Dr Ieva Eskyte

Profile

My academic journey began with a BA and MA in Social Work from Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania, followed by a Marie Curie Fellowship to pursue a PhD in Social Policy at the University of Leeds, UK. My doctoral research focused on the exclusion and inequality faced by disabled individuals as consumers within the European single market, highlighting systemic barriers to market accessibility and proposing innovative solutions for more inclusive consumer policies. 

Before undertaking my PhD, I worked as a policy analyst for the Academic Network of European Disability Experts (ANED), representing the Lithuanian team. This role deepened my understanding of disability policy and politics, laying a strong foundation for my academic and professional pursuits.

Research interests

My research interest lie within disability studies and social policy, particularly at the intersections of accessibility, consumer participation, and the built environment. I am particularly interested in how policies are developed, implemented, and received, with a special focus on their translation into practice in contexts of inequality and exclusion. I am committed to bridging gaps between diverse stakeholders to address social and economic inequalities, promote human rights, and advance inclusion in consumer markets and public spaces.

I have extensive expertise in a range of social research methods, including interviews (such as walking and elite interviews), focus groups, Delphi groups, critical systematic reviews, virtual reality (VR), and more. My experience in adapting these methodologies to be inclusive and accessible is a cornerstone of my work. I regularly offer training on making research participation accessible to people with diverse impairments and life circumstances.
 

Qualifications

• PhD Social Policy
• MA Social Work
• BSc Social Work

Professional memberships

• Social Policy Association
• Social Research Association
• Centre for Disability Studies
• Social Research Methods Centre

Student education

I teach on several modules across the School at undergraduate and postgraduate levels including Social Policy Analysis; Key Debates in Social Policy; Inequalities: Exploring Causes, Consequences and Interventions; Disability Studies: An Introduction; and Disability and Development.