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ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0689-5071 Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Irena-Kaffemaniene |
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Research Area: |
Innovations in inclusive education and meeting special educational needs |
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Scientific Interests: |
Meeting children's special educational needs, individualization of education, social skills’ educaton; training of special pedagogues, issues of study quality |
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Present Position: |
Associate Professor |
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Education: |
PhD in social sciences (education) |
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Experience (Past Positions): |
Associate Professor (since 1994) Director of the Institute of Education (2021-2022) |
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Publications: |
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Study subjects: |
Early meeting of special needs; Education and meeting special educational needs; Social research methods. Course work; Play theory |
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Projects: |
2021-2022, "Optimizing the network of higher education institutions and improving the quality of studies by connecting Šiauliai University to Vilnius University", project code no. 09.3.1-ESFA-V-738-03-0001, expert. 2014-2015 - Šiauliai municipal activity program No. 11: Cooperation of the municipality with Šiauliai University, implementing the sub-measure of the program "Analysis of characteristics of a good school". Comp. No. SŽ-661/06-47-SU-40. 2011 - Improving the quality of the activities and services of health care institutions by raising the qualifications of employees. Training of specialized professional knowledge and skills for employees providing health care services. UAB Fiat Lux Training Department; Lithuanian Association of Physician Managers. Order No. 20110401-1. 2010-2011 - Update of study programs by implementing the problem-based teaching method (PROMOK) No. VPI-2.2.-ŠMM-07-K-01-101. 2009-2010 - Development of forms of education for persons with special needs. Code no. VP1-2.3-ŠMM-04-V-01-004. |
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Internships, Grants: |
2017 – Erasmus+ visit to the University of Wroclaw (Poland). 2015 – internship at Daugavpils University and Rezekne Higher School "From international contacts to interdisciplinary scientific results". 2014 – project cooperation visit: General Recommendations for accessible studies process organizing for people with disabilities. Recommendations for Inclusive Vocational and Higher Education for Persons with Disabilities. Lifelong Learning Program - Leonardo da Vinci Partnership. Trieste, Italy. 2013 – Internship, Rome, Italy: International Institute for the Study of Contemporary Youth Problems "City of Boys"; Foster homes for adults with intellectual and/or mental disabilities; Autism Research Center "Una Breccia nel muro". 2013 – Project "Preparation and implementation of the second cycle joint study program Social work in cooperation with the University "Ukraine" (SOCNET)", No. VP1-2.2-ŠMM-07-K-02-069. 2011 - Open International University of Human Development "Ukraine". "Preparation of a feasibility study for the possible development and implementation of a joint study program of the II cycle in the field of social sciences in cooperation with the University of Ukraine (GASPA). SFMIS no. VP1-2.2-ŠMM-07-K-02-002". Kyiv, Ukraine 2010-11 - Aalborg University, Denmark. Updating study programs by implementing the problem-based teaching method (PROMOK). VP1-2.2-ŠMM-07-K-01-101. |
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Applied research projects: |
2016 – Research commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Science "Research on education and educational support in special schools and special education centers". Contract no. JS2016-1, 28/09/2016. 2014 – Šiauliai commissioned study by the municipality "Characteristics of a good school". 2010 – commissioned study "Investigation of the diversity of forms of education for persons with special needs. The experience of educating students with special needs in Lithuania". 2010 – Commissioned study of the Department of Disability Affairs "The effectiveness of information accessibility for the disabled and its dissemination". |
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Awards: |
2018 – acknowledgment, Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania. 2015 – acknowledgment, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania. 2010 – acknowledgment, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania. 2008 – acknowledgment, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania. |
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Other Related Activities: |
2022 - Chairperson of the Committee of the master's study program Special Education. 2018-2020 - Chairperson of the committee of the bachelor's study program 612MX042 Special Education and Speech Therapy. 2018 - R&D comparative assessment contact person responsible for the preparation of the self-analysis of the Education and Special Pedagogy. 2014 - R&D comparative assessment contact person of the Faculty of Education, responsible for preparing the self-analysis. 2014-2016 - Member of the Disability and Social Welfare Study Program Evaluation Committee. 2013-2015 - Head of the Study Quality Center of the Faculty of Disability and Social Welfare Studies. 2010-2016 - Chairperson of the committee of the bachelor's study program 612X17001 Special Education (specializations Speech therapy; Autism spectrum and behavioral disorders). 2005-2016 – Member of the Council of the Faculty of Disability and Social Welfare Studies. Member of the Lithuanian Union of Scientists. Member of the Lithuanian, European, World Educational Research Association (LERA; EERA; WERA). Member of the International Society on Early Intervention (ISEI). |