On the 18 th of December, 2023  the XXX Education Forum “Assessment of Student Learning Achievements and Progress: New Scientific Findings and Recommendations”  was held. The keynote speech “Assessment Culture for Learning: A Critical Ethnographic Study of One School” was delivered by dr. Irena Raudienė (Head of the Educational Programs Department of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports). The XXX Education Forum was also enriched with other relevant reports: “Can Primary School Teachers Accurately Assess Students’ achievements?” (dr. Sigita Girdzijauskienė, associate professor at Vilnius University; Greta Bugelytė, psychologist at Vilnius Karoliniškii Gymnasium); Different Indicators of Student Achievement Assessment: What Does the (Mis)correspondence of Grades and NMPP Scores Say? (dr. Rasa Erentaitė, Senior Researcher at Kaunas University of Technology); Standardization and Psychometric Characteristics of Tests Based on the Mathematics Primary Education Program (dr. Irina Klizienė, professor at Kaunas University of Technology); Assessment of Critical Thinking Abilities in Mathematics Lessons (dr. Renata Kondratavičienė, Associate professor of Vilnius College); Student Achievement Assessment Tradition and/or Innovation? (dr. Arvydas Girdzijauskas, director of Klaipėda Vydūnas Gymnasium, member of the working group for the assessment of student achievements), Paradoxes of student (learning) assessment in creating a music/art school for all (dr. Asta Krikščiūnaitė Volbikienė, researcher of non-formal children’s education (Norway)).
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The forum was moderated by dr. Aušra Kazlauskienė and dr. Emilija Sakadolskienė. Tge full forum recording is available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-1SM3cvwKC4

Theme

“Assessing Students’ Learning Achievement and Progress: New Research Findings and Recommendations”

We are kindly remind that  Education Forum “Assessing Students’ Learning Achievement and Progress: New Research  Findings and Recommendations” on Monday, 18-12-2023, will ne held. 

We are kindly invite education and training researchers, postgraduates, doctoral students, university lecturers, education and social policy makers, representatives of scientific associations and non-governmental organisations, and all those who are interested in issues related to general education.

About Key-Note Speaker

Dr. Irena Raudienė, in 2023 at  Vytautas  Magnus University, defended her thesis ” The Assessment  Culture that Supports Learning: a Critical Ethnographic Study of One School”, supervisor prof. dr. Natalija Mažeikienė. Irena has been interested in issues of achievement evaluation ever since working as a teacher, she had to make various decisions about students’ learning outcomes. Later, while working at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sports, I had to delve into the problem of the idea and application of the European language portfolio, the organization of achievement tests and matriculation exams, the assessment of social and emotional abilities, and the preparation of various documents for the implementation of the educational content, including the assessment of achievements. I managed to accumulate a lot of experience about the assessment process and how it is implemented while working in Lithuania with representatives of various interest groups: students, teachers, managers, education administrators and politicians, as well as working in international working groups and projects of the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the Organization for European Economic Cooperation and Development, dedicated to analyzing and solving assessment problems.
Irena continues her academic activities by working as a lecturer at the VMU Education Academy and sharing her experience with current and future teachers. This work is very important and meaningful.
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XXX Education Forum Scientific and Organising Committee
Chair – prof. dr. Liudmila Rupšienė, President of LERA
Members:
dr. Aušra Kazlauskienė, LERA Board Member, Professor at Vilnius University
dr. Emilija Sakadolskienė, Associate Professor, Vilnius University, Vilnius University
dr. Jurgita Lenkauskaitė, Professor, Vilnius University

Note: The Forum will be filmed and photographed, as well as streamed live on YouTube.

We warmly congratulate dr. Rasa Nedzinskaitė-Mačiūnienė on becoming a member of the Young Academy of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences. We wish her creative inspiration and fresh ideas in the winding labyrinths of science!

The EERA 2024 Conference  from 26th to 30th August 2024    will take place in Cyprus, Nicosia town. The theme of the EERA 2024 Conference is “Education in an Age of Uncertainty: Memory and Hope for the Future”. The EERA 2024 Conference welcomes researchers from a wide range of educational fields. In addition to the general main call, some EERA networks would like to stimulate discussions on specific topics and have therefore launched a special call.

To participate in one of the NW Special Calls, first select your network and then select the topic “NW XX Special Call” when submitting your application.

The deadline for applications is: from the  1st  December 2023 to 31st January 2024.

For more information: https://eera-ecer.de/conferences/ecer-2024-nicosia/ecer-2024-call-for-proposals-and-network-special-calls

Congratulations to the new PhD Bin Wang on the successful defence his PhD thesis: Professional Teacher Training and Development of Competencies in the Context of Evolution of the Skills Formation System in China   (Education Science (S 007),  scientific supervisor – prof. habil. dr. Genutė Gedvilienė, scientific consultant – prof. dr. Vidmantas Tūtlys). 

The dissertation is available at the Vytautas Magnus University and the Lithuanian National M. Mažvydas Library.

The dissertation is available at  11 Studentų  Str., Academy., Kaunas district.

A short annotation of doctoral dissertation is presented below :

This dissertation is a study of Chinese VET teachers’ competence development from an international perspective, focusing on the internal and external determinants of professional development of VET teachers. By comparing the current situation of professional teacher education and competency development in China and in different countries around the world, the dissertation analyses and summarises the experiences of professional teachers, highlights the challenges, makes predictions for future directions of development, and provides relevant recommendations. The quantitative research carried out in the dissertation correlates with the analysis of the research presented in the theoretical part. Government and education authorities’ policies and financial support, school-enterprise cooperation, training and continuing education, enterprise skills development and apprenticeship opportunities, teachers’ titles, years of training, educational background and teacher’s intention to improve are important factors influencing the development of vocational teachers and the development of competences. The regression analysis found that teachers’ development intentions, national policies, cooperation between schools and enterprises, and skills competitions are significant for the formation and development of VET teacher competences. Looking at the results of the quantitative and qualitative research, it is noteworthy that the findings of the thesis are in line with the Attribution Theory (Heider, 1958) cited in the literature, which reveals the influence of different internal and external factors on the preparation and competence development of Chinese vocational teachers. The cross-sectional study presented in this dissertation showed that intrinsic factors, such as career motivation and interest in learning, and extrinsic factors, such as the learning environment and learning support, can promote teachers’ professional development. The competences most lacking in VET teachers are job orientation, certification of professional skills, mastery of new technologies, and awareness of international contexts. Improving the competences of Chinese VET teachers should start with the implementation of internal and external factors, and the development of the self-development competences of vocational teachers.

Dissertation Defense Council:

Chair – prof. dr. Aušra Rutkienė (Vytautas Magnus University Academy of Education, Social Sciences, Education S 007), 
Assoc. dr. Nijolė Čiučiulkienė (Vytautas Magnus University Academy of Education, Social Sciences, Education S 007),
dr. Estela Daukšienė (Vytautas Magnus University Academy of Education, Social Sciences, Education S 007),
Associate professor Tomas Butvilas (Mykolas Romeris University, Social Sciences, Education S 007),
Prof. dr. Erno August Lehtinen (Vytautas Magnus University, University of Turku, Social Sciences, Education S 007).

We are sincerely congratulate dr. Birutė Vitytė on became the laureate of the best dissertations in the fields of humanitarian and social sciences and arts. The topic of Birutė Vitytė’s dissertation “LIBERTÉ vs SECURITÉ and AUTOCRATIE: A grounding Theory About Stereotyping as a Challenge of Learning Visual Arts Based on Digital Games“, Education, Vytautas Magnus University, Academy of Education. The scientific supervisor is prof. dr. Ona Monkevičienė.

We are sincerely congratulate dr. Rūta Petkutė for the best dissertation of a Lithuanian citizen, defended in a foreign institution of science and studies, in the field of humanitarian and social sciences and arts. Dissertation topic “The Instrumentalization of Academic Lifeworlds, Knowledge, and Education: Lithuanian Academics’ Responses to the European Higher Education Policy of Curriculum Restructuring” politics“, Education, Tallinn University, Estonia. The supervisors of the research work are Ivor Goodon, Professor Tero Henrik Autio (University of Tampere) and Senior Researcher Rain Mikser (University of Tallinn).

On  the  23 th of November, 2023  the XXIX Education Forum “How Do We Prepare Teachers For an Uncertain Future?” was held. The following  announcements  were presented : “Teacher Training in the Face of Global Education” (Dr. Sandra Kairė, associate professor of Vilnius University); “Teacher and Artificial Intelligence: Reject-Accept-Use” (Dr. Judita Kasperiūnienė, Associate Professor of Vytautas Magnus University); “Empowering Teachers as Researchers: Convergence of Studies and Scientific Research” (Dr. Berita Simonaitienė, associate professor of Kaunas University of Technology); “Between Today’s Reality and Future Aspirations: Challenges of Pedagogical Practice” (Dr. Vaiva Juškienė, Dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy of Vilnius College).

“The Power of the Community of Teachers: Sharing, Learning, Growth” (Dr. Eglė Pranckūnienė, founder of the “Choose to Teach” program, Artur Adam Markevič, head of the “Choose to Teach“ program); “Creative Teacher and Creative Personality. What to Prioritize?“ (Dr. Rūta Girdzijauskienė, LMTA professor). The presentations were followed by a discussion. The forum was moderated by dr. Nijolė Putrienė (as director of the Pedagogical Staff Department of the National Education Agency) and dr. Aida Norvilienė (associate professor of Klaipėda University). The full forum recording on YouTube is available here: https://youtu.be/pP97HL7X6wk

XXIX EDUCATION FORUM

EDUCATION FOR LITHUANIA – RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATION

TOWARDS RESEARCH-BASED EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Theme

“How Do We Prepare Teachers For an Uncertain Future?”

We are kindly remind  that on 23th of November, 2023,  3.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m.  Education Forum  “How Do We Prepare Teachers For an Uncertain Future?” will be held. 

We are  kindly invite education and training researchers, postgraduates, doctoral students, higher education teachers, education and social policy makers, representatives of scientific associations and NGOs, and all those who are interested in higher education issues.

Scientific and Organizational Committee of the XXIX Education Forum

Head – prof. dr. Liudmila Rupšienė, president of LERA

Members:

dr. Rūta Girdzijauskienė, LERA board member, professor
dr. Nijolė Putrienė,  Acting  director of the Pedagogical Staff Department of the National Education Agency
dr. Eglė Pranckūnienė, LERA board member, coordinator of the “I choose to teach” program
dr. Berita Simonaitienė, associate professor at Kaunas University of Technology
dr. Vaiva Juškienė, LERA board member, dean of the Faculty of Pedagogy of Vilnius College
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On the 1-5  of July in  2024 the EERA 2024 Doctoral Summer School “Educational Research in Europe: decolonise, democratise and develop. Legacies and futures” will be held.  Applicants must be PhD students from or studying in EERA member countries. Their work must be related to educational research. It is preferable that the participant is a first or second year PhD student.

Application period: 15 November 2023 – 15 January 2024.
Application link: https://www.conftool.net/eerss2024/
Read more: https://eera-ecer.de/seasonschools/eera-summer-school-2024

https://eera-ecer.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Documents/Seasonschools/Summer_School/2024_Porto-Call_for_Summer_School.pdf

Congratulations to the new PhD  Nerijus Pipiras on the successful defence of his doctoral dissertation: The Written Legacy of Archbishop Mečislovas Reinis in Supporting the Ideas of Education and Upbringing in the Independent (1918-1941) and Restored (since 1990) Lithuania (Education Science (S 007),  scientific supervisors : academic. Algirdas Gaižutis, assoc. prof. dr. Asta Meškauskienė).

The dissertation is available at the Vytautas Magnus University and the Lithuanian National M. Mažvydas Library.

The dissertation is available at  11 Studentų  Str., Academy., Kaunas district.

A short annotation of doctoral dissertation is presented below :

Archbishop Mečislovas Reinys is not only a zealous pastor, but also an active public figure, who has participated in the activities of Catholic organisations as well as in politics, and who has been active in speaking out on issues that are sensitive to society. In this dissertation, the periods chosen for the analysis of Archbishop Mečislovas Reinis’s written legacy and educational ideas in independent (1918-1940) and restored (since 1990) Lithuania are not accidental. At the beginning of the 20th century, Lithuania was emerging from the grip of Tsarist Russia and the conceptual foundations of the education system were being built, while at the end of the century, after breaking free from the ideological dependence on the Soviet school, the Lithuanian education system was being rebuilt, taking into account not only the progressive experience of foreign countries, but also the achievements of earlier times. When examining Archbishop Reinis’s articles on education and upbringing, it has become clear that the Archbishop presents the process of education as a “work of the soul” involving the family, the state, the Church and various organisations. From the Archbishop’s point of view, the essence of the educational process lies in the development of the pupil’s mental cognitive powers, the development of the will, the formation of character, conscience, and the formation of a world view. For the formation of a worldview, the harmony of natural sciences, philosophy and theology is important, corresponding to the divine virtues. These three elements, open to Don Bosco’s preventive system of youth education, require direction, and point to pedagogy as a unique environment for personal growth, which Archbishop Reinys, also combining the ideas of Cardinal Mercier and the Russian thinker V. Solovyov, proposes to integrate into the emerging Lithuanian education system: the culture of the nation, modernity, humanism and religious practice are the central pillars of the entire educational process. An analysis of Archbishop Mečislovas Reinis’s articles on education and upbringing has shown that Reinis calls for connections throughout the whole educational process, from the natural sciences, which enlighten the mind and answer many cognitive questions, to philosophy, which encompasses not only cognition, but also truth, to theology, which leads to the Great Cause through the raising of existential questions.

Dissertation Defense Council:

Chair – prof. dr. Sigitas Daukilas, Social Sciences, Education S 007, Vytautas Magnus University,
prof. dr. Irena Stonkuvienė, Social Sciences, Education S 007, Vilnius University,
assoc. prof. dr. Emilija Sakadolskienė, Social Sciences, Education S 007, Vytautas Magnus University,
prof. dr. Rita Vaičekauskaitė, Social Sciences, Education S 007, Klaipėda University,
prof. habil. dr. Margarita Teresevičienė, Social Sciences, Education S 007,Vytautas Magnus University.

This year on October 12th-13th, the 7th Lithuanian Educational Research Association Conference “EDUCATION AND TRAINING: THE VALUE DIVERSITY” was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association. The conference was organised jointly with Kaunas University of Technology (KTU). The first day of the conference was rich in greetings and presentations. The LERA was greeted on the occasion of its anniversary by the rector of KTU prof. dr. Eugenijus Valatka, the advisor to the president prof. dr. Jolanta Urbanovič, the advisor to the Minister of Education, Science, and Sports Agnė Liucilė Grickevičė, the member of the Seimas prof. dr. Artūras Žukauskas, President of the European Educational Research Association (EERA) prof. Marit Honerød Hoveid, who gave a plenary announcement “Thinking Diversity in Educational Research, Re-Visting the Relationship Between Research and Practice”. The first LERA president prof. dr. Palmira Jucevičienė, and the current LERA president prof. dr. Liudmila Rupšienė, presented the plenary announcement “The Path of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association: Where Did We Start and Where Are We Going?“.

The guest speaker from the University of Central Florida prof. dr. Audra Skukauskaitė, gave a plenary announcement  “The Diversity of Representations of Educational Research in Research Papers”, Prof. dr. Jonas Ruškus gave a  plenary announcement “The Different Child – The Black Swan of Lithuanian Education? Towards Transformative Equality“, prof. dr. Arūnas Emeljanovas gave a  plenary announcement  “Why is a physical education teacher likely to live longer than teachers of other subjects?“. Dr. Rūta Petkutė gave a  plenary announcement  “Diversity as (not) a Value in Today’s University: the View of Lithuanian Academics”. The plenary announcements were followed by an academic discussion with the participation of prof. dr. Marit Honerod Hoveid, prof. dr. Arūnas Emeljanovas, prof. dr. Palmira Jucevičienė, assoc. prof. dr. Ainius Lašas, prof. dr. Rūta Petkutė, prof. dr. Liudmila Rupšienė, prof. dr. Jonas Ruskuskus, prof. dr. Audra Skukauskaitė, and all the other participants. The plenary session was moderated by prof. dr. Lina Kaminskienė, prof. dr. Eglė Pranskūnienė, prof. dr. Raimonda Brunevičiūtė, prof. dr. Odeta Merfeldaitė, prof. dr. Rūta Girdzijauskienė, prof. dr. Robert Lesčinskij. Plenary presentations were translated into sign language.

On the second day of the conference, 15 LERA networks were with rich activities. These included the Higher Education and Vocational Training Network, the General Education Network, the Pre-school and Pre-primary Education Network, the ICT and Education Network, the Inclusive Education Network, the Lifelong Learning Network, the Teacher Training and Professional Development Network, the Primary Education Network, the Social Education Network, the Sports Education Network, the Health and Well-being Network, the Educational Leadership Network, the Educational Management and Leadership Network, the Research Methodology Network, the Educational Philosophy and Policy Network, and the Education and  Training History Network. 124 oral presentations were given, 3 poster presentations were made, and discussions and debates were held.

In compliance with the GDPR and the Law on the Legal Protection of Personal Data of the Republic of Lithuania, the conference was filmed and photographed.

The LETA 2023 plenary presentations can be viewed here: https://lera.lt/leta-2023-konferencijos-irasai/?et_fb=1&PageSpeed=off

The photo gallery of the LETA2023 conference can be viewed here: https://lera.lt/?page_id=17440&et_fb=1&PageSpeed=of

World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated worldwide on the 10th of  November. On this occasion, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) invites you to focus on building public trust in science. Trust in science is essential for developing evidence-based solutions to global challenges.

The role of science in shaping our common future can only be realised if science is trusted. It is trust in science that drives the development and application of evidence-based solutions to our world’s multifaceted challenges. Trust in science is a complex issue. It affects the way scientists work and the way science is perceived by society. Moreover, building trust in science strengthens science-based policy decisions and public understanding.

So let’s build trust in science and open up the undiscovered treasures of science to the public!

2023 autumn methodological snacks

The Educational Research Institute (Education Academy of Vytautas Magnus University)  continous an activity for the development of competences in scientific methodology, which aims to contribute to the quality of ongoing research – the cycle of scientific methodology seminars ”Methodological Snacks”. 

We invite researchers (master’s students, master’s students), doctoral students, scientists, as well as practitioners to participate in the seminars in autumn, 2023.

14 November 2023, 12.00 a.m. –3.00 p.m. “Audiovisual Media and Artificial Intelligence: Shaping Perception, Emotions and Thinking” (author: dr. Judita Kasperiūnienė (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania)).

Registration link:
https://bit.ly/46N8CQP
Registration is open until 10 November (inclusive).

17 November 2023, 10.00 a.m.–1.00 p.m.  “Symbiosis Between Sociology and Education Research: Between Imagination and (Non-)Equality” (author: dr. Dainius Genys (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania)).

Registration link:
https://bit.ly/3QD6hCv
Registration is open until 14 November (inclusive).

5 December 2023, 12.00a.m. – 3.00 p.m. “Data in the Digital World: Where to Find It and How to Use It” (author: dr. Judita Kasperiūnienė (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania)).

Registration link:
https://bit.ly/3FDarUw
Registration is open until 2 December (inclusive).

8 December 2023, 2.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. “Vocational Education for Development of Human Capital: Challenges and Possibilities” (author : prof. dr. Vidmantas Tūtlys (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania)).

Registration link:
https://bit.ly/3kQkHS5
Registration is open until 4 December (inclusive).

11 December 2023, 2.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. “Ethnography in Educational Research: Who? Why? How?” (authors: prof. dr. Natalija Mažeikienė, assoc. prof. dr. Daiva Kairienė, prof. dr. Stefanija Ališauskienė (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania)).

Registration link:
https://bit.ly/49bxMu1
Registration is open until 7 December (inclusive).

For more information here : 2023 autumn seminars 

We invite you to actively register. We look forward to your learning journey.

Important!

Registration for each seminar is done separately.

A formal certificate with a formal value of 0.15 ECTS is issued to the participants, testifying to the improvement of qualifications and/or learning of research methodology (for master’s students, doctoral students).

A person is registered when he pays the registration fee.

Registration closes a day before the seminar.

After making an payment, send a payment receipt.

Details for payment:

Recipient: Vytautas Magnus University

Account No. LT917044060003105370,

Purpose of payment: “ETI training 2023, autumn semester” – write the title of the seminar.

Contact for communication: [email protected]

On the 30th of  October in 2023, 3.00 – 5.00 p.m.  the XXVIII Education Forum “Life Skills Curriculum in the School of General Education: Scientific Approaches” was held.  Dr. Natalija Mažeikienė, professor at Vytautas Magnus University, dr. Akvilė Giniota, PhD student at the Institute of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Philosophy, Vilnius University, dr. Natalija Istomina, professor at Vilnius University, dr. Oksana Malinauskienė, associate professor at Mykolas Romeris University, mgr. Inga Grinytė-Fedčuk, teacher/administrator at the Centrum Vux in Haninge Commune in Sweden, took part in the discussion. The forum was moderated by prof. dr. Odeta Merfeldaitė, dr. Auksė Petruškevičiūtė. The full recording of the forum can be viewed on the LETA YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3zwPy2y7Ec

We are kindly remind that on 30th of October in 2023, 3.00 – 5.00 p.m.  Education Forum ” Life Skills Curriculum in the School of General Education: Scientific Approaches” will be held. 

We  are kindly invite education and training researchers, postgraduates, doctoral students, university lecturers, education and social policy makers, representatives of scientific associations and non-governmental organisations, and all those who are interested in issues related to general education.

Scientific and Organising Committee of the XXVIII Education Forum
Chair – prof. dr. Liudmila Rupšienė, President of LERA
Members:
prof. dr. Odeta Merfeldaitė
dr. Auksė Petruškevičiūtė

On the 28th of  September in 2023, 3.00 – 5.00 p.m., the Education Forum “Lithuanian Primary School Children’ Success in International Reading Tests: How to Ensure Sustainability?” was held. The keynote speech “How Lithuanian Primary School Children Withstood the Challenges of the Pandemic: the Results of the IEA PIRLS 2021” was given by dr. Ramutė Skripkienė (Researcher, Achievement Research Unit, National Coordinator of the IEA PIRLS). The discussion was attended by dr. Aušra Žemgulienė (Associate Professor, Institute of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Philosophy, Vilnius University, Head of the Childhood Pedagogy study programme), dr. Aušra Daugirdienė (Associate Professor, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Chief Researcher, Institute of Educational Research, Vytautas Magnus University), dr. Linas Jašinauskas (assistant professor of the Academy of Education of Vytautas Magnus University, head of the Department of Modern Didactics), Tautvydas Kelpšas (primary school teacher of the classical education school of Kaunas VDU). 

The discussion was moderated by prof. dr. Daiva Jakavonytė – Staškuvienė (member of the board of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association, professor at Vytautas the Great University), doc. dr. Jolita Kudinovienė (associate professor at the Vytautas Magnus University Academy of Education, head of the Preschool and Primary Education Department). The forum recording is available at YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oPG22cQZ9U

Congratulations to the new PhD Valentinas Butanavičius on the successfull defece of his doctoral dissertation “What Does it Mean to be a Creative Teacher? An Integral Phenomenology Study Based on the Experiences of Non-Art Teachers” (Education Science (S 007), scientific supervisors: from 2018 to 2019  assoc. prof.  Vida Kazragytė,  from 2019-09-30 prof. habil. dr. Vilma Žydžiūnaitė) and after acquiring the degree of PhD of Social Sciences in Education field.

The dissertation is available at the Vytautas Magnus University and the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania.

The dissertation is available at  11 Studentų St.,  Academy,  district Kaunas

A short annotation of the dissertaton is presented below: 

Teacher creativity is influenced by the students’ years of schooling, the subject, the teacher’s professional experience and age. The vast majority of research on teacher creativity is quantitative, focusing on skills, competences and factors. They are dominated by the paradigm of theory testing, which is evaluated by the research participants through surveys. Research to date has not delved into how teachers experience creativity, what it means to them, what teachers associate it with, i.e., creativity research to date has not paid sufficient attention to the teacher to reveal unique, authentic experiences of creativity. Neither nationally nor internationally has phenomenological research been found on the nature of teacher creativity, which is the focus of this thesis research. The aim of the study is to develop and substantiate a phenomenological framework for Being a Creative Teacher, emerging from teachers’ experiences, and the relationships between themes within it. To achieve this, the research question is: “How do teachers experience creativity through temporality, spatiality, relationality, corporeality, objecthood and spirituality?”
In order to understand what it means to be creative, it is important to listen to teachers’ lived experiences. Therefore, in order to achieve the research aim and find answers to the research questions, the methodology of integral phenomenology according to Žydžiūnaitė and Arce (2021) was used. It combined versions of van Manen’s (2007) phenomenology of practice and Moustak’s (1994) epistemological phenomenology. The participants of the study were chosen to be non-art teachers in order to move away from the traditional view of creativity without linking it to the mission of teachers in art disciplines. Drawing on teachers’ authentic experiences, the aim is to uncover the phenomenon of being a creative teacher as objectively as possible. In the empirical study and throughout the thesis, two approaches have been used: theoretical (component theory of creativity) and philosophical (phenomenology). 19 participants took part in the study.
The results reveal that the phenomenological structure of ‘being a creative teacher’ has vertical and horizontal vectors. The vertical vector consists of fifteen latent themes (being discovering, flexible, curious, motivated, relational, learning, professional, civic, leader, encouraging, opening, inclusive, authoritative, courageous, and nurturing), while the horizontal vector is composed of six dimensions (temporality, relationality, thingness/materiality, spirituality, corporeality, and spatiality). The phenomenological framework of the creative teacher that has been formulated and empirically grounded is unique, original and innovative in the field of this kind of research.

Disertation Defence Council: 

Chairman – prof. dr. Remigijus Bubnys (Vilnius University; Social Sciences, Education, S 007)
Prof. dr. Sigitas Daukilas (Vytautas Magnus University; Social Sciences, Education, S 007)
Prof. dr. Vidmantas Tūtlys (Vytautas Magnus University; Social Sciences, Education, S 007)
Prof. dr. Rita Vaičekauskaitė (Klaipėda University; Social Sciences, Education, S 007)
Associate prof. dr. Emilija Sakadolskienė (Vytautas Magnus University; Social Sciences, Education, S 007)

In 2024 September 8 – 12 The University of Manchester will host the BERA2024 Conference and the WERA 2024 Focal Meeting.  The submition  fo  abstracts is now open.
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 2024, January 31st.  https://www.bera.ac.uk/conference/bera-conference-2024-and-wera-focal-meeting/abstract-submission

The World Educational Research Association (WERA) is an association of national, regional and international specialized research associations whose aim is to advance educational research as a field of science and progress. WERA was founded in 2009. April 18 San Diego, California. WERA members are committed to working together to address issues such as building research capacity, improving educational research policy and practice, and promoting the use and application of educational research worldwide.

Each year, WERA holds its main meeting in connection with the annual meeting of the WERA Member Association. The WERA2024 meeting is organized together with the British Research Association (BERA). The WERA2024 meeting will take place in Manchester, during the BERA2024 conference.

We invite you to participate in the WERA2024 meeting and the BERA2024 conference!

For more information: https://www.bera.ac.uk/conference/bera-conference-2024-and-wera-focal-meeting

https://www.weraonline.org/