“Lituanistika”, International Research Database
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Disturbing values: historic thematic framework as a tool to deal with the soviet architectural legacy
No full textThe value of cultural heritage is a constantly evolving and debated issue in heritage theory. While primarily the focus was on tangible qualities, intangible values gained more importance in the twenty-first century. However, in some cases, it can be complicated to evaluate the intangible values of specific artefacts with politically disturbing associations, such as Soviet architecture in a post-Soviet context. Based on a Lithuanian case study, the paper contributes to the debate on the value of Soviet architecture, focusing not on individual buildings but on broader themes. By using framework analysis as a conceptual background, the article analyzes the legacy of the Soviet past not as physical objects but as cultural references. Interpreting "cultural references" as containers of social and cultural meanings that are much broader than just the embodiment of the ideological system, the paper suggests that dissonance should not lead to the uncompromising delisting and probably the destruction of the built heritage of troublesome past. Although the article focuses on the evaluation of Soviet architecture in a post-Soviet context, the conceptual approach can contribute to the broader debate on postcolonial heritage globally. Keywords: built heritage; dissonant heritage; postcolonial heritage; cultural reference; Soviet architectural legacy; thematic framework
State and university tensions in Baltic higher education language policy
No full textThis article explores state and university language policy (LP) agents in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to illuminate their relationship and standpoints in higher education language management. Being interested in who stands for what and whose positions are legitimised, we study the higher education LPs of each state, language principles of universities, and public debates. We conceptualise active LP agents as people with power, people with expertise, people with influence, and people with interest, and consider them to exercise agency in five stages: policy initiation, involvement, influence, intervention, and implementation. By means of argumentation analysis we examine the nature of agents together with the standpoints they express. The findings reveal the central role of most of the nationally oriented state policymakers in university language management in all three settings. Other state policymakers, university administrators, staff, and students become active agents when they disagree with the policies. Agents in each setting share the overarching policy goal, but the main difference of opinion that arises among them is about agency: Should the state or universities implement higher education LPs? And is the state capable of achieving the common policy goal when it takes the task upon itself? Keywords: language policy agency, multi-layered policy, nation-state, higher education, university autonomy, argumentation analysis, the Baltic state
The Skills of critical thinking, creativity, and communication as tools for overcoming social simulation in the context of sustainability: a case study of students' self-assessment of the affective domain of learning
No full textIn the context of sustainability, this paper analyses the phenomenon of social simulation in the case of the affective domain of learning. Social simulation is defined in a variety of ways in dictionaries and handbooks published by universities. Still, for the purposes of this article, we will use the definitions of social simulation that are appropriate to the context of the study, and that are associated with fake or misleading actions. They are seen in the article as inherent in social manipulation, which comes in various forms, such as propaganda or fake news spread in the media, and hence disinformation. Social simulation is contrasted with sustainability, not only as an environmental but also as a socio-economic phenomenon, embedded in three types of skills: critical thinking, creativity and communication. The authors of the paper take the position that these three types of capabilities can ensure sustainability by overcoming social simulation. This paper develops a study aimed at assessing the three types of skills mentioned above by students of the Faculty of Creative Industries of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania) to avoid the threats posed by social simulation. In the course of the research, data on the communicative, creative and critical-thinking abilities of first-year students were obtained. Based on these data, objective evaluation scales were created. Keywords: communication skills; creativity; critical-thinking skills; disinformation; fake news; skills of creativity; social simulation; sustainability
Third-country nationals and stateless persons learn the language of host country: what possibilities are available in Lithuania?
No full textLearning and mastering the language of host country is considered to be an essential prerequisite for successful integration of third-country nationals and stateless persons that preconditions their successful position in the labour market, social relations, even strengthening of their self-confidence. The empirical research allowed stating that there is a huge demand for virtual learning needs and following the theoretical insights of this article, it is possible to emphasise that virtual aids that are oriented towards the development of social links with local residents or already established migrants and formation of positive personal qualities and positive feelings are particularly needed. Keywords: third-country nationals and stateless persons, learning the state language, interactive applications, resources of learning Lithuanian, integration into society
The Sex preference for children in Europe: children's sex and the probability and timing of births
No full textBackground. The preference for having children of a particular sex may be reflected in fertility behavior. For example, parents who want to have a son may be more likely to have another child if their firstborn child is female or if they have two female children. They may also speed up the conception, resulting in a faster progression to the next child. Objective. We examine whether there is a sex preference for children in Europe, which is reflected in an increased/decreased probability of having another child and a shorter/longer time to the next birth given the sex of existing children. We distinguish between progression to the second and the third child and different cohorts. Methods. We model the impact of children’s sex on fertility using event history analysis. We apply mixture cure models, which allow us to distinguish between the probability of experiencing the event of interest and its timing. Results. We find evidence of the preference for having a girl, reflected in an increased probability of not having a second child if the first child is female. We also find that women who have two children of the same sex are more likely to give birth to a third child. Contribution. We contribute to research on the sex preference for children by (1) providing a comprehensive analysis of a number of European countries using consistent data and methodology, (2) examining the progression to the second and the third child, (3) distinguishing between different cohorts of women, and (4) applying mixture cure models
The Level of implementing sustainable development goal "Industry, innovation and infrastructure" of Agenda 2030 in the European Union countries: application of MCDM methods
No full textResearch background: Sustainable development of the modern world represents an opportunity to preserve economic growth and technological progress, as well as social development, without limiting the possibilities of this development for past generations. The directions of this development are included in the 17 goals and 169 tasks of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The achievement of these goals and the implementation of the adopted tasks is a huge challenge for individual countries and regions. This also applies to the Europe an Union (EU), where economic development is closely linked to environmental protection and social inclusion. Of key importance in this context is Objective 9 of Agenda 2030, and thus its level of implementation in the EU-27 countries is the aim of the research presented in this paper. Purpose of the article: The research involved assessing the level of EU countries in terms of building stable infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation, i.e., the main areas of Goal 9 of Agenda 2030. Methods: The assessment was based on the EU–27 countries' sustainable development index (SDG9) determined with the use of 14 indicators characterizing these areas between 2015–2020. The basis of the developed methodology was a multi criteria decision making approach (MCDM methods). TOPSIS, WASPAS and EDAS methods were used to determine the sustainability index, and the Entropy, CRITIC and standard deviation (SD) methods were used to determine weights for the adopted indicators. In addition, the use of the Spearman's and Kendall's Tau non-parametric tests enabled the analysis of the relationship between the SDG9 index and the basic economic, environmental and energy parameters, as well as the digitalization of the countries under study. Findings & value added: The results show that the EU–27 countries vary widely in terms of implementing Sustainable Development Goal 9 of Agenda 2030 over the analyzed period. Now, the most advanced in this respect are Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden. By contrast, substantial problems are found in Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal, and Lithuania. The results also provide an opportunity to trace changes in the value of the designated index in individual countries, and in groups of countries of the "old" and "new" EU. These results significantly enrich the knowledge of the effectiveness of implementing Goal 9 of Agenda 2030 in the EU–27 countries and the relationship between the development of individual countries and sustainable development economy. These findings can also be used to create new EU–27 strategies for sustainable and solidarity-based development of the whole EU. In addition, the results can be helpful to decision-makers as they highlight important indicators related to innovation, industrialization and infrastructure that should be considered when formulating a country's sustainable development strategy. The added value of the study is the research procedure presented, which can be used in analyses on the study of various issues related to sustainable development for other groups of regions. Keywords: sustainable development; innovativeness; EU–27; MCDM methods
Legacy of Vilnius University professor Audronė Glosienė (1958-2009) as a book scholar
No full textStraipsnyje nagrinėjama Vilniaus universiteto profesorės Audronės Glosienės (1958-2009) knygotyriniai darbai, kiekybiniu požiūriu juos analizuojant bendrame tyrėjos publikacijų kontekste, pateikiant teminę ir tipologinę analizę, prisimenant pasirodymo aplinkybes. Kaip tyrimo šaltinius autorės naudoja specialiai šiam tyrimui parengtas bibliografines priemones, kuriose laikantis chronologinio principo suregistruotos tipologiniu požiūriu įvairios mokslininkės knygotyrinės tematikos publikacijos ir jos vadovauti disertaciniai ir studentų baigiamieji darbai, taip pat VU bibliotekos Rankraščių skyriuje po mokslininkės mirties suformuotus Glosienės dokumentų fondus, pastarųjų trijų dešimtmečių komunikacijos ir informacijos mokslų istorijos faktus fiksuojančius informacinius ir bibliografinius leidinius bei dar gyvus kolegų atsiminimus. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidžia A. Glosienės knygotyrinio palikimo vietą Lietuvos knygotyros tyrimų kontekste, jos nuopelnus rengiant knygos mokslininkus ir Vilniaus universiteto Komunikacijos fakultete vykdomų įvairių studijų programų absolventus, prisideda prie KIM kaip tarpsritinius mokslus vienijančio darinio tapatybės formavimosi Lietuvoje. Reikšminiai žodžiai: Audronė Glosienė, knygotyra, mokslinė produkcija, mokslininkų rengimas, Knygotyros katedra, Komunikacijos fakultetas, Vilniaus universitetas, komunikacijos ir informacijos mokslai Lietuvoje.The article scrutinizes the extensive body of work authored by the late Vilnius University professor, Audronė Glosienė (1958‒2009). The analysis employs a quantitative approach within the broader spectrum of the researcher’s publications. It encompasses a thematic and typological examination while revisiting the circumstances surrounding their inception. To conduct this study, the authors utilize specialized bibliographic tools tailored for this research. These tools adhere to a chronological framework, systematically cataloging the scholar’s diverse publications on book-related themes, including dissertations and students’ theses under her supervision. Additionally, the research incorporates Glosienė’s posthumously compiled document collections, housed in the Manuscripts Department of the Vilnius University Library. Other sources include informative and bibliographic publications chronicling the history of communication and information science over the past three decades, along with insights from colleagues’ memoirs. The findings of this research shed light on the position of Glosienė’s contributions to book studies within the context of Lithuanian academia. They underscore her impact on shaping the next generation of book scholars and graduates across various study programs within the Faculty of Communication at Vilnius University. Furthermore, the study highlights her role in molding the identity of communication and information sciences as an interdisciplinary field that unites various scientific disciplines in Lithuania. Keywords: Audronė Glosienė, book studies, scientific production, training of scien tists, Department of Book Studies, Faculty of Communication, Vilnius University, Communication and Information Sciences in Lithuania
A Transition period ritual of the Karay Turks: death
No full textKaraism is a Jewish sect that emerged in the Middle Ages and became the name of a Turkish tribe in time. Its name is derived from “kara- (K-R-A)”, meaning “the ones who can read the sacred scripture” in Aramaic–Hebrew. The Karaites are members of the Jewish Karai sect, which only accepts the Torah. This feature naturally causes many differences. One of the main differences observed is the rituals for an individual in the death transition period, an important phase of human life. In this study, the death-themed core beliefs of the Karaites, which are brought from the roots of the Turkish genealogical tree, and the rituals that are combined with Judaism are analyzed. The differences stemming from geography and contacts with diverse cultures (such as Russian, Lithuanian, Polish, Belarussian, etc.) and the similarities in the rituals at the time of death and afterward stand out, especially funerals, which comprise the mourning traditions performed during and after the funerals belonging to the Karaites living in Crimea and Lithuania. Texts and words compiled from the Karay Turks living in Trakai, Lithuania, and the data acquired via observations are used to determine this information. In particular, the studies of Yuriy Aleksandroviç Polkanov, the head of the Crimean Karaites Association, are used for the data related to Crimean Karaites. Keywords: Khazar state; Karay Turks; Karaism; Crimea; transition period; death rituals
Nature of intercultural philosophy and relations with other disciplines of philosophy
No full textStraipsnyje tarpkultūrinės filosofijos metodologinės bei teorinės nuostatos siejamos su komparatyvistiniu mąstymu ir universalia logika. Diskutuojama tarpkultūrinės filosofijos programa, kuri svarstoma jos tikslų ir perspektyvos atžvilgiais. Tarpkultūrinės filosofijos turinys – skirtingų sociokultūrinių kontekstų aiškinimas, tarpdisciplininė prieiga – grindžiama polilogo esminių principų, aptariamų tekste, įsisavinimu. Jo esmė – tarptautiniu mastu aktualių probleminių metaetinių ir metafizinių implikacijų apmąstymas. Esminiai žodžiai: tarpkultūrinė filosofija, komparatyvinė filosofija, polilogas, metaetika, tarpkultūrinis lyginimas.There are related methodological and theoretical attitudes of an intercultural philosophy with the comparative thinking and the universal logic in the article. It has been discussed the program of intercultural philosophy which is under consideration upon its aims and the perspective. The content of the intercultural philosophy – the explication of diverse sociocultural contexts, an approach to the interdisciplinarity – is based on the assimilation of the fundamental principles of polylogue which are debated in the paper. The essence of it – the consideration on the problematic international metaethical and metaphysical implications. Keywords: intercultural philosophy, comparative philosophy, polylogue, metaethics, intercultural comparison
Onset of university studies in philosophy and humanistic education in Kaunas: signs of sociocultural values
No full textRemiantis rankraštinių šaltinių ir skelbtų tekstų tyrimu, straipsnyje siekiama išnagrinėti 1920 m. pradėjusių veikti Aukštųjų kursų ir 1922 m. pagal juos įsteigto Lietuvos universiteto filosofijos ir edukacijos disciplinų sanglaudas, studijų teorinio kryptingumo formavimo pradžią, įvertinti mokslo asmenybių indėlį skatinant studijų tarpdiscipliniškumą, vertybinį ugdymą. Straipsnyje taip pat siekiama nustatyti, ar Kaune pradėtos šios studijos tapo studentų pasaulėvaizdžio ugdymo, jų kultūrinio socialumo skatinimo pagrindu. Vertybinio ugdymo koncepcijos yra svarbios įdiegiant ir plėtojant pedagogų rengimo studijas šių dienų universitetuose, yra reikšmingos ugdant studentų sociokultūrinio aktyvumo nuostatas. Filosofijos, kaip ir kitų humanitarinių mokslų, edukacinės paskirties pagrindai neprarado aktualumo nepriklausomos Lietuvos visuomenėje. Straipsnis parengtas remiantis pranešimu, skaitytu nacionalinėje mokslinėje konferencijoje „Lietuvos filosofijos trajektorijos“, skirtoje paminėti Pasaulinei filosofijos dienai 2022 m. lapkričio 17 d. Esminiai žodžiai: Lietuvos universitetas, filosofijos studijos, edukacija, Kaunas, Lietuvos Respublika.The article aims to analyze the cohesion of the disciplines of Philosophy and Education at the University of Lithuania founded in 1922, and the start of the formation of the theoretical orientation of studies. The article also considers the contribution of scholarly personalities to the promotion of interdisciplinary studies at the University of Lithuania. The article attempts to find out whether these studies turned out to be the basis for the development of students‘ worldview and the enhancement of their cultural sociality. The evidence presented in the article shows that the founders of the University of Lithuania created a model of a classical European university, which was closely associated with professional training, intellectual education, and the studies focused on fostering an environment of cultural sociality. The disciplines of Philosophy and Pedagogical Education were started to be taught to students both at the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Theology- Philosophy of the University of Lithuania. The interdisciplinary nature of the Philosophy disciplines and Education programmes is evident in the statutes, study programmes of these faculties as well as in other sources. During the formative years of Higher Courses and later studies at the University of Lithuania, the contribution of Pranas Dovydaitis is significant in terms of the development of the teaching content of the disciplines of Philosophy and Education. He highlighted the coherence of scientific progress, the cohesion between the development of society and culture, and the urgency of the education of human spirituality in a modernizing society, as well as other values. Stasys Šalkauskis‘ pedagogical activities and teaching materials for students were of particular importance in bridging the theoretical foundations the studies of in Philosophy and Pedagogy; Stasys Šalkauskis emphasised the relevance of the shaping of the worldview, also the historical and theoretical coherence between Philosophy and the education of society. His lectures addressed issues of human education, the interactions between the intelligentsia and society. S. Šalkauskis tried to link the theoretical and practical aspects of pedagogical studies with studies in philosophy. His attention to ethics, aesthetics, logic, philosophy of culture, and the philosophy of religion was especially notable. The theoretical contribution of Pranas Kuraitis, Izidorius Tamošaitis, as well as the theoretical contribution of Vosilius Sezeman and Lev Karsavin, who came to Kaunas, was of great importance in the development of studies in philosophy and history of culture, as well as educational studies at the University of Lithuania. The scholars focused on the enhancement of the international and interdisciplinary nature of the studies. The teaching of philosophy and pedagogy became an integral part of the theoretical and applied studies not only in the field of the Humanities, but also in other disciplines, which promoted the strengthening of the interdisciplinary approach and the formation of the foundations for the education of humanistic intellectuals. The content of the studies was shaped by an appreciation of the educational role of philosophy in promoting moral and social ideals in young people and society. Philosophers of the University developed concepts of moral and cultural education, which were essential for the introduction and development of teacher training studies at the University. These concepts also contributed to the development of students‘ attitudes towards socio-cultural activity. The foundations of the educational purpose of philosophy as well as of other Humanities disciplines have not lost their relevance in modern society