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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

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

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Population – 2,966,954

23 universities (14 public,

8 private)

24 colleges (13 public, 11

private)

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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

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History of psychology education in Lithuania

Psychology education before the re-establishment of the state of Lithuania in 1990

Three generations: ▪ 1st generation (the third and fourth decades of the 20th century:

setting the background for psychology education

▪ 2nd generation (the sixth decade of the 20th century): starting psychology education

▪ 3rd generation: establishing psychology programmes

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History of psychology education in Lithuania

1st 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)

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History of psychology education in Lithuania

2nd generation of psychologists:

▪ Attempts to provide instruction for psychologists at Vilnius Pedagogical University (no psychology programme)

▪ Doctoral studies at Vilnius University starting from 1958

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History of psychology education in Lithuania

3rd 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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Concluding remarks

Building on strengths Improving the system of psychology

education and training EuroPsy as a way to increase the

status of profession

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Thank you!