Expanding research through self-formation
Self-formation is relatively unknown. Therefore part of the FIRST STEP project focused on the promotion and dissemination of knowledge through the European Research Area, (ERA) as a means of enforcing the adoption of the potential self-formation applications have. Additionally their aim also focused on attracting young and talented research graduates through a series of established national and European networks. During a three day conference on conceptual and application-specific knowledge for self-formation, the project achieved a major objective; the expansion of knowledge through the ERA, and the dissemination of material, heretofore, largely and almost exclusively in Russian. The material is now available in CD-ROM, online and in hardcopy. Distributed at the '6th International Conference on Self-Formation Theory and Applications' held in Vilnius, Lithuania, the material is comprised of 11 presentations, 8 lectures, 10 scientific papers, 5 articles and a number of related online information portals. As dissemination tools, these provide enormous benefit to broadening the awareness of self-formation and to the successful exchange of ideas and fostering networks of cooperation. Specifically one of the immediate benefits of the FIRST STEP project can be seen in the fact that seven agreements of strategic cooperation were signed as well as an exchange of personnel. As such, self-formation as a theory and as a research topic will assume a greater focus under the ERA network, and has already resulted in engaging several join-research ventures with leading EU institutions. This bodes well, both for the Lithuanian research institute as well as for the larger ERA network.