The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport and the Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LERA) organised the XXII Education Forum, which was devoted to the problems of the effectiveness of educational research with the question “How Can we Use Educational Research More Effectively?”

The keynote “The Use of Education Research: Present and Future Perspectives” was delivered by Mykolas Steponavičius, Education Policy Consultant at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The presentation was based on the report “Who Cares About the Use of Education Research in Education Policy and Practice?”, conducted by the OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI). In addition to the presenter, the research team included his colleagues Nóra Révai, José Manuel Torres, Jordan Hill, Melissa Mouthaan and Aurelija Masiulytė. Mr Steponavičius told the Forum about an international survey conducted by the OECD (29 countries participated), which aimed to identify OECD countries’ practices aimed at strengthening the impact of educational research, as well as to provide an overview of the general situation of research use. He described the themes of the survey and presented the results, which reflected the views of the individual ministries of education in OECD member countries.

Summarising the results of the OECD study, Mr Steponavičius  empasised  that they send two key messages to Lithuanian politicians and the education community. The first one is that there is a gap between the challenges identified and the measures taken in Lithuania. First of all, the limited availability of research: there is a lack of research syntheses. Secondly, there is a lack of relevant educational research, although there are ongoing projects in the country to promote collaboration between researchers and educators. Thirdly, there is a low level of skills among educators and a lack of learning opportunities. Fourthly, there is also a lack of systemic measures (financial incentives, educational research strategy). The second message, according to the speaker, is that: In Lithuania, education research is carried out by researchers and teacher educators, and it is worth considering promoting the involvement of education policy makers and educators in research.

After the keynote speech , a discussion was held with the participation of Audronė Razmantienė (Adviser to the Department of General Education, Department of General Education of the Ministry of Education, Research Coordinator of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, member of the Board of TALLIS), dr. Saulė Mačiukaitė-Žvinienė (professor at the Business School of Vilnius University, chairperson of the Lithuanian Education Council), prof. dr. Loreta Žadeikaitė (Chief Adviser of the Department of Studies, Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania), Jurgita Petrauskienė (Education and Science Attaché to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)), prof. Jolanta Urbanovič (Adviser to the President of the Republic of Lithuania), dr. Eugenijus Stumbrys (Head of the Division of Science Policy and Analysis, Lithuanian Science Council), habil dr. Rimantas Želvys (Professor at the Vilnius University).

Education Forum “How Can We Use Education Research More Effectively?” was moderated by dr. Rita Dukynaitė (Chief Advisor of the Strategic Planning Division of the Ministry of Education), and dr. Daiva Penkauskienė (Associate Professor at Mykolas Romeris University, member of the LERA Board). 

For more information: https://www.svietimonaujienos.lt/edukacijos-tyrimai-ir-ju-veiksmingumas-problemos-izvalgos-sprendimai