1 Education and Training of Psychologists in Lithuania: Meeting the Challenges of the European Diploma in Psychology Roma Simulioniene Reda Gedutiene Ramute Cepiene Mindaugas Rugevicius Klaipeda University, Lithuania Nothern Arizona University, Flastaff, th International Conference Psychological Literacy around the World: Teaching, Learning Design, and Assessment

2 Population – 2,966, universities ( 14 public, 8 private) 24 colleges (13 public, 11 private)

3 Outline  History of psychology education in Lithuania: lessons learned ▪ psychology education before the re-establishment of the state of Lithuania in 1990 ▪ psychology education after the restoration of independence  European Diploma in Psychology: changes in the system of education as a response to the new requirements  System of continuing professional education

4 History of psychology education in Lithuania  Psychology education before the re- establishment of the state of Lithuania in 1990 Three generations: ▪ 1 st generation (the third and fourth decades of the 20 th century: setting the background for psychology education ▪ 2 nd generation (the sixth decade of the 20 th century): starting psychology education ▪ 3 rd generation : establishing psychology programmes

5 History of psychology education in Lithuania  1 st generation of psychologists: ▪ Lithuanian graduates from German, Austrian and Russian universities start to develop psychological research in Lithuania ▪ The first psychology laboratories ▪ The first original and translated books on psychology ▪ Departments of Psychology at Vilnius and Kaunas universities (no psychology programmes)

6 History of psychology education in Lithuania  2 nd generation of psychologists: ▪ Attempts to provide instruction for psychologists at Vilnius Pedagogical University (no psychology programme) ▪ Doctoral studies at Vilnius University starting from 1958

7 History of psychology education in Lithuania  3 rd generation of psychologists: ▪ first psychology students at Vilnius University in 1969 ▪ narrow specialization is allowed (industrial and engineering psychology), ideological subjects are introduced into the core curriculum ▪ the structure of the study programme: meeting the requirements only formally ▪ high popularity of psychology programme ▪ problems: no practical skills, undefined roles and functions of psychologists, shortage of instruments of psychological assessment

8 History of psychology education in Lithuania  Psychology education after the restoration of independence ▪ theoretical, empirical and practical eclecticism (Bagdonas, et al., 2008) ▪ study system 4+2 (1996) ▪ Lithuanian Psychologists’ Professional Training Requirements and the Psychologist’s Professional Code of Ethics ▪ new psychology programmes

9 European Diploma in Psychology: changes in the system of education  EuroPsy is the European qualification standard for psychologists which “supplements national standards and helps the public to identify whether a psychologist can be considered competent to practice in a particular area” (

10 European Diploma in Psychology: changes in the system of education  Positive aspects: ▪ all universities have revised their programmes: similar structure and requirements made student mobility easier ▪ the system of learning outcomes is being implemented ▪ the importance of practical training has been acknowledged

11 European Diploma in Psychology: changes in the system of education  Problems and challenges: ▪ length of study: the requirement for four year undergraduate degrees in Lithuania ▪ supervised practise ▪ insufficient focus on practical skills

12 European Diploma in Psychology: changes in the system of education  Meeting the challenges: ▪ New national requirements for psychologists’ professional training ▪ Searching for opportunities to organize training for supervisors ▪ The discussion about the length of study and the requirement of supervised practise for psychologists specializing in different areas

13 System of continuing professional education  Opportunities for continuing professional development: courses and programmes  Problems: ▪ no well defined requirements at state level ▪ no general list of available courses

14 Concluding remarks  Building on strengths  Improving the system of psychology education and training  EuroPsy as a way to increase the status of profession

15 Thank you!