Higher Education In Lithuania Research Articles

Dirbtinis intelektas aukštajame moksle: viešosios komunikacijos Lietuvoje aspektas

Education and higher education institutions can use artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency of teaching and learning processes or support learners. However, they also face many challenges related to academic integrity and acquiring the required knowledge and skills. The changes have been particularly evident with the introduction of artificial intelligence tools. For this reason, the past year has seen an increase in scholarly research and dissemination of information about the opportunities, challenges, and problems of using artificial intelligence in higher education. In Lithuania, there are no studies on the impact of artificial intelligence on changes in teaching and learning methods in higher education and related topics. Since the development of artificial intelligence tools is extremely fast, and users can quickly use them in various activities, it is necessary to urgently analyse the problem and look for possible solutions to the problems that have arisen. The article aims to examine the issue of artificial intelligence in higher education and analyse public communication about AI in higher education in Lithuania. The research results showed that official and public communication about the use of AI in Lithuanian higher education is insufficient. There is neither communication about specific challenges arising for Lithuanian higher education, comments from Lithuanian higher education institutions and other education representatives, nor recommendations to higher education institutions regarding the application of AI provided. As a result, higher education institutions or academic staff have to analyse the current situation and make decisions independently and quickly. In the face of a lack of communication, after analysing the sources and considering the available experience on plagiarism prevention, comparative advice for the academic staff on AI and plagiarism prevention is presented.

Eduardas Volteris in the Milieu of the Founders of the University of Lithuania and Their Cultural Relations

The aim of the article is to analyse and evaluate the contribution of Professor Eduardas Volteris (1856–1941), an archaeologist, ethnographer, folklore writer, and bibliographer, in the development of cultural relations and cultural expression of the Lithuanian academic intelligentsia in independent Lithuania. The sources analysed in the article evidence the significance of Eduardas Volteris’s organisational and research work in the process of the establishment of higher education in independent Lithuania between 1920 and 1922. His ambition to prioritise the humanities in higher education in Lithuania, his initiative to promote academic relations of the evolving academic community, and his wish to support the cultural transnationalism greatly benefited the development of the cultural perspective in independent Lithuania. Eduardas Volteris sought that the studies of general global humanities at the newly- established Lithuanian University be linked with the nurturing of Lithuanian cultural heritage and its dissemination. It was thanks to the implementation of these attitudes voiced by Eduardas Volteris and other intellectuals that the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Lithuania became an important basis for the development of cultural identity in the society. Prof. Volteris attempted to involve the professors and students of Kaunas in heritage studies and public cultural life. Volteris’s experience in and contribution to the organisation of academic and cultural cooperation was extensive. The professor encouraged the establishment and activities of the Lithuanian-Latvian Unity Society, a cultural relations organisation. Although the organisation was not numerous, its activities helped to expand the cultural contacts of the academic community not only in the Baltic region; it also took part in international intellectual and cultural organisations and facilitated the dissemination of different cultures in Lithuania. Eduardas Volteris was interested not only in the culture of the city, the land, and the people, in the names of the mounds, the local language. His cultural research was also linked to the cultural policy of the modern state, the ambition to understand the characteristics of modernity through the people’s attitudes and culture. Volteris can be attributed to the elite of the creators of collective historical and cultural memory in the edification of the Lithuanian public. The participation of the academic intelligentsia in the development of the historical self-awareness of the society was crucial has been throughout the years of existence of independent Lithuania. The impact of scholars in the field of mass cultural expression has become particularly relevant in the current context of new geopolitical tensions, Russia’s growing imperial ideology, and its policy of direct aggression, which is based on its own constructed narrative of history. In this contemporary context, Eduardas Volteris’s aspirations and the work he started in modernising Lithuania between the two world wars remain a source of valuable experience.

The Interaction Between Understanding of Critical Thinking and Teaching/Learning of Critical Thinking Skills

This article aims to present the interaction between understanding of critical thinking and teaching and learning of critical thinking skills in higher education in Lithuania. Representative quantitative research was implemented, and 152 teachers and 1512 students took part in the survey. Exploratory factor analysis revealed two factors – the rigidity and elasticity of the conception of critical thinking – that have an impact on teaching and learning of critical thinking skills.

Legal Framework for the Training of Health Care Specialists in the Health Care System of Lithuania to Work with the Disabled

Abstract Introduction: Health care is one of the most important fields not only in individual countries, but globally as well, yet it remains one of the most sensitive topics, too. Global organisations have calculated that one out of seven residents around the world has some sort of disability. It is very likely that due to various processes, the number of people with disabilities will increase. Therefore, the world in general and each country in particular, Lithuania included, faces a great challenge: to ensure suitable and high-quality accessibility to health care services for the disabled. Each country must have clear political guidelines and strategies how to ensure training of health care specialists qualified and able to carry out their tasks when working with the disabled. Therefore, this article analyses global trends of training specialists to work with the disabled and legal basis of such specialist training in Lithuania. Methods: This article features analysis of scientific literary sources and legal documents. Results: International and national Lithuanian documents have clearly established that people with disabilities have equal rights to health care services like the rest of the population without any reservations, so this norm must be established adhering to the principles of accessibility, suitability and universality, and which basically should be ensured by health care specialists. However, document analysis has revealed that documents governing the training of health care specialists in Lithuania and processes related to it pay little attention to the training of future health care specialists to work with the disabled, while descriptions of some specific areas of studies, e.g. dentistry, pharmacy, etc. designed to train health care specialists do no address the work with the disabled at all. Discussion and conclusions: Analysis has revealed that institutions of higher education in Lithuania that train health care specialists are not legally entitled to, other requirements aside, to focus the study process on the work with the disabled. Therefore, it begs the question whether such specialists are actually ready to implement the requirements guiding the provision of health care services and ensure top-quality and proper provision of services to all members of the society, irrespective of their special needs, disabilities, etc. Therefore, this article can serve as a basis for further research related to the training of health care specialists to work with the disabled in order to identify what practice is applied in this area in other countries, as well as to ensure it internationally, what are the options and means required to implement it and how to improve the training of health care specialists as much as possible to work with the disabled ensuring the quality of health care in particular and their life in general.

MODERN SOCIETY BUILDING THROUGH HIGHER EDUCATION IN LITHUANIAN AFTER 1918

The development of the modern state of Lithuania after the declaration of independence on February 16th, 1918 triggered many changes both in the development of the state and processes related to modern society building. Education and the opening of modern university in Lithuania was closely related to historical, social and political changes. The occupation of Vilnius and the transfer of the most important state governing and state developing institutions to Kaunas as the temporary capital of Lithuania was closely related to the establishment of Lithuanian University in Kaunas in 1922. The society was also impacted by the socio-historical context since some members of the society took an active part processes of the emergence of the Lithuanian University as the establishment of modern system of higher education in Lithuania. Taking into consideration not only the historical context and the approaching celebration of one hundred years of the opening of modern Lithuanian University in Kaunas in 2022, this article aims to discuss processes, factors and context that made prerequisites for the development of modern university in Lithuania in Kaunas in 1922 that, in turn, influenced the development of modern society and nation with a specific focus on its identity.

FINANCIAL AUTONOMY OF LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITIES

The analysis of legislative support of higher education of Lithuania was carried out. It was found out that the right to higher education in Lithuania is guaranteed by the Constitution of Lithuania. It was revealed that higher education is based on the principles of academic freedom and autonomy, openness and responsibility to society, competition between higher education institutions and students in accordance with the Law on Higher Education and Research 2009. As a result of higher education reform, elements of performance-based funding in the form of performance agreements between universities and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport were introduced. The indicators of measuring the results for such agreements were determined. They are: accessibility and usefulness of education; quality of research (art and education); internationalization of research and education, integrity of research and education. The sources of funding for higher education in Lithuania have been identified. They include: state budget financial resources for study and research, for maintenance and administration of university, funds of state investment in the infrastructure program, tuition fees, income received from international research and development programs and from orders of legal entities. The main features of the voucher system in higher education of Lithuania were revealed. In particular, the government sets a standardized study price is the cost of a voucher; students have the right to choose study programs and to raise funds for the selected higher education institution; a voucher given for a university student is valid for two years; vouchers can be provided to private universities; the government has allocated funds for six main areas: social sciences, humanities, physical sciences, biomedical sciences, art studies and technological sciences. The indicators of financial autonomy of Lithuanian universities were analysed.

HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS’ IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY

Despite the strong public interest in the accountability and efficiency in education spending on higher education institutions (HEIs) in Lithuania, there are currently no existing studies which have examined the impact of HEIs on the country’s economy. In the present study, we have used a disaggregated input-output table for Lithuania’s tertiary education institutions in order to determine the output value added to the local economy by the presence of HEIs. The results of the study have revealed that HEIs contribute to the Lithuanian economy in the period of (2010–2016), with the average of gross domestic output (GDP) of 298.48 mln. euros. The present study is the first of its kind to use input-output table evaluate the impact of HEIs on Lithuania’s economy, and its results could be of significant value to the current policy debates regarding the status of higher education in Lithuania.

Integration of entrepreneurship into higher education as a premise for youth well-being in Lithuania and Latvia


 The purpose of this article is to highlight the aspects of integration of entrepreneurship into higher education in Lithuania and Latvia. The promotion of youth entrepreneurship as a means of improving youth well-being in these countries has recently attracted increasing attention from scholars and policy makers. The integration of entrepreneurship into higher education is one of strategic pathways in the improvement of the quality of higher education and the promotion of youth effective participation in labour market. It is argued in the article that integration of entrepreneurship into higher education is supposed to be the factor of the development of Lithuania and Latvia’s socio-economic situation. Models of youth’s entrepreneurial competencies are highlighted theoretically and some empirical insights on which competencies students from Lithuanian and Latvian universities would like to have acquired are provided.

ISSUES OF FINANCING LITHUANIAN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Higher education of Lithuania and its legal regulations constantly undergo various changes – both necessary and timely, as well as quite chaotic and fragmented. There have recently been a number of reforms implemented in the field of higher education in Lithuania, related to the financing of higher education, management, transformations of the influence of the state institutions on higher education institutions. The new reform of the whole system of higher education is being planned to begin in 2017, it is announced that there will be a drastic decrease in the number of public institutions of higher education and this should lead to improvement of the quality of studies and to better allocation of state finances. The object of the research is features and problems of the financing of higher education in Lithuania. The aim of the research is to present the system of higher education in Lithuania, to evaluate trends in financing of higher education and to determine shortages of legal regulation of this field, disclose problems related to dysfunctions of legal regulations and shortcomings of practical applications. After analysing the main provisions of the financing reform of higher education in Lithuania and evaluating the first results of the reform, conclusions regarding the main shortages and advantages of the reform are provided, other financing alternatives for higher education are suggested.

KAI VILNIAUS UNIVERSITETAS BUVO UŽDARYTAS: VILNIAUS UNIVERSITETO GEOLOGINIAI RINKINIAI VILNIAUS SENIENŲ MUZIEJUJE

In Vilnius University Geology museum gathered, scientifically unique, material was never hidden from society. These resources are perfectly fit for: education, geoscientific knowledge propagation, informal natural science education (Rudnickaitė, 2003; 2007; 2012; ect.). When writing about the geology and mineralogy collections of Vilnius University, the Vilnius Museum of Antiquities and the Department of Natural History of the Museum of Antiquities under the Vilnius Public Library are always necessarily, though often fragmentarily, mentioned. This is an attempt to identify the part of the Geological collections that was transferred to the Vilnius Museum of Antiquities compiled by associate member of the Vilnius Temporary Archaeological Commission, teacher of natural sciences of the Vilnius 1st boys’ gymnasium, Kajetan Tamulewicz (1828-1870), a catalogue of the Department of Natural History of the Museum of Antiquities under the Vilnius Public Library from 1905, a catalogue of mineralogy compiled by a professor of the Vilnius Medicine and Surgery Academy and the author of several textbooks in mineralogy, Ignacy Jakowicki (1794-1847), from 1836 and other known sources. The scientific quality of the collections, their structure and more outstanding exibits are discussed. A small part of the collections, which were taken away in the 1840s and brought back from the Ilya Mechnikov State University in Odessa to the Geology and Mineralogy Museum of Vilnius University by professor Juozas Paškevičius and Eugenija Rudnickaitė on 23 May 1986, has also been used for the research. The author attempts to identify the exibits of the geological collections of Vilnius University that remained in Vilnius and were subsequently transferred to the Vilnius Museum of Antiquities (later, the Museum of Antiquities under the Vilnius Public Library) by comparing the list of exibits returned from the University of Odesa with the data in Jakowicki’s catalogue. It was mentioned in the minutes of the annual session of the Vilnius Temporary Archaeological Commission of 11 January 1858 that the systematically arranged collections became an excellent teaching aid for young people aspiring to education, and during the last year the museum received 11,800 visitors. The author can assert that the Vilnius Museum of Antiquities made a great contribution to society’s education and training of school children, the development of the science of geology and mineralogy in the period when there was no institution of higher education in Lithuania. E.Tyszkiewich had an exclusive role in this activity - he continued geological research even after the closure of the Vilnius Museum of Antiquities. Keywords: Museum of Geology, Vilnius University, Vilnius Museum of Antiquities, informal natural science education, geology, education, museum.

Internationalization of Higher Education: Lithuanian Experience in Bologna Process and Beyond

The purpose of the article is to investigate the influence of international documents on the process of internationalization of higher education and to identify political, legal, organizational, financial pre-requisites for internationalization of higher education in Lithuania. Method of comparative critical analysis of references was employed for the study.

Didactic Approach of Introducing Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Curriculum in Higher Education

Learning and technology has penetrated people's daily lives in so many multiple ways and spheres that learning process may not be planned separated from technology. Researchers agree that ICT as such cannot improve educational processes, but ICT may trigger and enable the use of innovative methods that make learning more efficient and more attractive to learners in higher education. Contemporary young learners in higher education are eager to embrace technology enriched learning curriculum, but the question of this paper is whether teaching staff in higher education is ready and holds the necessary skills to construct and use technology enhanced learning curriculum.The object of the paper is didactics of TEL curriculum and it's requirements for teaching staff in higher education. The purpose of the study is to analyze didactic parameters of technology rich curriculum in higher education. The purpose of this study is achieved by attaining these goals: (1) Introducing the main characteristics of technology enhanced learning; (2) Identifying didactic requirements for technology enhanced learning curriculum in higher education; (3) Analyzing teaching staff's readiness and skills to construct and use technology enhanced learning curriculum. Methods of the research are analysis of scientific literature, quantitative survey of teaching staff in higher education in Lithuania and statistical analysis of the survey results. The conclusions will show the main didactic requirements of TEL and readiness of teaching staff in higher education to perform it.

Changes in Quality of Lithuanian Higher Education: The Aspect of Organisational Learning

<p><em>This article deals with processes of change in quality of higher education in Lithuania, focusing on the aspect of organisational learning of the academic community. It is maintained that organizational learning empowers teachers of higher educational institutions to pursue common aims, develop their competencies at individual and collective levels, adapt to the constantly changing environment and accumulate new knowledge, reflecting on their activities. These processes and their implementation are determined by modern management of the higher educational institution, promoting every member of the academic community (teacher) to become a member of the learning organisation individually and in a team. Collective knowledge created in such manner undoubtedly makes impact on quality of higher education.</em></p><p> </p><p> </p>

Transnational Higher Education in Lithuania

International Higher Education (IHE) publishes insightful, informed, and high-quality commentary and analysis on trends and issues of importance to higher education systems, institutions, and stakeholders around the world.

The Impact of Lithuanian Science and Study Reform on University Activities (Admission): A Case of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

Abstract Education and research are among the most important issues in every country, as only educated society develops its prosperity. In order to meet society's needs, education and research have to be developed. After the independence was gained in 1991, higher education in Lithuania was reformed in 2000 and 2009. The latest reform intended to change higher education funding system, management of higher schools and attitude towards the improvement of study quality. As the activities of higher schools depend on the State subsidies and number of students, i.e. funding, it is very important to reach good admission results. This article deals with the main principles of higher education reform in Lithuania and how the situation has changed in the field of admission to Lithuanian higher schools, including Vilnius Gediminas Technical University.

Prisoner’s Higher Education in Lithuania and Foreign Countries: Possibilities and Motives

This article presents the educational aspects of prisoner access to higher education while in detention. The theoretical overview discusses the Lithuanian and foreign scientific resources, analyzing the importance of education for all human beings, no matter whether they are incarcerated or not. The empirical part, consists of surveys and questionnaires collected from Ministries of Justice, and other institutions that collect data on prisoners pursuing higher education in seven foreign countries. The empirical evidence highlights the possibilities of and motives for achieving a higher education degree by those performing custodial sentences in prison.
 The third paragraph of article 24 in Lithuanian law of education No. 38-1804 [11] addresses the right to education for every citizen and legal alien having a permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Lithuania. The state guarantees the right to primary and secondary education. It also provides for accessibility to higher education, vocational training, and graduate degree programs. The law of education in Article 33, also addresses access to education for socially underprivileged people such as families living in poverty, refugees, people who have dropped out from school at an early age, unemployed, people with addiction problems, as well as those returning from correctional institutions. Thus, despite the social situation in Lithuania, the education system is designed so that it is available to everyone. In order to promote their effective adjustment into the community, disadvantaged individuals need access to education through social services and education assistance programs.
 This article aims to investigate the opportunities for access to higher education available to prisoners in detention and to understand the motivation.
 Objective – the availability of higher education in the Lithuanian prison system and the motivation.
 The article utilizes the following methods:
 Theoretical: the article reviews the scientific literature and legal analysis of documents of both Lithuanian and foreign authors, sources of information and insight into the normative documents of the formed provisions.
 Empirical: Surveys conducted with justice ministries or institutions that collect information about higher education for convicts, in seven foreign countries were conducted. Semi-structured interviews with prisoners who have acquired and the benefitted from higher education were also conducted with a written survey.
 The results of the questionnaire demonstrated that prisoners have a high level of desire to improve themselves through the selection of higher education, while free time is mentioned as a necessary component.
 Of the surveyed countries, representatives of institutions indicated that prisoners have the opportunity to study in higher education, but this opportunity depends upon certain circumstances.
 Lithuanian law provides higher education opportunities for socially excluded, at-risk groups. Imprisoned persons have a high level of motivation to be successful in the higher education and for learning. Thus, higher education institutions should have close cooperation with the correctional institutions.

The Reform of Higher Education in Lithuania and the Actualities of National Security

The Reform of Higher Education in Lithuania and the Actualities of National Security

UNIVERSITY RESERVES MANAGEMENT: INTERNATIONAL PRACTICES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR LITHUANIA

The article considers the new opportunities for university reserves management arising in the process of transition to non-profit institution model in Lithuania. Authors review historical background of university funding and significance of endowments. The role of endowments in leading USA and UK universities is analyzed. Structural differences and common trends in the mix of public and private funding of higher education in different countries are showed. Authors analyse the transition from budgetary to nonprofit institution in higher education in Lithuania since 2009 and suggest practical approach to university reserve creation, funds management and financial endowment build-up in the new institutional framework of higher education in Lithuania.

CREATING A SUITABLE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AT THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION CONSIDERING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES / AUKŠTŲJŲ MOKYKLŲ FIZINĖS APLINKOS PRITAIKYMAS NEĮGALIŲJŲ REIKMĖMS

The main purpose of this work is to develop a model for meas­uring the suitability of a physical environment at the institu­tions of higher education considering the needs of students with disabilities. The article examines the progress in this field under regulations made by the system of indicators and carried out expert survey employing the ranking method. To establish the significance of the developed programs, the importance of calculated indicators and their groups has been determined thus making a model for evaluating the physical environment suitable for the needs of students with disabilities at any institution of higher education in Lithuania. Santrauka Darbo esmė – sudaryti modelį, pagal kurį būtų galima įvertinti bet kurią aukštąją mokyklą: ar jos fizinė aplinka pritaikyta neįgaliesiems. Straipsnyje apžvelgti šioje srityje nuveikti darbai. Pagal reglamento (LRS 2001) reikalavimus suda­ryta rodiklių sistema ir, atlikus ekspertų apklausą rangavimo metodu, nustatytas jų reikšmingumas. Apskaičiuotas rodiklių ir jų grupių reikšmingumas. Sudarytas modelis, pagal kurį galima vertinti bet kurios aukštosios mokyklos fizinės aplinkos pritaiky­mą neįgalių studentų poreikiams.

Funding of Higher Education in Lithuania in the Context of Foreign Experience

During the last decade, a significant development of higher education in Western Europe (WE) and OECD countries took place, particularly in Lithuania. The general number of tertiary students increased up to 2.9 times within the period 1996-2003. However, at the same time funding per student significantly decreased. The article addresses private and public higher education benefits and states that to ensure additional periodic funding of higher education it is necessary to target more to the new funding mechanisms which allow for different process participants to share in a more efficient way the educational costs and benefits. Advantages and deficiencies of different types (models) of loans used by students in foreign countries are provided, stating that the greatest number of advantages when funding investments to higher education is found in income-contingent loans.In the opinion of the authors, in order to increase the funding of higher education we should refer more to students’ payments for studies, at the same time increasing financial support for students when granting loans and providing the opportunities for all students to get such support.