Profesionālā maģistra studiju programma

ANNOTATION AND ORGANISATION OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME

Under circumstances of globalisation organisations and the society in Latvia are involved in often more complex international relations where proactive information and communication play an increasing significant role in providing organisations and the society orientation and transparency. Transparent professional communication is a necessary precondition for a responsible organisation or the management of any organisation. As communication and management in particular strategic management are closely connected it is necessary to combine them in research as well as all level of studies including the doctoral study level.

1.1.Study programme goals and tasks

The Doctoral study programme "Communication Management" is designed to as precisely possible meet the goals and tasks of School of Business Administration Turiba and Faculty of Public Relations. Doctoral studies are an important component of the goal oriented academic personnel renewal and development programme of SBAT. The involvement of two lecturers of the department of Communication Science (Renāte Cāne and Valdis Tilgalis) in studies in this programme is proof of the fact.

The strategic goal of the study programme – development of academic potential in Communication Science, in close connection with management practice needs of the organisation and society thereby achieving international competitiveness in this branch of Latvian science as well as have a significant influence on the improvement of communication management of organisations and the society.

Study programme’s general goals:

Educating students for independent scientific research work.

Acquisition of Communication Theory, Communication Management and research work methods and skills.

Training of academic personnel and development of research environment for improvement of Bachelor's programmes and Postgraduate Programmes in Public Relations at SABT.

1.2.Study programme tasks:

Train academically educated social science specialists able to independently apply the theoretically obtained knowledge and research methods in solving definite problems.

Further competitiveness of communication specialists in the national and European labour market and ensure that the competitiveness is based on sound theoretical knowledge and high level of skill in communication, media, public relations, management and marketing fields.

Implement acquisition of contemporary knowledge in communication theories and social research methods paying attention to new theoretical approaches in the research and resolution topical Communication Management problems especially in Europe, Northern America and Latvia.

Promote interest in topical Latvian and European social issues and their solutions by involving leading researchers from Latvia and abroad in their implementation of the programme as well as SBAT doctoral students from the Department of Communication Science in the researches being carried out.

Develop creative critical thinking, skills in expressing well grounded opinions and defending them, thereby enriching discussions on Communication Management issues in different branches.

The key issues that are emphasised to achieve the goals are focussed on the provision of quality of the study programme.

This is achieved by:

Assessment of the academic personnel. There is a possibility of expressing one’s opinion on the topicality of the study course, teaching methodology and teacher’s qualification at the conclusion of each study course.

Assessment of the level of student satisfaction.

Regular comparison of similar study programmes and drawing conclusions for the enhancement of this programme.

The main issue that is addressed systematically during the whole year is the provision of competitiveness of the programme. The competitiveness of the programme is assessed by comparing the programme structure, study methods and their compatibility to the needs of doctoral students. The advantage of a higher education establishment founded by a legal entity is its ability to organise the study process, design a study programme that meets labour market and research demands and educate the specialists necessary for the state to promote the development of Latvian national economy at a short notice.

1.3.Enrolment requirements

Students enrolled in the study programme should have an academic or professional master’s degree in social or humanitarian sciences. Candidates for studies have to submit a paper on the chosen field of research, which is assessed by the Department of Communication Science in accordance to the SBAT Doctoral study regulations and on the basis of which a decision regarding the enrolment of the student is taken. All candidates have to undergo an interview with the study programme director on the chosen field of research and the potential scientific advisor.

1.4.Study programme content (mandatory and elective part)

The programme is designed so that the mandatory part provides the theoretical knowledge, research and pedagogical skills and abilities necessary for carrying out a fully independent scientific research in the field of Communication Science and Management.

The programmes elective part offers students the choice of wider and in depth studies in the student’s field of scientific interest.

1.5.Study programme organisation, study programme plan compliance to structural unit’s goals and tasks

The study process organisation is based on various principles – succession and coherence, comprehensiveness, balance of mandatory and elective courses, connection between theory and practice.

Along with methodological and profile study courses and foreign language courses the programme plan for doctoral studies in accordance with the study programme’s specific goals and tasks includes theoretical seminars of doctoral students, individual scientific research work, participation in the implementation of bachelor and postgraduate studies and compilation of doctoral thesis.

The study programme in accordance with the above mentioned specific goals and tasks is implemented by the programme director at the SBAT Faculty of Public Relations and by SBAT Department of Communication Science (KZK), excluding the study courses “Foreign language” implemented by the Department of Languages (VK) and “Commercial law and communication law” implemented by the Department of Private Law (PrTK). Study programme general goals and tasks are in compliance with goals and tasks of the individual structural units.

The scope of the mandatory and elective part of the programme and the time allocated for acquisition can be seen in the study programme plan that is attached to introductory part of the accreditation application and the annotations of the theoretical study courses can be seen in the appendices. The study programme has been designed in such a manner that the mandatory part provides basic and in depth knowledge not only in Communication Science but also in Management Science, the fields of their interaction as well as research and pedagogical skills necessary, in particular, communication research methods, qualitative and quantitative methods including statistics and correlations. On the other hand elective part includes specialised courses.

SBAT has concluded a cooperation agreement with Riga Stradins University for stable and successful implementation of the programme, that foresees doctoral students the opportunity of defending their doctoral theses in the latter if the theme corresponds the competence of the university’s promotional council.

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