The European Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (EIIR) announced today that it has been selected by the Ministry of Education and Science of Lithuania to conduct an international study on educational and skills development policy across the EU and the OECD.

The study will analyze and assess the current state of the labour market conditions, the skills demand and supply dynamics as well as the future trajectories of specialist demand in the following four areas of high technology research and development: biotechnology, mechatronics, laser technologies, and information technologies (HT4). Its findings will be incorporated in the Ministry's methodology for scientific and educational policy in these areas.

The Lithuania Skills and Labour Market Evaluation is a project under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Science of Lithuania. It is funded by the Structural Funds program of the European Union and is organized around the two following stages of development:

Stage I develops a methodology in the field of specialist demand and supply analysis. The methodology is designed to include the most appropriate methods of research, which could be applied to research in various fields of scientific study, including the HT4. It draws on methodologies and research approaches that have been developed and applied in EU and OECD member countries as well as research and analysis developed by national government and international bodies. Two key characteristics of the methodology are expected to be its originality, i.e., while drawing on the experience of EU and OECD member countries it is adaptable to the conditions prevailing in Lithuania, and its universality, i.e., where and when possible, it can be applied to research on specialist demand in fields other than the HT4.

Stage II undertakes the implementation of a pilot project on specialist demand in the HT4 in Lithuania. During this stage the project will select specialists from various disciplines and scientific institutions as well as institutions coordinating programs from the Ministry of Education and Science (experts, science and technology development programs). These specialists will participate in the pilot in order to improve their abilities to conduct advanced research in the field of specialist demand. During this phase of the project it is expected that training by, and interaction with, international experts will improve the abilities of Lithuanian experts to conduct such research independently and present recommendations on how to use the results of the research to improve the programs of specialist preparation.

The analysis of the current situation includes:

• Current situation analysis of specialist preparation in the HT4;
• Current situation analysis in labour market of specialists in the HT4;
• Analysis of development trends in the field of specialists‘ background and competence acquired;
• Analysis of specialist preparation and labour market in other EU and OECD member countries.

The analysis of In terms of future specialist skills demand (5 years) includes:

• Labour market forecast;
• Forecasting number of students and demand of lecturers;
• Evaluation of necessary material and technical base;
• Demand forecast of new and adjusted studies programs;
• Possibility analysis of new innovative learning methods applied and practical learning.

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About EIIR

The European Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (EIIR) is an independent, non-profit Think Tank dedicated to the advancement of interdisciplinary research and development of innovation processes in the knowledge-driven economy. The research orientation of EIIR is structured around the study of dynamic interrelationships between technological and economic transformations, firms' organisational and knowledge-creating capabilities, emerging market and industrial structures, and public institutions, including regulatory, technical-scientific, social, political, and cultural systems.

The key research areas of EIIR activities concentrate on the economic, technological, organisational and institutional dynamics underpinning processes of innovation within and across diverse geopolitical contexts. One of the frameworks of research action involves participation in research project and studies funded by private and public institutions and research programs, such as the Information Society Technologies (IST) programme in the European Union's Framework Programme VI, in the above-mentioned areas and in forward-looking visionary research. EIIR keeps apace with the leading edge developments in each area of its concerns through participation in most prestigious international fora and symposia and its output is being published in leading publications.

For further information about EIIR, please visit the following section: History