Congratulations to dr. Ilona Dobrovolskytė (Vilnius University. Academy of Education) after successfully defending her doctoral dissertation Interaction Between the General Work-Related Physical Abilities and the Executive Function of Young People with Intellectual Disabilities (Scientific supervisor – Prof. Dr. Ingrida Baranauskienė (Klaipėda University, Social Sciences, Educology – S 007). Consultant – Prof. Dr. Albertas Skurvydas (Vytautas Magnus University, Natural Sciences, Biology – N 010)). She has obtained the PhD degree of Educational Science. 

The dissertation summary is available at: https://is.vu.lt/pls/pub/ivykiai.ivykiai_prd?p_name=8005A770EF8272FFE405DE2F9895E894/DOBROVOLSKYTE%20Ilona.pdf. and here is a short summary below. 

The aim of the research is to investigate the interaction between general work-related physical abilities and executive function of young people with intellectual disabilities (mild and moderate) in vocational school and to prepare an evidence-based integrated programme of the development of work-related physical abilities to develop general physical abilities, psychomotor responses and executive function.Practical significance of the researchThe designed theoretical systematic model of the development of physical capacity based on the dynamic, ecological theory of motor learning, focused on the development of motor literacy and general work-related physical abilities of young people with intellectual disabilities, can contribute to the structured and methodical development of respective integrated programmes that would help systematically increase the physical readiness of young people with intellectual disabilities for work activity.The benefits of the developed and practically tested integrated programme of the development of work-related physical abilities, psychomotor responses and executive function are evaluated not only for the young people participating in the study, but also for vocational school teachers as this type of research and the development of practically tested programs provide an opportunity to convey methodological recommendations.

Dissertation Defense Council:

Chairman – prof. habil. dr. Vytautas Gudonis (Vilnius University, Social Sciences, Education – S 007),
doc. dr. Irina Klizienė (Kaunas University of Technology, Social Sciences, Education – S 007),
prof. dr. Velta Lubkina (Rēzekne Academy of Technology, Social Sciences, Education – S 007),
prof. dr. Diana Rėklaitienė (Lithuanian Sports University, Social Sciences, Education – S 007),
prof. habil. dr. Vilija Targamadzė (Vilnius University, Social Sciences, Education – S 007).