On February 27–28, 2025, the Society “Intellect Park” organised a training workshop titled “Third-country nationals and Latvian citizens – strong together. Integration of migrant children and foreign students: Lithuania’s experience” within the framework of the project “The Power of Involvement” (No. 2025.LV/NVOF/MAC/071), funded by the Latvian state budget program “NGO Fund”. The seminar was conducted in a hybrid format and was attended by members of the Society, educators, and volunteers.
The workshop was led by Doctor of Educational Sciences and Associate Professor Rima Bakutytė, Head of the Lifelong Learning Centre at Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy. The expert and workshop leader presented best practices in the field of education in Lithuania, emphasizing the importance of adult education and the professional development of educators in the processes of social integration.
R.Bakutytė’s examples sparked discussions among participants about the possibilities of adopting the most effective solutions in Latvia, particularly in the Latgale region, where cultural diversity and migration issues are especially relevant. The participants engaged in group work to analyse the similarities and differences in migrant integration between Latvia and Lithuania. Through the analysis of various situations related to integration into the local community and the challenges faced by migrants, proposals were developed to promote the development of an inclusive society at different stages of education.
At the conclusion of the workshop, the participants took part in the activity “Everyday challenges faced by migrant children and foreign students in educational institutions and society”, using the role-playing method. Each participant took on the roles of migrants and the host community, which allowed for a more nuanced understanding of the experiences and needs of these groups. The workshop participants acknowledged that they gained valuable insights and a deeper understanding of the daily challenges faced by migrant children and foreign students, not only in a regional but also in an international context. They emphasized that the role-playing method helped them emotionally and practically immerse themselves in the situation of these individuals, fostering empathy and enhancing their ability to seek effective solutions in the integration process.
The Society “Intellect Park” expresses its gratitude to all participants for their active engagement and highly appreciates the professional contribution and valuable experience shared by the workshop leader and expert, Rima Bakutytė.
Upcoming workshops within the project “The Power of Involvement” will soon take place, focusing on the social, economic, and psychological aspects of third-country nationals’ integration. These sessions aim to strengthen the Society’s capacity and support those who work with this target group on a daily basis.
This publication has been prepared with the financial support of the Society Integration Foundation from the Latvian state budget.
The content of this publication is the responsibility of Daugavpils University Society for Lifelong Learning, Culture, and Science Communication “Intellect Park”.
