Assoc. professor PhD Juknevičienė Vita

 Email:  

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5910-3010

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vita-Jukneviciene

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vita-juknevi%C4%8Dien%C4%97-0349a914b/

CA WoS ResearcherID: I-1692-2017

Research Area:

Social Sciences, Business and Public Management

Scientific Interests:

Public-sector modernisation and resilience, e-leadership in local government, anti-corruption potential, good regional and local governance, innovation systems and their governance; science for policy

Present Position:

Associate professor

Since June 2026, Adviser in the Public Administration and Local Self-Government Policy Group (Ministry of the Interior)

Since March 2026, Head of the Department of Management and Communication (Šiauliai State Higher Education Institution)

Education:

PhD in Management

Experience (Past Positions):

2023–2026 Science and Innovation Adviser at the Ministry of the Interior (Research Council of Lithuania)

2021-2024 visiting assoc. professor in the Public Management, Governance & Public Policy School, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg (South Africa)

2020-2023  chairperson of “Public Administration” Study Programmes' Committee.

2017–2023 chairperson of “Regional Development and Governance” Study Programme's Committee.

2016–2023 researcher (research fellow) in the field of business and public management.

Since 2005 lecturer in the field of Public Administration

Publications:

eLABa

Study subjects:

Public Policy and Policy Analysis (Master’s studies),

Public–Private Partnership for Regional Innovation (Master’s studies),

Business Ethics and Anti-corruption Policy (Bachelor’s studies)

Projects:

2026-09-01–2027-08-30 Research project “Applying Creativity-Based Methods to Develop Solutions to Complex Societal Challenges”. Šiauliai State Higher Education Institution. Estimated project value: EUR 6,000. Role: Project Leader.

22 June 2026 – 24 July 2026. Study project. The project 101124794 – NEOLAiA – ERASMUS-EDU-2023-EUR-UNIV was funded by the European Commission under Grant Agreement No. Ares (2023) 7242260-24/10/2023. Coordinator – NEOLAiA Alliance of Universities. Institution – Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences. Position – lecturer, responsible for implementing activities under Task 6.5, “Summer Entrepreneurship Challenge” (SUMMA), within Work Package VI (WP6), “Entrepreneurship – NEOLAiA Skills for the Society of the Future”.

2024-01-11–2027-10-24 CA22150 – Comparative Research on the Executive Triangle in Europe (CoREx), MoU 060/23, 2023-10-25–2027-10-24. Action Chair: Prof. Dr Thurid Hustedt (Hertie School, Germany). Working Group 2, “Career Patterns in the Executive Triangle” (Working Group Leader: Prof. Dr Jan-Hinrik Meyer-Sahling, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom). Role: Researcher.

2024-01-01–2026-12-31 Research project “Local-level Democratic Performance and Quality of Government in Central and Eastern Europe at a Time of Multiple Crises and Democratic Backsliding”. Funded by the Czech Science Foundation, Grant No. 24-10612S. Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr Pavel Maškarinec (Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem (UJEP), Czech Republic). Estimated project value: CZK 4,493,000 (EUR 176,715). Role: Researcher.

2023-12-07–2026-12-06 Research project “Sectoral Innovation Scoreboard: Development of a Methodology for a Complex Assessment of Innovation Potential at Sector and Company Level in Agribusiness”. Funded by the National Science Fund, Contract No. КП-06-Н75/8. Sofia University, Sofia, Bulgaria (Project Leader: Prof. Dr Teodora Georgieva). Estimated project value: BGN 181,000 (EUR 92,543.83). Role: Researcher.

2023-09-01–2023-10-30 Research project “Strengthening the Crisis Resilience of Municipal Governance Institutions by Enabling Digital Government Processes (DIGiRES)” (Contract No. S-VIS-23-10). Implemented under the competitive priority research programme funded by the Research Council of Lithuania, “Strengthening Societal Resilience and Crisis Management in the Context of Contemporary Geopolitical Events” (Call I, 2023-09-01–2026-06-30). Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr Rita Toleikienė (Mykolas Romeris University). Role: Senior Researcher.

2023-03-01–2024-08-31 Research project “EUMODNEXT Project: Innovative Tools and Approaches for Improving the Prevention of Fraud in the Context of NextGenerationEU Funds”, EUAF-2022-TRAI, 101101627. Coordinator: Prof. Dr Óscar López de Foronda (University of Burgos, Spain). Estimated project value: EUR 107,714.76. Role: Researcher.

2023-02-01–2023-10-30 Research project “E-leadership in Municipal Administrations: The Post-pandemic Analysis (E-LEADER)”, (1.78) SU-501, 2023-03-13. Project partners: Vilnius University (Lithuania; coordinator), Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences (Germany), and the University of Latvia (Latvia). Supported by the Baltic-German University Liaison Office through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), using funds from the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany. Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr Rita Toleikienė (Vilnius University). Estimated project value: EUR 5,000. Role: Researcher.

2023-01-27–2023-05-30 Project under Priority 9, “Educating Society and Increasing the Potential of Human Resources”, of the 2014–2020 European Union Funds Investment Operational Programme, Measure No. 09.3.1-ESFA-V-738 “Improvement of the Higher Education Institution Network”, Project No. 09.3.1-ESFA-V-738-03-0001 “Optimisation of the Higher Education Institution Network and Improvement of Study Quality by Integrating Šiauliai University into Vilnius University”. Role: Mentor (2023-01-27–2023-05-30).

2022-11-01–2024-02-28 Study project. EMDM project: EGIS Economics & Geography of Innovation and Sustainable Development, funded under the 2022 Erasmus+ call for Erasmus Mundus Design Measures (EMDM). Leader: Prof. Dr Francesco Lissoni, University of Bordeaux (France). Partners: University of Barcelona, Utrecht University, Jean Monnet University (Saint-Étienne, France), and Vilnius University (Lithuania). Estimated project value: EUR 55,000. Role: Associate Professor contributing to the development of an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme.

2021-11-16–2024-11-15 Research project “Development and Implementation of a Model for Assessing the Innovation Potential of Global Value Chains as a Basis for Increasing Regional Competitiveness”, No. КП-06-Н55/8. Funded by the National Science Fund, Bulgaria. Coordinator: International Business School, Sofia, Bulgaria. Role: Researcher and Lecturer.

2021-07-23–2022-05-31 and 2022-05-06–2023-08-31 Study project under Priority 9, “Educating Society and Increasing the Potential of Human Resources”, of the 2014–2020 European Union Funds Investment Operational Programme, Measure No. 09.3.1-ESFA-V-738 “Improvement of the Higher Education Institution Network”, Project No. 09.3.1-ESFA-V-738-03-0001 “Optimisation of the Higher Education Institution Network and Improvement of Study Quality by Integrating Šiauliai University into Vilnius University”. Sub-activities: “3.2.7. Development of a Unified Corruption Prevention System”; “1.2. Preparation, Testing and Revision of a Programme for Enhancing Lecturers’ Educational Competences”. Coordinator: Vilnius University, Lithuania. Role: Project Expert and Lecturer.

EUMODFRAUD project „Toolkit for the Prevention of frauds in European Funds with Special Attention to ERDF and CF2020-01-01–2021-06-30 Research project “EUMODFRAUD: Toolkit for the Prevention of Frauds in European Funds with Special Attention to the ERDF and CF”, HERCULE III programme, EUMODFRAUD HERCULE-LT-AG-2019 878513. Project Leader: Prof. Dr Oscar Lopez De Foronda Perez (University of Burgos, Spain). Role: Principal Researcher in the project activity “Tool for the Prevention of Frauds in European Funds with Special Attention to the ERDF and CF”.

2019-06-01–2019-11-30 Research project “E-leadership in Local Government Organisations”. Coordinator: Šiauliai University, Lithuania. Funded by the Baltisch-Deutsches Hochschulkontor (Baltic-German University Liaison Office). Project Leader: Assoc. Prof. Dr Rita Toleikienė. Role: Researcher.

2018-04-11–2019-12-31 Study project “KURK: A Creative, Unique and Caring Generation”. Coordinators: Klaipėda State University of Applied Sciences and the University of Applied Social Sciences, Lithuania. Role: Project Lecturer.

2018-09-01–2019-11-01 Study project under Priority 10, “Public Governance Responsive to Society’s Needs and Advanced Public Governance”, of the 2014–2020 European Union Funds Investment Operational Programme, Measure No. 10.1.2-ESFA-K-917 “Initiatives to Increase Public Intolerance of Corruption and Promote Participation in Public Governance Processes”: “Developing Attitudes of Intolerance towards Corruption among Young People in Šiauliai City”, No. 10.1.2-ESFA-K-917-02-0017. Coordinator: Northern Lithuania College. Role: Author of the methodological tool.

Internships, Grants:

2023-04-23–27 Short-term research visit “Transformative Learning and Teaching”. University of Bergen (Norway), UiB Learning Lab, Department of Education, Centre for Excellence in Education “bioCEED”.

2017-03-20 – 2017-03-29 Short-term Internship “Public-private partnership for regional innovations” at Udine University Laboratory for Research in Economics and Management, Department of Economics and Statistics Sciences (Italy). This internship was awarded with the grant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Collaboration of the Republic of Italy.

2015-10-18 – 2015-11-01 Short-term internship “Democracy in Practice” at Kent State University, Department of Political Sciences (USA).

Practical experience:

2024-06-30–2024-07-26 Visiting Lecturer at Chonnam National University, International Summer Session. Course taught: “Innovative Government: A Comparative Perspective” (Gwangju, Republic of Korea).

2021-08-01 – 2024-07-31 visiting associate professor. University of Johannesburg, College of Business and Economics, School of Public Management, Governance & Public Policy (Johannesburg, South Africa).

2022-06-22 – 2022-07-21 visiting professor at Chonnam National University, International Summer session. Subject „Innovative Government: A Comparative View“ (Gwangju, South Korea).

2017-06-25 – 2022-07-23 visiting professor at Chonnam National University, International Summer session. Subject „Introduction to Public Administration“ (Gwangju, South Korea).

2022–2024 Lecturer at Mokymų klubas, MB.

Applied research projects:

2023-03-01–2023-12-31 Service “Women’s Political Participation for Progress: From Analysis to Action (MVLGP05408)”. Project implemented under Proposal No. 1 of 9 December 2019 to the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson concerning the procurement of services for developing a monitoring methodology (mechanism) and evaluating the impact of the project’s targeted measures. Client: Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson of the Republic of Lithuania.

2020-12-22–2022-12-22 Service: sociological study “The Anti-corruption Environment in Radviliškis District”. Client: Radviliškis District Municipality; provider: Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy.

2020-11-01–2020-12-31 Service: implementation of the sociological study “The Anti-corruption Environment in Šiauliai District”. Client: Šiauliai District Municipality; provider: Šiauliai University.

Scientific Dissemination:

Researchers’ Excellence Network (RENET): https://atviri.emokymai.vu.lt/course/view.php?id=126

Publications of science dissemination:

https://www.delfi.lt/projektai/studijos/kas-is-tikruju-lemia-savivaldybiu-atsparuma-kai-krizes-seka-viena-po-kitos-120237863 http://mokslolietuva.lt/2023/11/elektroninio-vadovavimo-patirtis-lietuvos-latvijos-ir-vokietijos-savivaldybese-po-pandemijos/

http://mokslolietuva.lt/2023/08/padeka-prof-teodorui-tamosiunui

https://www.etaplius.lt/siauliu-universiteto-mokslininkai-prisidejo-prie-to-kad-greitai-bus-galima-stebeti-lyciu-lygybes-padeti-savivaldybese

https://www.etaplius.lt/mokslininkai-teigia-jog-elektroninis-vadovavimas-savivaldybems-vis-dar-kelia-issukiu

http://mokslolietuva.lt/2017/08/patirtis-korejos-respublikos-universitete-pagarba-aukstajam-mokslui-ir-jame-dirbantiems/

http://mokslolietuva.lt/2017/01/renet-tinklas-nacionaliniam-ir-tarptautiniam-bendradarbiavimui/

http://mokslolietuva.lt/2017/02/renet-tinklas-nacionaliniam-ir-tarptautiniam-bendradarbiavimui-2/

Expert, consulting activities:

Since 2022-09-10, Mentor in the Transparency Academy for Teachers (Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Lithuania).

2024-06-26–2026-05-30 Lithuanian expert in the “Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society” configuration of the Programme Committee for the European Union Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe.

2022-10-30–2024-10-30 Certified instructor in the application of the Six Thinking Hats method. Completed the “Train the Trainers” programme in Six Thinking Hats, Angel in Mind, Poland. Certificate issued by De Bono Ltd. (United Kingdom).

https://www.ziniuradijas.lt/laidos/feminizmo-doze/kas-butu-kitaip-jei-moteru-politikoje-butu-daugiau?video=12023-10-31 Guest on the Žinių radijas programme “A Dose of Feminism”. Topic: “What Would Be Different if There Were More Women in Politics?” https://www.ziniuradijas.lt/laidos/feminizmo-doze/kas-butu-kitaip-jei-moteru-politikoje-butu-daugiau?video=1

https://www.ziniuradijas.lt/laidos/ekspertai-pataria/ar-lietuvos-politikoje-girdimas-moteru-balsas?video=1&fbclid=IwAR3fKTqgnlAZPtJdwmzW1hugqP-WaM9nkVJz7qxkCcH5_0sCfareMXe40yU2023-09-15 Guest on the Žinių radijas programme “Experts Advise”. Topic: “Is Women’s Voice Heard in Lithuanian Politics?” https://www.ziniuradijas.lt/laidos/ekspertai-pataria/ar-lietuvos-politikoje-girdimas-moteru-balsas?video=1&fbclid=IwAR3fKTqgnlAZPtJdwmzW1hugqP-WaM9nkVJz7qxkCcH5_0sCfareMXe40yU

https://lmt.lrv.lt/public/canonical/1766384594/7188/LMT%20SI%20GS.%20Maketas.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawPMwTJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFNd3lSUXVHem9WdEw3V3N0c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHm0Jl2FiFdSg_j940rUt0UMFn7Aus7nVVoFS0QDwanjME39Whx8_WVH6I4sf_aem_IaS21HKH7ApjqdkpLBZKOgFeasibility study: Telešienė, A., Dvarionienė, J., Gruževskis, B., Juknevičienė, V., Pakėnas, M., Platūkytė, E., Prakapas, R., Radišauskienė, E., Remeikienė, R., and Spiriajevas, E. (2025). Feasibility Study on Social Innovation in the Field of Mobility (63 pp.). Vilnius: Research Council of Lithuania. https://lmt.lrv.lt/public/canonical/1766384594/7188/LMT%20SI%20GS.%20Maketas.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawPMwTJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFNd3lSUXVHem9WdEw3V3N0c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHm0Jl2FiFdSg_j940rUt0UMFn7Aus7nVVoFS0QDwanjME39Whx8_WVH6I4sf_aem_IaS21HKH7ApjqdkpLBZKOg

Methodological book: Jakavonytė, L., Sprindžiūnas, A., Zeliankienė, V., Toleikienė, R., Juknevičienė, V. (2020). Antikorupcinis ugdymas bendrojo ugdymo mokykloje (Anti-corruption education in the school of general education). Vilnius: Nacionalinė švietimo agentūra. ISBN 9786099572499, 99 p. URL: https://sodas.ugdome.lt/metodiniai-dokumentai/perziura/11701

Methodology: 2019-12-09 – 2020-07-01 Contracted service “Creation of the monitoring methodology (mechanism) and the measurement of the influence of targeted measures of the project” has been provided. The created methodology is focused on the evaluation of gender equality in municipalities. Customer: Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsmen of the Republic of Lithuania. Executors – the team of researchers from Vilnius University and Šiauliai University.

Awards:

2025-11-25 Letter of Appreciation from the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, Vladislav Kondratovič, for initiative and a significant contribution to achieving the objectives assigned to the Ministry of the Interior in the fields of public administration and local self-government.

2024-07-03 Letter of Appreciation from the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, Agnė Bilotaitė, for a personal contribution to the preparation of the public-sector report.

2022-12-20 Letter of Appreciation from the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, for an outstanding contribution to advancing transparency. The letter, written on behalf of the President, states: “I sincerely thank you for your work in making Lithuania more transparent. I am pleased that the Transparency Academy, successfully continuing and expanding its activities, has once again brought together experts from different fields this year around a common goal: combating corruption and increasing transparency in our environment, organisations and country. Thank you for treating the creation of a corruption-resistant environment as your civic duty and for devoting your time, knowledge and invaluable experience to it. May all our efforts contribute to strengthening national security and building a more transparent Lithuania.”

2021-12-21 Rector’s diploma awarding Associate Professor Vita Juknevičienė of Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy the title of Lecturer of the Year 2021 for her significant contribution to studies, talent and dedication in imparting knowledge to academic youth, and the education of creative and critically thinking individuals. Vilnius: Vilnius University.

2016-10-14 Letter of Appreciation from the Minister of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania to Dr Vita Juknevičienė for initiative and a significant personal contribution to organising conferences focused on sustainable regional development.

2015-12-17 Šiauliai University Science Award for a Young Researcher for contributing to the sustainable development of the country and region and to the advancement of research at Šiauliai University.

Other Related Activities:

Since 2026-02-07, individual member of NISPAcee (The Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe).

Since 2021 - the certified trainer, having the knowledge and skills to conduct a blended learning course on research integrity, which is embedded in a virtue ethics approach. HORIZON2020 project “Virtue based ethics and Integrity of Research: Train-the-Trainer program for Upholding the principles and practices of the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity” (VIRTU2E).

Since 2015 - the Chairperson of the Coordination Committee of Researchers’ Excellence Network (RENET), coordinated by Vilnius University Šiauliai Academy.

Since 2015 - the member of Researchers’ Excellence Network (RENET).

Since 2020 - the member of the Lithuanian Educational Research Association (LERA).

Since 2020 - the member of the European Educational Research Association (EERA).

Since 2016 - the executive editor of scientific journal “Socialiniai tyrimai=Social Research”, ISSN 1392-3110, Šiauliai Academy of Vilnius University (previous Šiauliai University), Lithuania.

Since 2016 - the member of editorial board of scientific journal “Challenges of the Future”, ISSN 2463-9281, Faculty of Organization Studies in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.

Since 2017 - the member of editorial board of scientific journal “Technology, Engineering, Management, Entrepreneurship, Learning (TEMEL) – International Journal”, ISSN 2545-4390, Faculty of Technical Science - Bitola, Republic of North Macedonia.

Since 2017 - the member of editorial board of scientific journal “Annals of Spiru Haret University. Economic Series (ASHUES)”, ISSN 2393-1795, ISSN-L 2068-6900, Spiru Haret University, Editura Fundatiei Romania de Maine, Romania.

2018–2020 - the member of editorial board of scientific journal “Science Journal of Business and Management (SJBM)”, ISSN 2331-0626 (Print), ISSN 2331-0634 (Online), Science Publishing Group, USA.