In order to develop the readiness of young researchers to carry out scientific research and improve their research competencies, Karolina Valiukaitė, a student of the Social Work study programme of the Faculty of Arts and Education of Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI), under the guidance of the lecturer of the Department of Social Work Dr Valentina Demidenko, engaged in research practice during the summer. Recently, she conducted a study The Role of a Social Worker in Enabling Ukrainian War Refugees to Apply for Psychosocial Assistance. The student presented the research results on 28 August at the Science Summer 2024 student summer scientific internship conference organised by the Research Council of Lithuania at the Life Sciences Centre of Vilnius University.

K. Valiukaitė actively participated in the preparation of the research methodology, she used the opportunity not only to observe but also to practically hold one of the group meetings for the refugees of the Ukrainian war.

The future specialist gained experience and improved skills in leading groups, observed the interview conducted by the mentor with refugees from the Ukrainian war and, under the supervision of the mentor, conducted the interview herself. The student not only actively participated in the research data analysis process, acquired new research data analysis skills, but also professionally presented the summer research results at the final Research Council of Lithuania conference.

In the section where K. Valiukaitė presented the research, she was the only representative of the higher education institutions among the students of Vilnius University. The student of the Social Work study programme perfectly presented the achieved results and got the active attention of the participants.

In addition, on 30 August K. Valiukaitė presented the results of the study The Role of a Social Worker in Enabling Ukrainian War Refugees to Apply for Psychosocial Assistance at the international Erasmus+ conference Enhancing Intercultural Communication Skills and Competences for Social Workers in the Provision of Assistance to Forced Migrants.