The Vytautas Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute of Vytautas Magnus University (VDU) has started implementing the University Excellence Initiative Project (SOCMTEP) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania. The main project, which started in 2023 and will last until 2027. end, the aim is to strengthen the Institute’s scientific research and experimental development (R&D) activities in order to improve the quality of Lithuanian scientific production and raise the competences of scientists.
Objectives of the University Excellence Project
The project to strengthen research and experimental development (R&D) activities will provide greater opportunities to achieve and maintain the highest recognition in the most promising scientific areas of the V. Kavolis Institute, to contribute to the development of scientific infrastructure and to strengthen the scientific competences of the Institute’s researchers.
The project will also promote the attraction and development of early career researchers. During the implementation of the project until 2027 it is intended to recruit 29 early career researchers (8 new researchers, 4 postdoctoral trainees and 17 doctoral students), who will engage in scientific activities together with experienced researchers and thus acquire the necessary competencies for the development of a scientific career.
“This is one of the first projects financed by public funds, which is focused on the training of the young generation of researchers. I think that this is an extremely important part of the university ecosystem, not only for strengthening our research teams, but also for thinking about the future of the university as an academic community”, says the director of the V. Kavolis Institute and SOCMTEP project manager Assoc. Dr. Jurga Bučaitė-Vilkė.doc. Dr. Jurga Bučaitė-Vilkė”This is one of the first projects financed by public funds, which is focused on the training of the young generation of researchers. I think that this is an extremely important part of the university ecosystem, not only for strengthening our research teams, but also for thinking about the future of the university as an academic community”, says the director of the V. Kavolis Institute and SOCMTEP project manager Assoc. Dr. Jurga Bučaitė-Vilkė.
Trainings for deepening the competences of researchers
One of the main activities of the Excellence Project is strengthening the competences of researchers. Until 2027 it is planned to organize 32 theoretical and practical trainings aimed at deepening various knowledge and competences of researchers. Part of the training will be aimed at introducing researchers to the latest methods of social and humanitarian sciences with a strong focus on data collection, analysis and processing. datafication) for strategies and tools. Another part of the training will invite both early-career and experienced researchers to deepen the managerial and administrative skills and knowledge of application preparation, thereby encouraging researchers to attract external R&D funds and expand international partnerships.
Every year, training will also be organized to encourage researchers to pay attention to important additional steps in the implementation of scientific research, such as strategies for disseminating research results to the public, creating and maintaining cooperation with social partners, practical use of scientific research results in public policy-making processes or the business sector, etc.
Leadership workshops for early career researchers is another project activity that is expected to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to develop an independent scientific career. This initiative is also successfully implemented at the University of Helsinki, where an Academic Leadership and Career Planning course is offered to early-career researchers to help them develop leadership skills and strategic planning of research topics.
During the project, great attention will also be paid to the development of relations with the public and to discussing the perspectives of using the results of scientific research. The Institute’s researchers will invite members of the public to round table discussions and will seek to create wider collaborative networks with interested groups.
About the V. Kavolis Institute
The V. Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute of Vytautas Magnus University is the 2023 the first consolidated scientific institute in Lithuania was founded, operating within the university and connecting researchers from more than 10 fields of social sciences and humanities in transdisciplinary groups to solve thematic challenges of society. The scientific activity of the Institute is based on the idea of transdisciplinary research, with the aim of expanding the boundaries of traditional scientific fields and developing horizontal and vertical research directions and topics. The name of the institute is associated with the ideas and works of Vytautas Martynas Kavolis (1930–1999), a prominent expatriate scientist, sociologist, publicist, and public figure, who also left an imprint on the restored Vytautas the Great University.
Tags: Kavolis Institute aim develop competences early career scientists
