We are kindly remind you, that the Education Forum “Challenges for Education and Training in the Anthropocene – What Should We Focus On?” will take place on 23 March from 15.00-17.00.

We invite education researchers, PhD students, lecturers, education and social policy makers, school administrators, representatives of teachers’ associations and non-governmental organisations, teachers, teacher trainers, and all those who are interested in the issues of education in the Anthropocene.

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

Dear ones,

Lithuanian Independence was an aspiration that united the nation and ignited hearts. How strong and united is the nation for its dignity! So even today, let’s not lose sight of the goal that unites us in an already free country: respect for each other, unity and cohesion. Let’s  love and believe in the Lithuania of the future, because we will have the country that we ourselves will create. Happy 11th of March !

LERA Team

The Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LERA) collected and transferred 630 euros of financial support to the Ukrainian Educational Research Association (UERA) for a member to participate in the ECER 2023 conference. Thank you to everyone who remained indifferent and contributed to this. Thank you!

The President of the UERA  on behalf of the Ukrainian Educational Research Association expresses her sincere gratitude for your support.

Dear LERA members,

On behalf of members of Ukrainian Educational Research Association, I would like to thank you for your support that is focused on the participation of Ukrainian academics in European Conference on Educational Research 2023. It is true that we are facing real hardships today. It not easy not just to stay afloat but to keep on doing educational research, teach students, work on projects and develop. However, thanks to your support and understanding, we become more confident as we know that we, Ukrainians, are not alone in our fight for freedom. Our common soviet legacy is the burden we are throwing off our shoulders. Today we are taking a lot of effort to ensure that our children will live in free democratic world which is a privilege worth fighting for. It is important that the voice of Ukrainian educational researchers should be heard by international academic community and your generous contribution will help it to happen.

Kind regards,

Prof. Oksana Zabolotna,
President of Ukrainian Educational Research
Association, Professor of Pavlo Tychyna
Uman State Pedagogical University

The full letter of thanks can be found by clicking on the following link: https://lera.lt/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/UERA_Appreciation-Letter-for-LERA-1.pdf

On the 28 of February  in 2023 the XXII Education Forum  “How  to  educational research more effectively?” was held. The keynote speech “The Use of Educational Research: Present and Future Perspectives” was read by Mykolas Steponavičius (Educational Policy Consultant of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)). The report was prepared according to the study carried out by OECD CERI ” “Strengthening the Impact of Education Research” report “Who cares about the use of educational research in education policy and practice?” Research team members: Nóra Révai, José Manuel Torres, Jordan Hill, Mykolas Steponavičius, Melissa Mouthaan and Aurelija Masiulytė.

In the  discussion participated  Audronė Razmantienė (Advisor of the Teachers  Department of the Department of General Education of Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, research coordinator of the Economic Cooperation Development Organization, member of the TALLIS board)), dr. Saulė Mačiukaitė-Žvinienė (Professor of Vilnius University Business School, Chairperson of the Lithuanian Education Council), prof. dr. Loreta Žadeikaitė (Chief Advisor to the Minister of Education, Science and Sport),  Jurgita Petrauskienė (Education and Science Attaché at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)), prof. dr. Jolanta Urbanovič (Advisor to the President of the Republic of Lithuania), dr. Eugenijus Stumbrys (Head of the Science Policy and Analysis Department of the Lithuanian Science Council), habil. dr. Rimantas Želvys (Professor of Vilnius University). The forum was moderated by dr. Rita Dukynaitė (Chief Advisor of the Strategic Planning Department of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport) and dr. Daiva Penkauskienė (assistant professor of Mykolas Romeris University, LERA board member). You can view the  forum record  on the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koxp8tz6Xqs

We are kindly remind you that tomorrow, 28 February, the Education Forum “How to Use Educational Research More Effectively?” will  be held . We invite you to participate!

On the 28 th of February  the XXII Education Forum “How to Use Educational Research More Effectively?” will be held. We are  kindly  invite education and training researchers, PhD students, lecturers, education and social policy makers, school administrators, representatives of teachers’ associations and NGOs, and all those who are interested in the research on education policy and education and the use of the results.

Key-note speaker Mykolas Steponavičius
Mykolas Steponavičius is an education policy consultant at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), focusing on the use of educational research in education policy and practice. Together with his colleagues, he works on issues such as quality assurance of research, the involvement of the education community in research, and the role of knowledge brokers in education systems. He graduated  from the interdisciplinary Bachelor’s degree programme in Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics at the University of Amsterdam  in 2018 and  graduated from the Master’s degree programme in Public Policy at the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris (“Sciences Po”)in 2020. Prior to joining the OECD Education Division, he worked as an assistant to a Member of the Parliament  of the Republic of Lithuania, as an editor and analyst  for the international magazine ”Europe & Me”, and as a research assistant at the consulting firm Visionary Analytics.

Research and presentation:
Master’s thesis: External Evaluation of Lithuanian General Education Schools: theoretical model and expectations of the education community (2022).
Report on knowledge brokers in the education sector: Torres, J. M., & Steponavičius, M. (2022). More than just a go-between: The role of intermediaries in knowledge mobilization.
Access the report of the OECD CERI study “Strenghtening the Impact of Education Research”:
https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/who-cares-about-using-education-research-in-policy-and-practice_d7ff793d-en

The Forum will be filmed and photographed. The material will be posted on the Yuotube SMSM channel, LETA website, Education News and other channels.

Our beautiful country, our State, celebrates its birthday today. Throughout history, Lithuania has borne witness to the statehood of a great nation. The nation is the greatest value and thread, the people who protect, create, inspire and teach. Let cherish each other and celebrate with confidence the restored and ever-building Lithuania.

The 11th of  February is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated worldwide. It highlights the importance of science and gender equality in achieving the internationally agreed Sustainable Development Goals. The day has been celebrated since 2015, when the United Nations adopted a resolution in the General Assembly to designate the 11th of  February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in order to ensure the full and equal participation of women and girls in science, to accelerate the implementation of gender equality and to increase women’s participation in science.

Dear Colleagues,

May there never be a shortage of new Everest’s to climb!

Happy Researchers’ Day!

LERA team

On the 26th of  January in 2023  the XXI Education Forum “What do We Learn from Disability Research?” took place with translation into sign language. The keynote speech ”What Do we Learn from Disability Research?” was given  by dr. Ingrida Baranauskienė (Professor of the Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences, Klaipėda University).

The discussion was attended by dr. Laima Tomėnienė (Associate Professor of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy), dr. Irena Leliūgienė (affiliated professor of Mykolas Romeris University), Ana Staševičienė (Chair of the Multiple Sclerosis Society “Feniksai”), dr. Ieva Kuginytė-Arlauskienė (Teachers of the Norwegian University of Applied Sciences Associate Professor of the Faculty of Education, Culture and Sports), Jurgita Čiuladaitė-Pritulskienė (Senior Advisor of the Targeted Assistance Group of the Ministry of Social Security and Labor of the Republic of Lithuania), Lina Gulbinė (Head of the Program Monitoring and Control Department of the Department of Disability Affairs). The closing speech was given by dr. Alvyra Galkienė (Professor of the Academy of Education of Vytautas Magnus University), dr. Ingrida Baranauskienė (Professor, Department of Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences, Klaipėda University). The forum was moderated by dr. Alvyra Galkienė (Professor of the Academy of Education of Vytautas Magnus University). Interpreters Artur Kartanovič and Evelina Montvilaitė translated into sign language. You can view the entire forum post on the YouTube channel here.

Dear Ones,

Winged energy will never fail you.
And the eyes will  spread youthful warmth.
A heart crowned with  blossom of faith,
Wishing you will never get tired here…
Creative flight and meaningful works!

Happy Education Day!

                                               LERA team

On the 26 of November in 1992 the Minister of Culture and Education of the Republic of Lithuania, Darius Kuolys, signed an order on the submission of the Conception of Lithuanian Education “for public information and for the approval of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Parlament of the Republic of Lithuania”. The Conception defined education as “a set of historically formed purposeful activities and organisational structures, the purpose of which is to achieve the goals of education of the individual and society”. It formulated objectives and principles common to the entire education system. Despite the fact that the concept was not approved by the then Parlament , the document laid a solid foundation for the Lithuanian education reform work. Not only was it highly acclaimed internationally, but, more importantly, it became a vision that ideologically mobilised the education community for further reform.

On the 25 of November in 2022, an event was held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Lithuanian Education Concept. Dr. Eglė Pranskūnienė, Head of the School Improvement Centre, and dr. Daiva Penkauskienė, Head of the Modern Didactics Centre,  welcomed the participants. Together they gave an announcement  “The Beginning of the Education Reform. People and Ideas”. Darius Kuolys and Rita Dukynaitė gave an announcement  “How and Why was the Lithuanian Education Conception developed?”. Emilė Paskočimaitė gave an anouncement  “The Future of Education is Shaped by the Present”. Ričardas Ališauskas gave an announcement “How the Vision of the Future of Education is Being Created Today”. A discussion was held on “What is the Importance of Lithuania’s Education Concepton?”. The discussion was moderated by Artur Markevič. The history of the development of this document, the people who created it, the main ideas, and the significance of the Concepion for the present and the future were revised during the event.

A video of the event can be viewed here:

The event was organised by the Modern Didactics Centre and the School Improvement Centre. Partners.

For more information: https://mtc.lt/lt/naujienos/723-prisimenant-galimybiu-laika
https://www.svietimonaujienos.lt/prisimenant-galimybiu-laika/
https://lera.lt/renginiai/svietimo-koncepcijai-30/

On the 26th of  January in 2023, 3.00 p.m.- 5.00  p.m. we are kindly invite researchers, PhD students, lecturers, educational and social policy makers, and all those who are interested in changes that ensure equality for people with disabilities in our society.

Key-note speaker prof. dr. Ingrida Baranauskienė

Ingrida Baranauskienė is a professor at Klaipėda University, Head of the Department of Social Work, who focuses on disability research related to the professional career development of people with disabilities and the training of professionals to work with such people.  Doctor of Education (2003); Habilitation (2008); Honorary Professor at the University of “Ukraine” (Ukraine) (2012). Expert of the Lithuanian Research Council project “Lithuanistika” (expert review of scientific articles). A member of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association, European Educational Research Association. An expert of the research project INOSOCTEREHI of the Republic of Latvia NRP “Innovative solutions for social tele-rehabilitation in the schools of Latvian the context of inclusive education” (2016). Since 20th of  October, 2016. She was appointed as an expert in the field of pedagogy for a maximum period of three years by decision No. 3-3-1 of the Latvian Research Council of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.

In recent years, she has held fellowships at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA (14-29 January 2019), the University of Hong Kong, China (9-26 November 2018), and the Ohio State University, USA (06-21 May 2018). She has shared his experience at universities in Greece, Bulgaria, Latvia and Kazakhstan. I. Baranauskienė systematically initiates and carries out international and national projects on the above-mentioned research topics. She has summarised her research in four scientific monographs (three of them with co-authors), over 150 scientific and scholarly publications, has authored two textbooks for higher education institutions, and has co-authored several scientific studies and educational books. Together with her co-authors, she has written 8 vocational training textbooks aimed not only at imparting vocational knowledge, but also at developing life skills of persons with disabilities. She has been Editor-in-Chief of a Web of Science™ Core Collection indexed scientific journal for many years and serves on the editorial boards of several journals. Her recent research has been summarised in a number of scientific papers:
Baranauskienė, I. (2020). Teisės į sveikatos priežiūrą paradoksas. Monografija. [The Paradox of the Right to Health Care. Monograph]. Klaipėda, 510 p. file:///C:/Users/svmf/Downloads/70383276%20(2).pdf.
Baranauskienė, I. (2021). Vaikų, turinčių negalią, diskriminacijos raiška Lietuvos sveikatos priežiūros sistemoje. Specialusis ugdymas. [Manifestation  of Discrimination Against Children With Disabilities in the Lithuanian Health Care System. Special Education], Vol. 1, No. 42, pp. 99-136. https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/special-education/issue/view/1964.
Baranauskienė, I. (2021). Negalia ir sveikatos priežiūra. Vadovėlis. [Disability and Health Care. Textbook]. Klaipėda, 166 p.
Baranauskienė, I. (2021). Postpozityvistinė prieiga negalios tyrimuose. [Post-Positivist Approach in Disability Research]. Klaipėda. 227 p.

During the forum will be translation into sign language. 
The forum is organised by LERA and the Department of Social Work of Klaipėda University. During the Forum, filming and photography will take place. The material will be hosted on the Yuotube Ministry of Education, Science and Sport channel, LERA website, Education News and other dissemination channels.

On the 9th of January in 2023, on the basis of the XX Education Forum, the article “Educational Realities and Practical Solutions for Young Educationalists” was published in Education News. The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, together with the Lithuanian Educational Research Association, organised the 20th Education Forum “Educational Realities Revealed and Practical Solutions for the Future”. The event brought together education specialists, researchers, PhD students, representatives of general education and higher education institutions, education and science policy, analysts, and all those who are interested in current changes in education policy and education, and the quality of education research, to present doctoral theses and postdoctoral research in the field of education to be completed in 2022.

According to prof. dr. L. Rupšienė, 15 doctoral dissertations in education were defended in Lithuania in 2022. In this sense, she said, it was a fruitful year. Three doctoral dissertations were defended by foreigners and twelve by Lithuanian citizens. The Forum programme consisted of five sessions. Doctoral students and researchers  who participated in the postdoctoral fellowship together with their supervisors shared their scientific findings.  Key-note speakers: dr. Aušra Kolbergytė “Self-Development of Managers in the Context of Organisational Change: Experiences of Transformative Education and Conscious Personal and Professional Growth” (supervisor: Dr. Valdonė Indrašienė, professor at Mykolas Romeris University), dr. Sandra Kairė “We are Rising Like the Ocean” (supervisor dr. Irena Stonkuvienė, associate professor at Vilnius University), dr.Julija Tuleikytė “Paulo Freire and Zygmunt Bauman: Education as (De)humanization” (supervisor Dr. Lilija Duoblienė, Professor at Vilnius University), dr. Simona Daniutė “The Relationship Between the Strategies Used for Coping with Phonological Disorders and Evidence-Based Speech Therapy Practice” (supervisor dr.Lina Miltenienė, associate professor at Vytautas Magnus University), dr.Ingrida Mereckaitė-Kušleikė “Development of Lithuanian Language and Other Subject Skills of Primary School Pupils by Applying Models of Integrated Education”(supervisor dr. Daiva Jakavonytė-Staškuvienė, professor at Vytautas Magnus University), dr. Oksana Mockaitytė-Rastenienė “Learning system of mathematical reasoning of primary school pupils”(supervisor dr. Vitalija Grabauskienė, associate professor at Vilnius University), dr. Giedrė Sujetaitė-Volungevičienė “Formation of Children’s Early Emotional Regulation in Play Activities”(supervisor Dr. Milda Brėdikytė, associate professor at Vytautas Magnus University), dr. Tetiana Ponomarenko “Life Experience of Teachers’ Professional Activity” (supervisor dr. Vilma Žydžiūnaitė, professor at Vytautas Magnus University), Rasa Kulevičienė “”Conscious Reflection on Learning”: a Constructivist Grounded Theory of Empowering Primary School Students to Reflect on Learning in Lithuanian Language Classes” (dissertation to be defended on 28 th of  December in 2022) (supervisor dr. Liudmila Rupšienė, Professor at Klaipėda University), dr. Irma Liubertienė “Educational Factors for Children’s Well-being at School: the Voice of Teachers” (supervisor dr. Sergejus Neifachas, Associate Professor, Vytautas Magnus University), dr. Vaiva Balčiūnienė “Students’ Body Image and Educational Possibilities of Its Correction” (supervisor dr. Rasa Jankauskienė, professor, Lithuanian University of Sports), dr. Birutė Vytytė “Liberté vs Securité and Autocratie: Grounded Theory on Stereotyping as a Challenge to Digital Game-Based Learning in Visual Arts” (supervisor dr. Ona Monkevičienė, professor at Vytautas Magnus University), dr. Rasa Mikalonytė “The Integral Effect of the Methodology of Games in a Reduced Court Area on the Training of Young Female Handball Players: the Orientation of the Physical and Technical Skills Towards Sporting Excellence” (supervisor dr. Rūtenis Paulauskas, professor at Vytautas Magnus University).
For more information: https://www.svietimonaujienos.lt/jaunuju-edukologu-akiratyje-ugdymo-realybe-ir-praktiniai-sprendimai/

The World Education Research Association (WERA) invites proposals to establish International Research Networks (IRNs). The purpose of WERA-IRNs is to advance education research worldwide on specific research topics. IRNs are collaborative groups of scholars working on a specific research topic. IRNs synthesize knowledge, examine the state of research, and stimulate collaborations or otherwise identify promising directions in research areas of worldwide significance. In order to avoid expenses and carbon footprint, IRNs work primarily through virtual communication.

Proposals to establish International Research Networks may be submitted by scholars interested in the formation of a new research group or by scholars from an existing group. Deadline for Submission: 1 February 2023
For more information: https://lera.lt/wera-irn-call-for-proposals-submission-deadline-1-february-2023-2/

Congratulations to the new PhD Rasa Kulevičienė on successfully defending her dissertation” “Conscious Returning on Learning: a Constructivist Grounded Theory of Empowering Primary School Students to Reflect on Learning in Lithuanian Language Classes” (Educational Science (S 007), supervisors: (2008-2015). (2008-2008) prof. dr. Dalia Kiliuvienė (Klaipėda University, Social Sciences, Education, S 007), (2015-2021) prof. dr. Liudmila Rupšienė (Klaipėda University, Social Sciences, Education, S 007)), and acquiring the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences in the field of Education.

The dissertation is available in the libraries of Klaipėda University, Vytautas Magnus University and Vilnius University. The dissertation can available  at: https://www.ku.lt/lt/doktoranturos-studijos-4/doktorantura/doktoranturos-studijos-1/ginamos-ir-apgintos-disertacijos-1

The  short annotation of the dissertation is presented below.

The dissertation, using a constructivist grounded theory approach according to K. Charmaz, presents a constructed theory of “conscious returning to  learning” based on empirical research data, which reveals how teachers enable primary school students to reflect on their learning in the Lithuanian language classroom, i.e. what instruments are offered and what processes are involved. The first part of the dissertation discusses the origins of philosophical reflection from Antiquity to the 20th century. The second part describes the research methodology (epistemology of constructivist grounded theory, sample, methods of data collection and analysis, ethics, limitations of the research, etc.). The third part presents the findings of the research – the categories and subcategories of grounded theory and the dimensions that characterise them. The fourth part presents the constructed theory of “conscious reflection on learning” and reveals what it is in the context of the main theories of reflection and reflexivity in learning of the XX-XXI century. In the discussion part, the findings of the empirical research are discussed in relation to philosophers’ and scientists’ ideas about reflection and empowerment to reflect. It describes the novelty of the theory of “conscious returning to  learning” and provides recommendations for authors of publications for teaching Lithuanian language, developers of online learning environments, digital tools and platforms, and primary school teachers.

Dissertation Defense Council:

Chair- prof. dr. Rūta Girdzijauskienė (Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Klaipėda University, Social Sciences, Education, S 007)
prof. dr. Daiva Jakavonytė-Staškuvienė (Vytautas Magnus University, Social Sciences, Education, S 007)
prof. dr. Aušra Kazlauskienė (Vilnius University, Social Sciences, Education, S 007)
prof. dr. Polyxeni Pange (University of Ioannina, Greece, Social Sciences, Education, S 007)
dr. Eglė Pranckūnienė (University of Klaipėda, Social Sciences, Education, S 007)

Happy Holidays!

On 22th of December in this year, the 20th Education Forum “Reality of Education Revealed and Practical Solutions for the Future” was held to present the doctoral dissertations and postdoctoral researches in the field of education that completed in 2022.  Introduction was presented by prof. dr. Romualdas Malinauskas (Chair of the Joint Doctoral Committee in Education of Lithuanian Sport, Kaunas University of Technology and Vilnius University), prof. dr. Valdonė Indrašienė (Vice-Chair of the Joint Doctoral Committee in Education of Mykolas Romeris, Vilnius University and Klaipėda University), and prof. dr. Vilma Žydžiūnaitė (Chair of the Doctoral Committee in Education of Vytautas Magnus University).

Doctoral students and researchers who participated in the postdoctoral fellowship together with their supervisors shared their scientific findings.  Key- note speakers: dr. Aušra Kolbergytė “Self-Development of Managers in the Context of Organisational Change: Experiences of Transformative Education and Conscious Personal and Professional Growth” (supervisor: Dr. Valdonė Indrašienė, professor at Mykolas Romeris University), dr. Sandra Kairė “We are Rising Like the Ocean” (supervisor dr. Irena Stonkuvienė, associate professor at Vilnius University), dr.Julija Tuleikytė “Paulo Freire and Zygmunt Bauman: Education as (De)humanization” (supervisor Dr. Lilija Duoblienė, Professor at Vilnius University), dr. Simona Daniutė “The Relationship Between the Strategies Used for Coping with Phonological Disorders and Evidence-Based Speech Therapy Practice” (supervisor dr.Lina Miltenienė, associate professor at Vytautas Magnus University), dr.Ingrida Mereckaitė-Kušleikė “Development of Lithuanian Language and Other Subject Skills of Primary School Pupils by Applying Models of Integrated Education”(supervisor dr. Daiva Jakavonytė-Staškuvienė, professor at Vytautas Magnus University), dr. Oksana Mockaitytė-Rastenienė “Learning system of mathematical reasoning of primary school pupils”(supervisor dr. Vitalija Grabauskienė, associate professor at Vilnius University), dr. Giedrė Sujetaitė-Volungevičienė “Formation of Children’s Early Emotional Regulation in Play Activities”(supervisor Dr. Milda Brėdikytė, associate professor at Vytautas Magnus University), dr. Tetiana Ponomarenko “Life Experience of Teachers’ Professional Activity” (supervisor dr. Vilma Žydžiūnaitė, professor at Vytautas Magnus University), Rasa Kulevičienė “”Conscious Reflection on Learning”: a Constructivist Grounded Theory of Empowering Primary School Students to Reflect on Learning in Lithuanian Language Classes” (dissertation to be defended on 28 th of  December in 2022) (supervisor dr. Liudmila Rupšienė, Professor at Klaipėda University), dr. Irma Liubertienė “Educational Factors for Children’s Well-being at School: the Voice of Teachers” (supervisor dr. Sergejus Neifachas, Associate Professor, Vytautas Magnus University), dr. Vaiva Balčiūnienė “Students’ Body Image and Educational Possibilities of Its Correction” (supervisor dr. Rasa Jankauskienė, professor, Lithuanian University of Sports), dr. Birutė Vytytė “Liberté vs Securité and Autocratie: Grounded Theory on Stereotyping as a Challenge to Digital Game-Based Learning in Visual Arts” (supervisor dr. Ona Monkevičienė, professor at Vytautas Magnus University), dr. Rasa Mikalonytė “The Integral Effect of the Methodology of Games in a Reduced Court Area on the Training of Young Female Handball Players: the Orientation of the Physical and Technical Skills Towards Sporting Excellence” (supervisor dr. Rūtenis Paulauskas, professor at Vytautas Magnus University). The conclusion was presented by prof. dr. Liudmila Rupšienė (President of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association) and prof. dr. Loreta Žadeikaitė (Chief Adviser of the Department of Studies, Science and Technology of the Ministry of Education and Science). The forum was moderated by: dr. Eglė Pranckūnienė (researcher at Klaipėda University), dr. Lina Bairašauskienė (lecturer at Mykolas Romeris University), dr. Odeta Merfeldaitė (professor at Mykolas Romeris University), dr. Auksė Petruškevičiūtė (associate professor at Vytautas Magnus University), dr. Irena Stonkuvienė (associate professor at Vilnius University), dr. Raimonda Brunevičiūtė (professor, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences), dr. Rita Petkevičienė (associate professor, Vilnius University), dr. Daiva Jakavonytė-Staškuvienė (professor, Vytautas Magnus University), prof. dr. Liudmila Rupšienė (President of the Lithuanian Association for Educational Research), prof. dr. Loreta Žadeikaitė (Chief Advisor, Department of Studies, Science and Technology, Ministry of Education). The full recording of the forum can be viewed on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi81kIN6JSI

On the basis of the 19th Education Forum, “Informatic Thinking on the Road to Digital Transformation: How not to Get Lost”, the article “Digital Changes and Informatic Thinking” was published in Education News. Looking for answers to questions raised by changes in education, encouraging the education community to discuss them and together to find solutions to the discussed problems, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, together with the Lithuanian Educational Research Association, continues the cycle of education forums. The latest 19th forum was devoted to the topic of informational thinking, which is increasingly encountered on the path of the digital transformation of Lithuanian education.

In 2022, December 22 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. the Educational Forum “Revealed Reality of Education and Practical Solutions for the Future” will be held for the presentation of doctoral dissertations and post-doctoral studies in the field of education defended in 2022.

We are kindly invite representatives of educational sciences, researchers, PhD students, representatives of general education and higher education institutions, representatives of education and science policy, analysts, and all those who are interested in the changes in education policy and education, the quality of educational research, and the use of the results for decision-making and improvement of educational practice.

About Key- Note Speakers

Rasa Mikalonytė – graduate of Varėna “Oak” gymnasium (2011). In 2015, she graduated from the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport, and in 2017 – a Master’s Degree in Sport. In 2022, she defended her dissertation in the field of social sciences (educational sciences) at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) on the topic “The Integral Effect of the Methodology of Playing in a Reduced Court Area on the Training of Young Female Handball Players: the Orientation of the Physical and Technical Abilities Towards Sports Excellence”.

Rasa is a lecturer at VMU, a senior researcher at the Sports Science Research Laboratory of the VMU Academy of Education, and a teacher of Physical Education at the VMU Lyceum “Sokratus”.

Rasa is also active in sports and has represented Lithuania at the European Handball Championships in Serbia, where she was twice awarded the best player of the match (2009); she was a member of the Lithuanian junior and women’s national handball teams, and won a bronze medal at the Lithuanian Women’s Handball Championships (2011).

Her scientific interests are in the field of sports games: handball, coaching, sports.

Dr. Aušra Kolbergytė is a researcher at Mykolas Romeris University’s Lifelong Learning Laboratory and a lecturer at the Institute of Education and Social Work. She has been theoretically and practically interested in various personality development practices and the context of transformative self-education for about 15 years.

in 2016 defended her doctoral thesis “Adult Self-Education as Transformative Education”, in which the phenomenon of self-education is revealed on physical, mental, spiritual and social levels.

Aušra devoted the last couple of years to the post-doctoral project “Self-education of managers in the context of organizational changes: experiences of transformative education and conscious personal and professional growth”, and prepared a monograph based on this project. The study was funded by the European Social Fund under measure no. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712 “Education of competences of scientists, other researchers and students through practical scientific activities”.

Areas of research interests: self-development, awareness development, emotional intelligence, spiritual healing, personal effectiveness and change, lifelong learning, adult education.

Simona Daniutė defended her dissertation in the field of Educational Sciences at Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy in 2022 on the topic “The Links Between the Applied Strategies for Coping with Phonological Disorders and Evidence-Based Speech Therapy Practice”. Lecturer at the Academy of Education of Vytautas Magnus University, junior researcher. She also has practical experience in providing speech therapy support to preschool and (pre)school children (qualification category – methodologist speech therapist). Simona is actively involved in various professional activities, publishes articles in scientific journals, and gives presentations nationally and internationally. She is a member of the Council of the Lithuanian Speech and Language Therapy Association (LLA).

Her research interests include speech and language disorders; evidence-based speech therapy practice.

Rasa Kulevičienė will defend her dissertation in the field of social sciences education at Klaipėda University on 28 December 2022 on the topic “Conscious Reflection on Learning: a Constructivist Grounded Theory of Empowering Primary School Students to Reflect on Learning in Lithuanian Language Lessons”. Rasa lecturer at the Department of Pedagogy, Faculty of Business, Klaipėda State College, member of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association.

Research interests – language education of primary school students, reflexive learning.

Sandra Kairė defended her doctoral dissertation in the field of education in 2018, which was awarded a letter of commendation in the 2019 Lithuanian Academy of Sciences competition for the best scientific works of young scientists and doctoral students.In the period 2020-2022, she carried out a postdoctoral fellowship “We Rise Like the Ocean: the Learner’s Relationship to Education in the Anthropocene Epoch”. Since 2021 she is the Director of the Institute of Educational Sciences at Vilnius University.

Her research interests include intercultural education, experiential learning, youth activism and education, children of the Anthropocene and their learning, visuality and education, and phenomenological and image-based research in education.

Irma Liubertienė on the 29 of September in 2022 “Educational Factors Creating Children’s Well-being at School: the Voice of Teachers”. In her dissertation, she delved into the concept of children’s well-being and the modelling of contexts of its expression in school. The study reveals a predictive model for the creation(s) of children’s well-being in school from the perspective of educational factors.

Irma is actively involved in national and international presentations, is a member of the Council of the Lithuanian Association for Social Emotional Education, and is the coordinator of the International Society for Emotional Intelligence in Lithuania.

Her research interests include well-being at school, social and emotional education, emotional intelligence.

Oksana Mockaitytė-Rastenienė on the 27th of  June in 2022  defended her dissertation “The System of Learning Mathematical Reasoning in Primary School Students” at Vytautas Magnus University.

For more than 20 years O. Mockaitytė- Rastenienė has worked as a primary school teacher for more than 20 years. Since 2018, she has been an assistant professor at the Institute of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Philosophy, Vilnius University.

In the 2019 ESF project “I create, build, discover maths with Lego” O. Mockaitytė-Rastenienė was a consultant and activity developer for this project. The project was evaluated and awarded as the most innovative and relevant European Union Structural Funds investment project in the “European Sails 2019” competition organised by the Ministry of Finance.

Dr. O. Mockaitytė-Rastenienė’s master’s thesis “Development of Logical Accuracy of Mathematical Reasoning in Primary Grades” was awarded the diploma of the laureate of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences Higher School Students’ Scientific Works Award in 2016.

Research interests: visualisation of mathematical education, learning of mathematical reasoning, digitisation of mathematical content, didactics of mathematics, education of primary school students, education of gifted children, childhood digitisation technologies, organisation of education of primary school students.