April 19th, 2019, 13:00 hrs., in MRU's I-414 aud., Educational Sciences and Social Work Institute PhD candidate Rimvydas Augutavičius will defend his doctoral dissertation, "Engaging Relationship in Non-Formal Education of Adults From at Social Risk Families: Grounded Theory."

The dissertation analyses the process of non-formal education of adults from risky families. It considers the preconditions for organizing an effective education process, provides practical insights and recommendations in the context of educational science.

The PhD thesis analyses the process of non-formal education of adults from social risky families.

In order to provide a scientifically based interpretation of how this process is being organized and implemented, a classic grounding theory approach of social research is used. While conducting research, the elements of grounded theory, of engaging relationships in non-formal education of adults from social risky families gradually becomes evident: it leads to participation, as the main component of the process, which is addressed in the context of non-formal education; directing consciousness and rejection cycles, as two different expressions of an engaging relationship and a means of resolving the challenges that lead to participation; rigidity and change, as the final result of the non-formal education process.

The dissertation also reveals the axial purposefulness, which is considered as the expression of the interaction of the parameters in the process of non-formal education.

The emerged substantive grounded theory is further developed in the context of other adult education theories, which ensures a high level of scientific abstraction and credibility of the theory itself.

The grounded theory of engaging relationship in non-formal education of adults from social risky families reveals the preconditions for organizing an effective education process, provides scientific and practical insights and recommendations in the context of educational science.