European partnership projects
PROximity Without Density – PROWD
Project team at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Rūta Ubarevičienė (leader), dr. Donatas Burneika, dr. Simona Ščerbinskaitė
Duration: from January 24, 2025 to December 31, 2027
Funding source: Programme “Driving Urban Transitions to a Sustainable Future” (DUT) (No. S-DUT-25-1)
Summary
The PROWD project aims to take a fresh look at the “15-minute city” concept by adapting it to the needs of low-density metropolitan areas. The project seeks ways to reduce car dependency, focusing on existing local initiatives in education, healthcare, sports, trade, and mobility. These initiatives, tailored to low-density areas, can decrease the need for daily mobility, avoiding costly infrastructure changes or urban densification, which have significant environmental impacts. The project will analyze residential areas on the outskirts of cities, with one of the selected locations being in Vilnius. Through resident surveys and co-design workshops involving local communities and stakeholders, the project will evaluate existing and potential initiatives that could foster innovation in public services, local trade, and mobility. The insights gathered will form the basis for “collaborative pacts” between local government authorities and stakeholders. The project is being implemented in partnership with the Vilnius City Municipality. The project includes participants from Lithuania, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Romania.
Horizon Europe
Migration, Affective Geopolitics and European Democracy in Times of Military Conflicts (MAGnituDe)
Project team at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Kristina Šliavaitė, dr. Monika Frėjutė-Rakauskienė, dr. Vilana Pilinkaitė Sotirovič, PhD candidate Dmytro Mamaiev
Duration: from February 1, 2025 to January 31, 2029
Funding source: “Horizon Europe” programme (No. 101178269)
Summary
The project investigates the impact of mass migration caused by the Russian-led war against Ukraine on democratic attitudes in host societies in the European Union. The aim is to find out how feelings, emotions, identities, collective memories, geopolitical imaginaries affect interaction between different groups of migrants and host societies. The project aims to explore the social and cultural factors that promote cohesion, strengthening of democratic attitudes and enable inclusion of migrants into the host societies. The project will develop and apply innovative sensory research methods and methodologies to understand the interplay and impact of different identities on social realities.
Horizon 2020
The Future of European Social Citizenship (EUSOCIALCIT)
Project team at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Jolanta Aidukaitė (leader), dr. Rūta Ubarevičienė
Duration: from February 1, 2020 to January 31, 2024
Funding source: “Horizon 2020” programme (No. 822778)
Summary
The project aimed to provide scientifically analysed and justified policy scenarios for strengthening European social citizenship. The project examined the state of social rights in the countries of the European Union and the future role of the European Union in strengthening these rights. The LSMC Institute of Sociology’s part of the project was concerned with the enforcement and expression of housing policies and housing rights in Europe. The project found that in order to improve the right to housing across the EU, we need to support the development of the public/social housing sector. It is important to improve the regulation of rental markets and to strengthen the protection of tenants’ rights.
Results
Reports
Working paper Assessing housing rights in the selected EU countries: revised version.
Flagship report (1) Assessing housing rights in the EU countries: the current state, the governments’ efforts and the role of the EU (Chapter 9).
Video
The future of social Europe: lessons learned and recommendations.
All project results: https://www.eusocialcit.eu/results/.
More information: https://www.eusocialcit.eu/
Gender-based violence and institutional response: Building a knowledge base and operational tools to make universities and research organizations safe (UniSAFE)
Project team at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Vilana Pilinkaitė Sotirovič (leader), dr. Giedrė Blažytė
Duration: from February 1, 2021 to January 31, 2024
Funding source: “Horizon 2020” programme (No. 101006261)
Summary
The project has a double objective. First, to produce robust knowledge on gender-based violence including sexual harassment in universities and research organisations. Second, to translate the knowledge into operational tools and recommendations for universities, research organisations and policy-makers to reduce gender-based violence and sexual harassment (GBV) UniSAFE examines the mechanisms of GBV in universities and research organizations, its determinants, antecedents and consequences, by using a multilevel research design to collect, analyse, and synthesise qualitative and quantitative data:
1. Legal and policy frameworks specific to the issue of GBV in universities and research organizations are analysed via extensive mapping by national experts in 30 EU Member States, Associated Countries and Third Countries.
2. Prevalence and impacts of GBV are analysed via a survey implemented in at least 45 research performing organisations (RPOs) in 15 EU Member States and Associated Countries, and via a Europe-wide survey of Marie Curie Fellows.
3. Organisational responses and instruments are analysed via case studies, interviews, and a strategic mapping of the 45 RPOs.
An ambitious and holistic 7P model, covering prevalence, prevention, protection, prosecution, provision of services, partnerships and policies, is used to co-design a comprehensive set of measures and tools to be applied inside universities and research organisations and by other stakeholders, including policymakers and research funding organisations (RFOs).
Results
Reports
Report on Multi-level Analysis and Integrated Dataset;
Report on Case Studies on the Effects and Consequences of Institutional Responses to Gender-based
Violence along the 7Ps in Research Performing Organisation;
Gender-based Violence in Universities and Research Organisations National Fieldwork Report;
Gender-based violence and its consequences in European Academia, Summary results from the UniSAFE survey.
Summary
Individual Experiences of Gender-based Violence in Academia. Executive Summary of the Analysis of Interviews with Researchers at Higher Risk of Gender-based Violence.
Blog
UniSAFE’s Analysis of Interviews with Researchers at Higher risk of Gender-based Violence.
Toolkit
Launch of the UniSAFE toolkit.
More information: https://unisafe-gbv.eu/
Erasmus+
Youth Wiki Tool
Project leader at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Laima Okunevičiūtė Neverauskienė
Project duration: from April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2027
Funding Source: Erasmus+ (No. 101079785)
Summary
The main objective of the Youth Wiki is to support evidence-based European cooperation in the area of youth by providing up-to-date and user-friendly information on national policies supporting young people, following the adoption of the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field 2019-2027 (EU Youth Strategy).
Results
Newsletters (in Lithuanian)
Youth and volunteering.
The year 2022 has been declared as the year of youth and volunteering in Lithuania.
Concern for youth mental health is growing.
Youth policy: current affairs.
Priority issues concerning youth problems.
Presentation
The what, who and why of the Youth Wiki. The use of the Youth Wiki at European level.
Overviews
Lithuania: youth policy overviews.
More information: https://national-policies.eacea.ec.europa.eu/youthwiki.
Bridging Integrity in Higher Education, Business and Society (BRIDGE)
Project team at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Inga Gaižauskaitė (leader until February 2022), dr. Sandra Krutulienė (leader since March 2022), Sonata Vyšniauskienė
Duration: from November 3, 2020 to August 31, 2023
Funding source: Erasmus+ programme Key Action “Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practises” (No. 2020-1-SE01-KA203-077973)
Summary
Information will be available soon.
Results
Checklists
Checklist for Supervisors.
Checklist for Doctoral Students.
Checklist for Masters Students.
Newsletters
Bridge Newsletter #01 (16th June 2022)
Bridge Newsletter #02 (13th December 2022)
Bridge Newsletter #03 (16th April 2023)
Bridge Newsletter #04 (15th June 2023)
Bridge Newsletter #05 (30th August 2023)
Games
Online games, board games, memory games, role play games, scenario games and notes for educators.
Presentations
Presentations and materials.
Guidelines
Guidelines for Research Ethics and Research Integrity in Citizen Science.
Guidelines for Integrity in Research and Business Collaboration.
Vignettes
BRIDGE Vignettes.
Modules
Educational modules.
More information: https://www.academicintegrity.eu/wp/bridge/
EUROSTUDENT consortium with the national partners
EUROSTUDENT-9
Project leader at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Rūta Brazienė
Duration: from 2025 to 2027
Funding source: Erasmus+ programme and the partner countries in the project
Summary
Information will be available soon.
EUROSTUDENT-8
Project leader at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Rūta Brazienė
Duration: from 2022 to 2024
Funding source: Erasmus+ programme and the partner countries in the project
Summary
The EUROSTUDENT project collects and analyses comparable data on the social dimension of European higher education. A wide range of topics related to students’ social and economic conditions are covered. The project strives to provide reliable and insightful cross-country comparisons. It does this through coupling a central coordination approach with a strong network of national partners in each participating country. In this way, an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the respective national frameworks in international comparison can be made. The main users of our findings are higher education policy-makers at national and European level, researchers in this field, managers of higher education institutions and – of course – students all over Europe.
More information: https://www.eurostudent.eu/
Other research projects
POSTING.STAT 2.0 – Enhancing the collection and analysis of national data on intra-EU posting
Project leader at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Inga Blažienė
Duration: from 2024 to 2026
Source of funding: European Commission
Summary
POSTING.STAT 2.0 aims to complement the statistical information collected on intra-EU posting at European level by bringing together a research consortium from the main sending and receiving Member States of posted workers (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain). The main goal is to increase the level of empirical evidence through the collection and analysis of national administrative data. The consortium, coordinated by HIVA-KU Leuven, consists of 12 research partners and 4 associated partners. Results will be reported in 11 country reports and 4 thematic papers. Furthermore, 11 country-specific webinars and 4 thematic-specific webinars will be organised. Finally, the results will be discussed at a closing conference in Leuven.
More information: https://hiva.kuleuven.be/en/research/theme/welfarestate/p/POSTING-STAT20.
Challenges for Organising and Collective Bargaining in Care, Administration and Waste Management sectors in Central Eastern European Countries (CEECEW)
Project team at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Inga Blažienė (leader), dr. Ramunė Guobaitė, dr. Julija Moskvina
Duration: from November 2023 to October 2025
Source of funding: European Commission
Summary
The aim of the project is to develop collective bargaining (CB) in three sectors in the EU Central Eastern European countries (CEEC) and Serbia (an EU candidate country). The project aims at supporting trade unions (at sectoral and national levels) in the implementation of the goals indicated in Article 4 of the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive in EU Directive. The project includes a research part – an analysis of the state of social dialogue and collective bargaining in the indicated sectors, and an analysis of the expectations and needs of national trade unions in relation to the implementation of Article 4 (CB development) in CEEC. The research will lead to the development of 12 national reports, 4 comparative reports and 4 policy papers in care, waste management, central public administration sectors (on CEEC and Serbia). The comparative reports and their conclusions will be presented and discussed at 4 scientific seminars. Scientific seminars will be done in an online format in English and one additional language (Polish, Lithuanian, Slovak or Bulgarian).
Results
Newsletters
Unlocking collective bargaining power in three sectors: a call to action (no. 1)
Reports
Challenges for organising and collective bargaining in care sector in Lithuania
Challenges for organising and collective bargaining in central public administration sector in Lithuania
Challenges for organising and collective bargaining in waste management sector in Lithuania
Developments in collective bargaining in Lithuania
More information can be found here.
Trust in Relations between Unions and Employers in Europe (TRUE EUROPE)
Project team at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Inga Blažienė (leader), dr. Ramunė Guobaitė, dr. Julija Moskvina
Duration: from November 1, 2023 to November 1, 2025
Source of funding: European Commission (No. 101126483)
Summary
Research indicates that trust between employer and employee representatives may have beneficial effects for both companies and employees. However, there is a lack of systematic comparative research in the EU on the mechanisms and outcomes of trust in different industrial relations systems. The purpose of the comparative European project True Europe is to identify and connect the determinants of trust with the functioning and outcomes of trust in social partner relations. We aim to explore and explain the bases, forms, and effects of trust in social partner relations at both local firm level and at sector level.
More information: www.true-europe.eu/.
Network of Eurofound correspondents (NEC) – Lithuania
Project team at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Inga Blažienė (leader)
Duration: from March 1, 2022 to February 28, 2026
Source of funding: European Commission (No. 22-3030-17)
Summary
Information will be available soon.
More information: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/network-eurofound-correspondents.
DEFEN-CE: Social Dialogue in Defence of Vulnerable Groups in Post-COVID-19 Labour Markets
Project team at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Inga Blažienė
Duration: from March 14, 2022 to November 30, 2023
Source of funding: European Commission (No. VS/2021/0196)
Summary
Information will be available soon.
Results
Report
Report on Latvia and Lithuania.
Policy brief
Policy brief – Latvia and Lithuania.
Video
LT-LV Comparison: Social Dialogue in Defen-ce of Vulnerable Groups in the Post-COVID Labour Markets.
More information: https://blogs.helsinki.fi/defen-ce/.
BFORE – Bargaining for Equality – Strengthening collective bargaining systems to ensure fair wages and address income inequality in Europe
Project team at the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Inga Blažienė
Duration: from May 2, 2022 to September 30, 2023
Source of funding: European Commission (No. VS/2021/0209)
Summary
Information will be available soon.
Results
Policy brief
Policy brief – Lithuania.
Reports
National report for Lithuania.
Cluster report for North-Eastern Europe and the Balkan (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania).
Videos
Results of the project – video (I).
Results of the project – video (II).
Results of the project – video (III).
More information: https://hiva.kuleuven.be/sites/bfore.
COST Actions
CA23114 – Regaining linkage? Digital technologies improving civic engagement, political organisations and democracy (RELINK²)
Representatives on the Management Committee from the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Diana Janušauskienė (primary representative), dr. Giedrė Plepytė-Davidavičienė (primary alternate representative)
Duration: from October 7, 2024 to October 6, 2028
Source of funding: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Actions
Description
The RELINK2 Action will intensify existing networking efforts of scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds and countries in the EU and beyond, to address two problems:
(1) How can democracies regain legitimacy and rebuild the link between representative institutions and citizens using the benefits of digital technologies?
(2) How can political organisations connect with digitally marginalised but politically active groups (the elderly) and with digitally active but politically marginalised ones (young citizens)?
In this regard, RELINK2 aims to find answers to three research gaps: a) the main organisational consequences of the digital transformation and their impact on re-linkage strategies, b) effectiveness of digital transformations in re-connecting intermediary structures with society, c) implementation of political organisations’ re-linking strategies to marginalised groups based on responsible use of digital tools. This requires an interdisciplinary and coordinated analytical framework.
The network will tackle challenges through research coordination objectives. Four Working Groups will be formed to bring in expertise on: 1) theoretical and 2) methodological challenges, 3) empirical analysis, 4) engagement and dissemination.
RELINK2 will provide new opportunities to strengthen the career development of specific target groups and disseminate knowledge to countries and political organisations with less capacity in the field of the Action.
The practical implication of the Action is to create impact beyond the network. RELINK2 will develop a strong cooperation with stakeholders to integrate a non-academic point of view, identify good practices, and prepare recommendations. The Action aims to meet its objectives through a knowledge production and exchange with relevant stakeholders.
More information: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA23114/.
CA22149 – Research Network for Interdisciplinary Studies of Transhistorical Deliberative Democracy (CHANGECODE)
Representatives on the Management Committee from the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Diana Janušauskienė (primary representative), dr. Lilija Kublickienė (primary alternate representative)
Duration: from October 12, 2023 to October 11, 2027
Source of funding: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Actions
Description
This Action’s main aim is to systematize, conceptualize and epistemically upgrade theoretical and empirical knowledge of the influence of past practices of deliberation on contemporary decision-making. With this emphasis, the Action is placed at the centre of the topical debates about the potential role of deliberative democracy in stabilizing social and political spheres and coping with contemporary challenges and risks. It will push human abilities to prevent conflicts through deliberation and to decide on development issues through dialogue to the forefront of our research.
The Action will explore relationships between the past, present and future forms of deliberation by taking into account: 1) historical deliberative practices (diachronic aspects); 2) culture, cognition and narratives of legitimacy (synchronic aspects); and 3) goals of deliberative democracy, set as guiding principles aimed to ensure general well-being and the positive development of society (integrative level). In this respect the Action aims to design a research framework to test its original concept and main research method – transhistorical deliberative democracy.
The Action will establish innovative collaborations with various types of stakeholders and create an interdisciplinary, fully open and flexible international platform to discuss existing research approaches to decision-making, initiate new synergies, and devise a set of toolkits and guidelines, which will enable decision-makers and other stakeholders to design and implement policies by considering the impacts of embedded patterns of deliberation on local, national and transnational levels. The Action is designed with a focus on the inclusion of young researchers from ICTs in interdisciplinary and international research environments.
More information: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA22149/.
CA22167 – Participatory Approaches with Older Adults (PAAR-net)
Representatives on the Management Committee from the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Gražina Rapolienė (primary representative), Vaida Tretjakova (primary alternate representative)
Duration: from October 20, 2023 to October 19, 2027
Source of funding: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Actions
Description
There is a significant international commitment to give non-academics a greater role in science to help deliver impactful research and realise the European vision of science for the people, by the people. To support this commitment, the PAAR-net COST Action focuses on knowledge co-production, labelled here as participatory approaches, in research, policymaking and practice. It focuses on research, policy and practice intervention designs by experts-by-training (usually academics) and experts-by-experience (usually non-academics). The Action focuses on a specific group of experts-by-experience who are often not included in research, namely older adults (aged 65 and older, including those at risk of social exclusion). This COST Action aims to further develop participatory approaches with older adults as a means of driving inclusive social innovation across research, policy, and practice, for heterogenous and fair ageing societies.
PAAR-net aims to gather, exchange and advance knowledge on participatory approaches with older adults (including those at risk of social exclusion) by asking the following questions:
1) How can diverse groups of older adults be meaningfully involved to contribute their perspectives and experience (including those at risk of social exclusion) in participatory approaches to research, policy and practice development?
2) How do participatory approaches with diverse older adults (including those at risk of social exclusion) impact research process and the quality of data gathered?
3) How do participatory approaches impact those (academics and non-academics) involved in research (e.g., wellbeing, reciprocal learning, emancipation)?
Through this, PAAR-net will shift the focus from an exclusionary framework to a participatory framework in thinking of older age.
More information: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA22167/.
CA21107 – Work Inequalities in Later Redefined by Digitalization (DIGI-net)
Representatives on the Management Committee from the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Sarmitė Mikulionienė (primary representative), dr. Sandra Krutulienė (primary alternate representative)
Duration: from October 20, 2022 to October 19, 2026
Source of funding: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Actions
Description
The aim of this Action is to overcome critical gaps in conceptual innovation on the influence of digitalisation on work inequalities in later life, in order to address the research-policy disconnect and tackle work inequalities in later life redefined by digitalisation. The Action will enhance scientific knowledge by integrating the different disciplines and schools of thought, by developing collaborations with public policy officials, international policy bodies, non-academic professionals, civil society NGOs, trade unions, management of organisations and older workers themselves. Expected deliverables include: a) the creation of a web-site; that will act as a platform for the Action and become an international ‘hub’ for the study of ageing at work in the era of digitalization, by sharing and publishing knowledge, connecting researchers, stakeholders and activists in the field; b) the creation of a depository database of scientific measures and tools for the assessment of inequalities and challenges of aging and digitalization, as well as for good practices. Policy reports will be posted in order to make links outside the research community to address policy makers and stakeholders; c) the facilitation of research and dissemination events, including Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) and scientific Training Schools (TS) for Young Researchers and Innovators (YRIs) and established researchers, public conferences and policy workshops hosting experts and relevant stakeholders; and d) a series of publications including scientific reports, conference proceedings, academic publications, collaborative recommendation papers derived from Action Working Groups, and an edited book.
Results
More information: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA21107/.
CA21150 – Parental Leave Policies and Social Sustainability (Sustainability@Leave)
Representatives on the Management Committee from the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Rūta Brazienė (primary representative), Sonata Vyšniauskienė (primary alternate representative)
Duration: from September 13, 2022 to September 12, 2026
Source of funding: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Actions
Description
The Action aims to advance and disseminate research and knowledge about the significance of paid parental leave (PPL) for the social sustainability of societies. Our aim is to set the scene for future PPL research from the new perspective of social sustainability while making the field more coherent across disciplines and beyond academia. The main challenges are to build the network, identify and fill gaps in PPL research, develop a future-oriented and cross-disciplinary PPL terminology, and facilitate future research by closing the PPL data gap. Five Working Groups (WGs) will be established to focus on: (1) The development of a theoretical framework; (2) the identification of social inequalities through PPL policies; (3) the relevance of PPL for child development; (4) providing a future-oriented PPL terminology and (5) the expansion of PPL data.
The initial network will consist of 32 members from 22 countries. The Action is dedicated to making the network more interdisciplinary, involving more Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC), Near Neighbour Countries (NNC) and International Partner Countries (IPCs), and attracting participation from Young Researchers. The network will actively engage in efforts to minimize the gender gap in European PPL research and also ensure timely and close collaboration with Specific Organisations relevant to PPL research and policymaking. To fill the PPL data gap, stakeholders from European survey organizations will be approached. The network will disseminate knowledge of PPL policy as a component of social sustainability for academics at all career stages as well as for stakeholders from Specific Organisations, policymakers, companies, and the broader public.
CA20137 – Making Young Researchers’ Voices Heard for Gender Equality (VOICES)
Representative on the working groups from the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Vilana Pilinkaitė Sotirovič
Duration: from October 20, 2021 to October 19, 2025
Source of funding: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Actions
Description
Over the last decades, European higher education and research systems have been characterized by deep changes, due to globalization and marketization, that have dramatically transformed research careers. While doctoral and postdoctoral researchers constitute a fast-growing workforce, their working conditions have become increasingly precarious and their career prospects uncertain. Those processes tend to exacerbate and create new forms of gendered inequalities for young researchers, first and foremost women – that have been magnified by the COVID-19 crisis. Those inequalities are also reinforced by disparities within academia linked to other social determinants, such as origin, socioeconomic status, sexuality or ability.
However, current institutional Research & Innovation (R&I) policies, including gender equality policies, rarely consider young researchers’ specific challenges. Moreover, implementing efficient and impactful policies that promote sustainable gender equality remains a great challenge throughout R&I institutions.
The main goal of this Action is thus to increase the visibility of inequalities faced by young researchers from a gender perspective and to promote a sustainable dialogue between young researchers and stakeholders in the research ecosystem at the systemic level (European & national policy-makers) and at the institutional level (senior researchers, academic managers) by creating a community of gender equality practitioners composed of various stakeholders (young researchers, independent researchers, academic managers, organizations) across Europe. The Action has among its outcomes: training schools for young researchers, scientific publications by young researchers, recommendations & guidelines for academics and policy-makers.
More information: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA20137/.
CA19129 – Decolonising Development: Research, Teaching and Practise (DecolDEV)
Representatives on the Management Committee from the Institute of Sociology of LCSS: dr. Diana Janušauskienė (primary representative), dr. Giedrė Plepytė-Davidavičienė (primary alternate representative)
Duration: from September 9, 2020 to September 8, 2024
Source of funding: European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Actions
Description
The Action DecolDEV takes on the challenge to reconstruct the concept and practice of development after its deconstruction. It aims for a resetting and diversification of the actors, structures, institutions and spaces in which knowledge about and for development is produced, shared, contested and put into practice. The Action will progress beyond the state-of-the-art through exploring and formulating alternatives in three areas: Research, Teaching and Practice.
More information: https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA19129/.