1. 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, 2014 6 th International Conference Psychological Literacy around the World: Teaching, Learning Design, and Assessment

2. 2 Population – 2,966,954 23 universities ( 14 public, 8 private) 24 colleges (13 public, 11 private)

3. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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” (http://www.europsy-efpa.eu)

10. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 15 Thank you!