It is essential to acknowledge and appreciate the diversity and potential of our diaspora. More than one million of Lithuania affiliates live outside the country of origin, study and work, look for opportunities for their professional career and families, cherish the bond with Lithuania in their own personal and professional way.
The scientists of Mykolas Romeris University (MRU), Institute of Social Innovations (SII) in cooperation with Global Lithuanian Leaders (GLL) carried out the research on the diversity of Lithuanian diaspora, their networks, values and sustainability, relations to business and science in Lithuania, their participation in social, economic and academic development, and the role of media in creation of diaspora image.
The conference gathered together experts of social sciences from MRU and Vytautas Magnus University, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Science invloved in the development and implementation of the Program of Global Lithuania (Globalios Lietuvos programa – http://urm.lt/default/lt/globali-lietuva), international NGOs and business organizations. In his welcoming remarks Viceminister of Foreign Affairs M.Bekešius supported the initiative of the research as the attempt to turn to the diaspora, learn about it and look for ways to cooperate and engage. He pointed out that all meetings with Lithuanians around the world showed their will to participate in growing international competetitiveness of Lithuania. Let us think of ways to enable them.
Quantity surveys, their analysis, quality interviews with high-level professionals, leaders of diaspora organizations, state officials working with the Program of the Global Lithuania, comprehensive assessment of legal environment regulating diaspora engagement, statistical review of media reflection of the role of diaspora were used to structure it based on their historical and geographical background, system of personal values and professional priorities and to come up with the number of recommendations for productive engagement and cooperation.
The research will reach the public in the form of monography by Dangis Gudelis, Ingrida Gečienė, Laima Nevinskaitė, Lyra Jakulevičienė, Luka Klimavičiūtė, Sandra Kanopkaitė called “Diaspora Professionals: How to Engage Them for Welfare of Lithuania” (“Diasporos profesionalai: kaip juos telkti kuriant Lietuvos gerovę”).