Irena Kaffemanienė

Assoc. Prof. Irena Kaffemanienė is an Associate Professor at Šiauliai University, affiliated with the Faculty of Disability and Social Welfare Studies and the Institute of Education. She holds a PhD in Social Sciences (Education) and specializes in inclusive education, special educational needs, and teacher training. Her research emphasizes individualized education, social skills development, and special pedagogy. She has led projects such as optimizing higher education networks (2021-2022) and analyzing 'good school' characteristics (2014). Internationally, she has collaborated with institutions in Poland, Italy, and Ukraine. She has received acknowledgments from Lithuania's Seimas and Ministry of Education (2018, 2015, 2010, 2008).

Her work spans teacher identity, autism intervention, and parent-teacher collaboration. Key projects include studies on reading skills in inclusive education and special education quality improvement. She chairs master’s and bachelor’s programs in Special Education and has held roles like Director of the Institute of Education (2021-2022). Her research integrates interdisciplinary approaches, addressing both policy and practice in special education.