From May 9 to 23, 2026, Professor D. Malinauskienė and doctoral student Vaida Padgurskytė from the Institute of Education at Vilnius University’s Šiauliai Academy participated for the second time in a research internship at the Institute of Pedagogy at the University of Siedlce in Poland. The internship took place as part of the educational research project “Continuity of Learning to Learn in Early Childhood (Ages 4–8)” (No. P-EDU-23-26), funded by the European Union and carried out in collaboration with the Lithuanian Council for Science and Vilnius University.
During the first week, under the guidance of Prof. Habil. Dr. A. Klim-Klimaszewska, the participants met with the institute’s academic community and deepened their understanding of the study programs and the practical aspects of organizing doctoral studies. They also discussed game-based learning and the development of learning-to-learn skills in Poland and Lithuania with experts in game studies. PhD candidate V. Padgurskytė presented the theoretical approaches and research findings of her upcoming dissertation on game-based experiential learning. She also presented the activities already implemented and currently underway as part of the project “Continuity of Learning to Learn Education in Early Childhood (4–8 years).” During the internship, participants visited Nursery-Kindergarten No. 3 in Siedlce, observed educational activities that revealed the expression of children’s learning-to-learn abilities, and organized focus group interviews with preschool teachers.
During the second week, the participants engaged in activities with pre-school and primary education students, analyzed their research projects, and listened to reflections on teaching practice. At Kindergarten No. 15 in Siedlce, they observed creative and play-based activities led by students and teachers and organized focus group interviews with preschool and pre-school teachers. A meeting with university doctoral students during the internship provided an opportunity for discussions about doctoral studies and opportunities for scientific dissemination in Lithuania and Poland.