools and Universities (Association internationale des professeurs de philosophie (AIPPh) https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100057577
• Member of International Society for Italian Philosophy (ISIP), https://www.societyforitalianphilosophy.org/ .
Prof. Nerijus Milerius
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/
• Lithuanian Filmmakers Union, Member of the Film Directors’ Guild http://kinosajunga.lt/nariai/?guild=1&start=24
• Member of Association for the Study of Nationalities.
• Member of Laboratory of Critical Urbanism.
Prof. Kristupas Sabolius
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://www.filosofai.lt/;
• Member of the Lithuanian Association of Phenomenology, https://lt-lt.facebook.com/LietuvosFenomenologuAsociacija
• Affiliate Member of the Program in Art, Culture and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology http://act.mit.edu/people/affiliates/kristupas-sabolius-2/
• Member of Scientific Advisory Board, “Castelvecchi” publisher, Aesthetics Series / Italy
• Member of Editorial Board, “CoSMo. Comparative studies in Modernism” /Italy
• Member of Editorial Board, “*as a journal”, Lithuanian Culture institute, https://english.lithuanianculture.lt/lithuanian-culture-promotion-projects/as-a-journal/about-a-journal/
• Scientific Advisor, Member of Curatorial Team / Swamp Observatory in Critical Zones. Observatories for Earthly Politics (curated by Bruno Latour, Peter Weibel, Martin Guinard, Bettina Korintenberg), ZKM / Germany.
Prof. Pietro Montani
• Scientific Board Member of “Rivista di Estetica”
• Scientific Board Member of “Carte semiotiche”
• Scientific Board Member of “Agalm”
• Scientific Board Member of “Plexus”
• Scientific Board Member of “Images ré-vues” (on-line magazine)
Prof. Gintautas Mažeikis
• Senior reaseacher in the project Modernity and Holocaust in Lithuania: philosophical analysis of moral dilemmas” (2021)
• Board Memeber of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/
• Member of European Cultural Parliament (since 2012) http://www.kulturparlament.com/author/gintautas_mazeikis/
• Council Member of the movement Santara-Šviesa (since 2000) https://www.santarasviesa.lt/category/a/
Assoc. Prof. Aušra Kristina Pažėraitė
• Authoress of Science and Encyclopaedia Publishing Institute;
• From 2021 member of EASR (European Association for the Study of Religions).
• Directress of Lithuanian Jewish Culture Research Centre (in Lithuanian Culture Research Institute, former Culture, Philosophy and Arts Research Institute) (since 2007);
• Board Member of the Lithuanian Society for the Study of Religion http://en.religijotyra.lt/members/
• Member of Association of SIREL (Société internationale de Recherche Emmanuel Levinas) Plateforme de la Société Internationale de Recherche Emmanuel Levinas (SIREL) - Société Internationale de Recherche Emmanuel Levinas (sirel-levinas.org);
• Member of association ISORECEA (International Study of Religion in Eastern and Central Europe Association) Isorecea;
• Member of ISSR/SISR - International Society for the Sociology of Religion ISSR - International Society for the Sociology of Religion (sisr-issr.org);
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/.
Assoc. Prof. Mintautas Gutauskas
• Editorial Board Member of the scientific journal Religija ir kultūra (Religion and Culture), http://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/religija-ir-kultura:
• Member of the Lithuanian Association of Phenomenology; https://lt-lt.facebook.com/LietuvosFenomenologuAsociacija
• President of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/
• Member of executive committee of Central and East European Society for Phenomenology, http://ceesp.org/module/institution/view.php?id=100934&people=1
• Member of the Research Council of Lithuania (Committee of Humanities and Social Sciences) (since 2018), https://www.lmt.lt/en/about-the-research-council/contacts/2279/committee-of-humanities-and-social-sciences/d22
• Member of Programme Committee of the Baltic Research Programme
• <https://www.lmt.lt/lt/doclib/wbmhuqs41jwa1u73yc8p7xbybdby4xr4>
• <https://www.lmt.lt/lt/mokslo-finansavimas/tarptautinio-bendradarbiavimo-programos/baltijos-moksliniu-tyrimu-programa/2911>
Assoc. Prof. Danutė Bacevičiūtė
• Editor of the scholarly journal Athena: filosofijos studijos (Athena: Philosophical Studies) (since 2006) https://athena.lt/redkolegija
• Executive Secretary of the scientific journal Religija ir kultūra (Religion and Culture), http://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/religija-ir-kultura
• Member of the Lithuanian Association of Phenomenology; https://lt-lt.facebook.com/LietuvosFenomenologuAsociacija
• Executive Board Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/
Assoc. Prof. Vaiva Daraškevičiūtė
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/
• Member of the Lithuanian Association of Aesthetics, About the IAA (iaaesthetics.org)
• Society for Italian Philosophy https://www.societyforitalianphilosophy.org/
Assoc. Prof. Jolanta Saldukaitytė
• Vicepresident of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/
• Member of the Lithuanian Association of Phenomenology; https://lt-lt.facebook.com/LietuvosFenomenologuAsociacija
• Board Member of Lithuanian Association of Philosophy Teachers https://filosofijamokykloje.mozello.lt/home/
• Board Member of international Levinas Philosophy Summer Seminar https://levinas.buffalo.edu/people/
• From 2017 member of the North American Levinas Society (NALS).
• From 2014 member of the Lithuanian Communication Society.
• From 2013 member of the Lithuanian Phenomenology Society.
• From 2010 member of Levinas Center (University at Buffalo, USA) https://levinas.buffalo.edu/people/
Assist. Prof. Benas Ulevičius
• Member of organizing committee of international conference “International Academic Conference on Social Problems, 3rd edition”. University of Utara (Malaysia), Rzesow University (Poland). 2021.07.02. https://www.ur.edu.pl/kolegia/kolegium-nauk-spolecznych/jednostki-naukowe/instytut-pedagogiki1/konferencje-i-seminaria-naukowe/international-academic-conference-on-social-proble
• Editorial Board Member of the journal for religious studies Soter, https://ejournals.vdu.lt/index.php/SJRS/about/editorialTeam
• Member of the Vatican Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of the Quality of Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties (AVEPRO), https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/avepro/documents/rc_avepro_20100720_profile_en.html
Assist. Prof. Sigita Maslauskaitė-Mažylienė
• Editorial Board Member of the scientific journal Religija ir kultūra (Religion and Culture), http://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/religija-ir-kultura
• Member of the Lithuanian Art Historian Society Lietuvos dailės istorikų draugija | Lietuvos dailės istorikų draugija (ldid.lt)
• Member of the Lithuanian Artists’ Association; http://www.ldsajunga.lt/Nariai-3215-Sigita_Maslauskaite
• Member of International Council of Museums (ICOM), International Council of Museums - The global museum network - International Council of Museums (icom.museum).
• Member of the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference and the bilateral permanent commission of the Republic of Lithuania “On the implementation of the agreement between the Republic of Lithuania and the Holy See on cooperation in the field of education and culture”.
Didier Pollefeyt
• senior reaseacher in the project Modernity and Holocaust in Lithuania: philosophical analysis of moral dilemmas” (2021)
• Professor at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, https://theo.kuleuven.be/en/research/researchers/00002786
Ernesto Calogero Sferrazza Papa
• Member of LabOnt https://labont.it/people/
• Non-resident Fellow of the CAS SEE (University of Rijeka)
• Member of the scientific board of the «International Consulting Council of the “Researching Center for Cultural Exclusion and Bonderland Areas”, Sociological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences
• Member of the “Carl Schmitt Gesellschaft”, Plettenberg
• Member of the “Italian Society for Theoretical Philosophy”
• Member of the “Italian Society for Political Philosophy” https://sifp.it/socie-e-soci/
• Member of the “Academy of Law and Migrations” https://www.migrazionieuropadiritto.it/adim-partecipanti/
• Member of the “Società Cusaniana” http://www.cusaniana.unito.it/
• Member of the editorial board of “Filosofia” (ISSN: 0015-1823) https://www.ojs.unito.it/index.php/filosofia/about/editorialTeam
• Member of the scientific board of “Nuovo lessico critico” (Castelvecchi)

BEST REPORTS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES ABROAD
1. Gelžinytė, B. Unthinking experience: Some Remarks on Hegel’s Notion of Certainty. International conference „The 15th Annual Meeting of The Comparative & Continental Philosophy Circle (CCPC). Tallinn University, Estonia, 12 05 2022. https://www.uni-hildesheim.de/media/koselleck/Aktuelles/2022_05/CCPC_2022_Program_final.pdf
2. Pažėraitė, A. From Networks of Like-minded People to Religious Communities: Breakthroughs of Community Concepts in Soviet Lithuania, European Association for the Study of Religions conference. University College Cork, Ireland, 27 06 – 01 07 2022. < https://abbey.eventsair.com/AbbeyEventApp/easr2022/conference-programme/Agenda>
3. Sabolius, K. Homo Vindicans. The Mimetic Turn: Final International Conference on Homo Mimeticus (ERC). Leuven, Belgium. 20–22 04 2022. https://hiw.kuleuven.be/hua/events/conferences-workshops/mimetic-turn/programme
4. Šatkauskas, I. Of Pharmakon: Mimesis and Hallucination. Viveiros de Castro vs. Meillassoux. “The Mimetic Turn: Final International Conference on Homo Mimeticus (ERC)”, Leuven, Belgium, April 20-22, 2022. https://hiw.kuleuven.be/hua/events/conferences-workshops/mimetic-turn/programme
5. Šerpytytė, R. Agamben and the Ontology of Law, V international SIP conference RIT, online, Rochester, USA, June 9–11, 2022.
6. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5847141bf7e0ab230f552a6f/t/629df39e78b649764bb16048/1654518686483/2022+SIP+Virtual+Program.pdf

MOST IMPORTANT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS RECEIVED FOR R&D ACTIVITIES
1. Gutauskas, M. Best Publication Award (in the field of Humanities) of Vilnius University Rector. https://www.fsf.vu.lt/naujienos/fakulteto-ivykiai/4754-rektoriaus-apdovanojimai-labiausiai-nusipelniusiems-filosofijos-fakulteto-bendruomenes-nariams

MOST IMPORTANT PARTICIPATION CASES OF RESEARCHERS IN WORKING GROUPS OR COMMISSIONS SET UP BY STATE AUTHORITIES, STATE AND MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS, BUSINESS ENTITIES
1. Prof. R. Šerpytytė. Participation (since 2017) in the Programme implementation group of the Programme Modernity in Lithuania
https://www.lmt.lt/lt/komisijos-ir-darbo-grupes/nmp-vykdymo-grupes/modernybe-lietuvoje/2322
2. Assoc. Prof. M. Gutauskas. Participation (since 2018) in the Committee of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Research Council of Lithuania.
https://www.lmt.lt/lt/apie-taryba/humanitariniu-ir-socialiniu-mokslu-komitetas/doc.-Dr-mintautas-gutauskas/2871
3. Assoc. Prof. A. Pažėraitė. Participation in the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language in preparing the list and descriptions of Hebrew and Yiddish terms for Lithuanian use.

CONSULTATIONS PROVIDED BY THE UNIT TO THE PUBLIC OR ECONOMIC ENTITIES
1. Assoc. Prof. A. Pažėraitė, expert on the commission for the best master’s thesis and the best dissertation 2021 national competition.
2. Assoc. Prof. J. Saldukaitytė. Seminar – lecture for high school teachers “How to talk about evil? Ethical and aesthetical aspects” (Kaip kalbėti apie blogį? Etiniai ir estetiniai aspektai), XXV National Philosophy Olympiad, 2022/03/04 http://www.filosofijamokykloje.lt/naujienos/

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
1. Daraškevičiūtė, V., Gutauskas, M. Participation in the discussion about nature as utopia and heterotopia in the Antropocene on radio show “Homo cultus. Istoriko teritorija” (LRT, “Gamta kaip utopija ir heterotopija antropocene” [Nature as utopia and heterotopia in the Antropocene], 2022/02/16). https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000201332/homo-cultus-istoriko-teritorija-gamta-kaip-utopija-ir-heterotopija-antropocene
2. Milerius, N. Participation in the discussion about the images of the end of history in cinema and television series on radio show “Homo cultus. Istoriko teritorija. Istorijos pabaigos vaizdiniai kine ir televizijos serialuose”, www.lrt.lt, 2022/02/02. https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000199620/homo-cultus-istoriko-teritorija-istorijos-pabaigos-vaizdiniai-kine-ir-televizijos-serialuose
3. Sabolius, K. Interview on Delfi.lt. “Prof. Kristupas Sabolius apie vieną svarbiausių šių laikų žmogaus gebėjimų: pirmi žingsniai – dar vaikystėje, tačiau itin svarbus ir mokyklos etapas’, 2022/05/19.
4. https://www.delfi.lt/projektai/login-2022/prof-kristupas-sabolius-apie-viena-svarbiausiu-siu-laiku-zmogaus-gebejimu-pirmi-zingsniai-dar-vaikysteje-taciau-itin-svarbus-ir-mokyklos-etapas.d?id=90260403
5. Sabolius, K. Participation in the discussion about the role of imagination in politics, ethics, and education on LRT radio show “Homo cultus. Tarp praeities ir ateities. Vaizduotė: koks jos vaidmuo politikoje, etikoje ir ugdyme? Pokalbis su Kristupu Saboliumi”, 2022/06/10.
https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000219866/homo-cultus-tarp-praeities-ir-ateities-vaizduote-koks-jos-vaidmuo-politikoje-etikoje-ir-ugdyme-pokalbis-su-kristupu-saboliumi

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY AND ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHY

Head – Prof. Dr (HP) Marius Povilas Šaulauskas
E-mail:

STAFF
Professors: Dr J. Dagys, Dr N. Kardelis, Dr (hp) V. Radžvilas, Dr (hp) M. P. Šaulauskas.
Associate professors: Dr K. Dubnikas.
Assistant professors: Dr R. Bikauskaitė, Dr M. Gilaitis, Dr Ž. Pabijutaitė, Dr A. Noreikaitė (part-time).
Lecturers: G. Kurlavičiūtė (part-time).
Doctoral students: A. Alijauskaitė, K. Čerapaitė, E. S. Mikalonytė, M. Morkūnaitė, A. Plėšnys, E. Skrebė, G. Šataitis, A. Šulcas, V. Vyšniauskas.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Analytical philosophy and hermeneutics
• Logic, philosophy and history of logic
• Philosophy in classical and modern civilizations
• Controversy of Modernity and Postmodernity
• Postmodern philosophy
• Social and political philosophy
• Contemporary Christian philosophy
• Classical, Modern and Postmodern Ethics

MAIN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2022
1. Šaulauskas, Marius Povilas. The agnoiological nature of modern epistemology: grounding knowledge by ignorance. Studia Philosophica Wratislaviensia 17(2): 7-19, 2022. DOI: 10.19195/1895-8001.17.2.1
2. Kučinskas J., Kardelis, N. The Wisdom of Place: Lithuanian Philosophical Philotopy of Arvydas Šliogeris and Its Relevance to Global Environmental Challenges. In Peter D. Hershock and Roger T. Ames (Eds.), Philosophies of Place: An Intercultural Conversation, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2022, pp. 159-176.
3. Gilaitis, Mindaugas. On some objections to the normativity of meaning. In Piotr Stalmaszczyk and Martin Hinton (eds.), Philosophical approaches to language and communication (Studies in Philosophy of Language and Linguistics, vol. 20), Berlin: Peter Lang, 2022. pp. 269-289. DOI: 10.3726/b19787.
4. Dagys, J.; Giedra, H., Pabijutaitė, Ž. Inferences between Buridan’s modal propositions. Problemos 101: 31-41, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Problemos.101.3
5. Kardelis, N. “The Philosophy of Myth, Philosophy as a Myth, and Philosophical Myths: The Varieties of Philosophy’s Relation to Myth in the Thought of Aleksei Losev, Algis Mickūnas, and Arvydas Šliogeris“, Arts of Thinking. The Athens Symposium, Athens, Ohio, USA: Ohio University, September 16–17, 2022.

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2022
Projects Supported by the University Budget
The History and Present of Philosophy: Fundamental Methodological Controversies. Prof. M. P. Šaulauskas, 2022.
The history and present of philosophy: fundamental methodological controversies. The research dwells on the fundamental methodological controversies in Western philosophy, their origins and development, as well as on relevant problematics in the different branches of contemporary analytical philosophy (mainly philosophy of logic, mind and language) while at the same time participating in current political and moral philosophy debates.
Main publications:
1. Gilaitis, M. On some objections to the normativity of meaning. In Piotr Stalmaszczyk and Martin Hinton (eds.), Philosophical approaches to language and communication (Studies in Philosophy of Language and Linguistics, vol. 20), Berlin: Peter Lang, 2022. pp. 269-289. DOI: 10.3726/b19787.
2. Noreikaitė, A. Reconsidering the political: a realization of a person or a way to depersonalization? Problemos 102: 74-89, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Problemos.2022.102.6.
3. Šaulauskas, Marius Povilas. The agnoiological nature of modern epistemology: grounding knowledge by ignorance. Studia Philosophica Wratislaviensia 17(2): 7-19, 2022. DOI: 10.19195/1895-8001.17.2.1

National Research Projects
Development of Terminological Dictionary of Analytic Metaphysics Based on the Works of S. Kripke, D. Lewis, A. Plantinga and W. V. O. Quine. (P-MIP-22-334). Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. Head of the research group: M. P. Šaulauskas. Members of the group: Ž. Pabijutaitė, J. Dagys, H. Giedra, and P. Gricius. 2022–2025.
The aim of the project is to create a comprehensive and scientiﬁc terminological dictionary of the core terms, concepts, and controversies of one of the most important ﬁelds of contemporary analytic philosophy – analytic metaphysics, in that way constituting a ﬁrm ground for the development of analytic metaphysics in Lithuania.

Computer-Aided Analysis of Traditional Modal Logic from the Point of View of Contemporary Logical Theories. (P-MIP-19-447). Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. Head of the research group: J. Dagys. Members of the group: Ž. Pabijutaitė, H. Giedra. 2019–2022.
The aim of the project is to thoroughly investigate, with the help of contemporary theories of formal logic and information technologies, the most significant and complex medieval system of modal syllogism formulated and published in the fourteenth century by the French logician Jean Buridan. The main goal of this project is to determine the relationship between traditional and modern theories of modal logic by developing new and adapting existing models of traditional logic, preparing them for the relevant formal comparison, and running the mechanical comparison of the arguments recognised as valid in each theory with the help of a computer equipped with the software specially designed or adapted for this purpose.
Main publications:

1. Dagys, J., Pabijutaitė, Ž.; Giedra, H. Representing Buridan’s divided modal propositions in first-order logic. History and Philosophy of Logic 43(3): 264-274, 2022. DOI: 10.1080/01445340.2021.1976042.
2. Buridanas, J., Pabijutaitė, Ž. (transl.). Traktatas apie išvedimus (ištrauka). Problemos 102: 183-203, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Problemos.2022.102.14
3. Dagys, J., Giedra, H., Pabijutaitė, Ž. Inferences between Buridan’s modal propositions. Problemos 101: 31-41, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Problemos.101.3

Synchronic model of possibility: foundations, development and application. (MSF-JM-13/2022). Funded by Vilnius University programme for young scholars. Head of the research group: Ž. Pabijutaitė. Member of the group: PhD student: P. Gricius. 2022–2023.
The aim of the project is to provide a detailed analysis of the synchronic model of possibility, which has been one of the most prominent ideas in the history of alethic and temporal modal logic, to trace its origins and development and to present the most important ways of its application. The research will be based on the analysis of both classical logical-philosophical treatises written in Ancient Greek and Latin (written by Aristotle, Abelard, and Duns Scotus) and contemporary logical works (by A. N. Prior and S. Kripke).

International Research Projects
Filozofia w Rzeczypospolitej XVI-XVIII w. i historiografia filozofii w Polsce, Litwie, Białorusi i Ukrainie. (31H 17 0438 84. Polonica philosophica Orientalia). Member of research group headed by Dr Steffen Huber: Živilė Pabijutaitė. 2018–2023.
The project is organised by the Philosophy Department of Jagiellonian University (Krakow) and is part of the program “Narodowy Program Roswoju Humanistyki”. The aim of the project is to provide a detailed analysis of the manuscripts and printed sources that reveal the state of political, ethical and logical thought in the region of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the 16-18th centuries. The participants of the project are researchers of the history of philosophy from Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania. 2018/01–2023/01.

Promoting Collaboration for Sustainable and Circular Use of Bioresources Across Agriculture, Forestry, and Aquaculture (CIRCLE). (No. EEA-RESEARCH-24). Funded by the Baltic research programme. Coordinator: Baltic Studies Centre (foundation), Latvia. VU Research Group Coordinator: Dr Diana Mincytė. Researcher: Dr Renata Bikauskaitė. 2021–2024.
The project aims to develop an interdisciplinary perspective on the circular economy in the Baltic-Nordic region by integrating insights from sociology, economics, philosophy, political science, and environmental science. The emphasis is placed on the use of by-products (bio-resources) generated as part of primary production in agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture and across the sectoral boundaries to explore the underlying models of socially- and commercially-driven collaborations and the factors facilitating and hindering the development and wider use of circular practices and collaborative arrangements thereof.

Contractual Research
The Mythophilosophical Lithuanian Discourse: Mickūnas, Šliogeris, Vyčinas (MTS-250000-839). Funded by UAB ‘3T-Transfers’. Prof. Marius Povilas Šaulauskas. 2017–2024.
The project aims to identify the basic parameters of the mythophilosophical Lithuanian discourse and thereby enable the disclosure of its specificity both in terms of (a) Lithuanian philosophical heritage and (b) current Lithuanian academic discourse. The basic problematics of the project cover (1) methodological principles of the mythophilosophical Lithuanian legacy and their enactment in contemporary academic writings as well as (2) vital mythophilosophical attributes in the undertakings of Algis Mickūnas, Arvydas Šliogeris, and Vincas Vyčinas.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
University of Zurich (Switzerland)
Nitra University (Slovakia)
Jagiellonian University (Poland)
Institute of Philosophy at the Nikolaus Copernicus University, Torun (Poland)

OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Prof. J. Dagys
• Executive secretary of the academic journal “Problemos” published by Vilnius University. https://www.journals.vu.lt/problemos/about/editorialTeam
• Member of the Board of Lithuanian Philosophical Society, http://www.filosofai.lt/;
• Scientific board member of the journal Philosophica Critica (Nitra University, Slovakia). http://philosophicacritica.ukf.sk/editorial-board.html;
Assoc. Prof. K. Dubnikas
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/.
Prof. N. Kardelis
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/;
• Member of the Societas Classica (Classical Association), http://www.klasikai.lt/;
• Deputy Editor of the journal Filosofija. Sociologija (Philosophy. Sociology), http://www.lmaleidykla.lt/filosofijasociologija/2014/3/;
• Editorial board member of the journal Athena: Filosofijos studijos (Athena: Philosophical Studies), http://lkti.lt/athena/?no=apie-leidini;
• Editorial board member of the journal Sovijus: tarpdalykiniai kultūros tyrimai (Sovijus. Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture), http://www.sovijus.lt/wordpress/?page_id=21;
• Editorial board member of journals Lietuvos kultūros tyrimai (Investigations of Lithuanian Culture), Ars et praxis;
• Editorial board member of the journal „Sphairos: kultūros ir medijų studijos“ (SPHAIROS: Cultural and Media Studies), https://www.sphairos.lt/en/about-the-journal/editorial-board/
Prof. V. Radžvilas
• Member of editorial board Series “Non-Classical Philosophy”, Lithuanian Culture Research Institute;
• Member of editorial board Nepriklausomybės sąsiuviniai. Istorijos ir kultūros žurnalas.
Assoc. Prof. N. Radavičienė
• Editor-in-Chief of the journal Problemos, http://www.vu.lt/leidyba/lt/mokslo-zurnalai/problemos/apie-zurnala.
Prof. M. P. Šaulauskas
• Editorial board member of the journal Informacijos mokslai (Information Sciences), http://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/informacijos-mokslai/about/editorialTeam
• Editorial board member of the journal Problemos, http://www.vu.lt/leidyba/lt/mokslo-zurnalai/problemos/apie-zurnala;
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/;
• Editorial board member of the journal Sociologija. Mintis ir veiksmas (Sociology. Thought and Action)
Assist. Dr Ž. Pabijutaitė
• Member of the board of Lithuanian Philosophical Society, http://www.filosofai.lt/.
• Member of the Societas Classica (Classical Association), http://www.klasikai.lt/;
• Member of the Society for Medieval Logic and Metaphysics.
Assist. Dr M. Gilaitis
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/.

BEST REPORTS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES ABROAD
1. Kardelis, N. “The Philosophy of Myth, Philosophy as a Myth, and Philosophical Myths: The Varieties of Philosophy’s Relation to Myth in the Thought of Aleksei Losev, Algis Mickūnas, and Arvydas Šliogeris“, Arts of Thinking. The Athens Symposium, Athens, Ohio, USA: Ohio University, September 16–17, 2022.
2. Bikauskaitė R., Bartkienė A. “Towards an Ethical Relation with Waste: Circular Economy and the Ethics of Care.” Oslo Summer School, Circle of Nordic Environmental Ethics. Oslo, Norway, July 30, 2022.
3. Dagys, J., Semantics of affirmative necessity propositions in Buridan‘s modal syllogistics. LOGIC4PEACE, Online, April 22-23, 2022. https://events.illc.uva.nl/Logic4Peace/Programme/

MOST IMPORTANT PARTICIPATION CASES OF RESEARCHERS IN WORKING GROUPS OR COMMISSIONS SET UP BY STATE AUTHORITIES, STATE AND MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS, BUSINESS ENTITIES
J. Dagys
• Member of the Committee of the Lithuanian National Culture and Art Prize (appointed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (2020-2022);
• Member of the expert group for State Progress Strategy “Lithuania 2050”;
• Member of the National Philosophy Olympiad assessment committee (2022).
N. Kardelis
• Associate Expert of the Lithuanian Free Market Institute https://www.llri.lt/apie-mus/komanda

CONSULTATIONS PROVIDED BY THE UNIT TO THE PUBLIC OR ECONOMIC ENTITIES
1. N. Kardelis provided consultations to the Lithuanian Free Market Institute with regard to the interdisciplinary projects carried out by the institute.
2. K. Dubnikas took part in preparing the conception and coordination of implementing the Philosophy Club at the A. Mickiewicz Public Library. https://amb.lt/lt/renginiu-kalendorius/filosofijos-klubo-susitikimas/3356

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
1. Dagys, J. Interview on language and philosophy in the programme Minties eksperimentai at LRT Klasika. October 25, 2022. https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000239183/minties-eksperimentai-ar-susikalbetume-su-zmonemis-kurie-gyveno-pries-500-metu
2. Kardelis, N. A cycle of 6 public lectures delivered at the Little Academy of the Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Science, Vilnius, February 3 -March 10, 2022. https://www.bernardinai.lt/mazoji-akademija-kvies-i-krikscionybe-pazvelgti-akademiniu-zvilgsniu/
3. Kardelis, N. A public talk “Stasio Šalkauskio idėjų aktualumas šiuolaikinių Lietuvai kylančių iššūkių akivaizdoje” at the conference Gyvenimo ir ugdymo idėjų dermė: Nacionalinė mokslinė-metodinė konferencija filosofui, pedagogui prof. Stasiui Šalkauskiui atminti, VU Šiaulių akademija, Šiauliai. May 20, 2022. https://www.sa.vu.lt/external/sa/files/RENGINIU_PROGRAMA_05-18_redg._2.pdf
4. Dagys, J., Kardelis, N. Public discussion and presentation of the book by prof. Viktorija Daujotytė Arvydas Šliogeris: "Mano elementorius buvo Homeras" (together with V. Daujotytė, Egidijus Aleksandravičius, Justas Kučinskas, Zenonas Dabkevičius). Lithuanian Academy of Science, May 18, 2022. https://www.lma.lt/uploads/news/id1551/2022-05-18_kvietimas.pdf
5. Pabijutaitė, Ž. Interview in LRT radio programme "Tarp praeities ir ateities": "Ciceronas: retorika, filosofija ir įtaka Vakarų kultūrai". September 17, 2022. https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000174296/homo-cultus-tarp-praeities-ir-ateities-ciceronas-retorika-filosofija-ir-itaka-vakaru-kulturai"

DEPARTMENT OF THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

Head – Prof. Dr Albinas Plėšnys
E-mail:

STAFF
Professors: Dr A. Plėšnys, Dr (HP) T. Sodeika
Associate Professors: Dr A. Mickevičius, Dr L. Jakavonytė
Assistant Professors: Dr J. Čiurlionis, Dr M. Stoškus
Lecturers: Dr J. Tuleikytė (part-time)
Research fellows: Dr A. Fediajevas (part-time), Dr E. Račius (part-time), Dr L. Vidauskytė (part-time), Dr N. Šepetys (part-time)
Doctoral Students: A. Buiko, L. Jacevičius, T. Murašov, J. Slipkauskaitė, V. Valinskaitė

RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Impact of metaphysics on the rise of modern natural science
• Impact of globalisation on culture and transformation of values
• Basic problems of philosophy of science
• Science and values
• Impact of social factors on the process of scientific investigation

MAIN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2022
1. Bacevičiūtė, Danutė; Daraškevičiūtė, Vaiva; Fediajevas, Aalgis; Račius, Egdūnas; Sodeika, Tomas (sud.), Vidauskytė, Lina. Postsekuliarus būvis [Postsecular Condition]. Vilnius: VU leidykla, 2022.
2. Mickevičius, A. Hans-Georg Gadamer: Verbum Interius Importance for Hermeneutics. Tomsk State University Journal of Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science 65: 100-110. DOI: 10.17223/1998863Х/65/10.
3. Čiurlionis, J. Ethics of the Corpus Hippocraticum: Philosophical Foundations of a Contemporary Debate. Acta Baltica Historiae et Philosophiae Scientiarum 10(1): 42-60.

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2022
Projects Supported by the University Budget
Investigation of Social, Metaphysical, and Methodological Influences for the Formation of Natural Science. Prof. A. Plėšnys
We continued our research on the history of medieval science.
Main publications:
1. Mickevičius, A. Hans-Georg Gadamer: Verbum Interius Importance for Hermeneutics. Tomsk State University Journal of Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science 65: 100-110. DOI: 10.17223/1998863Х/65/10.
2. Čiurlionis, J. Ethics of the Corpus Hippocraticum: Philosophical Foundations of a Contemporary Debate. Acta Baltica Historiae et Philosophiae Scientiarum 10(1): 42-60.
3. Čiurlionis J. Epogdonas: matematiniai harmonijos pagrindai. In A. Andrijauskas (sud.), Estetikos, meno filosofijos ir meno psichologijos tarpdalykinės sąveikos: mokslo straipsnių rinkinys, Vilnius: Lietuvos Kultūros Tyrimų Institutas, 2022, pp.201-223.
4. Čiurlionis, J. M.K. Čiurlionio pasaulis: regėti sielos akimis. In Ž. Svigaris (sud.) Sonatiniai M.K. Čiurlionio garsovaizdžiai: mokslo straipsnių rinkinys, Vilnius: Lietuvos Kultūros Tyrimų Institutas, 2022, pp. 144-165.

National Research Projects
Post-Secular Condition. (DOTSUT – 029/2018). Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania with EU Structural Funds. Prof. Tomas Sodeika. 2018–2022.

Although postmodern culture can be considered a post-secular culture, the character of this post-secularity is not yet sufficiently understood. It is not clear what form, in a changed cultural situation, religious images, experiences, and practices could and/or should acquire. The aim of this project is to ascertain what forms are acquired by religious content in such areas of contemporary culture as ethics, aesthetics and political ideology and what role interreligious and inter-confessional dialogue plays (or could play) in the process of globalisation that prevails in the contemporary world. A large part of the research is devoted to the analysis of the ontological foundations of the above-mentioned manifestations of post-secularity.
In 2022, on the basis of the project investigations, two monographs and six articles were published; one international seminar was organised, and seven papers and one public lecture were presented.
Main publications:
1. Šepetys, N. Holokausto postsekuliarumas: tarp kritikos ir supratimo [Postsecularity of the Holocaust: Between Criticism and Understanding]. Vilnius: VU leidykla, 2022.
2. Bacevičiūtė, Danutė; Daraškevičiūtė, Vaiva; Fediajevas, Aalgis; Račius, Egdūnas; Sodeika, Tomas (sud.), Vidauskytė, Lina. Postsekuliarus būvis [Postsecular Condition]. Vilnius: VU leidykla, 2022.
3. Bacevičiūtė, D. Religijos sugrįžimas ir radikalaus blogio problema: Rusijos karo Ukrainoje atvejo analizė [The Return of Religion and the Problem of Radical Evil: A Case Study of Russia’s War in Ukraine]. Religija ir kultūra 24-25 (2019): 19–36, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Relig.2019.12.
4. Daraškevičiūtė, V. Atvaizdo paradoksai: vaizdinis ar postsekuliarus posūkis? [Paradoxes of an Image: A Pictorial or Postsecular Turn?]. Religija ir kultūra 24-25 (2019): 37–52, 2022. DOI: 10.15388/Relig.2019.13.
5. Sodeika, T. Apie tai, kaip Nietzsche’i nepasisekė [About How Nietzsche Has Failed]. Logos 110: 6–16, 2022. https://doi.org/10.24101/logos.2022.01

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
European Humanities University, Vilnius
University of Zielona Gora, Poland
Le Moyne College, USA

OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Assist. Prof. Jonas Čiurlionis
• Member of Athens Institute for Education and Research, http://www.atiner.gr/;
• Member of ISUD association, Home | isud (worldialogue.org)
• BAHPS Baltic Association of the History and Philosophy of Science (bahps.org)
• Editorial board member of the journal Studia Philosophiae Christianae Studia Philosophiae Christianae | Studia Philosophiae Christianae (uksw.edu.pl)
• Editorial board member of the journal In Gremium Editorial Board | In Gremium. Studies in History, Culture and Politics
Assoc. Prof. L. Jakavonytė
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/;
• member of the Bioethics Board of the Lithuanian Bioethics Committee http://bioetika.sam.lt/index.php?1842280851;
• member of Group of Experts of Biomedical Research of the Lithuanian Bioethics Committee, http://bioetika.sam.lt/index.php?3741945098
• Member of the External Ethics Board of the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases JTC 2022: “Development of new analytic tools and pathways to accelerate diagnosis and facilitate diagnostic monitoring of rare diseases” (EJP RD, H2020 N°825575). The ethics review according to Horizon 2020 standards of the 21 selected proposals was completed during the Evaluation/Grant preparation phase. There are 27 funding agencies from 21 countries collaborating to fund transnational projects for this year. https://www.ejprarediseases.org/
Assoc. Prof. A. Mickevičius
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/
Prof. A. Plėšnys
• Editorial board member of the journal Soter, http://biblioteka.vdu.lt/en/sp-soter.htm
• Editorial board member of the journal Skhid (Ukraine) http://skhid.kubg.edu.ua/about/editorialTeam
• Member of the Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Science, http://lkma.lt/
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://filosofai.lt/nariai/
Dr Julija Tuleikytė
• Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Society, http://www.filosofai.lt/.

MOST IMPORTANT PARTICIPATION CASES OF RESEARCHERS IN WORKING GROUPS OR COMMISSIONS SET UP BY STATE AUTHORITIES, STATE AND MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS, BUSINESS ENTITIES

1. Stoškus, M. Moderator at several workshops “Lithuania 2050” organised by the Government Strategic Analysis Center, March 2022.

CONSULTATIONS PROVIDED BY THE UNIT TO THE PUBLIC OR ECONOMIC ENTITIES
1. Čiurlionis. J. – expert on the panel for the best dissertation 2021 national competition.

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
1. Tuleikytė J. Presentation „The Contemporary World: Truth and Reality” at the Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo. August 24, 2022.
2. Čiurlionis J. Public lecture “Science and Philosophy” at A. Mickiewicz Public Library. November 23, 2022
3. Stoškus, M. A public talk “Šiuolaikinis asmens ir tautos „ugdymas”: ką bandome apgauti?” at the conference Gyvenimo ir ugdymo idėjų dermė: Nacionalinė mokslinė-metodinė konferencija filosofui, pedagogui prof. Stasiui Šalkauskiui atminti, VU Šiaulių akademija, Šiauliai. May 20, 2022. https://www.sa.vu.lt/external/sa/files/RENGINIU_PROGRAMA_05-18_redg._2.pdf

ACADEMIC STAFF OF THE INSTITUTE OF PHILOSOPHY NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE DEPARTMENTS
Assoc. Prof. Vilius Dranseika

MAIN SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2022
1. Berniūnas, R., Silius, V., Dranseika, V. Moralization East and West: Moralizing different transgressions among Chinese, Americans, and Lithuanians. Asian journal of social psychology. Hoboken 25(2): 185-197. DOI: 10.1111/ajsp.12479.
2. Mikalonytė, E., S., Dranseika, V. The role of teleological thinking in judgments of persistence of musical works. The journal of aesthetics and art criticism 80(1): 42-57. DOI: 10.1093/jaac/kpab063.

National Research Projects
Between Choice and Determinism: Cultural Variations in Experiencing and Conceptualizing Free Will, Luck, and Randomness. (No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712). The project was co-funded by EU Audrius Beinorius, Renatas Berniūnas, Vilius Dranseika, Paulius Rimkevičius, Vytis Silius, Agnė Veisaitė. 2018–2022.
The task of the project is to carry out a transcultural textual-historiographical and empiricalanthropological study in order to reveal the connection between the theoretical-intellectual traditions and everyday conceptions of free will, destiny, choice, and luck in different cultural contexts of contemporary Europe and Asia. The project examines how the free will issue is conceptualised in various traditions and how it is approached experientially on a popular level. Previous similar studies did not take into account the cross-cultural element, nor did they evaluate the influence of non-Western intellectual traditions on everyday practice and conceptualisation. The current project proposes a critical assessment of the possibility to generalise the results of the research that was conducted in Western cultures. This way, we seek to include different systems of knowledge and action from different civilisational fields (India, China, Mongolia, the USA, and Lithuania) into a fruitful intellectual dialogue and to make comparisons on an empirical level by applying the methodologies of Cognitive studies.

OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Member of the steering group, Philosophy of Memory Organization, http://phomo.org;
Network coordinator of the Nordic-Baltic Network for Philosophy of Medicine, http://www.mies.mf.vu.lt/en/nnpmme/

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
Interview on Philosophy of Biology. Lithuanian National Radio, "1—12", August 31, 2022. https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000231100/10-12-kaip-reikia-reformuoti-es-elektros-rinka

Assoc. Prof. Kęstas Kirtiklis
National Research Projects
The Notions of Quality in the Humanities: Novelty, Excellence, Knowledge and Impact. (S-MIP-21-39). Funded by the Research Council of Lithuania. Coordinator: Klaipėda University. VU Research Coordinator: Dr Kęstas Kirtiklis. 2021–2024.
The project seeks to analyse and reconstruct the notions and conceptions of quality in both global and local humanities as well as their application in practice. This aim is pursued through analysis of the global English-speaking discourse, as well as the local Lithuanian one. Paradoxically, in these discourses, the notion of quality is neither well deﬁned nor clearly formulated, so by applying the tools of philosophy and sociology of science, our aim is to fill this academic gap. With the help of academic and applied literature, the researchers are going to analyse the conceptualisations and manifestations of quality in both global and local discourses and consequently compare the similarities and differences across these discourses. The practically existing interpretations of quality, which are presumably applied in Lithuanian humanities, will be reconstructed with the help of a series of interviews with the humanities scholars representing diﬀerent stages of their academic career (from PhD students to senior researchers) from all the humanities disciplines (philosophy, theology, art criticism, philology, history, and ethnology). The interviews with the humanities researchers will be supplemented by interviewing academic experts and science policymakers. The practical representations of the quality conceptions will be studied during the participant observations of the PhD defence procedures. The issue of diﬀerent methodological tensions in the debates of quality in the humanities (e.g. scientiﬁc monism vs pluralism, tradition vs innovation, etc.) will be addressed as well. Finally, the researchers will attempt to identify the ideal types of quality, which actualise and explain the quality phenomenon in the humanities.
Conference presentations:
1. (with A. Gedutis, KU)“Tyrimo kokybės sampratų pokyčiai pereinant iš tradicinio į neoliberalų universitetą“ [„The Transformation of the Conceptions of the Quality of Research: from Traditional to Neoliberal University“], a paper presented in the Annual Conference of Lithuanian Sociological Society , KTU, Kaunas, 2022.12.02.
2. (with A. Gedutis, KU) „The Transformation of Criteria of Quality in the Humanities: The Case of Lithuania”, a paper presented in the online conference “The Making of the Humanities X”, hosted by University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University 2022.11.05
3. “What counts as quality in philosophy (of communication)” a paper presented in “New Perspectives and Directions in Philosophy of Communication” - Philosophy of Communication Section‘s online pre-conference before the 9th European Communication Conference; October 7, 2022
4. (with A. Gedutis, KU) „Kokybės kriterijai humanitariniuose moksluose: administraciniai, bendruomeniniai ar individualūs?“ [The Criteria of Quality in the Humanities: Administrative, Communal or Individual?] a paper presented in the Annual Conference of Lithuanian Philosophical Society, online, 2022.05.20
5. (with A. Gedutis, KU) „Ar ateities humanitariniai mokslai bus geresni? Tarp meistrystės ir poveikio“ [Will Future Humanities be Better? Between Excellence and Impact}, a paper presented in the Annual Conference of Lithuanian Sociological Society, online, 2022-01-14

OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Member of the Lithuanian Philosophical Association, http://www.filosofai.lt/.

BEST REPORTS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES ABROAD
What Counts as Quality in Philosophy (Of Communication). This paper was presented at the Philosophy of Communication Section’s online pre-conference “New Perspectives and Directions in Philosophy of Communication” before the 9th European Communication Conference. 2022/10/07

MOST IMPORTANT PARTICIPATION CASES OF RESEARCHERS IN WORKING GROUPS OR COMMISSIONS SET UP BY STATE AUTHORITIES, STATE AND MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS, BUSINESS ENTITIES
Vilnius City Municipality Istorinės atminties komisija member since 2019 05 24. https://aktai.vilnius.lt/document/30331296

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
1. From 2018 on K. Kirtiklis writes a monthly column Philosophy of Everyday Life in Moteris magazine; also writes a column in cultural magazine “Literatūra ir menas”.
2. Interview at the TV show “Svarbi valanda”, LRT, April 15, 2022. https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000210458/filosofas-kirtiklis-apie-pilieciu-akcijas-pries-kara-jos-naudingos-ir-protestuojantiems-isejimas-i-gatves-mobilizuoja
3. Interview at the radio talk-show “Istoriko teritorija”, March 04, 2022. https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000204480/homo-cultus-istoriko-teritorija-utopine-vaizduote-filosofijoje-ar-ji-gali-padeti-xxi-a-zmogui

INSTITUTE OF PSYCHOLOGY

9 Universiteto St., LT-01513 Vilnius
Phone: +370 5 266 7605,
Email:
Director – Prof. Dr Roma Jusienė

STAFF
Professors: Dr R. Barkauskienė, Dr L. Bulotaitė, Dr G. Gudaitė, Dr R. Jusienė, Dr E. Kazlauskas, Dr I. Laurinaitytė, Dr V. Pakalniškienė, Dr S. Raižienė, Dr P. Skruibis, Dr G. Valickas.
Partnership professors: Dr M. Dovydaitienė.
Associate professors: Dr A. Adler, , Dr R. Bliumas, Dr D. Čekuolienė, Dr A. Daugirdienė, Dr R. Gedutienė, Dr G. Gintilienė, Dr S. Girdzijauskienė, Dr N. Grigutytė, Dr A. Izotovas, Dr A. Kairys, G. Kaluževičiūtė, Dr A. Laurinavičius, Dr J. Lazauskaitė-Zabielskė, Dr T. Lazdauskas, Dr D. Nasvytienė, Dr R. Sargautytė, Dr R. Stanikūnas, Dr I. Truskauskaitė, Dr K. Vanagaitė, Dr P. Želvienė, Dr I. Žukauskaitė.
Partnership Associate professors: J. Bajoriūnienė, S. Grudienė, I. Rinkevičienė.
Assistants professors: Dr D. Barysė, Dr E. Baukienė, Dr R. Breidokienė, Dr S. Dadašev, Dr K. Čunichina, Dr J. Eimontas, Dr G. Gegieckaitė, Dr O. Geležėlytė, Dr I. Gabrialavičiūtė, Dr L. Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė, Dr V. Jurkuvėnas, Dr J. Kymantienė, Dr V. Klimukienė, Dr E. Mažulytė-Rašytinė, Dr T. Maceina, Dr M. Miselytė-Žilinskė, Dr V. Mikuličiūtė, Dr P. I. J. Moreton, Dr A. Radzevičienė, Dr L. Rakickienė, Dr M. Skerytė-Kazlauskienė, Dr D. Šorytė, Dr M. Vaštakė, Dr O. Zamalijeva, Dr T. Stumbrys, Dr A. Žiedelis.
Lecturers: D. Butkienė, K. Dragūnevičius, D. Juozapavičienė, A. Saikauskienė, Dr G. Ambrulaitienė, Dr R. Dirvanskienė, I. Dulinskaitė, Dr M. Giedraitytė-Guzikauskienė, Dr Ž. Grakauskas, Dr V. Klimaitė, Dr I. Povilaitienė, Dr R. Povilaitis, Dr A. Šimelionienė.
Researchers: Dr D. Bagdžiūnienė, Prof. Dr D. Gailienė, Dr I. Jovarauskaitė.
Doctoral students: M. K. Butt, V. Cimalanskaitė-Kazlauskienė, A. A. Čepulienė, I. Daniūnaitė, A. Dumarkaitė, A. Dzimidienė, V. Ivleva, D. Jančiūrė, L. Jarutienė, K. Jočbalytė, E. Gaudiešiūtė, I. Grauslienė, D. Grigienė, G. Gudynaitė, J. Gužas, A. Kairytė, R. Kanapeckaitė, M. Kvedaraitė, K. Lapinskė, M. Marcinkevičiūtė, D. Mikučionytė, A. Nomeikaitė, Ž. Pečiūra, K. Petraškaitė, E. Rimkus, G. Skabeikytė-Norkienė, M. Turlinskienė, M. Vainalavičiūtė, R. Žiauberytė-Jakštienė

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY

STAFF
Prof. Dr L. Bulotaitė, Prof. Dr I. Laurinaitytė, Assoc. Prof. Dr D. Bagdžiūnienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr R. Sargautytė, Assoc. Prof. Dr I. Žukauskaitė, Dr V. Jurkuvėnas, Dr V. Mikuličiūtė, Dr A. Žiedelis.

DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

STAFF
Assoc. Prof. Dr N. Grigutytė, Prof. Dr R. Barkauskienė, Prof. Dr D. Gailienė, Prof. Dr G. Gudaitė, Prof. Dr P. Skruibis, Assoc. Prof. Dr A. Adler, Assoc. Prof. Dr D. Čekuolienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr A. Laurinavičius, Assoc. Prof. Dr R. Sargautytė, Assoc. Prof. Dr G. Kaluževičiūtė, Dr V. Klimukienė, Dr G. Gegieckaitė, Dr J. Eimontas, Dr E. Mažulytė-Rašytinė, Dr M. Vaštakė, Dr M. Giedraitytė-Guzikauskienė, Dr R. Povilaitis, Dr I. Povilaitienė, doctoral students: A. A. Čepulienė, I. Daniūnaitė, A. Dumarkaitė, E. Gaudiešiūtė, I. Grauslienė, D. Grigienė, M. Kvedaraitė, M. Marcinkevičiūtė, D. Mikučionytė, K. Petraškaitė, G. Skabeikytė-Norkienė, M. Turlinskienė.

CENTRE OF ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH
STAFF
Assoc. Prof. Dr J. Lazauskaitė-Zabielskė, Assoc. Prof. Dr I. Žukauskaitė, Dr A. Žiedelis, doctoral student Ž. Pečiūra.

CENTRE OF PSYCHOTRAUMATOLOGY

STAFF
Prof. Dr E. Kazlauskas, Assoc. Prof. Dr I. Truskauskaitė, Assoc. Prof. Dr P. Želvienė, Assist. Prof. Dr O. Geležėlytė, doctoral students: I. Daniūnaitė, M. Kvedaraitė, A. Dumarkaitė, A. Nomeikaitė, A. Kairytė.

RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY CENTRE

STAFF
Prof. Dr R. Barkauskienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr A. Adler, Assoc. Prof. D. Čekuolienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr G. Kaluževičiūtė, Assoc. Prof. Dr A. Laurinavičius, Dr L. Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė, doctoral students: E. Gaudiešiūtė, D. Mikučionytė, G. Skabeikytė-Norkienė.

CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LAW

STAFF
Prof. Dr I. Laurinaitytė, Assoc. Prof. Dr A. Izotovas, Dr D. Barysė, doctoral student L. Jarutienė.

CENTRE FOR SUICIDOLOGY RESEARCH

STAFF
Prof. Dr P. Skruibis, Prof. Dr D. Gailienė, Dr S. Dadašev, Dr E. Mažulytė-Rašytinė, Dr V. Klimaitė, doctoral students: D. Grigienė, A. Čepulienė, J. Gužas, M. Marcinkevičiūtė.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE

STAFF
Assoc. Prof. Dr D. Nasvytienė, Prof. Dr R. Jusienė, Prof. Dr S. Raižienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr G. Gintilienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr S. Girdzijauskienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr T. Lazdauskas, Dr L. Rakickienė, Dr R. Breidokienė, D. Butkienė, K. Dragūnevičius, A. Saikauskienė, doctoral students: K. Lapinskė, E. Rimkus.

LABORATORY OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY AND COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

STAFF
Assoc. Prof. Dr R. Stanikūnas, Assoc. Prof. Dr R. Bliumas, Assoc. Prof. Dr A. Daugirdienė, Dr A. Radzevičienė, doctoral student K. Jočbalytė.

LABORATORY OF APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY

STAFF
Assoc. Prof. Dr A. Kairys, Prof. Dr V. Pakalniškienė, Dr V. Jurkuvėnas, Dr V. Mikuličiūtė, Dr D. Šorytė, Dr O. Zamalijeva.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Addiction Psychology;
• Aging;
• Clinical psychology;
• Cognitive psychology;
• Developmental psychology and psychopathology;
• Educational psychology;
• Organizational psychology;
• Health psychology;
• Internet psychology;
• Legal psychology;
• Neuropsychology;
• Personality psychology;
• Psychological testing and evaluation;
• Psychophysics and psychophysiology;
• Psychotraumatology;
• Criminal behavior;
• Social and group psychology;
• Suicidology;
• Time perspective;
• Well-being;
• Learning and teaching environments;
• Learning, behavioral and emotional problems.

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2022
Projects Supported by the University Budget

Children's and Youth Development and Supporting Environment: Assessment, Analysis of Interaction, Education. Prof. Dr R. Jusienė, Prof. Dr S. Raižienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr G. Gintilienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr S. Girdzijauskienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr D. Nasvytienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr T. Lazdauskas, Assist. Prof. Dr L. Rakickienė, Asist. Prof. Dr R. Breidokienė, D. Butkienė, K. Dragūnevičius, and A. Saikauskienė.
The aim of this research is to evaluate the individual and environmental factors that promote child development and learning and their interaction. Individual (cognitive, personal) and environmental (teachers’ expectations, teaching strategies, parental involvement) factors in the learning achievements of primary and lower secondary school students were studied.
In 2022, together with master’s degree students, data on internet use in primary school children during the post-pandemic period will be gathered. These data will be analysed and presented in the final master thesis (to be defended in June 2023). Also, some preliminary results of these data were presented at national conferences. In addition, the data sets gathered in 2021 were analysed. Results on: 1) school-aged children’s mental health as related to school social capital and parental involvement; 2) predictors of school-aged children’s well-being; 3) factors of teachers’ psychological well-being; 4) youth expectations for the future as related to their well-being, were presented in publications and at national and international conferences.
Main publications:
1. Jusienė R, Breidokienė R, Sabaliauskas S, Mieziene B, Emeljanovas A. The Predictors of Psychological Well-Being in Lithuanian Adolescents after the Second Prolonged Lockdown Due to COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(6):3360. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063360
2. Buzaitytė Kašalynienė, J., Žėkaitė, J., Jusienė, R., & Stonkuvienė, I. (2022). Elektroninių patyčių apimtys ir patirtys pradinėse ir pagrindinėse klasėse pirmojo karantino dėl COVID-19 pandemijos metu [Extent and Experience of Cyberbullying in Primary and Lower Secondary Grades During the First Quarantine of COVID-19 Pandemic]. Pedagogika, 144(4), 202–220. https://doi.org/10.15823/p.2021.144.11
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Girdzijauskienė. S. [Invited talk]. Kodėl svarbu kalbėti apie didelį mokymosi potencialą turinčius vaikus? Kurk Lietuvai konferencija Į(si)galink: ugdau vaiką, turintį didelį mokymosi potencialą. 2022 rugpjūčio 29 d.

Factors and Outcomes of Psychosocial Interactions and Decision Making. Prof. Dr G. Valickas., Assoc. Prof. Dr K. Vanagaitė, Assist. Prof. Dr K. Čunichina, Assoc. Prof. Dr V. Mikuličiūtė, Assoc. Prof. Dr D. Barysė.
The aim of this research is to reveal the factors of psychosocial interactions and decisions made, as well as their possible consequences. In 2022, research was conducted on a) the character, similarities, and differences of the image of public prosecutors and prosecutorial offices perceived by the prosecutors, police officers, attorneys, judges, and the general public representing different age groups (in total n = 1246) were examined; b) the effects of time pressure on criminal decision-making were examined (n = 67); c) the initial variants of the two questionnaires were developed on the “Psychological well-being of Lithuanian judges” and “Psychological well-being of employees of Lithuanian courts”.
Main publication:
1. Valickas, G., Vanagaitė, K. (2022). Lietuvos prokurorų ir prokuratūrų įvaizdis. Teisė, 122, 104–124.
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Barysė, D. (2022). Technologijų keliami iššūkiai suvokto teisingumo tyrimams teisėje. „Psichologija 360°+1“. Lietuvos psichologų kongresas: 2022 m. balandžio 25-30 d. Pranešimų santraukų leidinys. Kaunas: Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, p. 73. ISBN 978-609-467-513-3 (internetinis).
2. Cimalanskaitė-Kazlauskienė, V. (2022). Time Pressure Influence on Criminal Decision-Making. Challenges to Nacional Defence in Contemporary Geopolitical Situation (CNDCGS'2022): The 3rd International Conference. Vilnius, 15-16 September, 2022.

Principles of Cognitive Processing. Assoc. Prof. Dr R. Stanikūnas, Assoc. Prof. Dr R. Bliumas, Assoc. Prof. Dr A. Daugirdienė, Assist. Prof. Dr A. Radzevičienė, PhD student Karolina Jočbalytė.
According to modern theories of visual perception, humans perceive the visual environment when light excites photoreceptors in the retina. During the process of vision, the eyes scan the image of the environment, and gaze fixation is shifted from one object to another. Also, during gaze fixation, the eyes are constantly moving – there are tremors, drift, and microsaccades, which means that the image of the object is constantly displaced on the retina and excites different retinal receptors. However, despite such an unstable retinal image, are we able to perceive a stable outside world and at the same time have a visual acuity equal to the resolution of a few receptors? This research aims to study the activity of cognitive processes, determining the principles of information input, storage, processing, and use.
In 2022, the colour perception of an afterimage was investigated under different background conditions. The results showed a clear tendency that the background of both the stimulus and the afterimage influences the perception of the colour of the afterimage.
Main results in 2022:
1. Daugirdienė Aušra, Stanikūnas Rytis, Remigijus Bliumas, Murray J. Ian. Achromatic frame effects on color and lightness constancy. The 26th Symposium of the International Colour Vision Society (ICVS2022), July 1-5, Heraklion, Greece, 2022.
2. Stanikūnas Rytis, Alvydas Šoliūnas, Remigijus Bliumas, Karolina Jočbalytė, Algirdas Novičkovas. Gaze displacement thresholds for image recovery after Troxler’s fading. 44th European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP2022), 28 August – 1 September 2022, Nijmegen, Netherlands.

Risk and Coping Factors of Psychosocial Stress and Psychological Disorders and the Effectiveness of Support. Prof. Dr R. Barkauskienė, Prof. Dr G. Gudaitė, Prof. Dr D. Gailienė, Prof. Dr P. Skruibis, Assoc. Prof. Dr A. Adler, Assoc. Prof. Dr D. Čekuolienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr N. Grigutytė, Assoc. Prof. Dr A. Laurinavičius and Assoc. Prof. Dr R. Sargautytė. Assist. Prof. Dr L. Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė, Assist. Prof. Dr J. Eimontas, and Assist. Prof. Dr E. Mažulytė-Rašytinė. PhD students: A. Čepulienė, D. Grigienė, K. Petraškaitė, M. Turlinskienė, and J. Gužas.
The aim of the research is to identify the determinants of psychological dysfunctions and adequate means of assistance. Assessment of risk factors for mental health disorders, the experience of psychological help and efficiency factors, and analysis of coping with psychosocial stress. In 2022, research findings on psychological disorders, suicidal behaviour, suicide prevention, and psychotherapy effectiveness were presented in conference presentations and scientific articles.
Main publications:
1. Gailienė D. (2022) Suicide Rates as a “Social Thermometer”: Reading the Traumatized History of Lithuania. In: Kivimäki V., Leese P. (eds) Trauma, Experience and Narrative in Europe after World War II. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84663-3_11 first online 2021, 299-318.
2. Gudaitė, G. & Kelly, T. (ed.) (2022). Exploring Core Competencies in Jungian Psychoanalysis. Research, Practice, and Training. London: Routledge.ISBN 9781032114378.
3. Petraškaitė, K., & Grigutytė, N. (2022). Development and validation regarding the Lithuanian version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-X). European Journal of Mental Health, 17(3), X–X. https://doi.org/10.5708/EJMH.17.2022.3.5

Psychological, Social, and Organizational Factors of Employee Performance and Well-Being in Contemporary Organizations. Assoc. Prof. Dr D. Bagdžiūnienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr J. Lazauskaitė-Zabielskė, and Assoc. Prof. Dr I. Žukauskaitė.
The aim of the research is to study the factors of activity, forms of behaviour, and well-being at work of employees of various organisations and their interactions with the main focus on psychological resources.
In 2022, the main focus was identifying employees’ personal resources and their role in ensuring employee well-being.
Main publication:
1. Urbanavičiūtė, Ieva; Lazauskaitė - Zabielskė, Jurgita. The quality of working life from a person-centered perspective: linking job crafting, work environment types and work engagement // Personnel review. Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited. ISSN 0048-3486. 2022, first published online, p. [1-17]. DOI: 10.1108/PR-04-2021- 0243.
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. D. Bagdžiūnienė, A. Kazlauskienė, D. Nasvytienė, and D. Sakadolskienė.

Resilience of General Education Teachers: The Role of Supportive Leadership and Working Resources. Scientific presentation at the 6th Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LETA) Conference “Educational Practice and Research in a Turbulent World” organised by the Lithuanian Educational Research Association and Vytautas Magnus University Academy of Education. LETA Conference 2022 “Educational Practice and Research in a Turbulent World”. https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Flera.lt%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F10%2FLETA2022antradienagalutine3.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK 2022/10/13–14

Main publication:

1. Jurgita Lazauskaitė-Zabielskėand Ieva Urbanavičiūtė. The Interplay Between Job Insecurity, Overall Justice, Performance, and Well-Being: An Empirical Analysis in Academia. Supporting knowledge comparison to promote good practice in occupational health psychology: 15th Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology, Bordeaux 2022: book of proceedings, eISBN 9780992878665, p. 268-269.

Research on the Risk, Manifestation, and Development of Psychopathology in Childhood and Adolescence From the Perspective of Contemporary Developmental Psychopathology. Leader: Prof. Rasa Barkauskienė, Assoc. Prof. Asta Adler, Assoc. Prof. Danguole Čekuolienė, Assoc. Prof. Alfredas Laurinavičius, and Assoc. Prof. Greta Kaluževičiūtė. Assistant Prof. Lina Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė. PhD students: Elena Gaudiešiūtė, Dovilė Mikučionytė, and Gabrielė Skabeikytė-Norkienė.

The developmental psychopathology approach is used to investigate childhood and adolescent developmental difficulties, behavioural and emotional problems, as well as a variety of risk and protective factors for the latter psychopathology, encompassing a wide range of constructs: children's and adolescents’ individual psychological characteristics, family interactions and parenting, communication with peers and the context of school, and traumatic experiences from early childhood through adolescence.
In 2022, research focused on the analyses of the level of personality functioning as a main diagnostic criterion in the dimensional approach to personality disorder (e.g. initiating a project to develop a diagnostic interview), looking for its association with some mental health problems (e.g. eating disorders).
Main publications:
1. Kaluževičiūtė, G., Jackson, J., Moreton, J. (2022). Online representations of anxiety amongst adolescent users on Reddit: a qualitative Internet-mediated study protocol. Journal of Concurrent Disorders. https://doi.org/10.54127/DJMS5818
2. Sharp, C., Kerr, S., & Barkauskienė, R. (2022). The incremental utility of maladaptive self and identity functioning over general functioning for borderline personality disorder features in adolescents. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 10.1037/per0000547. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/per0000547
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Barkauskienė R. (2022). [Organized symposium]. Asmenybės sutrikimo rizikos paauglystėje problematika: preliminarūs tyrimo Lietuvoje rezultatai. Simpoziumas Lietuvos psichologų kongresas’22 “Psichologija 3600 + 1”. Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas, 2022 04 25-30.

Analysis of Psychological Processes in the Law Enforcement and Penal System. Prof. I. Laurinaitė, Assoc. Prof. A. Izotovas, Assist. Prof. D. Barysė, and PhD student L. Jarutienė.
The research aims to study psychological processes and the peculiarities of applying psychological interventions and prevention measures in legal practice. Tasks: 1) to study the psychological characteristics of perpetrators and victims of violence and the possibilities of providing assistance to these groups; 2) to analyse the psychological characteristics of investigative interviewing of witnesses and suspects; 3) to analyse psychological decision-making factors in the legal system.
In 2022, the Criminal Behavior Research Group was reorganised into the Forensic Psychology Research Center. The list of researchers has also been renewed, and the topic of scientific research has been specified.
Main publications:
1. Laurinaitytė, I., Assini-Meytin, L. C., & Čunichina, K. (2022). Examining the associations between adverse childhood experiences, health risk behaviors, and psychological well-being in a convenience sample of Lithuanian university students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), 3253, 245-258. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063253
2. Laurinaitytė, I., Michailovič, I., & Jarutienė, L. (2022). Dealing with stalking cases in Lithuania: The role of public perceptions and legal response. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 40(5), 660–676. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsl.2597
3. Laurinaitytė, I., Michailovič, I., Jarutienė, L., & Zokaitė, J. (2021). Persekiojimo kriminalizavimo ir teismų praktikos ypatumai Lietuvoje. Kriminologijos studijos, 9, 77-99. DOI: 10.15388/CrimLithuan.2021.9.3.

Factors of Biopsychosocial Functioning of Older Age People. Assoc. Prof. A. Kairys, Assist. Prof. V. Jurkuvėnas, Prof. V. Pakalniškienė, Assist. Prof. O. Zamalijeva, V. Ivleva, R. Sadauskaitė.
The research aimed to analyse and assess the factors of the biopsychosocial functioning of older people. Particular attention was paid to the analysis of the well-being of the elderly and the analysis of the detection of fake news.
In 2022, three articles were published, and 15 conference papers were presented. The main directions of analysis were the susceptibility of the elderly to fake news and the identification of factors of the well-being of older age people.
Main pulications:
1. Eimontas, Jonas; Gegieckaitė, Goda; Zamalijeva, Olga; Pakalniškienė, Vilmantė. Unmet healthcare needs predict depression symptoms among older adults // International journal of environmental research and public health. Basel: MDPI. eISSN 1660-4601. 2022, vol. 19, Iss. 15, art. no. 8892, p. [1-13]. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19158892.
2. Kowal, Marta; Sorokowski, Piotr; Pisanski, Katarzyna; …; Mikuličiūtė, Vita; ...; Zumárraga-Espinosa, Marcos. Predictors of enhancing human physical attractiveness: Data from 93 countries // Evolution and Human Behavior. 2022, 43(6), 455-474. DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2022.08.003.
3. Pakalniškienė, Vilmantė; Kairys, Antanas; Jurkuvėnas, Vytautas; Mikuličiūtė, Vita; Ivleva, Viktorija. Could belief in fake news predict vaccination behavior in the elderly? // International journal of environmental research and public health. Basel: MDPI AG. eISSN 1660-4601. 2022, vol. 19, no. 22, art. no.14901, [p. 1-14]. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214901.

Current Psychotraumatology: Theoretical and Empirical Studies of the Effectiveness of Stress- And Trauma-Related Disorders Risk Factors and Internet Interventions. Prof. E. Kazlauskas, Assoc. Prof. P. Želvienė, Assoc. Prof. Dr I. Truskauskaitė, Assist. Prof. Dr O. Geležėlytė, PhD students: I. Daniūnaitė, M. Kvedaraitė, A. Dumarkaitė, A. Nomeikaitė, A. Kairytė.
The current research lines are focused on online interventions for stress-related disorders, the effects of abuse and trauma on children and youth, and conducting ICD-11 stress-related disorders studies. We also conduct analyses of the role of somatic serious illness on stress responses and explore stress in professions exposed to high levels of stressors, such as medical staff. The research findings were presented in dissertations, at conference presentations, and in scientific publications.
In 2022, the main research focus was on validating assessment tools for ICD-11 stress-related disorders – PTSD, CPTSD, and prolonged grief. VU PTC team also collaborated with researchers from ten European countries to conduct a pan-European study on the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PTC team has also prepared and disseminated recommendations “How to Take Care of Your Mental Health During Times of War” and “How to Communicate with a Survivor of a Disaster – Recommendations for the Immediate Response”. In 2022, the PTC team published 16 scientific papers, presented 32 conference presentations, organised seven scientific events (seminars, conferences, training), and travelled on 12 scientific visits to research centres in other countries.
Main publications:
1. Dumarkaite, A., Truskauskaite-Kuneviciene, I., Andersson, G., & Kazlauskas, E. (2022). The Effects of Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial With 3-Month. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13(March), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.799259
2. Javakhishvili, J. D., Arnberg, F., Greenberg, N., Kazlauskas, E., Lotzin, A., & Xavier, M. (2022). Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: five lessons from the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13(1), 2046330. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2022.2046330
3. Truskauskaite, I., Dumarkaite, A., Petrauskaite, G., Andersson, G., Brailovskaia, J., Karatzias, T., Margraf, J., Kazlauskas, E. (in press). ICD-11 PTSD and Complex PTSD in Lithuanian University Students: Prevalence and Associations with Trauma Exposure. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.

Psychological Aspects of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Prof. L. Bulotaitė, Assoc. Prof. D. Bagdžiūnienė, Assoc. Prof. R. Sargautytė, and Assist. Prof. A. Žiedelis.
The aim of the research is to evaluate the social and psychological determinants of health promotion and disease prevention in different age groups. The aim of the study in 2021 was s to reveal the importance of psychological factors for preventive behaviour in the context of COVID-19 and intentions to follow preventive measures in the future. In total, 472 respondents participated in the online study (85.4 per cent were women, with a mean age of 35.1 years). Most study participants followed the recommended preventive measures. Intentions to continue to follow the recommendations are best predicted by behaviour-specific personal attitudes and social norms, trust in official sources of information, beliefs about one’s own health control, and poorer health.
In 2022, the psychological factors deriving from involvement in social networks were studied. The research methodology was developed, and permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Psychological Research Ethics Committee. A platform was created, and an invitation to participate in the study was made public. Data is currently being collected.

Main publications:
1. Valadkevičienė, D., Žukauskaitė, I., Danylaitė Karrenbauer, V., & Bilevičiūtė-Ljungar, I. (2022). Can fatigue predict the worsening of multiple sclerosis one year later? An explorative study with participants referred to assess their ability to work. Multiple sclerosis and related disorders, 68, 1-8. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2022.104393
2. Bagdžiūnienė D., Kazlauskienė A., Nasvytienė D., & Sakadolskis E. Linking Supportive School Leadership and Teacher Resilience: The Mediating Role of Job Resources. Accepted for publication in Frontiers in Education, section Leadership in Education.
3. Kanapeckaitė, R., Bekesiene, S., & Bagdžiūnienė, D. (2022). Reserve Soldiers’ Psychological Resilience Impact to Sustainable Military Competences: On the Mediating Role of Psychological Skills (Effort, Self-Efficacy, Proactivity). Sustainability, 14(11), 6810. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116810 (Straipsnis Web of Science DB, S1).

NATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECTS
Happy Childhood: Assessing Traumatic Stress in Young Children in a Structured Game. (No. S-MIP-22-22). The Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. P. Želvienė. 2022–2025.
This research project aims to explore the peculiarities of the traumatic stress reactions of young children (aged from 4 to 8 years) and identify their associations with other indicators of psychosocial adaptation. The research project results will contribute to developing the assessment tools for traumatic stress in young children and provide knowledge about the peculiarities of post-traumatic stress symptoms in young children. The research will significantly enrich knowledge about the recognition of posttraumatic stress in young children and contribute to the development of mental health services because the research results will give insights into the development of psychological interventions.
In 2022, an international initiative was arranged; the two-day session on “ Training in the Story Stem Screening Odense Child Trauma Screening (OCTS)” was led by Anne Vagner Jakobsen, PhD, from Denmark. During the training, 18 psychologists were trained to assess the traumatic experiences of young children.

The ‘Smart’ Dimension and Employee Well-Being in Today’s Organizations: Understanding the Synergy Between Job and Personal Resources”. (No. S-MIP-22-23). The Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. I. Urbanavičiūtė. 2022–2025.
This project focuses on the psychosocial implications of the so-called smart dimension at work, which in our study refers to the use of digital (smart) technologies (DST), including various software and other digital solutions, to carry out cognitive tasks. The use of DST at work is increasingly expanding, and this tendency is likely to become stronger in the future (EC, 2021). Despite its known benefits for work efficiency, it also poses a number of psychological challenges from a personal point of view related to the changing nature of tasks, increased worry about the future of work, and the constant need to adapt that may trigger undesirable effects (such as techno-stress, burnout, or career disruptions) and need to be better understood. To address these questions, our aim is to analyse the smart dimension at work, as experienced by employees, and its impact on a range of outcomes that we briefly call sustainable well-being. To do so, we will rely on a human-centred rather than technocentric approach, which focuses on individuals and the ways synergy between personal and job resources may be achieved. To this end, we will apply a mixed-method strategy that covers three inter-related research lines: (1) an in-depth qualitative study of DST-related experiences based on the critical incident technique, (2) a repeated-measures quantitative survey to capture the dynamic relationships between the smart dimension at work and employee well-being, (3) a comparative study aimed at analysing employees’ vulnerabilities related to the use of DST at work. For practical reasons and to ease the comparability of results, we will focus on one to four occupational groups within ISCO-08 that are considered by Eurofound as particularly susceptible to DST-related challenges.
In 2022, we analysed the data from the 10th wave of the European Social Survey 2021 to determine how digital (smart) technologies are used at work and how they affect employee well-being.
Main result:
1. Four presentations were submitted to the bi-annual congress of the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology.

Publishing of the scientific journal ‘Psichologija’ [‘Psychology’]. (S-LIP-22-1). The Research Council of Lithuania, Lithuanian Studies and Dissemination Programme. Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. J. Lazauskaitė-Zabielskė. 2022–2024.
Although English has become a universal language of scientific communication that facilitates international communication (Pérez-Llantada, 2021), it also has negative consequences for the development of science in non-English speaking countries, leading to reduced opportunities for participation in scientific communication (Márquez & Porras, 2020). According to Márquez and Porras (2020), developing scientific communication in native languages and reflecting on culturally relevant topics is necessary. When analysing the development of psychology research in Lithuania, one can notice the active efforts of the Lithuanian scientific community. However, the need to develop Lithuanian psychological terms is emphasised (Bagdonas & Rimkutė, 2013). National journals published in Lithuania are still the central platform for disseminating research results relevant to Lithuanian society. The Journal ‘Psichologija’ is the only leading scholarly journal that publishes psychological research in Lithuania. Therefore, the current project aims to promote the psychological discourse in the Lithuanian language to tackle the essential issues of the development of Lithuanian society through publishing the ‘Psichologija’ Journal. When implementing this project, six issues of Psichologija with around sixty articles will be published. The published articles will enable academics, practitioners, and policymakers to obtain the newest empirical data and insights that will evaluate more accurately the psychological aspects of society’s present and future developments and provide psychometrically sound assessment methodologies and handy tools for addressing current international and national challenges. Publishing and publicity activities that are provided for in the project will contribute to disseminating social science knowledge in society and increasing public awareness in solving issues relevant to Lithuanian society.
In 2022, two issues of the Psichologija Journal were published.

Stalking and Its Relation to Domestic Violence: Perception, Prevalence and Response in Lithuania. (No. S-GEV-21-4). The Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Prof. I. Laurinaitytė. 2021–2022.
Stalking is considered a serious public health issue as well as a harmful form of victimisation, causing severe physical, social, and/or psychological consequences to the victim. The aim of this study is to examine the perception and prevalence of stalking in Lithuania, review the existing response options, and suggest possible means of their improvement. The project study included two stages. During the first stage, the perception of stalking in Lithuania, its prevalence, and its consequences were explored. The first stage also included an analysis of legal cases of stalking. The second stage revealed the attitudes of officers and other professionals toward stalking, their ability to recognise this phenomenon and to provide an effective response to stalking.
In 2022, project activities were carried out as planned (conducting empirical research, presenting at scientific conferences, publishing manuscripts, etc.).
Main publications:
1. Laurinaitytė, I., Michailovič, I., & Jarutienė, L. (2022). Dealing with stalking cases in Lithuania: The role of public perceptions and legal response. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 40(5), 660–676. DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2597
2. Laurinaitytė, I., Michailovič, I., Jarutienė, L., & Zokaitė, J. (2021). Persekiojimo kriminalizavimo ir teismų praktikos ypatumai Lietuvoje. Kriminologijos studijos, 9, 77-99. DOI: 10.15388/CrimLithuan.2021.9.3
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Jarutiene, L., Michailovič, I., & Laurinaitytė, I. (2022, September). The risk factors for physical violence in cases of intimate partner stalking [paper presentation]. EUROCRIM 2022: 22nd Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology. Challenges and Opportunities in a Virtually and Physically Connected Europe: The Need for Criminology. September 21-24, 2022, Malaga (Spain).

Perception of Stable and the Moving Image: Quantization Mechanisms. (No. S-MIP-21-56). The Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. R. Stanikūnas. 2021–2024.
The nervous system of humans and other animals processes information both in series and in parallel. Several researchers have put forward the idea that serial processes are discrete and process information at fixed time intervals but attempts to determine these time quanta have been unsuccessful. Currently, the idea is being developed that the brain works by synchronising the work of neurons at different frequencies, where high-frequency rhythms can be specific for the work of local neural networks, and lower-frequency rhythms can be typical for the work of global processing. Thus, this project aims to determine the quantum nature of perception based on phenomena such as stable image perception during motion and temporal integration of dynamic stimuli. When we observe the environment, the image on the retina is constantly in jitter due to the constant micro-movements of the eye; however, we perceive a stable image. Stability can be granted not only by specialised neural mechanisms but also by the fact that image information is processed discretely when every change of an image on the retina is not processed, and the information is integrated at certain time intervals. Thus, time quanta of the visual perception are expected to be discovered in four different perceptual conditions, which involve different brain structures. The research seeks to ascertain whether a universal time quantum for different perceptual conditions exists and will be found. The perception of stable and moving images will be explained.
In 2022, research was conducted on differences in colour fading and recovery under sustained fixation.
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Stanikūnas Rytis, Alvydas Šoliūnas, Remigijus Bliumas, Karolina Jočbalytė, Algirdas Novičkovas. Differences in color fading and recovery under sustained fixation. The 26th Symposium of the International Colour Vision Society (ICVS2022), July 1–5, Heraklion, Greece, 2022.
2. Stanikūnas Rytis, Alvydas Šoliūnas, Remigijus Bliumas, Karolina Jočbalytė, Algirdas Novičkovas. Threshold of eye movements for an image recovery after Troxler fading. The 17th European Congress of Psychology (ECP2022), 5–8 July 2022, Ljublijana, Slovenia.

Evaluation of Applicability of Contemporary Theories of Suicidal Behavior and the Significance of Sociocultural Factors to Suicidality in Lithuania. (No. P-MIP-21-224). The Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Prof. D. Gailienė. 2021–2024.
In contemporary suicidology, the universal theories of suicidality are acknowledged, but research on sociocultural factors is also emphasised and becoming an important part of recent scientific discussions. This study aims to evaluate the suitability of the two most prominent theories in suicidology to explain suicidality in a specific culture marked by high suicide rates – Lithuania – and to explore the role of sociocultural factors. The research team has started gathering the data, and the preliminary data were presented at an international conference.
In 2022, two scientific articles and two articles in the media were published. Recommendations for suicide prevention in Lithuania were published in a separate edition for mental health policy representatives. One oral presentation and three posters were presented at the international scientific conference.
Main publications:
1. Grigienė, D., Skruibis, P., Dadašev, S., Rimkevičienė, J., Gailienė, D. (2022). Gender self-confidence as a protective factor for suicide risk: analysis of the sample of Lithuanian men. Frontiers in Psychology, 13:863688. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.863688
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Dadašev, S., Grigienė, D., Rimkevičienė, J., Skruibis, P., ir Gailienė, D. Are ideation-to-action theories (IPTS, IMV) suitable for understanding suicidality in high suicide rate country, Lithuania?. 19th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour, Denmark, Copenhagen.
2. Skruibis, P., Gužas, J., Grigienė, D., Dadašev., S., Rimkevičienė, J., Gailienė, D. (2022). Relationship between masculinity norms and fearlessness about death, suicidal thoughts and behavior. 19th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour, Denmark, Copenhagen.

A Study of Personality Disorder in Adolescence: Features, Dynamics, and Its Factors. (No. P-MIP-21-290). Project Leader: Prof. Dr R. Barkauskienė. 2021-2024.
The current field of personality pathology research combines two directions: the changing conceptualisation of personality disorder (PD) and the developmental view that PD develops over the lifespan. The aims of the present study are 1) to assess the manifestation of PD features, such as personality functioning and maladaptive personality traits, in a population-based sample and in adolescents at risk of psychopathology; 2) to observe the course of these features over time, distinguishing between different developmental trajectories, and to analyse the predictors of these trajectories in a sample of Lithuanian adolescents. A quantitative study on adolescents aged 12-17 is currently being conducted in two parts: 1) a 3-phase follow-up study on adolescents in the general population which involves 855 adolescents aged 11-18; 2) a cross-sectional study with adolescents at high risk of psychopathology (n=247, age range 12-17).
In 2022, (1) the second wave of data collection has been finished with a response rate above 90%; (2) study results from the first wave were published and presented at international and national scientific conferences.
Main publications:
1. Barkauskienė, R., Gaudiešiūtė, E., Adler, A., Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė, L., Laurinavičius, A., & Skabeikytė-Norkienė, G. (2022). Criteria A and B of the Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) Capture Borderline Personality Features Among Adolescents. Frontiers in psychiatry, 13, 828301. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.828301
2. Skabeikyte-Norkiene, G., Sharp, C., Kulesz, P. A., & Barkauskiene, R. (2022). Personality pathology in adolescence: relationship quality with parents and peers as predictors of the level of personality functioning. Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation, 9(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-022-00202-z
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Barkauskiene R., Skabeikyte-Norkiene G., & Gaudiesiute E. (2022). Adolescents at risk for ICD-11 defined personality disorder: Investigating risk markers for early intervention in a community sample of Lithuanian adolescents. 19th International Congress of ESCAP: Networks in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Maastricht, the Netherlands, 19-21 June 2022.

Towards the Effective Teaching: The Evaluation of (De)Motivating Teaching Strategies and Their Effects on Students' Using Circumplex Model. (No. S-GEV-21-2). The Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Prof. S. Raižienė. 2021–2022.
An education system that nurtures creative, civic, critical-minded people is important in a well-being society. Implementing the concept of a “Good School” makes the role of the teacher more complex, demanding a greater variety of didactic and technological competencies and more flexibility in such circumstances, and challenges educators to be inspiring and empowering rather than controlling and pressing. Self-determination theory (Deci, Ryan, 2000) proposes that teachers are able to meet these challenges if they create an educational environment in which the basic psychological needs of students can be met. SDT offers clear, easy-to-implement ways to create needs–promoting environment. This project will follow a new, integrated, detailed circumplex model proposed by Belgian researchers in which both needs’ promoting and blocking teachers’ behaviours are analysed simultaneously, taking into account their similarities, differences, and interactions (Aelterman et al., 2019). The aim of the project is to determine the opportunities provided by assessing the circumplex profile of (non) motivating teachers’ behaviour in Lithuania and to test the effectiveness of the categories of this profile for different students. Fifty teachers of mathematics and their 700 students in grades 7-8 will participate in a study. The Situation-in-School Questionnaire (teacher and student forms; Aelterman et al., 2019) will be adapted to the situation in Lithuania, and a methodological tool for its use will be developed. This questionnaire will help teachers to reflect on their strengths and provide directions for improvement following the latest approach to (non)motivating behaviour. The research conducted during the project will also provide insight into the prognostic value of circumplex profile categories for students’ outcomes and will test the universality of the effectiveness of these categories for different groups of students in terms of personal characteristics, motivation type, and level of competency.
In 2022, we adapted the student version of The Situations in School Questionnaire (SISQ) based on the Circumplex model for the Lithuanian educational context. Multidimensional scaling, confirmatory factor analysis, and correlational analysis showed the match of the SISQ structure to the Circumplex model. (De)motivating teaching can be best graphically represented by a two-dimensional configuration that differs in terms of the need for support and directiveness. Correlations between eight subareas and indicators of students’ functioning followed a systematic sinusoid pattern, suggesting a gradual effect of teaching on students’ outcomes. With the adaptation being successful, the student version of the SISQ can be used in the Lithuanian educational context.
Main publications:
1. Gabrialavičiūtė, I. Raižienė, S.; Garckija, R. Geresnės mokinių motyvacijos link: Situacijų mokykloje klausimyno (SISQ) lietuviškos versijos pritaikymas Lietuvoje = Towards the effective motivation: adaptation of the situations in School Questionnaire (SISQ) to Lithuanian educational context // Psichologija. Vilniaus universiteto leidykla. ISSN 1392-0359. eISSN 2345-0061. 2022, t. 66, p. 79-94. DOI: 10.15388/Psichol.2022.53.
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Raižienė, S.; Garckija, R.; Gabrialavičiūtė, I. (2022). Determinants and outcomes of students’ motivation profiles: Lithuanian case. In The 43rd annual conference of International School Psychology Association (ISPA) Leuven: KU Leuven – Faculty of Social Sciences.
2. Gabrialavičiūtė, I.; Garckija, R.; Raižienė, S. (2022). The role of teachers’ instructional practices in shaping students’ academic motivation. In The 43rd annual conference of International School Psychology Association (ISPA) Leuven: KU Leuven – Faculty of Social Sciences.

Fake News Susceptibility Among Older Adults: Factors and Possible Consequences. (No. S-MIP-20-11). Project leader: Prof. V. Pakalniškienė. 2020–2022.
Digital technologies have led to the mass use of social networks, thus creating an excellent environment for spreading fake news in political communication, which jeopardises democratic processes and confidence in democratic institutions. Older people using social networks are potentially a particularly vulnerable group as they often have poorer IT skills. This study aims to analyse the factors and consequences of older people’s trust in fake news. To achieve the intended goal, a combination of correlational and experimental research strategies and computer modelling will be used in this project. The study included people aged 50 and over. During this study, we assessed older people’s trust in fake news, media and internet usage, personality traits, cognitive functioning, trust in democratic institutions, and the links between all these factors.
Main publication:
1. Pakalniškienė, Vilmantė; Kairys, Antanas; Jurkuvėnas, Vytautas; Mikuličiūtė, Vita; Ivleva, Viktorija. Could belief in fake news predict vaccination behavior in the elderly? // International journal of environmental research and public health. Basel: MDPI AG. eISSN 1660-4601. 2022, vol. 19, no. 22, art. no.14901, [p. 1-14]. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214901.
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Jurkuvėnas, Vytautas; Mikuličiūtė, Vita; Pakalniškienė, Vilmantė; Ivleva, Viktorija. Fake News Discernment, Overall Belief in Fake News, and Socioeconomic Status // Psihološka obzorja / Horizons of Psychology: Psychology as the hub science: opportunities and responsibility: 17th European congress of psychology, 5-8 July 2022, Ljubljana, Slovenia: book of abstracts. Ljubljana: Slovenian Psychologists' Association. ISSN 2350-5141. 2022, vol. 31, p. 210. Prieiga per internetą: <http://psiholoska-obzorja.si/arhiv_clanki/2022/ECP_2022_Abstracts.pdf>.
2. Mikuličiūtė V., Jurkuvėnas V., Pakalniškienė V., Ivleva V. (2022) Fake News: More Time to Read, Less Possibilities to Believe? 17th European Congress of Psychology, Ljubljana, Slovenia. https://epublications.vu.lt › object › elaba:135804024.

The Psychosocial and Individual Factors of Optimal Employee Functioning in the Context of Working From Home. (No. S-MIP-20-1). The Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. J. Lazauskaitė-Zabielskė. 2020–2022.
The project aims to analyse the psychosocial and individual factors of optimal employee functioning when working from home. This topic is particularly relevant considering the rapidly rising popularity of flexible work design when all or a part of employee functions are performed out of the office. This question is particularly timely since flexible work design is considered a central element in the EU employment strategy (EC, 2010), and the number of employees working from home is rapidly increasing (Eurofound & ILO, 2017; Vos and van der Voordt, 2001). Despite that, research is still in its infancy both in Europe (Van Steenbergen et al., 2018) and Lithuania (Nakrošienė et al., 2019). Therefore, this project sets the following objectives: 1) to identify psychosocial and individual factors of optimal employee functioning when working from home; 2) to develop a research model for an empirical study along with a comprehensive instrument for measuring the study variables; 3) collect empirical data using cross-sectional and daily diary approaches, and to analyse the static and dynamic role of individual and psychosocial factors for optimal employee functioning in terms of employee performance, work-life balance, and well-being.
In 2022, the empirical data were analysed, and the main psychosocial and individual factors of optimal employee functioning when working from home were identified.
Main publications:
1. Lazauskaitė - Zabielskė, Jurgita; Žiedelis, Arūnas; Urbanavičiūtė, Ieva. When working from home might come at a cost: the relationship between family boundary permeability, overwork climate, and exhaustion // Baltic journal of management. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing. ISSN 1746-5265. eISSN 1746-5273. 2022, vol. 17, no. 5, p. 705-721. DOI: 10.1108/BJM-12-2021-0491.
2. Žiedelis, Arūnas; Urbanavičiūtė, Ieva; Lazauskaitė - Zabielskė, Jurgita. Family boundary permeability, difficulties detaching from work, and work-home conflict: what comes first during the lockdown? // Current psychology. New York: Springer. ISSN 1046-1310. eISSN 1936-4733. 2022, first online, p. [1-12]. DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03492-2.
3. Lazauskaitė - Zabielskė, Jurgita; Urbanavičiūtė, Ieva; Žiedelis, Arūnas. Pressed to overwork to exhaustion? The role of psychological detachment and exhaustion in the context of teleworking // Economic and industrial democracy. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. ISSN 0143-831X. eISSN 1461-7099. 2022, first published online, p. [1-18]. DOI: 10.1177/0143831X221095111.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS PROJECTS
Advancement of Assessment in Psychotraumatology: A Study of Survivors of Complex Trauma. (No 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0048). The Research Council of Lithuania / European Social Fund. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr O. Gelezelyte, Research Supervisor: Prof. Dr E. Kazlauskas. 2020–2022.
The aim of the project is to improve the competencies of the research fellow by conducting high-quality research and accomplishing the research activities. The study will aim to contribute to the development of novel, valid, and reliable measures of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). The project will also estimate the consequences and risk factors of CPTSD, which will contribute to the development of a theoretical understanding of CPTSD. These scientific questions are relevant internationally as they are closely related to the current tendencies in the field of psychotraumatology research. The findings of the project will be presented in conference presentations and scientific publications. The implementation of the project will provide the research fellow with an opportunity to strengthen her knowledge of psychotraumatology and her competencies in implementing research and disseminating the study results.
In 2022, the empirical study of 103 adult participants was finalised, and the final Lithuanian International Trauma Interview (ITI) version was validated. The ITI will allow mental health professionals to assess and diagnose ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD symptoms. The results were published in three open-access scientific journals and presented at two conferences. In 2022, Dr O. Geležėlytė also participated in an eight-day Mplus course in Structural Equation Modelling at Cambridge University (UK).
Main publications:
1. Gelezelyte, O., Kvedaraite, M., Kairyte, A., Roberts, N.P., Bisson, J.I., Kazlauskas, E. (2022). The mediating role of complex posttraumatic stress and borderline pattern symptoms on the association between sexual abuse and suicide risk. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 9:13, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-022-00183-z
2. Gelezelyte, O., Roberts, N., Kvedaraite, M., Bisson, J., Brewin, C., Cloitre, M., Kairyte, A., Karatzias, T., Shevlin, M., & Kazlauskas, E. (2022). Validation of the International Trauma Interview (ITI) for the Clinical Assessment of ICD-11 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) andComplex PTSD (CPTSD) in a Lithuanian Sample. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2022.2037905
3. Kairyte, A., Kvedaraite, M., Kazlauskas, E., & Gelezelyte, O. (2022). Exploring the links between various traumatic experiences and ICD-11PTSD and complex PTSD: A cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Psychology: 13:896981, 1-7. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.896981

Online Psychological Support for Elderly Depressed Individuals: Effectiveness and Involvement. (No 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0192). The Research Council of Lithuania / European Social Fund. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr J. Eimontas, PhD. Research Supervisor: Prof. Dr V. Pakalniškienė. 2020–2022.
As the population ages, more psychological problems associated with ageing arise. In Lithuania, at least 40% of all people diagnosed with depression are 65 years or older. Even though it is unclear how large the treatment gap is in Lithuania, internet-based psychological interventions can help meet the growing need for psychological help and help overcome barriers to receiving quality treatment for elderly people with limited mobility living in remote areas. Online psychological interventions are effective for people with a variety of psychological and somatic difficulties, from loneliness and depression to chronic pain. Many randomised controlled trials demonstrated that interventions struggle with low user engagement despite being effective. Research shows that engagement is partly related to computer literacy, the degree to which the psychologist is involved in the intervention, and the level of psychological difficulties. Moreover, depressed individuals often lack motivation or interest in any activity and also have difficulty making decisions, and psychological difficulties can also be strongly associated with engagement in the intervention. However, there is a lack of research that would comprehensively analyse the specifics of engagement in internet-based psychological interventions of the population of older adults. The aims of this study are to investigate the attitudes of depressed elderly to internet-based psychological interventions, the specifics of using such interventions, and the links of these factors with intervention effectiveness. A randomised controlled trial and a semi-structured interview will be carried out to achieve this aim. The results of the study are expected to provide a better understanding of what is needed for older individuals to successfully engage in internet-based psychological interventions and thereby effectively treat depression.
In 2022, data collection on long-term effectiveness was collected, and the dissemination of the research results through research articles and conference presentations took place. All production from this research project for the year 2022 is presented below.
Main publication:
1. Eimontas, J., Gegieckaitė, G., Zamalijeva, O., & Pakalniškienė, V. (2022). Unmet Healthcare Needs Predict Depression Symptoms among Older Adults. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(15), 8892.
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Eimontas, J., Medeišienė, J., Zrumaitė, S., Getautas, T., Pakalniškienė, V., Andersson, G. (2022, July 5–8). Reasons for treatment discontinuation in internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for older adults with depression: findings from a qualitative study. [Conference presentation]. 17th European Congress of Psychology 2022, Ljubljana, Slovenia. https://www.ecp2022.eu/
2. Eimontas, J., Medeišienė, J., Zrumaitė, S., Biliūnaitė, I., Pakalniškienė, V., Andersson, G. (2022, September 18–21). Long-term effectiveness of an internet-based cognitive behavioral intervention for depressed older adults. [Conference presentation]. 11th Scientific Meeting of International Society for Research on Internet Interventions 2022, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. https://isrii2022pittsburgh.org/

Premises of Suicidal Behaviour in the Lithuanian Armed Forces: Stress, Resilience, and Attitudes Towards Suicide. (No 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0163). The Research Council of Lithuania / European Social Fund. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr E. Mažulytė-Rašytinė. Research Supervisor: Prof. Dr D. Gailienė. 2020–2022.
The aim of the project is to investigate the premises of suicidal behaviour in the Lithuanian Armed Forces by assessing the Lithuanian soldiers’ exposure to suicide, their attitudes towards suicide, their knowledge of suicide prevention, and the risk and protective factors of suicidal behaviour. Project activities carried out in 2022 included empirical data collection and data analyses. The study’s results were presented at national and international scientific conferences. Also, the preparation of two manuscripts was started, which are planned to be submitted to the scientific journals at the end of 2022. As part of the project, academic visits to the King’s Centre for Military Health Research (London, UK), the Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory at Glasgow University (Glasgow, Scotland, UK), and the Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention (Copenhagen, Denmark) were carried out. The project was extended for a period of six months and will be carried out until the end of February 2023.
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. ‘‘Help-Seeking Attitudes, Alcohol Use and Suicidality in Lithuanian Men’s General and Military Populations’ oral presentation at the 19th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour (ESSSB 2022), 24-27th August 2022.
2. ‘Challenges of Measuring Attitudes Towards Suicide: Factor Structure of ATTS in Different Samples’ poster presentation at the 19th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour (ESSSB 2022), 24-27th August 2022.
3. ‘Relationship Between Suicidal Ideation, Exposure to Suicidal Behaviour and Attitudes Towards Suicide Among Lithuanian Active Duty Soldiers: Preliminary Results’ poster presentation at the 19th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour (ESSSB 2022), 24-27th August 2022.

Technology, Law, and Justice: Artificial Intelligence or Human? (No 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0116). The Research Council of Lithuania / European Social Fund. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr D. Barysė. Research Supervisor: Prof. Dr G. Valickas. 2020–2022.
Although the concept of a robot judge is still science fiction and current artificial intelligence is called “weak”, legal technologies are creating new ways of accessing and delivering legal services to consumers and changing the role and function of legal practitioners. It is expected that some lawyers will lose their jobs, but at the same time, new staff will be needed to perform data analysis, design legal technology, and other tasks. Paradoxically, with the automation of legal processes and decisions, lawyers may increasingly need exceptionally “human” skills – communication, emotion management, and empathy. The project idea is to investigate how people perceive the fairness of legal technologies and how it is related to the adoption or, on the contrary, hostility to technology. The project focuses on the perceived fairness and acceptance of automated decision–making processes.
In 2022, the second and third stages of the project were executed: an experiment on preferred levels for different stages of judicial decision-making was conducted, and the “human factor” of the automated legal decision-making was extracted from the interviews with experts from three countries, and results of the survey on acceptance of legal technologies in courts were analysed using a technology acceptance model (TAM).
Main results:
1. Barysė, Dovilė. People’s attitudes towards technologies in courts // Laws. Basel: MDPI. eISSN 2075-471X. 2022, vol. 11, no. 5, art. no. 71, p. [1-28]. DOI: 10.3390/laws11050071.
2. Barysė, Dovilė and Sarel, Roee. Algorithms in the Court: Does it Matter Which Part of the Judicial Decision-Making is Automated? (September 2, 2022). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4208203 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4208203 (the paper is being processed by Artificial intelligence and Law journal, i.e., being revised at this point)
3. A presentation remotely at the Law and AI Research Group seminar "Social acceptance of the use of AI systems in court proceedings", held at Bucerius Law School, Hamburg, Germany, 2022, November 3rd.

An Effectiveness Study of a Mentalization-Based Parenting Program in Lithuania. (No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-23-0152). The Research Council of Lithuania / European Social Fund. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr L. Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė. Research Supervisor: Prof. Dr R. Barkauskienė. 2021–2023.
The project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the “Lighthouse” mentalisation-based parenting programme for maltreatment prevention in Lithuania. Currently, interest in the program is growing, as evidenced by the emerging research of varying scope (ongoing in the UK, Australia, Germany, Portugal, and Poland), so the study fits into the emerging field of research and contributes to the collection of significant empirical data on the effectiveness of the program at the international level and the development of research on MBT interventions. The research will contribute to the development of research areas on parenting programmes and maltreatment prevention programmes in Lithuania. The obtained results will be important for the practical development of the programme and other MBT interventions. In 2021, the conceptual framework for the study had been prepared, including the study methodology and ethical approval. The team of psychologists for the implementation of the programme had been recruited. Also, a study protocol has been outlined for further development.
In 2022, the methodology of the study was finalised, group facilitators were trained to run the parenting program, the pilot study and the main pre-post-follow-up assessments were conducted, and additional qualitative interviews with a small subset of participants were conducted. Analysis of study results has started.
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė L. ir Barkauskienė R. (2022). Mentalizacija grįsta tėvystės programa “Švyturys”: veiksmingumo tyrimo Lietuvoje pradžia. Lietuvos psichologų kongresas 2022: „Psichologija 360˚ + 1“ (Congress of Lithuanian Psychologists „Psychology 360˚ + 1“). 2022.04.29-30. VDU, Kaunas, Lietuva.
2. Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė, L. & Barkauskienė, R. (2022). An Effectiveness Study of Mentalization Based Parenting Program in Lithuania: Preliminary Findings. 53rd International Annual Meeting of Society for Psychotherapy Research. 6 – 9 July 2022. Denver, USA.
3. Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė, L. & Barkauskienė, R. (2022). Preliminary psychometric characteristics of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale-Brief Form 2.0: findings from a parenting study in Lithuania. 6th International Congress on Borderline Personality Disorder and allied Disorders. Virtual, 10-12 October 2022.

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

2PS - Prevent & Protect Through Support. (No. 101073949. HORIZON-CL3-2021-FCT-01). Principal investigator: I. Laurinaitytė. Project team member: A. Izotovas. 2022–2025.
2PS (Prevent & Protect Through Support) is a highly innovative action offering a paradigm shift in the approach to tackling child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) across Europe. The highly qualified and diverse consortium is committed to laying the foundations for a new coherent modus operandi that complement the reactive approaches currently favoured. The main objectives of the 2PS project are to contribute to the CSAE prevention landscape and provide valuable input related to the activities directed toward minor-attracted persons (MAPs). 2PS has set out a multidisciplinary approach for establishing effective prevention actions that support the specific needs of individuals based on their unique circumstances and environment. The project addresses research, technology, validation, training, communication, awareness, and legal issues.

Factors Modifying the Responses of Cyber Bystanders. (No. S-LL-21-1), Research Council of Lithuania, Bilateral Lithuania-Poland research cooperation. VU Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. V. Pakalniškienė. 2021–2024.
The main aim of the project is to analyse the role of the present-fatalistic time perspective as a dimension of control and to investigate emotional reactions and causal attributions as factors that can modify the response of bystanders to the act of cyberbullying. Moreover, we want to examine the importance of culture in the behaviour of cyberbullying bystanders. In both countries, differences in two age groups will be tested – adolescents and young adults, which will allow us to grasp cultural and developmental differences. The main hypothesis is as follows: emotions and causal attributions will be mediators between cyberbullying and behaviour, and fatalistic time perspective induction will be a moderator of the relationship between emotions and behaviour. The project consists of three stages: a meta-analysis, experiments, and a daily diary study conducted in Poland and Lithuania. The theoretical basis for the research project is the Bystander Intervention Model. The postulated relationships will be tested in two countries, and the cultural conditions of the examined phenomenon will be analysed.
In 2022, a meta-analysis was finished, and a publication was prepared.

COST action Multi-Sectoral Responses to Child Abuse and Neglect in Europe: Incidence and Trends. (CA19106). Main Coordinator: Andreas Jud, Ulm University, Germany. VU Coordinator: Prof. E. Kazlauskas. Network member: I. Daniūnaitė. 2020–2024.
In Europe, millions of children experience abuse or neglect at the hands of those who should care for them. Yet, how many of these children get help and which services they receive by which agency remains largely unknown. The project addresses this gap by creating a network of experts in child maltreatment and relevant stakeholders and links them in working groups to promote the development of a rigorous, consistent, and comparable methodology for collecting surveillance data on child maltreatment and maltreatment-related fatalities. Researchers, policymakers, administrators, and practitioners work to identify best-practice methods of surveillance and recommend efficient ways of implementing them across Europe.
In 2022, I. Daniūnaitė participated in a 3rd Euro-CAN network meeting, workshops, and ISPCAN conference (2022/06/15-16). Moreover, she went on a short-term scientific mission (STSM) at the National Competence Centre in Child Abuse, Barnafrid (Linköping University), led by Prof. Dr L. Korhonen (2022/10/2–9).

Development of Innovative Stress Analysis and Management Platform (STAMP). (Grant No. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718-03-0072). Co-funded by the EU Structural Funds. Main Coordinator: Prof. E. Kazlauskas. 2020–2023.
Internet-based psychological interventions are widely recognised as one of the most effective tools for increasing access to evidence-based psychological help. The results of the studies indicate that internet-based psychological interventions are highly relevant for managing stress-related mental health problems and improving well-being. This research and development project, STAMP, aims to develop a new digital platform for stress analysis and management. There are two main working packages planned for this project. Firstly, an innovative digital platform for stress assessment, risk factor prediction, and stress management will be developed. Secondly, applied research will be conducted to test the effectiveness and improve the usability of the developed platform.
In 2022, the internet-based psychological intervention Forest+ was developed and implemented. Two RCT studies were conducted to test the intervention; the results were presented in three scientific papers and four conference presentations. The results were also implemented in the development of a new digital platform for stress analysis and management.
Main publications:
1. Jovarauskaite, L., Murphy, D., Truskauskaite-Kuneviciene, I., Dumarkaite, A., Andersson, G., & Kazlauskas, E. (2022). Associations between moral injury and ICD-11 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD among help-seeking nurses: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 12(e056289), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056289
2. Kazlauskas, E., Elklit, A., & Truskauskaite, I. (2022). A Longitudinal Course of ICD-11 Adjustment Disorder Symptom Profiles: A 12-Month Follow-Up Study. Psychopathology. https://doi.org/10.1159/000525630
3. Kazlauskas, E., Jovarauskaite, L., & Gelezelyte, O. (2022). Measuring Mental Health Professionals’ Trauma Care Competencies: Psychometric Properties of the Novel Readiness to Work with Trauma-Exposed Patients Scale. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0001231

SHARE Main Data Collection of Wave 9 and Preparation of Wave 10 in 12 Countries to Maintain EU Coverage. (SHARE EUCOV). European Social Fund Employment and Social Innovation program. VU: partner. Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. A. Kairys. 2021–2023.
The project aims to ensure the data collection of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement (SHARE) in Lithuania. The SHARE is the biggest survey in Europe designed to provide data for scientists interested in the analysis of the process of ageing. Lithuania is one of the 27 countries participating in the SHARE. In 2022, the collection of the 9th wave of the survey was coordinated in Lithuania, and preparatory work for Wave 10 was performed (preparation for procurement, participation in planning, etc.).

Cultures of Victimology: Understanding Processes of Victimization Across Europe. (COST Action CA18121). Action Chair: Prof. Simon Green, University of Hull, UK. Vilnius University coordinators: Prof. I. Laurinaitytė and Dr A. Čepas. 2018–2023.
This COST Action intends to develop an innovative, functional, overarching theoretical framework for cultural victimology. Understanding the mediating and moderating influence of cultural constructs on victimology will improve understanding of the extent to which the current victimological knowledge base can be generalised from the types of victimisation and geographical locations that have been relatively extensively studied elsewhere. A greater grasp of this complexity, in return, will offer greater insight into the underlying causal factors of this current research base and new perspectives and lines of inquiry. It is, therefore, not only to the benefit of understanding the current grey and dark areas of victimological research but will also shed further light on those fields of knowledge that have already been more heavily illuminated.
In 2022, I. Laurinaitytė attended the COST Action meetings and gave a presentation during the invited symposium of the 22nd Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology – EUROCRIM 2022.

Stress and resilience among adolescents and young adults: Cross-cultural study. (No. S-LJB-20-2). Bilateral Lithuanian – Japanese research project with the project partner: Hiroshima University. Prof. E. Kazlauskas (Principal Researcher of the Lithuanian team). 2020–2022.
Child maltreatment is of high priority in the global health agenda. Research shows that the effects of childhood trauma are associated with an increased risk of chronic mental or/and physical health outcomes across the lifespan. The project’s main idea is to initiate a cross-cultural study that will focus on the effects of stress in adolescence and youth in two different cultural contexts – Lithuania (in the European context and Japan in Asia). The two-year research project will be implemented in collaboration between research teams from Vilnius University Center for Psychotraumatology and from Hiroshima University, the Graduate School of Education. Both universities have the relevant experience, administrative staff, infrastructure, and experience to successfully implement this project. The Lithuanian team will provide stressor exposure and ICD-11 stress symptom measures for this study and know-how on large-scale stress studies. The Japanese team will add measures of identity and intergenerational aspects of large-scale traumatisation.
In 2022 the project was implemented successfully, the large-scale empirical studies in youth samples were conducted, and data were analysed, with a specific focus on cross-cultural comparison of stress and identity. The findings of the study were presented in international and national scientific conference presentations, and an international scientific conference was organised. Scientific papers reporting the core study findings were prepared. The study was conducted in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the research team successfully managed the risks associated with the pandemic. This international project significantly contributed to global cross-cultural studies of youth stress.
Main publications:
1. Abe, K., Daniunaite, I., Truskauskaite-Kuneviciene, I., Sugimura, K., Zelviene, P., Hihara, S., Kamite, Y., & Kazlauskas, E. (2022). Cross-Cultural Comparison of ICD-11 Adjustment Disorder Prevalence and Its Risk Factors in Japanese and Lithuanian Adolescents. Brain Sciences, 12(1172). https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12091172
2. Kazlauskas, E., Jovarauskaite, L., Abe, K., Brewin, C. R., Cloitre, M., Daniunaite, I., Haramaki, Y., Hihara, S., Kairyte, A., Kamite, Y., Sugimura, K., Thoresen, S., Zelviene, P., & Truskauskaite-Kuneviciene, I. (2022). Trauma exposure and factors associated with ICD-11 PTSD and complex PTSD in adolescence: a cross-cultural study in Japan and Lithuania. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 31(e49), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796022000336
Presentations at scientific conferences:
1. Truskauskaite-Kuneviciene, I. (2022, February 22). Trauma, post-traumatic stress, and identity in Japanese and Lithuanian emerging adults. International Conference: Trauma and Culture, Vilnius, Lithuania

Enabling Mental Health Benefits: Resilience, Achievement, Competencies, and Engagement in Improved Higher Education Policy and Practice for Student Wellbeing (EMBRACE HE). (No. 2019-1-UK01-KA203-062148). Erasmus+ KA2 project. Coordinator in Lithuania: Assist. Prof. V. Klimukienė. 2019–2022.
It is a project specially designed to help address problems of mental health and lack of well-being in students in higher education. The mental health and well-being of youth in Europe are a serious concern, and this group includes students, who, like other young people, often suffer anxiety, depression, attempted suicide, and serious mental health problems. If not addressed, many of these problems can continue onto later life, in employment, family life, and society, and can also negatively affect day-to-day activities of study, progression and achievement in the study, participation in social life and activities, networking, and developing interpersonal skills. The aim is to enhance innovation in HE response to student mental well-being by enabling learning, the implementation of projects and practice to address mental well-being issues in HE and, with this, to increase the evidence base with the highest quality information and materials to allow HEIs to make informed choices about methods to respond to student wellbeing issues. The project is implemented with Birmingham City University (United Kingdom, leading partner), University of Crete (Greece), Navarra University (Spain), and Western Balkans Institute (Serbia).
In 2022, the focus was on the publicity and dissemination of the products developed during the project. A webinar, "Flourishing students: the role of HEIs in promoting well-being," was organised, where representatives of US HEIs presented their institutional experiences in providing non-academic services to students. The Conference "No health, no happiness: how to ensure student well-being in higher education" was held to present the project’s outputs and gather stakeholders to discuss what measures are implemented in Lithuania HEIs to promote student well-being. All information about the project, as well as the recorded webinars on the dissemination of project results, can be found at https://embracehe.org/
Main results:
1. A literature review on student mental health and well-being in higher education institutions in the project partner countries Greece, Spain, Lithuania, Serbia, and the UK (https://embracehe.org/2020/04/05/embrace-he-literature-review/)
2. Embracing Higher Education Students’ Mental Health and Well-being Needs by Creating a Campus Community (https://embracehe.org/toolkit1/ )
3. Toolkit Pastoral, counselling, and talking support for the mental well-being of students in Higher Education (https://embracehe.org/toolkit-02/)

CONTRACTUAL RESEARCH
Learning in Primary School: GET INVOLVED! A bilateral agreement with the University of Jyvaskyla, Finland, funded by the Academy of Finland. Principal Investigator: Gintautas Silinskas, Assoc. Prof., Department of Psychology, JYU, Finland. VU Coordinator: Prof. Dr S. Raižienė. 2021–2023.
The aim of this project is to investigate the role of parents and teachers in the development of children’s academic achievement, motivation, and behaviour throughout primary school. We seek to identify the mechanisms (direct and indirect longitudinal paths) and the combined effects of home and school learning environments (moderating effects) in promoting the most favourable outcomes for children’s learning (achievement, motivation, and behaviour). The longitudinal study will be conducted in Lithuania. Children’s reading, writing, mathematics competencies, and academic motivation will be tested in a group setting. Parents will provide information about their children’s academic-related activities at home, their effect, and cognitions concerning their children’s learning. Teachers will be asked to rate children’s behaviour and their own activities, affect, and cognitions concerning children’s learning.
In 2022, the second wave of data collection was implemented. We tested the reliability and validity of the scales. We prepared two scientific publications (one has already been published, and the other is under review).

Recommendations for the Empowerment of Users and Carers in Mental Health: An International Survey. (No. (1.79) SU-1702). A bilateral agreement with EPSM Lille-Métropole WHO Collaborating Centre, Lille, France. VU Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. N. Grigutytė. 2021–2023.
The long-term objective is to assess whether users, carers, and health professionals agree with recommendations for the empowerment of users and carers in mental health and, if so, how they prioritise them. An international survey was developed in ten languages.

The Effect of Teacher-Student Interaction on Children's Working Memory Performance: A Micro-Trial Study. A bilateral agreement with KU Leuven, Belgium. VU Coordinator: Dr L. Rakickien, 2021–2022.
The aim of the research project is to investigate the effectiveness of particular teacher-student interaction techniques for improving working memory (WM) performance in primary school children. Thirty pairs of second-grade teachers and one of her students have been recruited to participate in the study. The teachers participated in individual online coaching sessions with researchers to discuss students’ working memory-related study behaviours and agreed on implementing five interaction strategies in the classroom that could most benefit this student and later implemented the techniques in their classrooms. Measures of children’s working memory, children’s strengths and difficulties, and teacher-child interaction were taken pre-and post-intervention.
In 2022, post-intervention measures of study variables were taken: parents and teachers provided information on participating students’ WM, strengths and difficulties, and their relationship with the child, while students completed online testing of WM and answered questions about their relationship with the teacher; furthermore, the study data were analysed.

Development of the Instrument for Dyslexia Diagnosis and Assessment. (Contract No. (5.74 E) SU-2582 with the National Agency for Education within the framework of the project “Development of Inclusive Education Opportunities” Phase 1, No. 09.2.2-ESFA-V-707-03-0001). VU Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. G. Gintilienė. 2021-2022.
The main goal of this project is to construct a reliable and valid standardised instrument for the recognition of early symptoms of reading disability in primary schoolchildren in grade 2. In 2022, the standardisation testing of 348 second-graders was conducted, and diagnostic assessments of 210 same-aged children were performed. The entire sample was recruited through all Lithuanian schools. Based on the collected data, psychometric analysis of the instrument characteristics was carried out. An instrument manual was created, and the final version of protocols for screening and diagnostic assessment of early symptoms of reading disability among 2nd-grade pupils was drawn up.

Long-Term Screen Use Effects on Children's Health. (LR SAM VVSSF Agreement No. (1.80 E) SU-2498). Project funded by State Public Health Promotion Fund. VU Coordinator, Principal Researcher and Expert: Prof. R. Jusienė. 2020–2022.
There is a lack of studies researching the long-term effects of excessive screen-based media use on children’s mental and physical health. Thus, this project aims to: 1) research whether and how the duration of screen-based media use and the specific activities while using it affects the development and health of children aged 2 to 14 years old; 2) provide comprehensive recommendations on the pros and cons of children’s screen-based media use for health care providers, educators, parents, and children.
In 2022, the research data was analysed and presented in the project's final report and at national conferences. Also, two articles were prepared and submitted to peer-reviewed journals (one – national; one – international). Finally, evidence-based recommendations for health care providers, educators, parents, and children are prepared. The results of the project were presented in a scientific seminar on 2022/11/09. All material can be accessed on www.mediavaikai.lt

Adaptation of Beck Scales to Diagnose Mental and Behavioral Disorders in Lithuania. (No. (1.78 E) SU-2499). State Public Health Promotion Fund (LR SAM VVSSF). VU Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. N. Grigutytė. 2020–2022.
The project aims at the application for use in Lithuania when collecting clinical sample data of 5 Beck scales: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), the Clark-Beck Obsession-Compulsion Inventory (CBOCI), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and the Beck Suicidal Thinking Scale (BSS). In total, 242 participants from the clinical sample took part in the research.
In 2022, the research was completed, and the data analysis was conducted. Public presentations and presentations for professionals were provided. The project team members met with representatives from the Ministry of Health to discuss the challenges and opportunities of test adaptation in Lithuania.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
Institution in Lithuania
Budget institution State mental health center
MB “Karjeros kelias” (Spotiself; Lithuania)
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania
National Agency for Education
Special nursery-kindergarten „Čiauškutis“
UAB “Blue Bridge” (Lithuania)
VšĮ "Skaitmeninės etikos centras"

Institutions abroad
ARQ Nationaal Psychotrauma Centre, The Netherlands; Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University School of Medicine, UK
Danish National Centre for Psychotraumatology, University of Southern Denmark
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
Department of Psychology, Jyväskylä University, Finland
Division of Clinical Psychopathology and Intervention, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland
Europe Psychotrauma Centers Consortium and “Global trauma collaborative” Consortium
Hiroshima University, Japan
Institute for Applied Psychology, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland
Institute of Education, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan
International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP)
Internet, health and clinical psychology research group, Linköping University, Sweden
Jaume I University, Spain
Munich Center for the Economics of Aging (Max-Planck-Institute for Social Law and Social Policy, Germany)
Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, University of Oslo, Norway
Riga Stradins university, Statistics Unit (Latvia)
Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) - European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC)
The World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for research and training in mental health (WHO-CC, Lille, France)
TREATme: European Network on Individualized Psychotherapy Treatment of Young People with Mental Disorders (https://www.treat-me.eu/)

Partners in Lithuania
• Antanas Grižas, Co-Founder and CEO of GENTYS, Lithuania
• Jan Hilbig, Ph.D., Head of Crisis Intervention Department in Vilnius City Mental Health Center
• Kristina Burbaitė, Lithuanian military medical service
• Laurynas Bukelskis, Ph.D., Head of the Acute Psychiatric Department for Men in Vilnius City Mental Health Center
• Rūta Avižonienė, Ph.D., Head of Acute Psychiatric Department for Women in Vilnius City Mental Health Center
• Vita Šulskytė, Head of Mental Health Center, Institute of Hygiene, Ministry of Health

Partners abroad
• Prof. A. B. Bakker, Work and Organizational Psychology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and University of Johannesburg and North-West University, South Africa, the University of Bergen, Norway, and the University of Zagreb, Croatia
• Prof. Carla Sharp, Houston University, USA
• Prof. Dave Walsh, Leicester De Montfort Law School, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
• Prof. Elisabeth Flo-Groeneboom, Department of Clinical Psychology, Bergen University, Norway
• Prof. Galina Paramei, Department of Psychology, Liverpool Hope University, UK
• Prof. Gerhard Andersson, Division of Psychology, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Sweden
• Prof. Hans de Witte, Full Professor Work Psychology Research Group Work, Organisational & Personnel Psychology, Faculty of Psychology & Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
• Prof. Janus J. Kulikowski and prof. Ian J. Murray, School of Social Sciences, Manchester University, UK
• Prof. Jochem Willemsen, Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium
• Prof. John Oliffe, Men’s Health Promotion at the School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Canada
• Prof. Kevin Lu, Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex, UK
• Prof. Merete Nordentoft & Dr Annette Erlangsen, Danish Research Institute for Suicide Prevention, Denmark
• Prof. Miguel Pérez García, School of Psychology & Research Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior (Centro de Investigación Mente, Cerebro y Comportamiento, CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
• Prof. Milena Korostenskaja, Functional Brain Mapping and BCI Lab, Department of Psychology, AdventHealth, University of North Florida, USA
• Prof. Randolph Blake, Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, USA
• Prof. Rory O'Connor, Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK
• Prof. Sir Simon Wessely & prof. Nicola Fear, King’s Centre for Military Health Research at the King’s College London, UK
• Prof. Svenja Taubner, Heidelberg University, Germany
• Prof. Tom Van Daele, Unit of Psychology, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Belgium
• Prof. Wilmar Schaufeli, Work and organizational psychology, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, and Leuven University, Belgium
• Assoc. Prof. Kuba Krys, Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
• Assoc. Prof. Skirmantas Janušonis, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
• Assoc. Prof. Thanasis, Panorgias, Department of Vision Science, New England College of Optometry, USA
• Assoc. Prof. William Sharp, Psychology department, Northeastern University, USA
• Christopher E. Kelly, Ph.D., Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, USA
• Christopher E. M Lloyd, Ph.D., Human Sciences Research Centre, the University of Derby, UK
• Donatas Jonikaitis, Ph.D., Department of Neurobiology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, USA
• Edyta Charzyńska, Ph.D., and Paweł Atroszko, Ph.D., National Science Centre, Poland
• Eoin Galavan, CAMS-care consultant, Ireland
• Gerry Byrne, Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, UK
• Jessica Jackson. Ph.D., Health and Social Care Research Centre, the University of Derby, UK
• Joost Hutsebaut, Ph.D., De Viersprong National Institute of Personality Disorders, the Netherlands
• Jorgen Gullestrup, Founder of the MATES in Construction program, Australia
• Kirstin Goth, Ph.D., University of Basel, Switzerland
• Lara Cristina Roll, Ph.D., Leuven Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium
• Mark Birkholzer, Ph.D., University of Basel, Switzerland
• Marlene Alexandra Veloso de Matos, Ph.D., School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
• Mia Sadowa Vedtofte, Ph.D., The Danish Veteran Centre, Denmark
• Roee Sarel, Ph.D., Institute of Law and Economics, Hamburg University, Hamburg, Germany
• Sergejs Fomins, Ph.D., Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Latvia
• Sophie Buchardi, Ph.D., Bucerius Law School, Hamburg, Germany

OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Assoc. Prof. Asta Adler
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/;
• member of International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP) http://www.iaap.org;
• member of the Lithuanian Association of Analytical Psychology (LAAP), http://www.lapa.lt;
• member of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS), www.estss.org/;
• member of Lithuanian Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, www.traumupsichologija.lt;
• member of European Network on Individualized Treatment of Young People with Mental Disorders (TREATME), https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA16102/.
Assoc. Prof. Dalia Bagdžiūnienė
• editorial board member of the journal Psichologija (Psychology), https://www.journals.vu.lt/psichologija/about/editorialTeam;
• member of the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology, www.eawop.org;
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/;
• member of International Association of Applied Psychology, http://www.iaapsy.org/;
• member of the committee of Psychological testing and assessment in Lithuanian Psychological Association http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/index.php?p=172&lng=lt.
Assist. Prof. Dovilė Barysė
• member of International Society for Justice Research, https://www.isjr.org/.
Prof. R. Barkauskienė
• Member of the European Society for the Study of Personality Disorders (ESSPD);
• Member of the Global Alliance for Prevention and Early Intervention for Borderline Personality Disorder (GAP);
• Member (2010-2016 Member of the Executive Board) of the International Academy for Research in Learning Disabilities (IARLD);
• Member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPA);
• European Network on Individualized Psychoterapy Treatment of Young People with Mental Disorders (TREATME) https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA16102/;
• the member of Psychologists certifying commission, who supply support for students (www.sppc.lt).
Assoc. Prof. Remigijus Bliumas
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/;
• international affiliate of the American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/;
• member of the International Association of Applied Psychology, http://iaapsy.org/.

• Assist. Prof. Rima Breidokienė
• member of Lithuanian Psychoanalytic Society, http://www.lpad.lt.
Prof. Laima Bulotaitė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/;
• editorial board member of the journal Public Health (Visuomenės sveikata);
• mentor of Scientific Advisory Network https://www.atcp.org/about-us/scientific-advisory-network/;
• editorial board member of the journal „Training Psychology. Scientific works“(„Ugdymo psichologija. Mokslo darbai“).
Assoc. Prof. D. Čekuolienė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/;
• member of Society for Research of Child Development (SRCD), www.srcd.org/.
• president of Family Counceling Society.
Assist. Prof. Ksenija Čunichina
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/, member of Forensic Psychology Committee at Lithuanian Psychological Association;
• member of European Association of Psychology and Law, https://eapl.eu/;
• member of Lithuanian Trauma Psychology Association, https://traumupsichologija.lt/.
Assist Prof. Said Dadašev
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/.
• Assoc. Prof. Aušra Daugirdienė
• member of the International Colour Vision Society (ICVS), https://www.icvs.info/.
Prof. Danutė Gailienė
• associate editor of the journal European Psychologist, https://www.europeanpsychologist.eu;
• associate editor of the journal Suicidology online;
• associate editor of Archives of Suicide Research;
• editorial board member of Scientific work collection „Psychology“ („Psichologija“);
• member of International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP), www.med.uio.no/iasp/;
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/;
• member of International Academy for Suicide Research;
• member of DGSP (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Suizidprophylaxe);
• member of ISSBD (International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development);
• member of American Association of Suicidology.
Assist. Prof. Odeta Geleželytė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association, www.psichologusajunga.lt;
• member of the Lithuanian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, www.traumupsichologija.lt;
• member of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS), www.estss.org;
• national co-ordinator in Lithuania of ESTSS research consortium for the pandemic of COVID-19 psychosocial consequences. https://estss.org/;
• member of Association EMDR Lithuania.
Assist. Prof. Lina Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/;
• member of Global Alliance for Prevention and Early Intervention for Borderline Personality Disorder, https://www.borderlinepersonalitydisorder.org/what-is-gap/;
• member of International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development (ISSBD), http://www.issbd.org/;
• member of The International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders (ISSPD), http://www.isspd.com.
Assoc. Prof. Gražina Gintilienė
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/;
• member of the Board of Assessment of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations, EFPA - Assessment - Board of Assessment;
• member of International School Psychology Association, www.ispaweb.org/;
Assoc. Prof. Sigita Girdzijauskienė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/;
• member of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, WCGTC - World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (world-gifted.org);
• member of the European Association of Psychological Assessment, European Association Of Psychological Assessment (omicsonline.org).
Assoc. Prof. Neringa Grigutytė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/;
• member of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS), www.estss.org/;
• member of the Lithuanian Association of Analytical Psychology, http://www.lapa.lt;
• board member of Lithuanian Society of Traumatic Stress Studies, www.traumupsichologija.lt;
• member of the European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment, EACLIPT
• member of Global Clinical Practice Network (GCPN);
• member of Lithuanian EMDR asociation.
Prof. Gražina Gudaitė
• member of Executive committee of International Association for Analytical Psychology, co- chair of Academic Committee of IAAP, chair Research and Evaluation working group in IAAP, regional organizer for Eastern Europe, www.iaap.org;
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association, www. psichologusajunga.lt;
• member of the Lithuanian Association of Analytical Psychology, http://www.lapa.lt.
Assist. Prof. Vytautas Jurkuvėnas
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/.

Prof. Roma Jusienė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association, http://www.psichologusajunga.lt/;
• member of the Lithuanian Psychoanalysis Society, http://psichoterapija.org; www.lpad.lt
• member of the European Association for Developmental Psychology, https://www.eadp.info/
• member of the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society, https://npsa-association.org;
• member of World Association of Infant Mental Health (WAIMH), www.waimh.org;
• member of International Society for Studies of Behavioral Development (ISSBD), www.issbd.org.
Assoc. Prof. Antanas Kairys
• executive secretary of the journal Psichologija (Psychology), Editorial Team | Psichologija (vu.lt);
• chair of Committee of Policy of Science and Study of Lithuanian Association of Psychologists, Psichologijos mokslo ir studijų politikos komitetas (psichologusajunga.lt);
• corresponding member of EFPA Board of Scientific Affairs, EFPA - Science - Members.
Assist. Prof. Greta Kaluževičiūtė
• The member of Society for Psychotherapy Research (Europe) https://www.psychotherapyresearch.org/;
• The Associate Fellow of Higher Education Academy (UK);
• The researcher- partner of The Single Case Archive;
• The asociate redactor in Journal of Concurrent Disorders;
• The reviewer in British Journal of Psychotherapy.
Prof. Evaldas Kazlauskas
• president of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS);
• editorial board member of the European Journal of Psychotraumatology;
• national representative, European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies (EACLIPT);
• member of the European Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ESRII);
• president of the Lithuanian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (LTPA);
• member of ARQ National Psychotrauma Center in Europe;
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);

• Assist. Prof. Virginija Klimukienė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);
• member of the Committee on Forensic Psychology of (LPS);
• Since 2022 chief of the Group of HEI psychologists of LPS.
Prof. Ilona Laurinaitytė
• The Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS) (1999 - present). Member of the Committee on Ethics (2011 – present, chair 2013 – 2017) and member of the Forensic Psychology Committee (2015 – present, chair 2017-2018);
• The Board of Ethics of the European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA) Corresponding member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (2013 – present);
• International Association for the Treatment of Sexual Offenders (IATSO) (2017 – present; member of the Scientific Advisory Committee);
• The Lithuanian Group Analytic Society (LGAD) (2013 – present);
• Lithuanian DAAD Alumni club member;
• editorial board member of Sexual Offending: Theory, Research, and Prevention (SOTRAP);
• editorial board member of Current Issues in Personality Psychology;
• editorial board member of the journal Socialinių mokslų studijos [Social science studies].
Assoc. Prof. Alfredas Laurinavičius
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);
• member of European Association of Psychology and Law (EAPL).
Assoc. Prof. Jurgita Lazauskaitė-Zabielskė
• member of the European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology (EAWOP);
• board member of Baltic Area Alliance Board at European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology;
• board member of National Awarding Committee of Europsy (EFPA);
• member of International Society for Justice Research (ISJR);
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);
• associate member of European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP);
• member of Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Science (LKMA);
• member of European Network for Positive Psychology (ENPP);
• member of Lithuanian Society of Young Researchers (LJMS);
• editor-in-Chief of the journal Psichologija [Psychology].
Assoc. Prof. Tomas Lazdauskas
• editorial board member of the journal Pedagogika [Pedagogy];
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);
• member of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD);
• member of the Temperament Consortium (TC).
Assist. Prof. Eglė Mažulytė-Rašytinė
• member of International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP);
• member of European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment (EACLIPT);
• member of of the Lithuanian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (LTPA);
• member of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS);
• member of International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development (ISSBD);
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS).

Assoc. Prof. Dalia Nasvytienė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS), chair of Committee of Psychological Assessment and Testing;
• member of the Lithuanian Psychoanalysis Society (LPAD);
• member of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD);
• member of APA Division 15 (American Psychological Association, Division of Educational Psychology).
Assoc. Prof. V. Pakalniškienė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);
• member of EU Kids online network;
• member of European Association for Research on Adolescence (EARA);
• editorial board member of the journal Psichologija [Psychology].
• Assist. Prof. Aldona Radzevičienė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS).
Prof. Saulė Raižienė
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);
• member of International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development (ISSBD).
Assist. Prof. Lauryna Rakickienė
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);
• member of European Association for Developmental Psychology (EADP).
Lect. Albina Saikauskienė
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS).
Assoc. Prof. Rūta Sargautytė
• member and board member of the Lithuanian Pain Society (LSD);
• editorial board member of the journal Pain Medicine;
• member of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP);
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS), member of the Clinical and Health Psychology Committee;
• member of the International Association for Cross-cultural Psychology (IACCP);
• member of SIETAR Society for Intercultural Education Training and Research.
Assist. Prof. Monika Skerytė-Kazlauskienė
• board member of International Council of Child Play (ICCP);
• member of the International Society for the Behavioural Development (ISSBD);
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);
• member of of the Lithuanian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (LTPA).
Prof. Paulius Skruibis
• member of International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP);
• member of The Society for Existential Analysis (SEA);
• member of Lithuanian Association of Psychologists (LPS);
• associate member of East European Association for Existential Therapy;
• board member of Befrienders Worldwide;
• board member of Jaunimo linija [Youth Emotional Support Hotline].
Assoc. Prof. Rytis Stanikūnas
• member of the International Colour Vision Society (ICVS);
• member of the Vision Sciences Society (VSS);
• member of the Lithuanian Neuroscience Association (LNA).
Assist. Prof. Dovilė Šorytė
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);
• member of International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP).
Assoc. Prof. Inga Truskauskaitė
• member of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS);
• member of the Society for Internet-based Psychological Support (SIPS);
• member of the European Society for Research on Internet Interventions (ESRII);
• member of the Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood (SSEA;)
• member of the Student and Early Career Network (SECNET);
• member of the International Society for the Study of Behavioral Development (ISSBD);
• member of the Lithuanian Trauma Psychology Association (LTPA);
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS).
Prof. Gintautas Valickas
• editor of the journal of Psichologija (Psychology), Vilnius University;
• board member of the journal Психология и право [Psychology and Law], Russia;
• board member of the journal Kriminologijos studijos (Studies of Criminology), Lithuania;
• member of the Lithuanian Association of Criminology;
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS).
Assoc. Prof. Kristina Vanagaitė
• editor of the journal Kriminologijos studijos [Criminological studies], Lithuania;
• member of the Lithuanian Association of Criminology.
Assist. Prof. Olga Zamalijeva
• member of Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);
• member of International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP);
• member of Standing Committee on Geropsychology at European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA).
Assoc. Prof. Paulina Želvienė
• member and expert of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Young Academy (LMAJA);
• member of the EMDR Europe board and Research Committee;
• President of the EMDR Lithuania Association;
• Vice-President of the Lithuanian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (LSTSS);
• member of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS);
• member of the Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS).
Assoc. Prof. Irena Žukauskaitė
• Member of Lithuanian Psychological Association (LPS);
• Member of The International Association of Applied Psychologyy (IAAP).

BEST REPORTS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES ABROAD
1. Adler A., Rimke S., Barkauskiene R., & Skabeikyte-Norkiene G. (2022). Childhood maltreatment and the level of personality functioning in the context of eating disorders during adolescence. 6th International Congress on Borderline Personality Disorder and Allied Disorders. Virtual, 10-12 October 2022.
2. Barkauskiene R., Skabeikyte-Norkiene G., & Gaudiesiute E. (2022). Adolescents at risk for ICD-11 defined personality disorder: Investigating risk markers for early intervention in a community sample of Lithuanian adolescents. 19th International Congress of ESCAP: Networks in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Maastricht, the Netherlands, 19-21 June 2022
3. Dadašev, S., Grigienė, D., Rimkevičienė, J., Gailienė, D., Latakienė, J., Skruibis, P., Gėležėlytė, O. & Mažulytė-Rašytinė, E. (2022, August 24-27). How relatives look back at suicide risk after their close one’s death by suicide. [Oral presentation]. European Symposium for Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour (ESSSB) 2022, Copenhagen, Denmark. https://esssb19.org/final-programme
4. Gervinskaitė-Paulaitienė, L. & Barkauskienė, R. (2022). An Effectiveness Study of Mentalization Based Parenting Program in Lithuania: Preliminary Findings. 53rd International Annual Meeting of Society for Psychotherapy Research. 6 – 9 July 2022. Denver, USA.
5. Kairys, Antanas; Jurkuvėnas, Vytautas; Pakalniškienė, Vilmantė; Sadauskaitė, Raimonda. The Profiles of Susceptibility to Fake News Under Different Time Constrains // Psihološka obzorja / Horizons of Psychology: Psychology as the hub science: opportunities and responsibility: 17th European congress of psychology, 5-8 July 2022, Ljubljana, Slovenia: book of abstracts. Ljubljana: Slovenian Psychologists' Association. ISSN 2350-5141. 2022, vol. 31, p. 321. Prieiga per internetą: <http://psiholoska-obzorja.si/arhiv_clanki/2022/ECP_2022_Abstracts.pdf>.

MOST IMPORTANT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS RECEIVED FOR R&D ACTIVITIES
1. Prof. Danutė Gailienė became the Ambassador of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment (EACLIPT).
2. Prof. Ilona Laurinaitytė received an appreciation letter from the mayor of Vilnius for volunteering at the Ukrainian Registration Center in Vilnius and providing emotional support to Ukrainian citizens fleeing the war zone.
3. Assoc. Prof. Antanas Kairys and Saulė Navytė (a student of bachelor’s degree) won third place in the science communication competition ‘Mokslo sprintas’ organised by Vilnius University https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000208285/mokslo-komunikacijos-konkursas-mokslo-sprintas.
4. Assist. Prof. Odeta Geležėlytė received an individual scholarship from the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences for supporting relevant “Stress-related difficulties and coping” research activities.
5. Austėja Agnietė Čepulienė, a doctoral degree student, received a grant from the Research Council of Lithuania to fund the costs related to travel and participating in a conference in Denmark.
6. Austėja Dumarkaitė, a doctoral degree student, received the Research Council of Lithuania award for the academic achievement of PhD students.
7. Austėja Dumarkaitė, a doctoral degree student, received the Research Council of Lithuania grant for the internship at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, in 2022.
8. Monika Kvedaraitė, a doctoral degree student, received the Research Council of Lithuania award for academic achievement for PhD students.
9. Monika Kvedaraitė, a doctoral degree student, received a Research Council of Lithuania grant for an internship at Cardiff University, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences (UK), June 2022.
10. Miglė Marcinkevičiūtė, a doctoral degree student, received Erasmus+ funding for travelling and participating in the project “MP4s - Mindfulness Practices for Students in Society Programme” meeting “Active Aware Ambassadors Event” in France.
11. Miglė Marcinkevičiūtė, a doctoral degree student, received Erasmus+ funding for travelling and participating in the project “MP4s - Mindfulness Practices for Students in Society Programme” meeting “2nd Transnational Project Meeting” in Italy.
12. Augustė Nomeikaitė, a doctoral degree student, received 3rd place in the Best Oral Presentation Award at the 19th Conference of Young Scientists in Psychology.

MOST IMPORTANT PARTICIPATION CASES OF RESEARCHERS IN WORKING GROUPS OR COMMISSIONS SET UP BY STATE AUTHORITIES, STATE AND MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS, BUSINESS ENTITIES
1. Prof. Rasa Barkauskienė is a member of the Qualification Assessment Committee for School Psychologists / Ministry of Education, Science, and Sport, Lithuania.
2. Prof. Rasa Barkauskienė is a member of the Attestation Commission for Psychologists under the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Science of the Republic of Lithuania.
3. Prof. Roma Jusienė is a member of the National Family Council at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania.
4. Prof. Gražina Gudaitė is a Vice-President of the International Association for Analytical Psychology, IAAP (from 2022 August)
5. Prof. Evaldas Kazlauskas is a President of the European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
6. Prof. Ilona Laurinaitytė is an expert in National Court Administration.
7. Prof. Paulius Skruibis is a member of the Suicide Prevention Work Group at Vilnius City Municipality.
8. Prof. Paulius Skruibis is a board member of Befrienders Worldwide (an organisation uniting volunteer helplines around the world).
9. Prof. Paulius Skruibis is Chair of the NGO fund board at the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
10. Prof. Paulius Skruibis is a board member of Jaunimo linija (Youth Line – a helpline for young people in Lithuania).
11. Prof. Paulius Skruibis was a member (2020-2022) of the Independent Expert Advisory Council at the Government of the Republic of Lithuanian for the COVID-19 pandemic response.
12. Assoc. Prof. Asta Adler is a member of the Interdisciplinary Adoption Commission / Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
13. Assoc. Prof. Remigijus Bliumas is an expert at the Research Council of Lithuania.
14. Assoc. Prof. Aušra Daugirdienė is an Agency for Science, Innovation, and Technology expert.
15. Assoc. Prof. Aušra Daugirdienė is a National Agency for Education expert.
16. Assoc. Prof. Neringa Grigutytė is a Board member of Mental Health Perspectives.
17. Assoc. Prof. Neringa Grigutytė is a member of the Union of Lithuanian Young Scientists expert group.
18. Assoc. Prof. Neringa Grigutytė is a member of the Attestation Commission for Psychologists under the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Science of the Republic of Lithuania.
19. Assoc. Prof. Alfredas Laurinavičius is a member of the Vilnius University Open science-policy guidelines implementation plan preparation working group.
20. Assoc. Prof. Alfredas Laurinavičius is the chairman of the Vilnius Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee.
21. Assoc. Prof. Dalia Nasvytienė is a member of the Working Group to Develop the Guidelines for the Lithuanian Education Abroad Campaign (set by the order 2021-06-01 No. V-193 of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania).
22. Assist. Prof. Jonas Eimontas is a member of the STRATA study 'Effectiveness analysis of psychological well-being and mental health promotion services expert group.
23. Assist. Prof. Virginija Klimukienė is the chairman of the Group of HEIS psychologists under the Lithuanian Association of Psychologists.
24. Jokūbas Gužas is a member of the Board of the Lithuanian Psychological Association.
25. Jokūbas Gužas is a member of the LGBTQIA+ Psychology Specialist Group of the Lithuanian Psychological Association.
26. Jurgita Rimkevičienė, PhD, was a member (2022 June-July) of the workgroup organised by the Ministry of Health for the improvement of the care system for people experiencing suicide risk.

CONSULTATIONS PROVIDED BY THE UNIT TO THE PUBLIC OR ECONOMIC ENTITIES
1. Prof. Evaldas Kazlauskas. Consultation with OECD Human Dimension Committee. Meeting on April 26, 2022. Vienna.
2. Prof. Ilona Laurinaitytė. Supervisor of psychologists in the State Child Rights Protection and Adoption Service under the Ministry of Social Security and Labor.
3. Prof. Ilona Laurinaitytė. Supervisor of the court psychologists at the National Court Administration.
4. Prof. Paulius Skruibis. The training program "Psychological help for those bereaved by suicide," developed by Suicide Research Centre, was provided for psychologists from various municipalities in Lithuania. Implementing this program was funded by State Mental Health Center (No. 26S-8). The aim of this training is to provide psychologists with the knowledge needed in their professional activities about specialised psychological help based on current scientific research. During this year, six separate training modules (duration - 8 hours) are provided for 20 participants. Thus, approximately 120 psychologists will be trained by the end of 2022.
5. Assoc Prof. Antanas Kairys. Technical feasibility study "Technical Feasibility Study for the Establishment of an Innovative System for Monitoring the Quality of Career Education Services" has been prepared within the framework of the contract with UAB ‘Blue Bridge’ (2022-02-18 No. (1.57) 15600-INS-33).
6. Assoc. Prof. Alfredas Laurinavičius. Children’s Rights Protection Service, Consultations regarding the methodology of the study of the effectiveness of the Multidimensional Family Therapy Program.
7. Assoc. Prof. Alfredas Laurinavičius. Lithuanian Association of Psychologists. Consultations with the President of the Law on Practical Activities of Psychologists.
8. Assoc. Prof. Asta Adler. Consultations for the child welfare committee.
9. Assoc. Prof. Asta Adler. Consultations for the Community Health Bureau Vilnius.
10. Assoc. Prof. Asta Adler. Public Health Office of Vilnius City Municipality, consultations during the preparation of an informational event on the topic of adolescent mental health.
11. Assoc. Prof. Danguolė Čekuolienė. Consultations/training for court psychologists, ‘Psychological evaluation of the child and submission of conclusions in civil cases’.
12. Assoc. Prof. Gražina Gintilienė and Assoc. Prof. Dalia Nasvytienė. Referral on the application of psychological assessment instruments at the Mental Health Subcommittee of Health Affairs Committee meeting at the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania on 2022/04/06 (chaired by L. Slušnys).
13. Assoc. Prof. Gražina Gintilienė. Referral on the application of psychological assessment instruments in the health care system at the meeting on 08.02.2022. (chaired by the Vice Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania, S. Bieliūnė).
14. Assoc. Prof. Neringa Grigutytė. Lithuanian Association of Psychologists. Consultations with the President of the Law on Practical Activities of Psychologists.
15. Assoc. Prof. Neringa Grigutytė. Lithuanian National Courts Administration: Supervisions for court psychologists
16. Assoc. Prof. Neringa Grigutytė. Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania, consultations on the adaptation of psychological evaluation instruments; consultations on Mental health stigma prevention.
17. Assoc. Prof. Neringa Grigutytė. National Agency for Education, consultations on prevention of human trafficking.
18. Assoc. Prof. Rūta Sargautytė. Refugee Reception Center, lectures "Different Client: Challenges of Working with Culturally Different Groups”.
19. Assoc. Prof. Sigita Girdzijauskienė. Consultations with the implementers of the Create Lithuania project of The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania National Agency for Education regarding the stages of implementation of the procedure for the identification and education of students with high learning potential from 2023. 2022/05–06
20. Assoc. Prof. Sigita Girdzijauskienė. Expert evaluation of Lithuanian Radio and Television content for children and youth. Conclusions and presentation on 2022/10/10.
21. Assoc. Prof. Sigita Girdzijauskienė. Presentation of changes to the description of the procedure for identifying groups of students with special educational needs and dividing their special educational needs into levels to the specialists of The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, National Agency for Education, Psychological Pedagogical Services.
22. Assoc. Prof. Tomas Lazdauskas. An expert evaluation of press publications, audiovisual works, radio and television programs, websites, or other means of public information and/or their content being classified as erotic, pornographic, and/or violent was carried out to the Service of the Ethics Inspector of Journalists (in 2022 submitted >300 findings).
23. Assist Prof. Lauryna Rakickienė. Consultations for UAB Baltic Asset Management regarding the adaptation of indoor and outdoor spaces to the needs of the child's development in the multi-apartment project. 2022/02–03.
24. Assist. Prof. Marija Vaštakė. ESPA project “Domestic violence”. Supervised volunteer counsellors who provided assistance to women experiencing domestic violence.
25. Assist. Prof. Odeta Geleželytė. Consultation on psychosocial support for survivors of Soviet political violence. Lithuanian Ministry of Health.
26. Assist. Prof. Virginija Klimukienė. Children's Rights Protection Service, Consultations regarding the methodology of the study of the effectiveness of the Multidimensional Family Therapy programme.

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
1. Prof. Danutė Gailienė. In the LR show Istorijos perimetrai „Karo nusikaltimų kaltė“ (Guilty of war crimes), https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000210707/istorijos-perimetrai-karo-nusikaltimu-kalte
2. Prof. Ilona Laurinaitytė. Interviu smurto tema LRT laidai „Mokslo sriuba“. Prieiga internete: https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000239114/mokslo-sriuba-del-kokiu-priezasciu-vezuvijaus-ugnikalnis-siandien-laikomas-vienu-pavojingiausiu?fbclid=IwAR0U26i74uXFV6_c0wDdWn4jouY2mAoAazQfOEzXyckGYLeM1RSvvgUxCE0
3. Prof. Roma Jusienė. Interviu LRT TV laidoje “Labas rytas”, 2022 11 02 d.: https://lt.mediavaikai.lt/single-post/lrt-technologij%C5%B3-poveikis-vaik%C5%B3-sveikatai-kaip-atpa%C5%BEinti-priklausomyb%C4%99
4. Assoc. Prof. Inga Truskauskaitė. LRT laida “Labas rytas, Lietuva. Šeštadienis”. Interviu apie psichikos sveikatos palaikymą Rusijos prieš Ukrainą karo kontekste. https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000202933/labas-rytas-lietuva-sestadienis-ii-d-nuo-ciles-iki-australijos-visame-pasaulyje-zmones-renkasi-i-akcijas-ir-reiskia-palaikyma-ukrainai (nuo 00:00)
5. Assoc. Prof. Antanas Kairys. Interview for LRT TV programme “Laba diena”. “Vyresnio amžiaus žmonės Lietuvoje – vieni iš stipriausiai Europoje patyrę nesaugumo jausmą dėl sveikatos darbe”. https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000225904/vyresnio-amziaus-zmones-lietuvoje-vieni-is-stipriausiai-europoje-patyre-nesaugumo-jausma-del-sveikatos-darbe [2022.08.01]

INSTITUTE OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL WORK

Universiteto 9, LT-01513 Vilnius
Tel. 266 7610
E-mail:
Director – Prof. Dr Eglė Šumskienė

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

Universiteto 9, LT-01513 Vilnius
Tel. 266 7626
E-mail:
Head – Prof. Dr Zenonas Norkus

STAFF 
Professors: Habil. Dr Z. Norkus (head), Dr A. Poviliūnas, Dr I. Juozeliūnienė.
Associate professors: Dr R. Žiliukaitė, Dr L. Žilinskienė, V. Rosinaitė, I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė, Dr L. Kraniauskas (part-time).
Assistant professors: Dr D. Čiupailaitė-Višnevska, Dr T. Šarūnas, Dr A. Širvinskienė (part-time), Dr P. Ragauskas (part-time).
Lecturers: A. Girkontaitė, M. Pivoriūtė, R. Juras.
Postdoctoral fellows: Dr D. Stumbrys, Dr I. Gečienė-Janulionė, Dr I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė. 
Doctoral students: L. Daukšaitė, D. Galdauskaitė, G. Januševskaitė, J. Litvinaitė, M. Pivoriūtė, V. Urbonaitė-Barkauskienė, R. Žilinskaitė.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Social change in Lithuania in the comparative perspective
• Comparative historical sociology of restorations
• Socio-economic disparities across Lithuanian regions in the long-run
• Sociology of science and education
• Sociology of family and intimate lives
• Urban sociology
• Sociology of health and illness
• Sociology of migration

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2022
Projects Supported by the University Budget
Sociological Analysis of Society and Culture, 1922-2027. Prof. Habil. Dr Zenonas Norkus
Comparative historical, sociological research on the socio-economic disparities between regions of Lithuania and other Baltic countries was started. The value changes in Lithuanian society during 30 years of restored independence in the family, religion, work, social and political life spheres were analysed. The impact of international migration and local mobility on interpersonal family relations and solidarity across generations was investigated. Sociological research on urban and media sociology was continued.
Main publications:
1. Norkus, Zenonas (2022). “'Weber's thesis' and the restoration of capitalism in Baltic countries” in: Sica, Alan (ed.) The Routledge International Handbook on Max Weber. London : Routledge, 2022. p. 182-194. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003089537
2. Žilinskaitė, Rima. “Kūryba ir bendradarbiavimas Web 2.0: nauja prosumpcijos tipologija”, Sociologija, Mintis ir veiksmas 2021, vol. 1 (48), pp. 26–50 OI:
https://doi.org/10.15388/SocMintVei.2021.1.30
3. Blachnicka-Ciacek, D., & Budginaite-Mackine, I. (2022). The ambiguous lives of ‘the other whites’: Class and racialisation of Eastern European migrants in the UK. The Sociological Review, 70(6), 1081-1099.
Presentations at conferences:
4. Žiliukaitė, Rūta. Lithuanian “Long-Run Social Study (LLRSS) - a Vision and Prospects of Realisation”, XIV Conference of Lithuanian Sociological Society "Universities, Sociology, and Civil Society Facing the Crises", 02.12.2022, Kaunas University of Technology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (with Ainė Ramonaitė (VU), Vaidas Morkevčius (KTU), Aušra Maslauskaitė (Vytautas Magnus University).
5. Daumantas Stumbrys “The Mental Health-Related Burden of Mortality in the Baltic Countries in 2007-2018", XIV Conference of Lithuanian Sociological Society "Universities, Sociology, and Civil Society Facing the Crises", 02.12.2022, Kaunas University of Technology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts.
6. Geciene-Janulione, I. (2022). „Opportunities of Countries of Origin to Attract and Use (Re)migrants’ Social Remittances“: The Case of Lithuania. Filosofija Sociologija [Philosophy Sociology], Vol 33 No 2 (2022), p. 85-96.
7. Geciene-Janulione, I. (2022). „Civic and Political Contribution of Return Migrants in Croatia, Lithuania, and Poland“. In RETURNING - REMITTING – RECEIVING: Social Remittances of transnational (re)migrants to Croatia, Lithuania, and Poland. Edited by Čiubrinskas, V., Gečienė-Janulionė, I., Hornstein Tomić, C. and Parutis, V. Wien: Lit Verlag.

National Research Projects
Growing Up in Independent Lithuania: Life Courses of 1980-2000 Cohorts, Behavioral Strategies and their Contexts. (No. P-MIP-21-267). The Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. L. Žilinskienė. 2021–2024.
In the context of global mobility, economic and structural transformations, a generation is emerging that is important to Lithuanian society in terms of demographic trends, the formation of family forms and practices, intergenerational relationships, and responsibilities for children and elderly parents. The project aims to investigate how, in the socio-economic contexts after the restoration of Lithuanian independence in 1990, the structural features of the life course of the generation born in 1980-2000, its behavioural strategies, family and intergenerational relationships are formed, and how family memory participates in these processes to highlight the new generation. Four factors of the social context that frame the new generation are analysed: economic factors related to the market economy; institutional factors related to the search for social policy priorities; the opportunities for free movement provided by the Schengen area, and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.fsf.vu.lt/naujienos/fakulteto-ivykiai/4487-ar-jaunimas-ketina-isvykti-is-lietuvos

Main publications:
1. Juozeliūniene, Irena and Irma Budginaitė-Mačkinė (2022). Do young people intend to leave Lithuania? (January 14, 2022). (https://naujienos.vu.lt/ar-jaunimas-ketina-isvykti-is-lietuvos/).
2. Zilinskiene, Laima and Navicke, Jekaterina (2022). Do those born in 1980-2000 choose safer life strategies during the period of instability? (07/01/2022) (https://www.fsf.vu.lt/naujienos/fakulteto-ivykiai/4730-ar-nestabilumo-laikotarpiu-1980-2000-metais-gimusieji-renkasi-saugesnes-gyvenimo-strategijas).
3. Navickė, Jekaterina ir Kraniauskienė, Sigita (2022). Life Course Regime in Lithuania: What Is It and Do We Follow It? This article is published in Lithuanian (2022 07 25) and English (2022 08 24): https://www.fsf.vu.lt/naujienos/fakulteto-ivykiai/4771-gyvenimo-eigos-rezimas-lietuvoje); https://www.vu.lt/en/news-events/news/life-course-regime-in-lithuania-what-is-it-and-do-we-follow-it

Presentations in international conferences:
1. Zilinskiene, Laima (organizer) international seminar "Life strategies of cohorts born in 1980-2000: conceptual framework and empirical evidence", 3-4 October 2022, Vilnius University, Lithuania.
2. Project participants presentations:
3. Zilinskiene, Laima (2022). Behaviour patterns of people born in 1980-2000
4. Navicke, Jekaterina (2022). Social Policy and Life Course Regimes: Post-Authoritarian Transformations in Lithuania
5. Juozeliuniene, Irena (2022). Mobility Strategies and Intergenerational Relations of Lithuanians born in 1980-2000
6. Damaseviciute, Goda (2022). Childhood in post-soviet Lithuania: precarious places and sour encounters
7. Zilinskiene, Laima “Growing up in Independent Lithuania: Behavioral Strategies of 1980-2000 Cohorts”. BASEES Annual Conference 2022, Cambridge, April 8-10 2022.
8. Navicke, Jekaterina “Social policy and life course regimes: post-Soviet transformations in Lithuania”. BASEES Annual Conference 2022, Cambridge, April 8-10 2022.
9. Juozeliuniene, Irena and Irma Budginaite-Mackine “Lithuanians born in 1980-2000: conceptualisation of family life and mobility strategies in times of global migration”. BASEES Annual Conference 2022, Cambridge, April 8-10 2022.
10. Zilinskiene, Laima “Peculiarities of Behavior Patterns and Period Effects in Lithuania after the 1990s”. Biographic Narrative and Lifecourse Research Group (BNLR), Online Conference, March 12th 2022.
11. Navicke, Jekaterina “Social Policy and Life Course Regimes: Post Authoritarian Transformations in Lithuania (online), ISA congress, (RC19), 2022 08 24-26, Vilnius).

Lithuanian journalism in the contexts of political, economic and social risks. Financed by the Lithuanian Science Council (LMT) under the project programme for research groups. 2022–2024.

Migrants From Lithuania: Representations in Lithuanian Public Discourse and Everyday Contexts [Project conducted in Lithuanian: Lietuvos migrantai: reprezentacijų viešojoje erdvėje ir kasdienių reikšmių tyrimas]. (No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-23-0155) The Research Council of Lithuania. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė. Research Supervisor: Prof. I. Juozeliūnienė. 2021–2023.
The project aims to reveal the changes in the representations of Lithuanian migrants in public discourse and how the new unsettling situation connected to the COVID-19 pandemic affects the meanings attributed to migration in everyday contexts, as well as the social interactions of Lithuanian migrants in the country of origin. In 2022, the postdoctoral fellow prepared the first publication, made an oral presentation, ‘Mobile and (return) migrant childhoods in Lithuania’ at the 21st Nordic Migration Research Conference, prepared the methodological guidelines for the empirical qualitative research and carried out interviews with Lithuanians with direct migration experience, improved her methodological competences at methods schools (online) organised by Utrecht University and Vilnius Coding School, and visited two research institutions abroad – London Metropolitan University in London, the UK, and the Youth Research Center at SWPS in Warsaw, Poland – to deepen her knowledge of and skills related to researching migration.
Presentations at international conferences: Irma Budginaitė-Mačkinė, oral presentation “Mobile and (return) migrant childhoods in Lithuania”, Session “Mobile and migrant childhoods” (1.4) - RE: MIGRATION - New perspectives on movement, research, and society 21st Nordic Migration Research (NMR) conference, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, 2022/08/17.
Irma Budginaitė-Mačkinė, oral presentation “Representations of mobile Lithuanian citizens: intersecting markers of difference and varying degrees of othering in the Lithuanian media”, Symposium “Whiteness and Racialization in Colonial Pasts and Presents” organised by the Nordic Summer University (Circle 5), an in-person international academic event at Rønningen Folkehøgskole, Oslo, Norway, 2022/07/28–2022/08/04.
Presentations at international online events:
Irma Budginaitė-Mačkinė was invited as a speaker to the ERCOMER seminar series to make an oral presentation on “Who deserves to belong amidst the recent unsettling events?”. Due to the pandemic, this event took place online. ERCOMER migration expert group at Utrecht University, Utrecht (the Netherlands), 2022/02/07.
Irma Budginaitė-Mačkinė, oral presentation “Continuity and change in the migration discourse in Lithuanian media: blurring the lines between ‘us’ and ‘them’ amidst the recent unsettling events” (Online). RSA CEE Early Career Online Event. 2022/05/03.
Participation in round table discussions at international events:
Participant of the panel “The trajectories of Youth Migration: Conceptual, empirical and methodological innovations” (Co-organised by L. Ryan and A. Trabka) IMISCOE conference “Migration and time”, Oslo, Norway, 2022/06/29–2022/07/01.
Publications at international academic peer-reviewed journals:
Irma Budginaitė-Mačkinė and Irena Juozeliūnienė (accepted for publication), “Siblings as Overlooked Potential for Care and Support Across Households and Borders”, Social Inclusion, special issue “Family supportive networks and practices in vulnerable contexts”.

The Civic and Political Contribution of the Lithuanian Diaspora: Ways of Expression and the Role of Public Space [Project conducted in Lithuanian: Lietuvos diasporos pilietinis ir politinis indėlis: raiškos būdai ir viešosios erdvės vaidmuo]. (No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0189). The Research Council of Lithuania. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr I. Gečienė-Janulionė. Research Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. R. Žiliukaitė. 2020–2022.
The aim of the project is to improve the scientific competency of the postdoctoral fellow in the field of civil and political contribution of emigrants to civil society and democratisation and to comprehensively study the contribution of the Lithuanian diaspora to the political and civic life of Lithuanian society, identifying its modes of expression, identities, and public space.
Results of 2022:
In 2022, the article “The political contribution of the Lithuanian Diaspora: the Significance of Time and Place” was prepared and submitted to the ‘Journal of Baltic Studies’. Additionally, a manuscript of scientific study was prepared, “The Civic and Political Contribution of the Lithuanian Diaspora: Modes of Expression and the Role of Public Space”. Recommendations on diaspora policy were formed and submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An oral presentation on “(Re)migrants’ Civic and Political Contributions: the Case of Lithuania” was made at the XIII Lithuanian Sociological Society Conference "Society, Regions, Transformations: Do We Have Scenarios for the Future?", Vytautas Magnus University, 2022/01/14 (held remotely). The research fellow participated in two study visits (each of them lasted two weeks) at Malmö University (Sweden) and the University of Essex (United Kingdom).

Demographic Loss Related to Mental Health in the Context of Changing Health Policy in Lithuania [Project conducted in Lithuanian: Su psichikos sveikata susiję demografiniai praradimai Lietuvos sveikatos politikos pokyčių kontekste]. (No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0152). Financed by the The Research Council of Lithuania. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr D. Stumbrys. Research Supervisor: Prof. D. Pūras. 2020–2022.

The Last Soviet Generations in the Context of Changing Modernity. (No. S-MOD-17-14). The Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. L. Žilinskienė. The project was funded by the Lithuanian Science Council (overdue publications). 2017–2019.
Main publications:
1. Žilinskienė, Laima and Ilic, Melanie (2022). Introduction: Social time and generations in: Zilinskiene, Laima and Ilic, Melanie (eds.) Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania – Generational experiences. Routledge: London and New York, 2022. p. 1-13. DOI: 10.4324/9781003023050-1
2. Šutinienė, Irena (2022). Identifying the 1970s generation in: Zilinskiene, Laima and Ilic, Melanie (eds.) Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania – Generational experiences. Routledge: London and New York, 2022. p. 86-109. DOI: 10.4324/9781003023050-6
3. Žilinskienė, Laima (2022). Particularities of the behavioural models of the last Soviet generation in: Zilinskiene, Laima and Ilic, Melanie (eds.) Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania – Generational experiences. Routledge: London and New York, 2022. p. 110-126. DOI: 10.4324/9781003023050-7
4. Ivanauskas, Vilius and Kareniauskaitė, Monika (2022). Lithuania’s cultural elite, born from 1970 to 1980 in: Zilinskiene, Laima and Ilic, Melanie (eds.) Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania – Generational experiences. Routledge: London and New York, 2022. p. 127-145. DOI: 10.4324/9781003023050-8
5. Žilinskienė, Laima (2022). Communicative family memory across generations in: Zilinskiene, Laima and Ilic, Melanie (eds.) Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania – Generational experiences. Routledge: London and New York, 2022. p. 170-190. DOI: 10.4324/9781003023050-10
6. Kareniauskaitė, Monika (2022). Understandings of crime and deviance in Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania in: Zilinskiene, Laina and Ilic, Melanie (eds.) Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania – Generational experiences. Routledge: London and New York, 2022. p. 30-48. DOI: 10.4324/9781003023050-3
7. Laumenskaitė, Irena Eglė. The role of religious experience in the formation of life choices, social attitudes and behaviour models of different generations in Lithuania (2022). in: Zilinskiene, Laina and Ilic, Melanie (eds.) Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania – Generational experiences. Routledge: London and New York, 2022. p. 146-169. DOI: 10.4324/9781003023050-9

International Research Projects
Quantitative Data About Societal and Economic Transformations in the Regions of the Three Baltic States During the Last Hundred Years for the Analysis of Historical Transformations and the Overcoming of Future Challenges. (No. EEA-RESEARCH-174). Baltic Research Programme. Project Leader: Prof. Z. Norkus. 2021–2024.
The aim of the project is to create a depository of quantitative data about societal and economic transformations in the regions of the three Baltic States during the last hundred years and to provide a quantitative analysis of the long-term trends (since 1920) in regional disparities.
The implementation of the project will include two tasks: (1) the creation of a data repository with data on economic and social differences between regions of the Baltic States and (2) an analysis of long-term trends (since 1920) in cross-regional economic and human development disparities.
Main publications:
1. Norkus, Zenonas; Domantas Jasilionis, Ola Honningdal Grytten, Ilmārs Mežs & Martin Klesment (2022) Mortality transition in the interwar Baltic states: findings from cross-country comparison of new life tables, Scandinavian Economic History Review, DOI: 10.1080/03585522.2022.2106301
2. Grytten, Ola; Norkus, Zenonas; Markevičiūtė, Jurgita; Šiliņš, Jānis. Can the economic growth of interwar Latvia be estimated by contemporary national accounts? // Baltic journal of economics. A 2022, vol. 22, no. 2, p. 90-109. DOI: 10.1080/1406099X.2022.2097370. [
3. Norkus, Zenonas, Markevičiūtė, Jurgita, Grytten, Ola Honingdal, Šiliņš, Jānis, Klimantas Adomas. Benchmarking Latvia’s Economy: a New Estimate of Gross Domestic Product in the 1930s Cliometrica. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11698-022-00260-x
4. Norkus, Zenonas. Norkus, Z. (2022). Chapter 6: Varieties of currency nationalization and denationalization, in Pickel, Andreas (Ed.) Handbook of Economic Nationalism, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, pp. 81-99. Abstract available at: https://www.elgaronline.com/view/book/9781789909043/book-part-9781789909043-14.xml
Presentations at international conferences:
1. Norkus Z., Markevičiūtė J., Grytten, O., Šiliņš J. (2022). Latvia’s Relative Wealth in the 1930s: Measured as GDP per capita in 1935 as Benchmark Year. Baltic Connections: a Conference in Social Science History, June 16th-17th, 2022, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The program available here: https://www2.helsinki.fi/sites/default/files/atoms/files/baltic_connections_2022_program.
2. Norkus, Z., Markevičiūtė, J. (2022). Regional Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) in the Restored Baltic States: Convergence or Divergence? The Midterm Conference of European Sociological Association (ESA) Research Network 36, Prague 2nd-3rd September 2022, https://www.soc.cas.cz/rn36midterm#prog
3. Norkus, Z., Markevičiūtė J. (2022). New Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Benchmark Estimate for Latvia in 1935. November 28th-29th 2022. Central European Congress of Economic History. Modernization Processes in "Younger Europe", Poland, https://congressofmodernization.pl

SHOUT – Social Sciences and Humanities in Intersectoral Outreach for Better Education and Sustainable Innovations. (ID: 612364-EPP-1-2019-1-LT-EPPKA2-KA). Erasmus+ Knowledge Alliance. Project Leader: Prof. A. Poviliūnas. 2019–2022.
Insights coming from disciplines/professionals within the social sciences and the humanities (SSH) are critical for better and informed practice, especially when talking about sustainable innovations/transformations or when trying to understand social disruption processes in the broader socio-economic environment. The effects of social disruption brought by technological innovations have become more visible than ever before – they have dramatically affected the economy, caused shifts in institutional culture, and changed people’s lives. Being on the verge of the 4th industrial revolution, which will definitely bring more disruption to our economy, institutions, and lives, there is an urgent need for greater attention to be given to SSH-based research, which will encourage us to move towards sustainable innovations and a brighter future. The SHOUT consortium aims to strengthen the capacity for innovation of SSH students and professionals, as well as the transformational role of HEIs, SMEs, and NGOs when dealing with complex problems presented in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SSH research can assist in developing innovative, sustainable solutions through an inter-sectoral cooperation model and enhanced sharing of knowledge between different stakeholders while simultaneously increasing the employability of SSH graduates and researchers.

The Nordic Summer University: Sharing and Developing Experience of 70 Years of Democratic Education. (No. NPHZ-2021/10091). Nordplus programme. Main Coordinator: The Nordic Summer University. VU Project Leader: Dr I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė. 2021–2022.
The Nordic Summer University (NSU) and its partners organise four cross-sectoral symposia to develop partnerships in the broader Baltic Sea region to support the development of emerging research initiatives and communities through the NSU traditions of democratic education and folkbildning (civic education). At the heart of this project lies the strengthening of an inclusive and transnational research network, and the symposia provide a space for exchange between participants from the Nordic-Baltic regions. One of the Winter Symposia in 2022 was organised at Vilnius University: ‘Whiteness, Racialisation and Post-Soviet Pasts’ (2022/03/31–2022/04/01). The event in Vilnius attracted more than 20 participants from eleven countries (more information is available on the NSU website here).

Connecting Research and Practice. (COST CA20115). COST action. European Network on International Student Mobility. Main Coordinator: Dr Christof van Mol, Stichting Katholieke Universiteit Brabant, Tilburg, The Netherlands. VU Coordinator: Dr I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė. 2021–2025.
This Action responds to the pressing need for systematic interdisciplinary and international exchange of knowledge on theoretical frameworks, research methodologies, findings, and best practice examples and for translating scientific findings into recommendations for international student mobility (ISM) practice. It is organised around five working groups: WG1 – Global ISM flows and trends at the macro-level; WG2 – Social inequalities in access to and during ISM; WG3 – The social and cultural integration of international students in their host countries; WG4 – The impact of ISM on graduates’ careers; WG5 – Connecting research and practice. The Action will offer comparative and practical insights into ISM dynamics by bringing fragmented knowledge together, with the main aim of generating new interdisciplinary and innovative empirical perspectives on the phenomenon and translating these into tangible recommendations for stakeholders.
In 2022, the network organised a meeting in Lisbon, Portugal (2022/05/15–17) involving over 50 participants and an international conference in Tartu, Estonia (2022/10/6–7). VU Coordinator: Dr I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė, who is a member of the management committee, as well as two working groups (WG2 and WG5). In October 2022, she was elected as co-leader of WG2.

Transnational Family Dynamics in Europe. (COST CA21143). COST action. Main Coordinator: Prof. Mieke Schrooten, Odisee University of Applied Sciences. VU Coordinator: Dr I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė. 2022–2026.
This Action aims to deepen the knowledge of the growing, rapidly changing phenomenon and dynamics of transnational families (TNF) by bringing together researchers and stakeholders from different disciplines and countries to address the need for transnational insights and to formulate policy and practice-oriented recommendations with an impact on international, national, sub-local and local practices. This Action will closely monitor current trends in migration, technology, and politics, as well as engage in an intensive dialogue with policy and practitioners, thus, addressing the need to deepen and broaden scientific and policy understanding of TNF. In 2022, the network was launched by organising the first management meeting in October 2022, electing leadership positions, confirming the work plan, and initiating working groups. The VU Coordinator, Dr I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė, is a member of the management committee as well as the leader of Working Group 1, “Kinkeeping within transnational families in a global and digital era”.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
East Carolina University, Department of Sociology (USA)
Tartu University, Institute of Social Studies (Estonia)
University of Lodz, Department of Sociology (Poland)
Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Institute of Sociology (Poland)
Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw (Poland)
Institute for Social Transformations, School of Advanced Social Studies, Nova Gorica (Slovenia)
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (Valmiera, Latvia)

OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Asoc. Prof. I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė
• coordinator of a network for interdisciplinary study and research „Racialization, Whiteness and Politics of Othering in Contemporary Europe” (Nordic Summer University, Study circle 5, 2021-2023), http://nordic.university/study-circles/5-racialization-whiteness-and-politics-of-othering-in-contemporary-europe/;
• Member of expert network of social dimension of education and training (NESET), Network members - NESET (nesetweb.eu)
• Member of International Sociological Association, International Sociological Association (isa-sociology.org);
• Member of European Sociological Association, European Sociological Association | European Sociological Association (europeansociology.org); board member of RN13 “Sociology of Families and Intimate Lives”: https://www.europeansociology.org/research-networks/rn13-sociology-families-and-intimate-lives
Prof. I. Juozeliūnienė
• member of the Family Research Committee (RC 06) of the International Sociological Association (ISA), www.rc06-isa.org;
• member of the Sociology of Families and Intimate Lives (RN 13) of the European Sociological Association (ESA), www.europeansociology.org;
• member of the Science Council of the Lithuanian Social Science Centre, http://www.dsti.lt
• member of Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt;
• Associate Editor at the Journal of Comparative Family Studies, https://www.utpjournals.press/loi/jcfs.
Prof. Z. Norkus
• Editorial Board Member of the Journal Sociologija. Mintis ir veiksmas (Sociology. Thought and Action), https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/sociologija-mintis-ir-veiksmas/about/editorialTeam Atsakingi redaktoriai | Sociologija. Mintis ir veiksmas (vu.lt)
• Editorial Board Member of the Journal Filosofija. Sociologija (Philosophy, Sociology), Filosofija. Sociologija (lmaleidykla.lt);
• Editorial board member of the journal Research in Social Change (Slovenia), Research in Social Change (sciendo.com);
• Editorial board member of the Journal Santalka, http://www.cpc.vgtu.lt/index.php/cpc/pages/view/editorial_board.html
• Editorial Board Member of the Journal Lietuvos istorijos studijos (Studies of Lithuania’s History), https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/about/editorialTeam
• Editorial Board Member of the Journal Przestrzeń Społeczna (Social Space) http://socialspacejournal.eu/indexpl.html
• Editorial Board Member of the Universal Lithuanian Encyclopaedia Titulinis - Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (vle.lt)
• Member of the Executive Council of the Lithuanian Sociological Society; http://www.sociology.lt /
• Member of the Board of the Research Network 36 “Sociology of Transformation: East and West“, https://www.europeansociology.org/research-networks/rn36-sociology-transformations-east-and-west
• Member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences http://www.lma.lt/akademijos-nariai-2019
• Member of Editorial Board “Lithuanian Studies without Borders”, published by Academic Studies Press (U.S.) https://www.academicstudiespress.com/lithuanianstudies
• Member of Advisory Board of Research Network COMPASSS (COMPArative Methods for Systematic cross-caSe analySis) http://compasss.org/about/
Lecturer M. Pivoriūtė
• Member of the Executive Council of the Lithuanian Sociological Society: http://www.sociology.lt
Prof. A. Poviliūnas
• Member of the Commission of Research Infrastructures, Lithuanian Research Council,
http://www.lmt.lt/lt/apie-taryba/komisijos-ir-darbo-grupes/moksliniu-tyrimu-infrastrukturu-komisija/175;
• expert in H2020 programme Committee Research Infrastructures;
• editorial board member of the journal Sociologija: Mintis ir veiksmas (Sociology: Thought and Action), Atsakingi redaktoriai | Sociologija. Mintis ir veiksmas (vu.lt)
• editorial board member of the journal Kriminologijos studijos (Studies in Criminology), Atsakingi redaktoriai | Kriminologijos studijos (vu.lt);
• Member of European Sociological Association, European Sociological Association | European Sociological Association (europeansociology.org)
• member of Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt;
• member of Lithuanian Criminological Association, kriminologija.lt | Lietuvos kriminologų asociacija;
Assoc. Prof. L. Žilinskienė
• Chief editor of the journal Kriminologijos studijos (Studies in Criminology), Atsakingi redaktoriai | Kriminologijos studijos (vu.lt)
• member of the British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies (BASEES), British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies | UIA Yearbook Profile | Union of International Associations.
• member of Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt;
• member of Lithuanian Association of Criminologists
Assoc. Prof. R. Žiliukaitė
• Chair of the Council of the National Program directors, European Value Survey, http://www.europeanvaluesstudy.eu/evs/about-evs/organisation/newcouncil/;
• editorial board member of the journal Kultūra ir visuomenė: socialinių tyrimų žurnalas, Kultūra ir visuomenė: socialinių tyrimų žurnalas | VDU CRIS;
• member of the Executive Council of the Lithuanian Sociological Society, http://www.sociology.lt/.

BEST REPORTS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES ABROAD
1. Budginaitė-Mačkinė, I., “Mobile and (return) migrant childhoods in Lithuania”, Nordic Migration Research conference “RE: MIGRATION – New perspectives on movement, research and society”, session “Mobile and migrant childhoods”, 17 August 2022, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
2. Norkus, Z., Markevičiūtė, J. Regional Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) in the Restored Baltic States: Convergence or Divergence? The Midterm Conference of European Sociological Association (ESA) Research Network 36, Prague 2nd-3rd September 2022, https://www.soc.cas.cz/rn36midterm#prog
3. Norkus, Z., Markevičiūtė J. New Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Benchmark Estimate for Latvia in 1935. November 28th-29th 2022. Central European Congress of Economic History. Modernization Processes in "Younger Europe", Poland, https://congressofmodernization.pl

MOST IMPORTANT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARDS RECEIVED FOR R&D ACTIVITIES
1. Z. Norkus was the recipient of the 2021 Juozas Leonavičius Award of the Lithuanian Sociological Society for his contributions to the development of Lithuanian scientific databases (together with Aelita Ambrulevičiūtė, Jurgita Markevičiūtė, Vaidas Morkevičius, and Giedrius Žvaliauskas)
2. Z. Norkus was awarded the Vilnius University prize for the best international research project in 2021 by the researchers of Vilnius University (Quantitative Data about Societal and Economic Transformations in the Regions of the Three Baltic States during the Last Hundred Years for the Analysis of Historical Transformations and the Overcoming of Future Challenges (BALTIC100) (together with Jurgita Markevičiūtė, Adomas Klimantas, and Vytautas Valatka)

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
1. I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė, 2022.11.07. LRT radio discussion “Representations of migrants in the society. Where do the stereotypes come from?” (together with A. Ulubey and A. Chanine, moderator M. Varnauskaitė). Museum of Histories: https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000241204/muziejaus-istorijos-migranto-ivaizdis-visuomeneje-kaip-formuojasi-stereotipai
2. I. Budginaitė-Mačkinė, 2022.09.26. LRT radio discussion “How migration changes family identity?” (together with V. Rykštaite, K. Ahamada and A. Giniotaite, moderator M. Varnauskaitė). Museum of Histories: https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000235000/muziejaus-istorijos-kaip-migracija-keicia-seimu-tapatybe
3. M. Pivoriūtė, 2022.01.07. LRT radio interview about the concepts of fast and slow time, work culture etc. “About the cult of work, the oblivion of metaphysics and the longing for slow time. Interview with Milda Pivoriūtė”. LRT “Homo cultus. Between past and present” (moderator Dr Simas Čelutka):
4. https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000196433/homo-cultus-tarp-praeities-ir-ateities-apie-darbo-kulta-metafizikos-uzmarsti-ir-letojo-laiko-ilgesi-pokalbis-su-milda-pivoriute
5. M. Pivoriūtė, 2022.10.13. Interview to the media about the emerging adulthood, quarter life crisis etc. “mieloji.lt” (interviewer Ieva Rekštytė-Matuliauskė):
6. https://mieloji.lt/m-pivoriute-kai-nuolat-tyrineji-pasauli-tai-atrandi-ir-save/
7. M. Pivoriūtė, 2022.10.30. LRT radio interview about the emerging adulthood, identity, quarter life crisis etc. LRT “Paraštės” (interviewer Tomas Lukaševičius):
https://www.lrt.lt/mediateka/irasas/2000240517/parastes-ketvircio-amziaus-krize

DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY

Universiteto 9, LT-01513 Vilnius
Tel. el. (8 5) 266 7623
E-mail:
Head – Prof. Dr A. Dobryninas

STAFF
Professors: Prof. Dr A. Dobryninas, Prof. Dr Linas Balčiauskas (part-time).
Associate professors: Dr L. Žilinskienė, Dr A. Čepas, Dr S. Nikartas, Dr M. Šupa.
Assistant professors: Dr J. Aleknevičienė, Dr A. Pocienė, Dr M. Lankauskas,
Dr M. Švedkauskienė, Dr M. Mačėnaitė (part-time), I. Gavelytė-Kalytienė (part-time).
Lecturers: L. Lukošius (part-time), I. Radovič (part-time).
Postdoctoral fellow: Dr Sigita Černevičiūtė.
Doctoral students: G. Damašavičiūtė, R. Gaičevskytė-Savickė, J. Žėkaitė-Maconko, V. Kalpokas, E. Visockas

RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Theoretical analysis of deviation and social control
• Punishment and reintegration policy
• Violence and its perception in the society
• Methodological innovations in criminology
• Corruption and anti-corruption activity

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2022

Projects Supported by University Budget
Social Control and Construction of Criminological Discourses. Dr Prof. Aleksandras Dobryninas. 2019–2022
The project involves analysis of theoretical aspects of deviation and social control, philosophical and sociological problems of criminal justice, as well as analysis of punishment and reintegration policies, research on problems of urban security, media crime, violence and its recipe in society. The application of methodological innovations in criminology is also researched.
Main publications:
1. Siegel, D., Dobryninas, A., Becucci, S. (eds.) (2022). COVID-19, Society and Crime in Europe. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13562-0
2. Dobryninas, A. (2022). „Pandemic and Infodemic in Lithuania”, Siegel, D., Dobryninas, A., Becucci, S. (eds.) (2022) COVID-19, Society and Crime in Europe. Springer, p. 43-62.
3. Gaičevskytė-Savickė R. (2021) „Moters nusikaltėlės įvaizdis medijose: tarp realybės ir konstrukto“, Kriminologijos studijos, 9, p. 129-150. doi: 10.15388/CrimLithuan.2021.9.5. (published in 2022)
4. Aleknevičienė J., Kalinauskaitė I. ir Matačiūtė L. (2021) „Laisvės atėmimo bausmės konstravimo prielaidos Lietuvoje kritinės kriminologijos požiūriu: įkalinimo tikslų analizė“, Kriminologijos studijos, 9, p. 232-253. doi: 10.15388/CrimLithuan.2021.9.9. (published in 2022)

Geopolitics, Formal Social Control, and Popular Culture in Online Hacking Forums. (Project No. MSF-JM-13/2021). Vilnius University Research Fund. Project Lead: Dr M. Šupa. 2021–2023.
The goal of this exploratory project is to analyse the global geopolitical, cultural, and social aspects of online crime as they are represented in online hacking forums. In a transdisciplinary combination of criminology and computer linguistics, quantitative methods of big text analysis of a large dataset of multiple forums will be combined with qualitative analysis and online ethnography to fill gaps in knowledge about the non-technical background of online crime.
Key results in 2022: analysis of state-of-the-art phenomena, data analysis, publication drafts, and conference papers.
Conference papers:
1. European Society of Criminology, 22nd annual conference „Challenges and opportunities in a virtually and physically connected Europe: the need for Criminology“, September 21–24, 2022. „Hacks, leaks, markets, pirates, gamers, loungers: a structural analysis of online hacking forums“ (M, Šupa, V. Kaktinas, J. Mandravickaitė).
2. European Group for the Study of Deviance and Social Control, 50th annual conference, September 7-9, Turin. „Mythologised through media: uncovering pop-cultural characteristics of hacking forums“ (V. Kaktinas, E. Stankevičiūtė, M. Šupa, J. Mandravickaitė).
3. 30th Baltic Criminological Seminar. Vilnius, June 27–28, 2022. „The geopolitics of online offending: the case of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia“ (M. Šupa, V. Kaktinas, J. Mandravickaitė).
4. Lithuanian Social Science Forum. Annual conference. Molėtai, May 20–22, 2022. „Global opportunities, local impacts: geopolitics in online hacking forums“ (M. Šupa, J. Mandravickaitė and V. Kaktinas)

National Research Projects
Homicides and Punishments in Lithuania in 1918–1940. (No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0144). Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr S. Černevičiūtė. Research Supervisor: Prof. A. Dobryninas. 2020–2022.
The aim of the study is to investigate the phenomenon of Interwar Lithuanian homicides and the resulting punishments by analysing their content, context, and consequences.
Main publications:

1. Černevičiūtė S. Homicide Trends and Types in 1920s-1930s Lithuania: Limitations of Official Statistics, In: Kriminologijos studijos, 2021, Vol. 9, pp. 100-128. doi: 10.15388/CrimLithuan.2021.9.4. (published in 2022)
2. 2022 04 01-04 30 Visiting scholar at University of Helsinki, Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy. Supervisor: prof. Dr J. Kivivuori.

"I Am the Same as You, You Are the Same as I Am": Members of Online Hacking Forums Between Niche Subcultures and Pop Culture. (Project No. P-SV-22-58). The Research Council of Lithuania. Summer research internship for students. Student: E. Stankevičiūtė. Research Supervisor: Dr M. Šupa.
The objective of the research is to apply a critical criminological perspective and qualitative content analysis of online forum messages to explore the cultural characteristics of the largest global hacking forums.
Key results in 2022:
1. Analysis of state-of-the-art phenomena, development of the research methodology, data collection and analysis.

The Internet of Bodies Discourse in Global Online News Media: A Criminological Perspective. (Project No. P-ST-22-166). The Research Council of Lithuania. Research internship for students. Student: V. Kaktinas. Research Supervisor: Dr M. Šupa.
The aim of the research is to analyse how global online news media construct the public discourse about the Internet of Bodies, with particular focus on dataveillance and datafication processes.
Key results in 2022:
1. Analysis of state-of-the-art phenomena, development of the research methodology, data collection and analysis.

Growing up in Independent Lithuania: Life Courses of 1980-2000 Cohorts, Behavioral Strategies and their Contexts. (No. P-MIP-21-267). The Research Council of Lithuania. Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. L. Žilinskienė. 2021–2024.
In the context of global mobility and economic and structural transformations, a generation is emerging that is important to Lithuanian society in terms of demographic trends, the formation of family forms and practices, intergenerational relationships, and responsibilities for children and elderly parents. The project aims to investigate how, in the socio-economic contexts after the restoration of Lithuanian independence in 1990, the structural features of the life course of the generation born between 1980 and 2000, its behavioural strategies, family and intergenerational relationships are formed, as well as how family memory participates in these processes to highlight the new generation. Four factors of the social context that frame the new generation are analysed: economic factors related to the market economy; institutional factors related to the search for social policy priorities; the opportunities for free movement provided by the Schengen area, and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.fsf.vu.lt/naujienos/fakulteto-ivykiai/4487-ar-jaunimas-ketina-isvykti-is-lietuvos

The Last Soviet Generations in the Context of Changing Modernity. (No. S-MOD-17-14). The Research Council of Lithuania. The project was funded by the Lithuanian Science Council and implemented in 2017–2019 (overdue publications). Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. L. Žilinskienė.

The Last Soviet Generations in the Context of Changing Modernity implemented in 2017-2019. Research Council of Lithuania. No. S-MOD-17-14. Project leader assoc. Prof. L. Žilinskienė. The project was funded by the Lithuanian Science Council (overdue publications)
Main publications:
1. Žilinskienė, Laima and Ilic, Melanie (2022). Introduction: Social time and generations in: Zilinskiene, Laima and Ilic, Melanie (eds.) Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania – Generational experiences. Routledge: London and New York, 2022. p. 1-13. DOI: 10.4324/9781003023050-1
2. Žilinskienė, Laima (2022). Particularities of the behavioural models of the last Soviet generation in: Zilinskiene, Laima and Ilic, Melanie (eds.) Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania – Generational experiences. Routledge: London and New York, 2022. p. 110-126. DOI: 10.4324/9781003023050-7
3. Žilinskienė, Laima (2022). Communicative family memory across generations in: Zilinskiene, Laima and Ilic, Melanie (eds.) Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania – Generational experiences. Routledge: London and New York, 2022. p. 170-190. DOI: 10.4324/9781003023050-10
4. Kareniauskaitė, Monika (2022). “Understandings of crime and deviance in Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania” in: Zilinskiene, Laina and Ilic, Melanie (eds.) Soviet and post-Soviet Lithuania – Generational experiences. Routledge: London and New York, 2022. p. 30-48. DOI: 10.4324/9781003023050-3

International Research Projects
Sexual Harassment in Nightlife Entertainment Spots: Control and Prevention (SHINE). (No. 881652). The European Commission’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme Action Project. Main Coordinator: The Center for Crime Prevention in Lithuania. VU Coordinator: Prof. A. Dobryninas. 2020–2022.
The SHINE (Sexual Harassment in Nightlife Entertainment Spots: Control and Prevention) project aims to create a common culture among nightlife stakeholders and give them the appropriate tools to prevent sexual harassment in nightlife venues. One of the project’s main foreseen achievements will be the creation of a multipliable working model through the following planned activities: a) introduction of quality management systems in nightlife entertainment venues; b) training programmes and awareness-raising sessions for the staff of nightlife venues, local elected officials, mediators and representatives of the municipal police;
c) networking and joint cooperation between municipal institutions, law enforcement agencies, local businesses and other stakeholders; d) awareness-raising and educating potential victims and witnesses of sexual harassment.
2022 results:
1. Participation in introducing quality management systems and networking in selected urban localities and training for the staff of nightlife entertainment spots.

Improving Enforcement at the Intersection of Mobile Banditry and Exploitation (IMOBEX). (No. 101003531). The European Commission’s Justice Programme Project. Main Coordinator: Stichting Katholieke Universiteit Brabant. VU Coordinator: Prof. A. Dobryninas. 2021–2023.
The aim of IMOBEX is to enhance EU policies and operational law enforcement actions in the 27 Member States and seven Southeast European third countries to combat property crimes at the intersection of mobile banditry and human trafficking. The project aims to develop novel investigation methods, address training needs, and enhance cross-border and multi-agency cooperation. The project should thus benefit a wide range of stakeholders by improving and disseminating knowledge about modi operandi and enforcement problems at the intersection of mobile banditry and human trafficking; developing creative and feasible interventions for enforcement agencies; developing a roadmap to close the gaps at national and EU levels in the legal and policy infrastructures; addressing the dilemma of dealing with perpetrators who are also victims of human trafficking for criminal purposes; and promoting, in the long term, preventative effects of better inclusion of the socially and economically deprived communities from which itinerant criminal groups often originate.
2022 results:
1. Preparation and participation at the 2-day high-intensity experts’ seminar in the Netherlands (Utrecht), focused on the development of intervention strategies, legal and policy actions against mobile banditry; selection and preparation of the participants from Lithuanian law enforcement institutions for the organised crime field lab in Tilburg (Netherlands).

International Self-Report Delinquency Study – ISRD4 Participants: Aušra Pocienė, Jolanta Aleknevičienė, Vaidas Kalpokas. https://web.northeastern.edu/isrd/lithuania/
The ISRD is an ongoing project, currently beginning its fourth sweep (ISRD4), allowing patterns of offending and victimisation to be tracked over time. The fourth data collection wave is planned for 2020–2022.
ISRD data enable tests of many prominent delinquency theories. The sweep-specific focus of ISRD4 is online offending and victimisation, perceptions of violence, and minority groups and identity. Besides the core international questionnaire – the national Lithuanian module focuses on youth experiences during pandemic time, their obedience to quarantine constraints, and attitudes towards vaccination.
2022 results:
1. The field (survey) work with a school-based sample (over 1,900 respondents) was performed. The primary results are being analysed.

Grassroots of Digital Europe: from Historic to Contemporary Cultures of Creative Computing (GRADE). (COST Action CA21141). Assoc. Prof. Maryja Šupa, Management Committee member and lead of WG2 “Institutionalizing Digital Grassroots”. 2022–2026
To successfully implement the values of participation, social inclusion, and bottom-up innovation in today’s technology policies, we need to understand their historical developments. However, the historical knowledge about creative computing in Europe has so far been fragmented and lacking in transnational and interdisciplinary dialogue. Within its working groups, the Action will focus on investigating user communities, their interaction with state and European-level policies, and the preservation of digital cultural heritage.
The goal of Working Group 2, “Institutionalizing Digital Grassroots”, is to examine how creative computing practices intersect with cross-European policies. In particular, it focuses on problems such as the right to repair and other sustainable practices related to creative computing, the transfer of media formats across borders before and after the fall of the Iron Curtain, user privacy issues related to creative computing, and the homogenisation of the European copyright law in regard of software production.
2022 results:
1. Setup of the network and agenda-setting.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
Utrecht University, School of Law, Willem Pompe Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology (Netherlands)
University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Law, Criminal Justice and Public Administration (Switzerland)
University of Nebraska, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice (USA)

OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Prof. A. Dobryninas
• Past-President, Member of the Board of European Society of Criminology, European Society of Criminology (esc-eurocrim.org);
• Participating in the organization of the 34th Baltic Criminological Seminar “Criminology in a changing context: answers of today – questions for tomorrow?” 27-28th of June 2022, Vilnius (Baltijos kriminologai vėl rinksis Vilniuje - VU Filosofijos fakultetas)
• Member of Editorial Board of Journal „Archiwum Kryminologii“ (Warsaw, Poland), Zespół redakcyjny | Archiwum Kryminologii (pan.pl);
• Member of Editorial Board of Journal “Sociologija. Mintis ir veiksmas” (Vilnus, Lithuania), Atsakingi redaktoriai | Sociologija. Mintis ir veiksmas (vu.lt)
• Member of Editorial Board of Journal “Teisės problemos” (Vilnus, Lithuania), Redaktorių kolegija | LTI (teise.org)
• Member of Editorial Board of Journal “Kriminologijos studijos/Criminological Studies” (Vilnius, Lithuania), Atsakingi redaktoriai | Kriminologijos studijos (vu.lt)
Assoc.Prof. A. Čepas
• member of the Board of Lithuanian Association of Criminologists, https://kriminologija.lt/apie-mus/valdyba/;
• member of the editorial board of the Law Institute of Lithuania research journal Teisės problemos, https://teise.org/en/lti-veikla/teises-problemos/redaktoriu-kolegija/;
• member of the editorial board of the academic journal Kriminologijos studijos, https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/kriminologijos-studijos/about/editorialTeam;
• member of the Lithuanian Bar;
• member of the Management Committee of COST CA18121 action “Cultures of Victimology: understanding processes of victimization across Europe”, https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA18121/#tabs+Name:Management%20Committee
Dr A. Pocienė
• Chair of the Board of Lithuanian Association of Criminologists, kriminologija.lt | Lietuvos kriminologų asociacija;
• Editor (criminology, sociology) of the journal “Kriminologijos studijos“ (Criminological studies) https://www.journals.vu.lt/kriminologijos-studijos/about/editorialTeam
• Member of the European Society of Criminology https://www.esc-eurocrim.org/
• Organiser of International Conference: 34th Baltic Criminology Seminar “Criminology in a changing context: answers of today - questions for tomorrow?” 27-28th June, 2022. (Baltijos kriminologai vėl rinksis Vilniuje - VU Filosofijos fakultetas)
• Organiser of International conference of Common Sessions in Critical Criminology “Normalisation of Emergent Deviances: Re-Building the ‘Brave New World’”, 27-30th November, Vilnius University, Vilnius https://commonstudyprogramme.net/upcoming-common-session-2/
Dr J. Aleknevičienė
• Member of the Board of Lithuanian Association of Criminologists, kriminologija.lt | Lietuvos kriminologų asociacija
• Member of Lithuanian Sociological Association
• Member of the European Society of Criminology
Dr M. Šupa
• Member of the Lithuanian Association of Criminologists;
• Member of the European Group for the Study of Deviance and Social Control, national representative since 2018, group coordinator since 2022.
• Member of the European Society of Criminology.
• Organiser of Interdisciplinary Student Conference Insomnia 2022, Lithuanian Junior Criminologist Conference 2022.
Dr S. Černevičiūtė
• Editor (historical criminology) of the journal “Kriminologijos studijos “(Criminological studies) https://www.journals.vu.lt/kriminologijos-studijos/about/editorialTeam
• Member of the Board of Lithuanian Association of Criminologists, kriminologija.lt | Lietuvos kriminologų asociacija;
• Member of the European Society of Criminology (ESC) and European Historical Criminology (EHC) Working Group
Phd candidate: R. Gaičevskytė - Savickė
• Member of the Board of Lithuanian Association of Criminologists, kriminologija.lt | Lietuvos kriminologų asociacija;
Assoc. Prof. L. Žilinskienė
• Chief editor of the journal Kriminologijos studijos (Studies in Criminology), Atsakingi redaktoriai | Kriminologijos studijos (vu.lt)
• Member of the British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies (BASEES), British Association for Slavonic and East European Studies | UIA Yearbook Profile | Union of International Associations.
• Member of Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt;
• Member of Lithuanian Association of Criminologists

BEST REPORTS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES ABROAD
1. Dobryninas, Aleksandras and Šupa, Maryja. “Seeking traces of organized crime in public discourse.: Lithuanian media coverage of Ukrainian refugees”. Presentation at the 24-hour Conference on Organized Crime. Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime. 13-14 October 2022.
2. Dobryninas, Aleksandras. Pandemic, infodemic and murder cases in Lithuania”, presentation at the 22nd Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology: „Challenges and opportunities in a virtually and physically connected Europe: the need for Criminology“ 20-24 September 2022, Malaga.
3. Pocienė, Aušra. “Sexual harassment as a dangerous to society behaviour and an expression of hegemonic masculinity”. 22nd Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology „Challenges and opportunities in a virtually and physically connected Europe: the need for Criminology“, September 20–24, 2022, Malaga (Spain).
4. Šupa, Maryja, Kaktinas, Vytautas, Mandravickaitė, Justina. European Society of Criminology, 22nd annual conference „Challenges and opportunities in a virtually and physically connected Europe: the need for Criminology“, September 21–24, 2022. „Hacks, leaks, markets, pirates, gamers, loungers: a structural analysis of online hacking forums“.
5. Zilinskiene, Laima “Growing up in Independent Lithuania: Behavioral Strategies of 1980-2000 Cohorts”. BASEES Annual Conference 2022, Cambridge, April 8-10 2022.

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
1. XXXIV Baltic Criminological Seminar Criminology in a changing context: answers of today – questions for tomorrow? Co-organizers: Lithuanian Association of Criminologists, Vilnius University, Law Institute of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences. 2022 06 27 – 28, Vilnius, Lithuania. https://kriminologija.lt/2022/06/02/viliuje-vyks-baltijos-kriminologu-seminaras/
2. The organisation of Common Sessions in Critical Criminology “Normalisation of Emergent Deviances: Re-Building the ‘Brave New World’” November 27–30, 2022, Vilnius University https://commonstudyprogramme.net/upcoming-common-session-2/
3. Annual event “The Day of Criminologists” (27th of May, 2022, Vilnius university) – a public academic discussion for scholars, students, practitioners and public audience "Wartime Criminology: Frontiers and Beyond" inviting guest speakers.
4. Interdisciplinary discussion, Moderator Prof. A. Dobryninas; participants: Prof. D. Gailienė, Prof. J. Žilinskas, Dr A. Ūsienė.
5. 2nd science dissemination festival of Criminology “Demistify”. Co-organizers: Lithuanian Association of Criminologists, Vilnius University, Law Institute of the Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences. August 19-20, 2022. https://demistify.lt/programa-2022/

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL WELFARE

Universiteto 9, LT-01513 Vilnius
Tel. el. (8 5) 266 7627
E-mail:
Head – Dr Donata Petružytė

STAFF
Professor: Prof. Dr L. Žalimienė, Prof. Dr E. Šumskienė
Associate professors: Dr E. Dunajevas, Dr J. Buzaitytė Kašalynienė,
Dr V. Gevorgianienė, Dr L. Gvaldaitė, Dr J. Mataitytė-Diržienė, Dr D. Petružytė, Dr B. Švedaitė-Sakalauskė
Assistant professors: Dr I. Bankauskienė, Dr R. Genienė, Dr J. Charenkova, Dr I. Gajdosikienė (part-time)
Lecturers: E. Ruschhoff (part-time)
Doctoral students: I. Brazauskas, M. Ignotas, J. Malažinskienė,  M. Seniutis, U. Toleikytė.
Postdoctoral fellows: Dr J. Charenkova, Dr I. Adomaitytė-Subačienė

RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Social inclusion, social support for vulnerable people
• Social prevention, rehabilitation and integration
• Community development and empowerment
• Migration, intercultural learning, and communication
• Quality of Social Work
• Development of Personal Social Services;
• Human rights in mental health
• Disability, stigma, stereotypes and discrimination
• Family and child welfare
• Quality of life and older age
• Social Innovations and Social Entrepreneurship
• Impact of modern technologies on the social work profession and studies
• Development of social work education and profession

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2022
National Research Projects
Reactions to Juvenile Delinquency and their Consequences in Lithuania: from Scandalising in the Media to Professional Performance. (No. S-MIP-20-15). The Research Council of Lithuania. Assoc. Prof. G. Sakalauskas. 2020–2022.
This scientific research focuses specifically on the analysis of reactions to juvenile delinquency – what are they, how they arise, what determines their content, how well they meet the needs of minors, how they influence the performance of professional systems, and what effects they have on society. Mixed research methods are employed for the research: analyses of media publications on specific cases of juvenile offences, the national survey of public attitudes toward and grounded theory of reactions toward juvenile delinquency.
Main publications:
1. Sakalauskas G., Kalpokas V., Buzaitytė-Kašalynienė J., Švedaitė-Sakalauskė B. Latentinės nepilnamečių delinkvencijos apraiškų ir tendencijų Lietuvoje tarptautinis palyginimas // Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (STEPP), 2022, Nr. 24, p. 101–117.
2. Sakalauskas G., Kalpokas V., Buzaitytė-Kašalynienė J., Švedaitė-Sakalauskė B. Registruotos nepilnamečių delinkvencijos apraiškų ir tendencijų Lietuvoje tarptautinis palyginimas // Kriminologijos studijos, 2021, Nr. 9, p. 173–198.

Development of the Researcher's Academic Competences Through the Analysis of the Social Work Professional Field. (No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-19-0197). The Research Council of Lithuania. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr I. Adomaitytė-Subačienė. Research Supervisor: Prof. A. Poviliūnas. 2020–2022.
The project aims to analyse how various global changes can redistribute social capital in a new changing field of social work and to ascertain what social agents influence this redistribution. Based on P. Bourdieu’s theory, an attempt would be made to structure the analysis of the social work field by identifying agents, capital, power relations, and different habitus that may lead to change in the field, taking into account the impact of technology and innovation on the social work field. A comparative analysis of different cultural contexts (the USA, Japan, and Lithuania) based on the habitus concept will be performed. Three different cultures, Eastern (Japan), Western (USA) and post-Soviet, were selected for the analysis in order to reveal the peculiarities of the field of social work under the influence of different cultural and socio-political factors. During the two-week internship in Japan, it is planned to collect data on changes in the field of social work through expert interviews (about seven interviews with academics, practitioners, NGOs, and representatives of social work associations).
Main publications/results:
1. Adomaitytė-Subačienė I. (2022) The Role of Social Work Knowledge in The Creation of Sustainable Social Innovation: Four years Observation Study. (Submitted to Journal of Social Work 2022.04.16
2. Adomaitytė-Subačienė I., Poviliunas A., Ignotas M. (2022) The Unique and the Invariant in the Field of Social Work: The Comparison of Lithuania, Japan, and the USA (Submitted to Internationasl Social Work Journal 2022.09.06)
3. Internship in University of Chicago, US. 2022 April. Internship in Social Innovation Park, Singapore, 2022 May. Internship in Social Innovation Center, University of Applied Science Utrecht, Netherlands, 2022 June. Together with university colleagues, experts from the field of practice and representatives of social policy, a discussion on the future directions of social work was organised. The podcast is available on the Youtube channel of The Department of Social Work and Social Welfare.

Preconditions, Motives and Process of (In)Formal Care Choices: The Perspective of Informal Carers. (Grant Agreement No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-23-0192). The Research Council of Lithuania. Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr J. Charenkova. Research Supervisor: Prof. Dr L. Žalimienė. 2021–2023.
The aim of the project is to improve the scientific competency of a postdoctoral fellow by conducting high-level qualitative international research on the preconditions, motives, and processes of (in)formal care choices of informal carers and to present the results of this research to the international academic community. The results of the research will reveal the influence of factors affecting (in)formal care choices not only on the individual level but also on cultural and social factors.

Love Relationships in Contemporary Lithuania and Their Effect on Marriage, Fertility and Family Choices (Grant Agreement No. S-MIP-21-47). The Research Council of Lithuania. Researcher Groups projects. Head of the project: Victor C. de Munck. 2021–2024.
The purpose of the project is to answer the question, “Are monogamy, marriage and family no longer normative features of the human life cycle?”. The study relies on quantitative and qualitative methods to illuminate an anthropological perspective on how the three theories interact.
Main publications/results:
1. Oral presentation: Conceptualizing ‘Children’ across Generations: A Preliminary Account Using the Freelist Method to Evaluate Changes in Lithuania
2. International Conference “Old Discipline, New Trajectories: Theories, Methods and Practices in Anthropology”, Vilnius University, Lithuania.

International Research Projects
Developing a New Network of Researchers on Contemporary European Motherhood — Mothernet. (No. 952366). Horizon 2020, Twinning Project. VU Faculty of Philosophy Coordinator: Dr E. Šumskienė. 2020–2023.
The proposed MotherNet network aims to support researchers from Vilnius University. The Thinking Motherhood group is a group of 18 VU researchers, including four early-stage researchers. The aim is to develop their research networks, collaborate on high-quality, interdisciplinary research projects and publish the results of their research in high-ranking peer-reviewed journals of international standing.
Research groups at two highly ranked European universities will work with VU researchers to enhance their research capacity and improve the visibility of their research. Assoc. Prof. Eglė Šumskienė and Assist. Prof. Lina Šumskaitė are the leaders of Work Package 7 (Academic Dissemination and Public Communication). Assoc. Prof. Violeta Gevorgianienė is the leader of Work Package 6 (Coordination and Enhancement of Research). Dr Jūratė Charenkova is a project manager responsible for managing the project’s administrative tasks, the timely achievement of project deliverables and helping the project leader with the overall project coordination.
Main publication:
1. C. Bradley, V. Gevorgianienė, E. Šumskienė. Still waters run deep: The invisible life of working mothers with disabilities in Lithuania. Qualitative Social Work 2022, Vol. 0(0) 1–19, SAGE, 2022.

Experiential Knowledge in Higher Education. (No. 2021-1-NL01-KA220-HED-000035868). Erasmus+ KA2 project. Main Coordinator: Stichting Hogeschool, Utrecht. VU Project Leader: Dr Jolita Buzaitytė Kašalynienė. 2021–2024.
This project will create a cooperation partnership between 12 higher education institutes in ten different countries and their local partners, sharing and developing approaches to personalised learning and inclusive education, with an emphasis on experiential knowledge.
The project intends to implement the following activities: Creating a structure for cooperation: digital and physical meetings, working groups, teaching and training, communication and knowledge resources. Using this structure for sharing and developing knowledge: working on different activities leading to the outcomes and outputs below by having transnational meetings, organising multiplier events, learning, teaching and training events and working together on seven work packages.
Social Sciences and Humanities in Intersectoral Outreach for Better Education and Sustainable Innovations (SHOUT). (Grant Agreement No. 612364-EPP-1-2019-1-LT-EPPKA2-KA). Main Coordinator: VU. Experts on the ERASMUS+ project: Dr Ieva Adomaityte-Subačiene; Dr Jūratė Charenkova. 2019–2023.

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
University of New England, School of Social Work (USA)
University of Jyvaskyla, School of Social Work (Finland)
University of Gävle, Department of Social Work and Psychology (Sweden)
Department of Sociology, Università Catt. Di Milano (Italy)
Department of Psychology and Welfare, Den-en Chofu University (Japan)
Department of Social work, Japan Lutheran College (Japan)
School of Social Work, Evangelische Hochschule Dresden (Germany)
Utrecht Hogeschool (Netherlands)
Essex University (UK)
Uppsala University (Sweeden)
Maynooth University (Ireland)
University of Ljubljana (Slovenia)
Lum Jean Monnet University (Libera Università Mediterranea)
University of Split (Croatia)
Silver School of Social Work, New York University (USA)
Lithuanian social workers association (Lithuania)

OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Assoc. Prof. V. Gevorgianienė
• Editorial board member of the journal STEPP Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (Social Theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice), Editorial Team | Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (vu.lt).
• The member of the Executive Commitee of the Lithuanian association of schools of social work. Since 2019 to 2022 December.
• Member of European Social Work Research Association, ESWRA
Assoc. Prof. L. Gvaldaitė
• Member of the Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Science, www.lkma.lt;
• Member of Editorial boards members of scientific journal „Relational social work“ (http://rsw.erickson.international/chi-siamo/) Reiktų tikslinti nuorodą
Assoc. Prof. J. Buzaitytė-Kašalynienė
• Member of Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt;
• Member of steering group of the The Nordic-Baltic Doctoral Network in Social Work, http://www.sosnet.fi/Suomeksi/Hankkeet/NBSW;
• Editorial board member of the journal STEPP Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (Social Theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice), Editorial Team | Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (vu.lt);
• Professional partner of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (United Kingdom). https://www.tavinstitute.org/our-people/professional-partners/
• Associate of the OEAZPA GmbH - Akademie & Consulting (Germany) https://oezpa.de/our_team/jolita-buzaityte-kasalyniene/
• President of Group Relations Society, https://grupiusantykiai.lt/
Assoc. Prof. Dr J. Mataitytė-Diržienė
• Member of Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt
Assoc. Prof. D. Petružytė
• Member of the Board of Trade Union of Vilnius University Faculty of Philosophy
• Member of Lithuanian Social Sciences Forum, http://www.socforumas.lt;
• Member of Grounded Theory Institute, http://www.groundedtheory.com/.
Prof. Dr E. Šumskienė
• Alumni member of the Global Young Academy, https://globalyoungacademy.net/egle-sumskiene/
• Editorial board member of the journal STEPP Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (Social Theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice), Editorial Team | Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (vu.lt);
• Member of World Psychiatric Association Stigma Section, WPA STIGMA SECTION - World Psychiatry Association - Stigma Section (weebly.com);
• Member of the board of the Society for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities „Viltis“
• Member of the European Social Work Research Association Board on Prizes and Awards, ESWRA;
• Member of the European Network of Independent Living, ENIL – European Network on Independent Living | Meet the Team - ENIL - European Network on Independent Living
Assoc. Prof. B. Švedaitė-Sakalauskė
• Member of the National Association of Supervisors, www.supervizija.lt;
• Member of European Society of Criminology, https://www.esc-eurocrim.org/
• Editorial board member of the journal Socialinis darbas: patirtis ir metodai (Social Work: Experience and Methods), http://socialinisdarbas.vdu.lt/lt/socialinis-darbas-patirtis-ir-metodai;
• Editorial board member of the journal STEPP Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (Social Theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice), Editorial Team | Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (vu.lt);
• Editoral board member of the journal Social welfare: interdisciplinary approach. https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/social-welfare/about/editorialTeam
Assoc. Prof. E.Dunajevas
• Editor in-Chief of the journal STEPP Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (Social Theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice), Editorial Team | Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (vu.lt);
Prof. Dr L. Žalimienė
• Editor in-Chief of the journal STEPP Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (Social Theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice), Editorial Team | Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (vu.lt);
• National Expert at the European Social Policy Network. European Commission DG Employment and Social Affairs, http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1135&langId=en; https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/organisation/espn-european-social-policy-network_en; editorial regional board member of the VDU journal Socialinis darbas. Patirtis ir metodai (Social Work.Experience and Methods ), http://sd.vdu.lt/index.php/redakcine-kolegija ;
• Editorial board member of the KU journal Tiltai, https://e-journals.ku.lt/journal/TBB/information/editorial-board ;
• Member of Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt;
Assist. prof. and postdoctoral fellow J. Charenkova
• Executive secretary of the journal STEPP: Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (STEPP: Social Theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice), Editorial Team | Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (vu.lt)
• Member of steering group of the The Nordic-Baltic Doctoral Network in Social Work, http://www.sosnet.fi/Suomeksi/Hankkeet/NBSW;
Assist. prof. and postdoctoral fellow I. Adomaitytė-Subačienė
• Member of Board at Lithuanian Social Work Association, www.lsda.lt
• Member of international Project Management Association www.ipma.lt
• International Project Excellence Award Judge https://awards.ipma.world/about/

BEST REPORTS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES ABROAD
1. Eglė Šumskienė, Violeta Gevorgianiene, Rasa Geniene, Jurga Mataityte. "ECSWR 11th European Conference for Social Work Research 6-8 April 2022". Rhetoric used by the community members to justify their opposition to group homes for persons with disabilities in Lithuania.
2. Jolita Buzaitytė-Kašalynienė. Excluding through stereotyping: Public attitudes toward young delinquents in Lithuania // ECSWR annual Conference: Enhancing and sustaining social inclusion through social work research. Amsterdam, Nerherlands: 6-8 April 2022.
3. Birutė Švedaitė-Sakalauskė. Recognition versus disrespect – reaction towards juvenile delinquents in Lithuania // Eurocrim 2022 Malaga: 22 September 2022.
4. Gevorgianienė V. The space for professional discretion in the situation of child removal from a family. ESWRA 2022 04 05-08 Amsterdam.
5. Adomaityte-Subaciene I. Four scenarios for the evolution of social work: from micro-level care workers to macro-level social policy co-developers. ESPANET22 Symposium 2022 09 15 Viena.

OST IMPORTANT PARTICIPATION CASES OF RESEARCHERS IN WORKING GROUPS OR COMMISSIONS SET UP BY STATE AUTHORITIES, STATE AND MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS, BUSINESS ENTITIES
1. Jurga Mataitytė-Diržienė, member of Lithuanian Social Work Council at the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, https://socmin.lrv.lt/lt/administracine-informacija/tarybos-ir-komisijos/lietuvos-socialinio-darbo-taryba
2. Jolita Buzaitytė-Kašalynienė member of Network of Youth Researchers, advisory group at the Agency of Youth Affairs https://jra.lt/dirbantiems/suzinok-daugiau/tarpzinybinis-ir-tarpsektorinis-bendradarbiavimas/partneriai-ir-irankiai/jaunimo-tyreju-tinklas
3. Žalimienė Laimutė, member of Lithuanian Social Work Council at the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, https://socmin.lrv.lt/lt/administracine-informacija/tarybos-ir-komisijos/lietuvos-socialinio-darbo-taryba
4. Birutė Švedaitė-Sakalauskė member of Network of Youth Researchers, advisory group at the Agency of Youth Affairs https://jra.lt/dirbantiems/suzinok-daugiau/tarpzinybinis-ir-tarpsektorinis-bendradarbiavimas/partneriai-ir-irankiai/jaunimo-tyreju-tinklas
5. Violeta Gevorgianienė. Working group for inclusion of persons with disabilities into the general education. The product developed: "Recommendations for adapting general programs to students with intellectual disabilities" (National education agency), (2022 02 - 2022 10).

CONSULTATIONS PROVIDED BY THE UNIT TO THE PUBLIC OR ECONOMIC ENTITIES
1. L. Žalimiene. Participation in the discussion organised by STRATA in the preparation of the "Strategic Analysis of Demographic Development and Policy" part of the State Progress Strategy Lithuania 2050. 2022/11.
2. Adomaityte-Subaciene I. Discussion group moderation at the State Progress Strategy Lithuania 2050 events organised by STRATA.
3. J. Mataitytė-Diržienė, I. Adomaitytė-Subačienė, J. Buzaitytė-Kašalynienė consultations for European Social Fund Agency "Alternative Investment Detector (AID)" project. The project aims to increase the social participation of the socially vulnerable and excluded persons to actively participate in the labour market and the community by developing social integration services. Throughout 2022.
4. E. Šumskienė, J. Mataitytė-Diržienė, V. Gevorgianienė consultations for The Department for the Affairs of Disabled under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour regarding an alternative model to ensure the legal capacity of persons with disabilities. 2022/11.
5. Gevorgianienė V. Consultation with the member of the Lithuanian Parliament, Mr Mindaugas Linge, about the social support of families bringing up children with severe disabilities. 2022/05/08.

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
1. Jolita Buzaitytė Kašalynienė Participated in the public consultation "Leadership of deputies, principals: the latest data from Lithuanian researchers on psychosocial risks at school - how could we use them?" Organizer National Education Agency, 22 February 2022.
2. Jolita Buzaitytė Kašalynienė and Birutė Švedaitė-Sakalauskė Scientific seminar - political discussion: Still unrecognized and nobody's children: reaction to juvenile delinquency in Lithuania. Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania: December 2, 2022.
3. Adomaityte – Subaciene I. Participating in the working group on eloboration of National Social Services Quality standart. Organizer: European social Fund and Ministery of Social Security and Labor.
4. Adomaityte – Subaciene I. Presentation in national practical conference AN EMPOWERING APPROACH TO MEASURING THE QUALITY OF SOCIAL SERVICES. 2022 11 17. Vilnius
5. Eglė Šumskienė. Dissemination of the Department’s research and activities on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXcbAgAN9V3ZFgm12mXjgmw and project Mothernet: https://www.youtube.com/@mothernet

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL POLICY

Universiteto 9, LT-01513 Vilnius
Tel. el. (8 5) 266 7627
E-mail:
Head – Assoc. Prof. Dr Daiva Skučienė

STAFF 
Professors: Dr B. Gruževskis, Dr R. Lazutka 
Associate professors: Dr E. Dunajevas, Dr R. Brazienė, Dr D. Skučienė, Dr J. Navickė 
Assistant professors:  Dr L. Šumskaitė 
Lecturers: T. Vencius (part-time), A. Dilytė-Kotenko (part-time)
Doctoral students: O. Suprun, U. Kaklauskaitė, D. Teliškauskaitė-Čekanavičė

RESEARCH INTERESTS
• Policy analysis of social inclusion
• Social economy
• Analysis of social policy, social security, pensions
• Labour market and employment policy
• Family Policy
• Youth Policy
• Gender equality
• Equal Opportunities Policy
• Housing Policy
• Social Dialog
• Demography, Ageing, Migration

RESEARCH PROJECTS CARRIED OUT IN 2022
Projects Supported by the University Budget
Social policy challenges and opportunities for its improvement. Assoc. Prof. Daiva Skučienė. 2019–2023
Analysis of the experience of Lithuania and other countries in solving the fundamental problems of social policy and the welfare state: poverty and inequality, unemployment and social exclusion, population ageing, social insurance, social assistance, etc.
Main publications:
1. Brazienė, Rūta; Lazutka, Romas; Guogis, Arvydas; Gudelis, Dangis. The impact of COVID-19 on income and employment: policy responses and a subjective assessment by the Lithuanian population of the measures applied // Journal of Baltic studies. Portland : Taylor & Francis. ISSN 0162-9778. eISSN 1751-7877. 2022, 00, 00, p. 1-18. DOI: 10.1080/01629778.2021.2024585.
2. Skučienė, Daiva; Brazienė, Rūta. Paid parental leave and reconciliation of childcare and work in Lithuania // Problemy polityki spolecznej. Warsaw: Instytut Polityki Społecznej Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego. ISSN 1640-1808. 2021, vol. 55, p. 7-23. DOI: 10.31971/pps/146954.
3. Vilkoityte V. Skuciene D. Social Investment in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Lithuania. Social Science Bulletin, No.2.2022.
4. Donato, S., Brugnera, A., Adorni, R., Molgora, S., Reverberi, E., Manzi, C., Angeli, M., Bagirova, A., Benet-Martinez, V., Camilleri, L., Camilleri-Cassar, F., Kazasi, E. H., Meil, G., Symeonaki, M., Aksu, A., Batthyany, K., Brazienė, R., Genta, N., Masselot, A., & Morrissey, S. (2022). Workers’ individual and dyadic coping with the COVID-19 health emergency: A cross cultural study. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075221119066

National Research Projects
Model of the interaction of labour market and social assistance policies and development of methodologies for its implementation. Research project. R. Lazutka (project team leader), B. Gruževskis (member). Financing: EU Structural funds under measure no. 01.2.2-LMT-K-718 “Targeted research in the field of smart specialization” 2021-2023.

Protecting work and income in the digital economy: a case study of platform workers. 2022-2024. LMT. R. Lazutka (project team leader)
https://www.lmt.lt/lt/doclib/vbgllube3339k89ghtqwybbj72bg14zk

International Research Projects
Tr@ck-IN: Public Employment Services Tracking Effectiveness to Support Rural NEETs. (No. 2020-1-0011). EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment. Main Coordinator: Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Portugal. VU Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. R. Brazienė. 2021–2024.
The aim of the project is to deliver an evaluation model of the effectiveness of Public Employment Services (PES) tracking support types – digital, human-mediated or mixed – in improving employability among rural NEETs aged 25-29. The project goal is to broaden knowledge of the effects of employment initiatives targeting rural NEETs by creating a cross-country model of how policies influence PES tracking deliverance. Another goal is to enlarge the capacity to evaluate the effects of employment initiatives for NEETs in rural areas by validating impact assessment protocols for the most replicable programs of on-the-ground PES tracking support types, considering overall and specific groups of NEETs. A further target is to increase the transnational use of impact studies among policymakers and researchers by supporting their participation in developing/incorporating evidence-based impact methods for PES tracking evaluation.

MotherNet. (Project No. 952366). Horizon 2020 Framework Programme Call: H2020-WIDESPREAD-2020-5. L.Šumskaitė and D. Skučienė. 2021–2024.
Declining birth rates in the majority of European countries have put demographic change centre stage on the European research agenda. The MotherNet network aims to analyse contemporary motherhood in Europe and to support researchers from Vilnius University – a group of 18 VU researchers (from Faculties of Philology, Philosophy, and Medicine) – to develop their research networks, collaborate on high-quality, interdisciplinary research projects and publish the results of their research in high-ranking peer-reviewed journals of international standing. Research groups at two highly ranked European universities, Uppsala University in Sweden and Maynooth University in Ireland, work with VU researchers to enhance their research capacity and improve the visibility of their research. The project addresses their training, networking, and mentoring activities. The poject activities can be found on the website www.mothernet.eu and on social media: Facebook (Mothernetproject), Twitter (@Mother_net) and LinkedIn (MotherNet project).

Supporting and Implementing Plans for Gender Equality in Academia and Research – SPEAR (H2020-SwafS-2018-2020/H2020-SwafS-2018-1). Assoc. Prof. D. Skučienė. 2019–2022.
SPEAR aims to increase the number of RPOs with implemented Gender Equality Plans (GEPs), to remove barriers and improve career prospects for women in academia, to improve the gender balance in decision-making bodies, and strengthen the gender dimension in research content.

The Rural NEETs’ Youth Network: Modelling the Risks Underlying the Social Exclusion of Rural NEETs. (CA18213). COST action. Assoc. Prof. R. Brazienė, Assoc. Prof D. Skucienė. 2019–2023.
This Action encompasses the creation of a European-led multidisciplinary network from countries showing higher NEET youth rates in rural areas. The Rural NEETs’ Youth Network (RNYN) aims to develop a model of comprehension for rural NEETs’ social exclusion risk and protective factors based on the bioecological model. It focuses on three specific goals: (1) upholding future research capability, with an emphasis on Early Career Investigators (ECI) and Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC); (2) creating a rural NEETs’ online observatory; and (3) fostering knowledge use by policymakers and practitioners. The RNYN work plan will be produced by three working groups; it will contribute to defining a coherent model for future research based on an intensive survey of national and cross-national trends regarding rural NEETs’ profile and support systems, as well as methodological and intervention best practices in the field. RNYN added value stems from an eclectic theoretical, disciplinary, institutional, and international approach and in upskilling ECI in ITC that are more affected by high rural NEET rates. In the long run, RNYN’s scientific impact will lead to the creation of a rural NEETs observatory, integrating ECI in a broad multidisciplinary community and strengthening the COST Inclusiveness Policy. Long-term socio-economic impact is expected to be translated into (in)ternational legislation to tackle the needs of rural NEETs and promote sectoral innovations. RNYN is a timely proposal to create networks/platforms to organise findings, connect critical mass dealing with rural NEETs, and build up research capacity. It is also socially relevant by aiming to produce informative policies and on-the-ground practices.

The Pan-European Family Support Research Network. A Bottom-Up, Evidence-Based and Multidisciplinary Approach. (CA18123). COST action. Assoc. Prof. D. Skučienė, Asist. Prof. Lina Šumskaitė. 2018–2023.
The best interest of children is placed at the forefront of social policies, giving governments the responsibility to provide parent and family support. The recent crisis has placed parenting in a more difficult situation, accompanied by the existence of complex family realities that need new responses requiring innovative approaches. Although recognised as central to a number of political priorities, at a European level, the institutions have not yet addressed family support holistically.
The Action proposes the creation of a Pan-European family support network, under which family support and parenting policies are included, combining both common goals across countries and the recognition of the specificities of cultural and family contexts.
The Action will build collaborative pathways between researchers, practitioners, policymakers, children and families, public and private agencies, and general society to create the necessary framework to inform family policies and practices with the underlying goal of ensuring children’s rights and the well-being of families. EuroFam-Net will: (1) Use a pluralistic and dialogic structure to co-create responses with all involved stakeholders in the field in close collaboration with the national policies; (2) Create an evidence-based framework that improves family support services, science and technology-driven policy and practice; (3) Use a multidisciplinary approach by gathering all the relevant scientific disciplines working in this field; (4) Disseminate research and make use of advice mechanisms to the professional and political arena to innovate in family support services; (5) Avoid the duplication of services and promote inter-sectorial coordination, increasing the efficiency of available resources. More information can be found on the website https://eurofamnet.eu/

LGBTI+ Social and Economic (in)equalities. (CA19103). COST Action. Asist. Prof. L. Šumskaitė. 2020 –2024
The Challenge aims to address the social and economic (in)equalities of LGBTI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer) people at times of increased vulnerability for gender and sexual minorities in Europe. With 30 joining members representing 14 European countries and ten disciplines, three Working Groups (WGs) are established in areas where social and economic inequalities shape the everyday lives of LGBTI+ people: Families and Communities; Employment and Economic Well-being; and Social and Legal Inclusion.
Despite existing legal protections against discrimination, LGBTI+ individuals continue to face challenges in Europe, particularly in certain EU countries and neighbouring nations. These difficulties extend to research networking since academics often remain hidden. Data remains scarce since gender and sexual identity are not commonly surveyed. The network will bring in potentially less visible researchers from across Europe. New academics and PhD students will be mentored and advised on how to build successful careers in LGBTI+ studies. Governments will also be encouraged to include information on gender and sexual identities in data collection and to consider the specific challenges facing these groups when formulating policy initiatives. Broader networking will include the delivery of online courses, Training schools, Short-term Scientific and Policy Missions, and community engagement. More information on the website https://www.lgbtinequalities.eu/

EUROMOD – Microsimulation Tool for Modelling the Impact of Policy Measures. European Commission. Principal Researcher: Dr J. Navickė. 2017–present
The project aims to regularly update and maintain EUROMOD – a tax-benefit microsimulation tool for the 28 EU member states. As an output of the project in 2021, an annual report on Lithuania was prepared, and the Lithuanian component of the model was updated with data up to 2021.

Flexibility in Industrial Relations and Labour Market Inequality. (S-LL-19-3). The Research Council of Lithuania. Prof. Romas Lazutka, 2018–2021.
The project contributes to the understanding of the labour market in three respects. Firstly, it provides a wide battery of tests to an important hypothesis concerning the origins of labour market inequality in a wide, comparative context across countries. Secondly, the application of several methodological innovations (concerning estimation techniques and identification strategies) as well as methodological diversity (econometrics, simulations and experiments). Finally, the project will separate the role of supply-side factors (on the side of the employers) from demand-side factors (the working time flexibility to combine personal and professional life).

Active Ageing Policy in Lithuania: Challenges and Opportunities. (No. FSF-2022-1). Vilnius University Coordinator: Dr Jekaterina Navickė. Researcher: Dr Eugenijus Dunajevas. Expert: Dr Romas Lazutka. 2022–2023.
A project during which the challenges and opportunities posed by the ageing of Lithuanian society are studied. The project uses data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The project aims to contribute to the formation of evidence-based national social policy. URL: https://www.fsf.vu.lt/mokslas/share/projektas-aktyvaus-senejimo-politika-lietuvoje-issukiai-ir-galimybes#dalinames-projekto-rezultatais

MAIN R&D&I (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION) PARTNERS
Essex University (UK)
The University of Southern Denmark, Department of Political Science and Public Management (Denmark)
Uppsala University (Sweden)
Maynnooth University (Ireland)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES
Assoc. Prof. R. Brazienė
• Member of Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt
• Member of SAAGE network (Scientific analysis and advice on gender equality in the EU)
• A full member of International Network on Leave Policies and Research: http://www.leavenetwork.org/
• Cost Action (CA18213) - Rural NEET Youth Network: Modeling the risks underlying rural NEETs social exclusion. https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA18213/#tabs|Name:overview (Lithuanian Representative)
• International PhD School Mentor: Mentoring Group NEETs and PES.
Prof. B. Gruževskis
• expert of Employment and Labour Market Policy for European Commission;
• foreign expert of the Polish Accreditation Commission (PKA).
• editorial board member of the journal Socialinis darbas (Social Work), http://www.mruni.eu/lt/mokslo_darbai/sd/redaktoriu_kolegija;
• editorial board member of the journal Human Resources Management (Zarządzanie Zasobami Ludzkimi), Academy of Sciences of Poland, http://zzl.ipiss.com.pl;
• member of the editorial board of the scientific journal Issues of Business and Law / Verslo ir teisės aktualijos, http://www.ttvam.lt/lt/moksline-veikla/leidiniai/mokslo-darbai/verslo-ir-teises-aktualijos/redaktoriu-kolegija;
• member of the editorial board of the scientific journal Education of Economists and Managers (Warsaw School of Economics (SGH), Warsaw, Poland), http://eeim.kwartalnik.com.pl/?page_id=864.
• member of Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt
Prof. R. Lazutka
• Member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences http://www.lma.lt/members-of-the-academy;
• Board members of the ESPAnet Baltics (Baltics Association of The European Network for Social Policy Analysis) http://www.fsf.vu.lt/naujienos/fakulteto-ivykiai/1701-espanet-baltics-is-established-and-invites-new-members-to-join;
• European Social Policy Network - Lithuanian expert, European Commission DG Employment and Social Affairs, http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1135&langId=en;
• member of Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt;
• deputy editor-in-chief of the journal STEPP Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (Social Theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice) (Vilnius University), http://www.vu.lt/leidyba/lt/mokslo-zurnalai/socialine-teorija-empirija-politika-ir-praktika/redakcine-kolegija;
• editorial board member of the journal Ekonomika (Economics), http://www.leidykla.vu.lt/mokslo-darbai/ekonomika/
Assoc. Prof. D. Skučienė
• editorial board member of the journal STEPP Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (Social Theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice),
• COST Action
The European Family Support Network. A bottom-up, evidence-based and multidisciplinary approach From 2020
• COST Action
Rural NEET Youth Network: Modeling the risks underlying rural NEETs social exclusion From 2020
• ECDN Scientific group member http://ecdn.eu/covid-19-and-debt-scientific-group/ From 2020
Assoc. Prof. E. Dunajevas
• Executive Secretary - the journal STEPP Socialinė teorija, empirija, politika ir praktika (Social Theory, Empirics, Policy and Practice), http://www.vu.lt/leidyba/lt/mokslo-zurnalai/socialine-teorija-empirija-politika-ir-praktika/redakcine-kolegija.
Dr Jekaterina Navickė
• National coordinator and expert, European Social Policy Network, European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion DG, http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1135&langId=en;
• Board member of the ESPAnet Baltics (Baltics Association of The European Network for Social Policy Analysis), http://www.fsf.vu.lt/naujienos/fakulteto-ivykiai/1701-espanet-baltics-is-established-and-invites-new-members-to-join;
• Research Affiliate at Centre for Microsimulation and Policy Anlysis (CeMPA), https://www.microsimulation.ac.uk/about/people/
• Member of Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt
Dr L. Šumskaitė
• COST CA19103 - LGBTI+ Social and Economic (in)equalities – the first country representative https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA19103/#tabs|Name:parties
• COST CA18123 - The Pan- European Family Support Research Network. A bottom up, evidence based and multidisciplinary approach – the assistant of the second country representative. https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA18123/#tabs|Name:overview
• Member of Equal Opportunities Research Group at Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
• Member of Lithuanian Social Sciences Forum, http://www.socforumas.lt
• Member of the Lithuanian Sociological Association, http://www.sociology.lt

BEST REPORTS DELIVERED AT CONFERENCES ABROAD
1. D.Skuciene, M.Crowley-Henry, S, Griguzauskaite The role of the state and employer supporting work and family balance: Subjective experiences of working mothers in Lithuania, Work and Family Researchers Network 6th Biennial Conference, June 23-25, 2022 New York City, USA.
2. Eglė Kačkutė-Hagan, Atėnė Mendelytė, and Lina Šumskaitė (Vilnius University); Ciara Bradley, Mercedes Carbayo-Abengozar and Anne O’Brien (Maynooth University), Helena Wahlström Henriksson (Uppsala University) Single Mothers on screen: 21st Century Representations (Roundtable discussion) at International conference Motherhoods on Screen: Global Perspectives, 23-24 September, 2022, Maynooth University, Ireland.
3. Transformation of the minimum income scheme in Lithuania: are innovations effective? Dr Jekaterina Navickė, ESPANET (Stream 21), Vienna (15 September 2022).
4. Social Policy And Life Course Regimes: Post-Soviet Transformations In Lithuania. Dr Jekaterina Navickė. BASEES Annual Conference 2022, Cambridge (9 April 2022).

MOST IMPORTANT PARTICIPATION CASES OF RESEARCHERS IN WORKING GROUPS OR COMMISSIONS SET UP BY STATE AUTHORITIES, STATE AND MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS, ORGANISATIONS, BUSINESS ENTITIES
1. D.Skuciene (expert). Ex-post analysis of compulsory mediation in Lithuania. STRATA, 2022.
2. Ministry of Justice of LR. The member of examination committee of Compulsory Mediation for families during divorce process (since 2019). D. Skučienė.
3. Ministry of Social Security and Labour of LR. Member of Researchers Network on Equal Opportunities. L. Šumskaitė.
4. Romas Lazutka participated as an expert in the Round Table discussion on the New Generation Lithuania Plan, and provided an expert assessment of the draft integrated plan. Invitation - Minister of Finance Gintarė Skaistė. Distance discussion 2021 April 23.
5. Gruževskis B. & Navickė J. are members of the Working Group on the Implementation of the Social Rights Pillar; Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
Gruževskis B. Member of the working group for the preparation of the National Progress Program, Office of the Prime Minister.

CONSULTATIONS PROVIDED BY THE UNIT TO THE PUBLIC OR ECONOMIC ENTITIES
1. Gruževskis B. Priorities for improving employment policy. Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
2. Gruževskis B. Improving unemployment social insurance. Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
3. Gruževskis B. Improving the statistical system of the Employment Service. Lithuanian Employment Service.
4. Establishing the System of Monitoring, Analysing, Forecasting and Decision Making in Sphere of Social Protection Policy (2018-2021). Lithuanian Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour. 10.1.1-ESFA-V-912-01-0019. Role: expert.
5. Strengthening the design of the tax, social security contributions and social benefits system in Lithuania to reduce inequality and poverty and stimulate economic growth. DG REFORM/OECD FRAMEWORK GRANT AGREEMENT (project 20LT01 REFORM/im2020/004). Lithuanian Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour. 10.1.1-ESFA-V-912-01-0019. Role: expert.
6. Romas Lazutka. Team EUROPE DIRECT expert at the representative office of the European Commission in Lithuania.
7. Romas Lazutka. Member of the "Working group for the revision of the employment and unemployment social insurance system" at the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
8. Romas Lazutka. Member of the expert groups of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences for awarding scientific works and evaluating scholarship.
9. Romas Lazutka. Written Flash Report for the European Commission: Lithuania moves further towards a universal first-tier pension scheme. ESPN Flash Report 2022/15. European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1135&langId=en
10. Romas Lazutka. The contract of the project "Preparation of the adequacy study of the minimum income system" with the "European Institute of Health and Sustainable Development". Report on minimum income protection assessment provided to the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
11. Romas Lazutka. The evaluation of the Social Support System for the professional organization “Solidarity” was presented on 10.10.2021.
12. Jekaterina Navicke & Romas Lazutka are the experts for the European social policy network (ESPN, Contract n° VC/2018/0463). European Commission DG Employment and Social Affairs. Commissioned by the European Commission.
13. Jekaterina Navicke & Romas Lazutka. National policies for the extension of social protection to non-standard employees and self-employed during the Covid-19 pandemic. European Social Observatory (OSE) on behalf of the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI). National expert for a case study.

MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES
1. Romas Lazutka. Presentation: The problem of inequality. Association of International Youth Debate Alumni https://jaunimodebatai.eu/. Jugend debattiert international Alumniverein Litauen. Erasmus + project Debate Your Issue (DYI) workshop 2021 March 27.
2. Romas Lazutka. Presentation: Old-age and incapacity pensions. National Network of Poverty Reduction Organizations, March 24. 2 p.m.
3. Gruževskis B. Meeting of youth coordinators and youth mentors network. The report was about the subjective well-being of young people.
4. Navickė, J., Čižauskaitė, A., Gabnytė, V. (2022). SKURDO IR NELYGYBĖS PROGNOZĖS 2022 m. TRUMPRAŠTIS [Nowcasts of poverty and inequality 2021. Policy brief]. LR Socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerija.
5. Šumskaitė, L. Dalis mamų apgailestauja, kad susilaukė vaikų [Some mothers regret having children] 2022 07 15, www.psichika.eu
6. D. Skučienė Nauja vaiko priežiūros tvarka (2022)
https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/i-prieki-stumiasi-nauja-ismoku-uz-vaikus-tvarka-suskaiciavo-piusus-ir-minusus.d?id=90269867