Innovative research methodology conference in Kolping University of Applied Sciences

On 22-24 September, the first International scientific-practical conference and practical workshop “Phenomenology of practice in practice. International Interdisciplinary Conference of Phenomenological Research in Human Sciences” was held in KUAS, organized in conjunction with Klaipėda University and Vytautas Magnus University. Presentations were made by scientists from Lithuania, Poland, Norway and Canada, disclosing their experiences and challenges in the use of this methodology in the areas, such as education, social work, medicine, business, psychology.

Conference participants had the opportunity not only to share their experiences in phenomenological research and their results, but also to deepen their knowledge in a one-day practical workshop conducted by Klaipėda University professor Liudmila Rupšienė. During this workshop, the conference participants gained theoretical knowledge about the hermeneutic phenomenological method, and themselves actively applied the knowledge in practical activities. Origins of the workshops organized during this Conference come from the training with one of the most famous representative of the hermeneutic phenomenological methodology, Professor Emeritus of Canadian University of Alberta, Max van Manen, that took place in 2014, in Klaipėda University, where a small group of researchers had a unique opportunity to learn first-hand the peculiarities of the methodology and its application in practice.

We are happy that at the Conference we have been able to work with such scientists as Dr. Michael van Manen, Doc. Dr. Cathy Adams, Dr. Iris Yin, Prof. Dr. Liudmila Rupšienė, Prof. Dr. Natalija Mažeikienė, Prof. Dr. Gintautas Mažeikis, Prof. Dr. Vilma Žydžiūnaitė, Doc. Dr. Jurga Jonutytė, and give participants of the Conference an exceptional opportunity to hear the experiences of these scientists.

Positive and enthusiastic feedback of the participants after the Conference undoubtedly encouraged to continue to actively develop the hermeneutic phenomenological methodology and to mobilize Lithuanian researchers interested in qualitative research.