Dzīves un darba gājums

1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1.1. General characterization of DU

On October 12, 2001, in accordance with the DPU Senate resolution of 30.10.2000, the president of state declared a law on Daugavpils University Constitution (Appendix 1). On November 29, 2001 DU was accredited for two years.

DU has five faculties: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Education and Management, Faculty of Music and Art, Faculty of Social Sciences. DU academic staff are – 249 university lecturers, and the number of students – 6583.

DU address: 13 Vienības iela Daugavpils, LV – 5401, phone [phone], fax[phone], e-mail: [e-mail], home page: http://www.dau.lv.

1.2. Aims of Daugavpils University

Daugavpils University is a regional centre of higher education, science and culture, where academic and research potential of Eastern Latvia in natural, humanitarian, educational and social sciences is concentrated and is being developed. Its aim is to ensure high quality studies and an up-to-date research level, thus forming the intellectual basis for a harmonious development of Eastern Latvia area.

A purposeful state strategy in higher education may become an instrument for diminishing regional differences and serve as a good impulse for the development of the state as a whole.

1.3. Objectives of Daugavpils University

Being well aware of its role as the only university in Eastern Latvia and of its place among other Latvia’s universities as well as taking into consideration the Latgale development plan, the national conception of the development of higher education and universities in the Republic of Latvia, the conception of European Higher Education Area and European Science Area, Daugavpils University sets the following action objectives:

• 
  to function as a regional university in natural, humanitarian, educational and social sciences, creating possibilities for all-round high level studies and research;
  
• 
  to assure quality of higher education, to offer three level bachelor, master and doctoral study programmes and to carry out research in accordance with the development of labour market requirements and social demands;
  
• 
  to create possibilities for increasing professional mobility of the population by developing further education and lifelong education;
  
• 
  to continue reforms which promote the integration of Daugavpils University into the European Higher Education Area and European Science Area;
  
• 
  to investigate eastern Latvia’s resources and development tendencies, to weight out possibilities and offer a scientifically well-grounded conception for the development of economy, education, science and culture;
  
• 
  to strengthen the position of the Latvian language and culture in eastern Latvia; to promote a successful integration of Latvia’s society into intellectual, economic and cultural environment by making use of the offered study and research work possibilities.
  

2. DU STUDY ORGANIZATION AND MANAGMENT

DU as well as other Latvia’s Higher Education establishments participates in shaping common European Higher Education Area (see the Bologna declaration) by transforming into the system which is mainly based on two cycles: basic studies and post-diploma studies (System of Education in Latvia).

2.1. Study offers

DU offers 57 study programmes (Study possibilities):

• 
  11 bachelor study programmes,
  
• 
  13 professional bachelor study programmes,
  
• 
  17 professional study programmes,
  
• 
  9 master study programmes,
  
• 
  1 professional master study programme,
  
• 
  6 doctoral study programmes.
  

The list of academic and professional study programmes realized at DU, receivable degrees and/or professional qualifications and the terms of their licensing and accreditation are supplemented in Appendix 3.

After acquiring academic study programmes the students are awarded academic bachelor’s or master’s degrees. After acquiring professional study programmes the student are awarded professional qualification and professional bachelor or master degree. The study programmes are worked out in compliance with LR Cabinet of Ministers regulations: Regulations on state academic education standard, Regulations on the second level professional higher education state standard, Regulations on the first level professional higher education state standard.

2.2. Registration of study workload and assessment of students achievements

Credit point system in DU has already been implemented to its full extent. It is based upon the definition of a credit point as a student’s workload of one week. 1 credit point corresponds to 40 academic hours of student’s workload (Law on Higher Education Establishments). The workload per study year is at least 40 credit points. The workload in both programmes and their separate parts is expressed in credit points. To transfer credit points earned in Latvia into the European system (ECTS) one should apply the factor of 1.5 (Appendix DU-1).

The DU students’ level of knowledge is assessed in two ways: during the semester such individual study work control forms as tutorials tests, presentations at seminars, practical and laboratory and creative work are used; during the examination session forms like examinations, tests and differentiated tests are employed. In accordance with the study programme requirements students work, bachelor and master papers out study.

In accordance with the instructions N208 of LR Ministry of Education and Science (14.04.1998.) on „Unified registration of study result assessment” the students’ knowledge is assessed by a 10 grade system. Both continuous assessment and assessment at the end of the semester are used for this purpose. It should be pointed out that the choice of the assessment form depends on the study programme type as well as on the lecturer’s individual approach to knowledge assessment.