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About us

Vytautas Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute of Vytautas Magnus University is an academic research department that brings together researchers from more than ten social sciences and humanities fields from five faculties of Vytautas Magnus University. The institute initiates and conducts interdisciplinary research in social sciences and humanities at national and international levels, addressing the needs of science, Lithuanian society, and the state.

News

Three Postdoctoral Fellows Join the Institute 
 At the end of 2024, three postdoctoral fellows joined the Vytautas Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute of Vytautas Magnus University to…
Research on the Politicisation of Religion and Religionisation of Politics in Lithuania
The Vytautas Kavolis Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) has launched a new research project titled “Discursive Practices…
The Seminar on Transdisciplinarity Brought Together Researchers
The seminar on transdisciplinarity brought together researchers from different countries On the 4th of December, 2024, Vytautas Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute…

The name of Vytautas Kavolis

The name of the Institute is associated with the ideas and works of Vytautas Martynas Kavolis (1930-1999), a prominent émigré scientist, sociologist, publicist, and public figure who left his mark on the restored Vytautas Magnus University. Vytautas Kavolis, for many decades in the USA and after 1990 also in Lithuania, had been developing the sociology of aesthetics and literature, as well as cultural and gender studies, comparative civilisation studies, which were based on a transdisciplinary approach, the analysis of research methodologies and methods, their critique and revision. He was also one of the organisers of the Santara-Šviesa, which promoted the political and cultural activism of intellectuals to liberate, democratise and integrate Lithuanian society into the processes of global modernisation. 

 

Based on the analysis of V. Kavolis’s activities, the Institute fosters a threefold identity: first, the research of Kavolis’ scientific works; second, the application and development of Kavolis’ methodologies and methods similar to his, as well as the comparative social, cultural and civilisation studies; and, third, a broad range of other interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research through the development of international partnerships and scientific dialogue. 

Upcoming events

March 2025
Mar 20
20 March 2025
MS Teams,

The VMU Vytautas Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute invites academic community members to a methodological workshop on applying the focus group discussion (FGD) method in cross-national, cross-cultural, multi-lingual research.   Date:… Read More »Focus Group Discussion Method in Cross-National, Cross-Cultural, Multi-Lingual Research: Application Guidelines and Key Challenges

Free
June 2025
Jun 26
26 June 2025
Vilnius University,

CALL FOR PAPERS ESSWE10 The 10th Biennial Conference of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism ESOTERICISM AND RATIONALITY Vilnius University, Lithuania, June 26-28, 2025   To propose an… Read More »The 10th Biennial Conference of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism ESOTERICISM AND RATIONALITY

Jun 30
30 June 2025
S. Daukanto str. 28, Kaunas, Lithuania

COST Action COREnet and International Society for the Sociology of Religion and Vytautas Magnus University V. Kavolis Transdisciplinary Research Institute are organising an international conference titled “Religion, Migration, and Conflicts in… Read More »The 38th Biennal ISSR Conference RELIGION, MIGRATION, AND CONFLICTS IN POLARIZED SOCIETIES