Research projects, implemented by the ‘Diversity Development Group’
1. Situation of Roma people in comparison with other inhabitants of the country funded by the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman (2015). The main aim of the project – to collect representative data on the situation of Roma people, according to indicators taken from ‘The Action Plan of Integration of the Roma People into Lithuanian Society for 2015-2020’, and compare the data with the survey of Statistics Lithuania on Incomes and Living Conditions. Eventually, the study will collect the missing data of the situation of the Roma population in different areas: household, financial conditions, educational attainment, economic activities, living conditions and health status. The study surveyed 521 people of Roma nationality.
2. The Trajectories and Evaluation Mechanisms of Integration of Third-country Nationals funded by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals, annual program 2012 (2013–2014). Project implemented by the Institute for Ethnic Studies (LSTC) and the ‘Diversity Development Group’. The main aim of the project – to reveal integration needs of non-EU immigrant groups and organisations in Lithuania, disclose patterns of migrant representation and integration, create the system of indicators to monitor and measure migrant integration processes. The main aim includes different levels of the analysis: 1) systematisation of the data available in Lithuania on the needs of third country nationals; 2) monitor integration processes and their evolution; 3) development of the system, which will enable to monitor, collect, analyse and evaluate data, related to immigration and migrant integration in Lithuania.
3. The Strategic Document for Integration of Third-Country Nationals funded by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals, annual program 2013 (2014–2015). Project implemented by the Institute for Ethnic Studies (LSTC), Centre for Equality Advancement, Lithuanian Red Cross Society, ‘Diversity Development Group’, Social – educational initiatives centre PLUS, Social partnership foundation Magnum Bonum. The main aim of the project is to prepare strategic policy document of integration of third country nationals. The relevance of the project was measured considering the absence of migrant integration strategy and the need of such document in Lithuania, the obligation of the Government to prepare migration policy guidelines in 2014, previous policy documents, regulating immigration/migrant integration processes in Lithuania and migration/migrant integration policy developments in the EU. The project ‘The Strategic Document of Integration of Third-Country Nationals’ aims to encompass a consortium of organisations with many years of experience in an area of migration and migrant integration and develop the strategic document of integration of third country nationals.
4. Living and working conditions of labour migrants in Lithuania funded by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals, annual program 2013 (2014–2015). Project implemented by the Institute for Ethnic Studies (LSTC) and the ‘Diversity Development Group’. The main aim of the project is to create an index of indicators that would allow to evaluate integration and labour migration policy and to monitor process of labour migration in Lithuania. During the project, an empirical research of living and working conditions of labour migrants in Lithuania (N=300) was conducted. The results of the research are being used to prepare recommendations for the development, improvement and implementation of labour immigration policies.
5. European Website on Integration funded by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country nationals, under Community Actions (2014–2015). Coordinator – Migration Policy Group. Project coordinator in Lithuania – ‘Diversity Development Group’. This Web Site is an initiative of the European Commission under the responsibility of the Directorate-General Home Affairs. The Web Site is designed to act as an EU-wide platform for networking on integration, through exchange about policies and practices. In particular, the Web Site is a documentation facility; an on-line data collection tool for good practices; and a platform for the direct exchange of information between stakeholders. It provides policy makers and practitioners working on integration in Europe with a tool for the exchange of information and good practice.
6. Strategic Partnership in Adult Migrant Education: Perspectives from Mediterranean and Baltic Sea Regions (MEDBALT) funded by the Erasmus+ Grudving (2014–2016). Project coordinator – ‘Diversity Development Group’. Partner organisations: Uninersidad de Salamanca (Spain), Tamat Centro Studi Formazione e Ricerca (Italy), Centre for Advancement of Research and Development in Educational Technology LTD (Cyprus), Koperazzjoni Internazzjonali (Malta), Fundacja Osrodek Badan nad Migracjami (Poland). The aim of the MEDBALT project is to prepare a methodology for the adult migrant education policies based on good practices from different partner organisations. Objectives: each partner organisation develops a case study on the adult migrant integration and education policies and prepares political recommendations in the field of migrant integration and education. Project coordinator organises the final conference of the project. Key activities of the project: study and good practice visits, analysis of adult migrant education and integration programmes, the development of the methodology for adult migrant education in Lithuania, recommendations for implementation of adult migrant education policies.
7. National Integration Evaluation Mechanism. Measuring and improving integration of beneficiaries of international protection, funded by The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) (2015–2021). Project implemented by UNHCR Regional Representation for Centras Europe; UNHCR Representation for Poland (Poland); Migration Policy Group (Belgium); Bulgarian Council on Refugees and Migrants (Bulgaria); Multi Kulti Collective (Bulgaria); People in Need Foundation (Czech Republic); France terred'asile (France); Berline Institute for Integration and Migration Research (Germany); Menedek – Hungarian Association for Migrants (Hungary); Centre for Public policy PROVIDUS (Latvia); Diversity Development Group (Lithuania); Maastricht University, Faculty of Law (Holand); The University of Oxford, Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (UK); CIDOB, Barcelona centre for international affairs (Spain); Peace Institute (Slovenia); Open Society Foundation (Romania); Centro de Estudos Sociais (Portugal); University of Warsaw, Institute of Social Prevention and Resocialisation (Poland); Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (Poland); Institute of Public Affairs (Poland). The main aim of this project is to mainstream an integration evaluation mechanism into the integration policies for refugees and beneficiaries of international protection at the national level in the respective project countries.
8. Testing EU citizenship as “labour citizenship”: from cases of labour rights violations to a strengthened labour-rights regime, funded by Europe for Citizen (2015–2016). Project implemented by MKC Prague (Czech Republic), Polnischer Sozialrat (Germany), Universita di Padova (Italy), Diversity Development Group (Lithuania), Ado Sah Rom (Romania). The project brings together 12 partner organisations who collect migrant workers' testimonies of serious labour rights violations in the EU. The testimonies become basis for discussions on role of EU and national labour related institutions (labour inspection, labour offices, etc.) and laws (ex. public procurement directives, seasonal workers directive). The project is based on normative position that decent wage and working conditions are necessary in order to promote democratic participation of EU citizens. The objective of the project is to grasp EU citizens' mobility both from perspective of economically weak regions as a source of work migration and places of destination where migration influences labour and broader social milieu. We emphasise concrete experience of migrant workers and seek to translate it to broader discussion on labour related future of Europe.
9. Identity and Diversity Picture Book Collections (IDPBC), funded by the Erasmus+ Grudving (2015–2017). Project coordinator – ‘Diversity Development Group’. Partner organisations: Centre for Advancement of Research and Development in Educational Technology LTD-CARDET (Cyprus), Universitatea Din Pitesti (Romania), Doukas School (Greece), INNOVADE LTD (Cyprus), Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco (Portugal). IDPBC is a transnational effort to compile international picture book collections, approaches and activities that address three issues of great importance to contemporary students and teachers across the globe: Inclusion, Diversity and Identity. Forming one’s identity and finding one’s place in increasingly diverse communities are central preoccupations of children from the very first day they begin to attend school. A strong sense of identity that coexists with a healthy sense of belonging and accepting are even more important for children with disabilities or marginalised, minority and migrant backgrounds. Identifying and valuing one’s self-image is crucial in a student’s academic and social success. In many countries, an increasing number of picture books deal with these issues in innovative and engaging ways, potentially enabling children to explore and negotiate identity, inclusion and diversity in deep and productive manners. These are the picture books the IDPBC consortium aims to collect and place into the hands of teachers and students across Europe and the globe. Evidently, the transnational aspect of the project will substantially enrich the diversity of visual stories, activities and languages to be included, as well as enhance the collective wisdom, capacity and expertise of the consortium.
10. Energising mobile citizens' participation, funded by Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme, 2014–2020 (2015–2016). Project coordinator: Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS (Latvia). Partner organisations: ‘Diversity Development Group’ (Lithuania), Institute of Public Affairs (Poland), European Latvian Association, Forum Polonia. Objectives of the project: to assess the extent of and limits of participation of mobile EU citizens in Ireland, with particular focus on EU-13 citizens, and to analyse how the efforts to stimulate mobile citizens’ participation can be improved; to develop more effective ways of stimulating participation among EU citizens in Ireland and to pilot these new approaches at local level with representatives of Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish citizens; to develop recommendations for improving participation of mobile EU citizens in host countries and to present these recommendations to stakeholders and EU policy makers. Activities: analyse current practices in promoting participation in political life (e.g. local elections) among EU-13 citizens living in Ireland, and identify barriers and opportunities; promote participation by directly addressing Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish communities in Ireland (training for community leaders, pilot shadowing programme, brochure, interactive online test); develop and present a policy brief with recommendations on how to improve participation of EU-13 citizens in EU-15 countries to EU policy makers.
