El. paštas j.ruskus@sgf.vdu.lt

Prof. Jonas Ruškus (born in 1969) is the Head of Social Work School at Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania). He is a graduate of Šiauliai Pedagogical Institute in Lithuania (in Special Education, 1987-1992) and Compiègne Technology University in France (D.E.A., Diplome d'Études Approfondies in Sciences of Man and Technology, Communication and Safety, 1993-1994). In 2000, he defended PhD thesis in Social Sciences (education) “Interdependence of Special Pedagogue Attitudes, School Socialization and Pedagogical Interaction”.

His competences are within the fields of social research methodology and psychosociology of disability. He effectuated some research projects on attitudes and social representations, empowerment of social risk and exclusion groups (gender, former prisoners, delinquent juvenile etc.), social participation, quality of education and social services.

Since 2007 he is the Head of Social Work School at Vytautas Magnus University teaching Social research methodology in Master and Doctoral programs. From 2000 to 2007 he was the Head of Social Research Centre and the lecturer in the department of Social Pedagogy and Psychology at Šiauliai University and also a visiting professor in Klaipėda and Liège (Belgium) universities. His experience of expertise extends to a Chairman of the Science and Art Committee of Šiauliai University Senate, a member of Doctoral Studies Committee of Šiauliai University, a member of National Council of Education and also an advisor of Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs (England), European Journal of Research on Disability (France), Baltic Journal of Special Education and Applied Research in Health and Social Sciences: Interface and Interaction (both Lithuania). He was a supervisor of four defended PhD thesis on education. In 2000 he was awarded Grant of Government of France. In 2002 and 2004, he was awarded Young Researcher’s Grant of Government of Lithuania.