Dzīves un darba gājums

DAUGAVPILS UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT

CONCEPTION (2001-2010)

Daugavpils University (DU) is a regional higher education, science and culture centre uniting the main studies and research potential of Eastern Latvia in the spheres of natural, social and educational sciences and the humanities. The mission of Daugavpils University is to provide high quality studies and scientific research corresponding to modern level, forming intellectual basis for the harmonic development of Latgale region.

Since Daugavpils Pedagogical Institute was awarded the status of the university (on February 22^nd 1993), Daugavpils Pedagogical University has worked out and approved at the Senate three documents of long-term development: “DPU long-term development” (April 3^rd, 1993), “DPU long-term development conception till the year 2000” (December 19^th 1994) and “Strategic plan of DPU development” (December 23^rd 1996).
Taking into consideration the high studies and research potential of Daugavpils Pedagogical University as well as the great experience in training wide range of teachers, it was emphasized in the long-term development documents that also in future, remaining the biggest teacher training higher school in Latgale and one of the biggest in Latvia, DPU should meet the ever growing demands also for non-pedagogical specialists.

Being aware of its role as the only university of Eastern Latvia and of its place among other higher schools of Latvia, taking into consideration Latgale development plan, national conception of higher education and development of higher schools in the Republic of Latvia, the law of Higher schools, since the adoption of the documents of its development, DPU pays special attention to raising the scientific and study potential, to widening the opportunities of academic and professional studies, raising the quality of the studies with the aim to strengthen DPU competitiveness in the environment of Latvia and international higher schools, to connect the studies with future oriented, changing public and social needs and requirements, to provide the youth of Latgale with qualitative academic and professional education. According to statistics since 1990 the number of students from Latgale has doubled, but in 1997 approximately half of the students studied at Latgale higher schools, the second half studied at Riga higher schools. There is a tendency of the youth flow from Latgale to Riga and other towns of Latvia. It creates irreversible, negative consequences for the economy in the whole Eastern Latvia.

The aims of Daugavpils University activity

1. 
   To function as a university of regional significance in the spheres of natural, educational and social sciences and the humanities creating possibilities for comprehensive high level studies and research based on academic knowledge.
   
2. 
   To offer qualitative study programmes and carry out research in accordance with the development of labour market and public challenges.
   
3. 
   To create opportunities for raising professional mobility of inhabitants by developing further education.
   
4. 
   To develop personality that is able to think analytically, to perceive critically and to process creatively information, the personality that can promote the development of the Latvian state and Latgale region and raising welfare of inhabitants by applying his/her education.
   
5. 
   To preserve and develop Latvian national identity and cultural heritage, at the same time, joining in international integration.
   

Forming and development of Daugavpils University structure

1. 
   DU forms its structure taking into consideration the principles and tasks of activity of Latvian and European modern universities in order to promote the inclusion of DU into European Union higher education and science organizational system.
   
2. 
   The basic structural unit of DU is the faculty. It is formed for the organization of the research and academic activity in one or several scientific branches and organizationally unites institutes, centres, chairs (departments), groups of professors and laboratories as the main structural units of the faculty in respective branches or sub-branches of science.
   
3. 
   The faculty council and the dean coordinate the organization of the research work, the implementation of academic and professional programmes. The faculty council is formed taking into account the independence of the structural units united at the faculty and of the students.
   
4. 
   Institutes are formed at DU in order to coordinate the students’ and employees’ research work in some of the science branches.
   
5. 
   The Study Board as the representative institution of study programmes coordinates the implementation of the study programmes at DU.
   
6. 
   The Science Council as the representative institution of science branches and sub-branches coordinates the research at DU.
   
7. 
   The formation and development of DU structure should take place with the aim to decentralize management/administration, to raise the responsibility of the faculties and their academic and financial independence. Study programmes, institutes, chairs (departments) and groups of professors should become the basis in academic and research work.
   

Development of Daugavpils University academic staff

1. 
   In accordance with the Constitution (Satversme) DU academic staff are the elected professors, associated professors, docents, lecturers, assistants, leading researchers and researchers. The academic staff has to embrace all the science branches and sub-branches represented at the university.
   
2. 
   To improve self-evaluation, evaluation in order to analyze and forecast the further development in accordance with DU strategic and regional development plan.
   

• 
  To improve the system of circulation/rotation of academic staff which would promote the attraction of highly qualified specialists providing them with respective working conditions and payment.
  
• 
  Being aware of the role of academic staff in the organization and conduction of the study process and research, to ensure adequate proportion between the centralized management/administration of the study process and research and decentralization, with the aim to raise the responsibility of the staff for the quality of the study work and the level of scientific research.
  

Development of academic and professional study programmes
DU offers academic study programmes of two levels: for obtaining bachelor and master degrees as well as professional study programmes for obtaining professional qualification. The period of studies in bachelor programmes is 3-4 years, in master programmes – 2 years, in professional study programmes – from 1 till 5 years depending on the way of implementing the programmes.
Academic study programmes for obtaining bachelor and master degrees in natural, educational and social sciences and the humanities have been worked out and successfully have been examined by international experts. Professional study programmes for obtaining teacher’s qualification have been improved almost in all the subjects taught at basic school and at secondary school.
Corresponding to the envisaged structure of demands for non-pedagogical specialities, tourism and excursion organizer, programmer, computer designer, economist-accountant, actor and culture work organizer, physiotherapeutist, translator professional study programmes have been developed.
The public challenge made topical the necessity to evaluate the study programmes contents, the study work organizational experience and to determine the further development of study programmes:

1. 
   To carry out the unification of the study programmes grouping them according to the classification of study programmes into four groups (for obtaining bachelor and master degree in natural, educational and social sciences and the humanities) and ensuring a rational use of academic resources thus raising the quality of studies.
   
2. 
   To improve professional study programmes forming them as 1-2 years study programmes which have completed bachelor studies as an academic basis or as 4-5 years study programmes with the possibility to obtain professional bachelor degree.
   
3. 
   To work out new academic and professional study programmes corresponding to the forecast changes of labour market. The offer of study programmes should anticipate the demands.
   
4. 
   To work out the first level 2-3 study years professional higher education programmes.
   
5. 
   Taking into account Latvia’s way to European Union and the internationalization of the labour market, to develop study programmes of European languages.
   
6. 
   To introduce into study programmes the study courses which give skills and knowledge in the use of foreign languages and computer nets/webs for the solution of practical problems in respective study direction.
   
7. 
   To develop music, art and culture study programmes, thus promoting the awareness and realization of Latvian and the world peoples’ cultural heritage, preservation and development of Latvian and Latgalian national identity.
   
8. 
   To develop sports and healthcare study programmes.
   

Development of further education
The information age drastically changes society and creates the demands for people who are able to process information critically and analytically, who are able to reorientate in order to meet the new requirements. The demand for such people can be satisfied orienting and leading education towards correspondence to the employment system and envisaged labour market and emphasizing the necessity of further education:

1. 
   To work out and develop further education study programmes related to management of entrepreneurship activity, clerical work, book-keeping, culture education, psychology, acquisition of languages, the application of the possibilities of computers and computer nets/webs and others.
   
2. 
   To continue the development of further education study programmes for obtaining teacher’s additional qualification and improving professional mastership and skills.
   
3. 
   To offer possibilities of further education also in distance learning by developing and strengthening the work of Distance learning study centre.
   

Daugavpils University scientific research development
Scientific research is not only one of the main functions of higher education, but it is also the pre-condition of its academic quality. In its scientific development DU takes into consideration the strategies determined by the state and Latvian Science Council, as well as regional economic and cultural social peculiarities. DU ensures high quality studies and scientific research corresponding to modern level based on the unity of higher education and science.
In accordance with European Union science and technology thematic programmes and participation of Latvian scientists in them, as well as taking into account the present scientific potential of DU and its role in scientific activity of eastern Latvia, the priority research directions for the cooperation with European, Latvian higher schools and regional institutions are:

1. 
   Development of information technologies and modern communication means.
   
2. 
   Working out new materials and technologies for micro-electronics.
   
3. 
   Biological diversity and environmental protection.
   
4. 
   Entomology.
   
5. 
   Lettonica (the Latvian language, literature, history of culture, history).
   
6. 
   Foreign languages, literature and culture.
   
7. 
   Didactics of modern pedagogical theory and natural sciences.
   
8. 
   Problems of promoting economy, social science and healthcare.
   

In the context of DU international cooperation and fast regional development in the international activity to follow the following criteria:

1. 
   Internationally recognized level of research.
   
2. 
   Wide integration of research and study work ensuring the corresponding level of research in bachelor and master study programmes.
   
3. 
   Development of innovative scientific branches.
   
4. 
   Connection of fundamental and applied research with national economy, culture and social sphere.
   

Regional science cannot develop without international cooperation and including in international projects. Practice of the most developed countries has proved the necessity of cooperation in science. Since 1993 DU has participated in 7 PHARE projects the means of which were used for the development of information technologies, modernization of study and scientific laboratories, raising the qualification of study and scientific laboratories, raising qualification of the academic staff and administrative staff and essential improvement of Foreign Affairs Department. One of the most topical problems of Latvian higher schools concerning also DU is the renewal of scientific (academic) staff and its circulation/rotation as well as attraction of means for research.

In order to direct successfully scientific activity it is necessary:

1. 
   To attract new and able specialists to scientific and study work at DU increasing the number of places at doctoral studies as well as covering the expenses of doctoral studies.
   
2. 
   In addition to the existing doctoral studies in foreign literature, comparative literary studies, social psychology, solid state physics, contrastive linguistics, higher pedagogics sub-branches, to begin studies in other sub-branches: differential equation, modern elementary mathematics and mathematical didactics, zoology, ecology, etc.
   
3. 
   Gradually with growing of the number of highly qualified specialists to form new promotion boards of experts conferring scientific degrees in linguistics, biology, physics, psychology in order to enhance the increase of promotion coefficient among the graduates of doctoral studies.
   
4. 
   To develop research directions characteristic of classical university and to begin the publication of scientific articles and journals at DU, the publications of which are internationally recognized, as well as to increase the publicity of research by organizing international conferences, seminars, schools.
   
5. 
   To emphasize the research in those scientific branches which most of all influence the economic, social, and cultural development of the region.
   
6. 
   To continue to form laboratories and institutes.
   
7. 
   To continue to attract the means for research:
   

• 
  participating more in LSA doctoral studies, research grants and programmes competitions,
  
• 
  involving more intensively in EU scientific cooperation programmes and grants, NATO and UNESCO programmes,
  
• 
  cooperating with entrepreneurs, forming centres of expertise and science parks,
  
• 
  founding research foundations.
  

Daugavpils University international cooperation in the sphere of studies and research
In offering possibilities of studies and research DU should be competitive with similar educational establishments in Europe being notable among them with the ability to present Latvian cultural values and cultural values of historical minorities living in Latvia (the region). DU takes into consideration the interests of Latvia and priorities of national economy in the country and the region as well as the requirements of European Union in academic education. The further development of Daugavpils University in connected with the demands of regional economy and European integration. DU international cooperation began to develop fast after regaining of Latvia’s independence. Now international cooperation (the process of internationalization of education and science) develops with more than 20 countries higher schools in the following spheres:

• 
  Concluding mutual agreements of cooperation.
  
• 
  Participation in international educational and research programmes and projects.
  
• 
  Cooperation on the level of faculties, departments and individual level.
  

In recent years international cooperation has essentially widened in the study and research spheres, in solving the problems of higher schools management.

In order to get involved successfully in international cooperation and to follow the dynamics of European and world countries universities development it is necessary:

• 
  To continue uninterruptedly to improve the strategy in international cooperation, evaluation of possibilities and different approaches determining clear priorities.
  
• 
  To work in international university associations.
  
• 
  To participate in long-term annual conferences devoted to the development of education and science organized by EU.
  

In further international cooperation policy of Daugavpils University special attention should be paid to the development of study and research programmes and their coordination. For reaching the above mentioned aims it is necessary:

1. 
   To internationalize study programmes including in them special courses or modules which the students of DU can acquire also at foreign universities or foreign students can acquire at Daugavpils University.
   
2. 
   To continue to support the existing cooperation within the framework of mutual agreements and to participate actively in the study and research programmes offered by EU, Nordic Council of Ministers, German Academic Mobility Service, Swedish Institute, the British Council, NATO, UNO.
   
3. 
   To improve cooperation of DU Foreign Affairs department with the respective foreign universities institutions by organizing foreign exchange agency branches at the university in addition to the existing ones.
   
4. 
   To improve the possibilities for the students of DU to acquire the languages of cooperation countries as well as to form study programmes in English, German for foreign students at the same time providing DU Scientific library with the corresponding study literature.
   
5. 
   Being aware that it is very important to popularize the Latvian language and culture in Europe and the world the foreign students should have a possibility to study the Latvian language, history of culture as well as to carry out other research connected with Latvia at Daugavpils University, and also with the help of distance learning programme.
   

Development of quality management and strengthening institutional democracy
The quality of studies and research is one of the cornerstones in higher education and is the factor that forms the quality of society. By quality we understand the correspondence of studies and research to the requirements of the time in market society and to the objectives of university activity as well as the ability to improve studies and research when the aims of the activities change. For maintaining the quality it is necessary:

1. 
   To improve the system of university management/administration envisaging greater rights and responsibilities to the heads of structural units for the quality of studies and research and development.
   
2. 
   To carry out regular self-evaluation of university structural units considering it as an essential contribution to the development and modernization of structural units.
   
3. 
   To use effectively self-evaluation of academic staff development enhancing the awareness of all members of structural unit that each of them is responsible for the quality and for introducing the improvement of it.
   
4. 
   To improve the system of self-evaluation of study programmes with the aim to form the mechanism of study quality control for strategic planning and development.
   

• 
  To carry out the organizational optimization of studies ensuring succession and transparency qualitatively improving the procedure of examinations.
  
• 
  Regularly to review the contents of studies and examinations freeing it from excessive factological material.
  
• 
  To strengthen the participation of the students in forming the study process and in evaluation of study didactic aspects.
  

Ensuring the succession of studies and research

1. 
   To form the provision of study and research environment satisfying DU students and academic staff and promoting maintenance of study and research quality (technical equipment of classrooms and study rooms, modernization of laboratories, widening the computer net, connection with Internet, including students hotels etc.)
   
2. 
   To carry out updating and widening of DU scientific library infrastructure and funds, essentially increasing the purchasing of scientific literature and subscription to periodicals. To promote the reform and development of scientific library information basis.
   
3. 
   To develop the study informative provision.
   
4. 
   To form Daugavpils University information system (DUIS) for the effective and qualitative organization of the study process, for rational forecasting of budget means, planning, administrative and management based on the objective and timely information about the students, the procedure of studies, and the resources necessary for the studies and research.
   
5. 
   To form everyday conditions oriented towards students (improvement of students’ hotels, widening catering (canteens) etc.), to widen students’ possibilities to go in for sports, to get involved in culture life.
   

Development of information system
Modern higher school cannot function without developed information system. For two years the work has been going on developing Daugavpils University Information System (DUIS) as the subsystem of Latvian educational information system (LEIS). The formation of information net/web will allow to improve the administration, clerical, book-keeping work, and the possibilities of information exchange. Our aim and task is to equip all computerized work-places with the possibility to have access to Internet and Intranet till 2003.
For further development it is necessary:

1. 
   To form data base (study programmes and course register, premises register, staff register, orders register, students’ register, structural units register).
   
2. 
   To work out the necessary normative documents for DUIS functioning and data protection.
   
3. 
   To pass over to registering the staff and students, registration for the studies as well as preparation of statistical surveys using the possibilities of DUIS.
   
4. 
   To pass over to registering students’ academic record, analysis and preparation of diploma appendices using DUIS.
   
5. 
   To create pre-conditions (technical possibilities, normative documents) in order to pass over to e-governance, decreasing time expenditure for preparation of the staff documents and speeding up the turnover of the documents, improving the control of the fulfilment/execution.
   
6. 
   For rational work of accountancy to provide book-keeping data compatibility with DUIS that will allow to supervise financial planning and use and also to control the students’ payments in a simple and operative way.
   
7. 
   To create a possibility for the students to control THEIR data, payments, academic record etc.
   
8. 
   To develop the provision of access to Internet for all the students and academic staff in computer classes, students hotels, and also reading halls of the libraries at specially organized work places.
   
9. 
   Using new technologies to work at the formation of ‘Virtual library’. To carry out the record of the readers and books with the help of DUIS.
   

Development of financial management.
In recent years there is the contradiction between quickly growing public demand for the qualitative education and inadequate state budget financing for maintaining higher schools. Therefore a special attention should be paid to improvement of financial management under conditions of limited financing. For this purpose it is necessary:

1. 
   To search for new sources of income, introducing more widely various kinds of payment services.
   
2. 
   To activate attraction of means outside the state budget forming the study support funds.
   
3. 
   To evaluate the possibilities and necessity for DU structural units to pass over to full or limited financial independence giving them the rights and responsibilities to handle financial means.
   
4. 
   To consider that DU structural units financial means are formed as a part of DU state budget for education as well as from obtained financial means from structural units for the payment studies, research projects, programmes, contract work and from entrepreneurship activity.
   
5. 
   To improve the management of DU infrastructure evaluating the effectiveness of its work.
   
6. 
   To improve the mechanism of distributing state budget financial means introducing the normative and coefficient system in financial distribution in study programmes.
   
7. 
   To practice the adoption of collegiate decisions in distribution of finances based on the project worked out by university administration and the budget commission introducing contracts between the rector and faculties and institutes.
   
8. 
   To increase the role of primary administrative level (directors of study programmes, heads of chairs (departments), conductors of projects a.o.) and its responsibility for the adoption of decisions about the use of finances.
   
9. 
   To form computerized information system for the decentralization of financial management, which ensures the exchange of operative information and makes easier the adoption of decisions.
   
10. 
    To improve the principles of payment for work taking into consideration the participation of the academic staff in the implementation of the study programmes and research projects and based on the record of work amount and the quality of work.