Advancing Social Innovation Studies: Researcher Dr Karina Maldonado-Mariscal Joins KTU

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Karina Maldonado-Mariscal as Visiting Professor at the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), within the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities. She will be joining the research group “Civil Society and Sustainability.” Her academic background is closely related to the Master’s programme Social Innovations and Research offered by KTU’s Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities (FSSAH).

The Visiting Professor brings over a decade of experience in researching social innovation. She holds a PhD in Sociology from Humboldt University in Berlin and has previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich. Her international research profile spans five countries – Switzerland, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, and Spain – focusing on innovation, grassroots initiatives, social innovation, and transformative education. More recently, her work has expanded into critical studies of innovation, exploring perspectives such as exnovation and Buen Vivir. She is currently based at TU Dortmund University’s Social Research Center (sfs) in Germany.

As a sociologist, her research and teaching at KTU will focus on social innovation and exnovation – examining how societies address pressing challenges through new social practices, while also intentionally phasing out outdated systems. Her presence at KTU strengthens the university’s commitment to interdisciplinary and internationally engaged research, while fostering collaboration between Lithuania and a broader academic network.

Her expertise closely aligns with KTU FSSAH’s Master’s programme Social Innovations and Research, which equips students with the skills to analyze complex societal challenges and design innovative, evidence-based solutions. The programme combines strong methodological training with a focus on real-world impact, preparing graduates for careers in research, policy-making, and social entrepreneurship. With its emphasis on sustainability, civic engagement, and transformative change, the programme provides an ideal academic environment for engaging with topics related to Dr Maldonado-Mariscal’s work.

Karina notes that “by bringing two academic communities together, I hope to foster international research partnerships and contribute to the global dialogue on social innovation and the transformative potential of higher education institutions.”