Introducing the tasks included in the Government's declaration and the project of action plan, the minister invited comments and proposals to be submitted by the end of the month in order to implement the activities included in the plan with joint efforts.
In the discussion about the challenges in the context of science and research, Minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša emphasized: "Our common task is to achieve a significant increase in the quality and international competitiveness in the higher education system. Additionally, the most pressing issues of the industry are reducing student dropout rates and ensuring the necessary number of pedagogues in the Latvian education system."
Further, Ivars Kalviņš, chairman of the UL Council, and Indriķis Muižnieks, rector of the UL, pointed out the need to increase the base funding of both studies and science, so that Latvian higher education does not lose its competitiveness, and not only preserves, but also constantly improves the quality of education and science. In order to ensure this, it is necessary to expand the circle of leading academic personnel in Latvian higher education and science, attracting and motivating excellent scientists for effective work in universities. The system of long-term employment (tenure) works successfully in other European countries. The discussed new career model for academic staff caused intense discussions, especially regarding the criteria for personnel selection and work tasks.
Introducing the minister to the development of the UL Academic Centre, prof. Andrejs Ērglis emphasized that an internationally competitive university is unthinkable without sports infrastructure. Based on the assessment of the European Investment Bank, the financial capacity of the UL is sufficient to implement the projects of the III stage of the UL Academic Centre development, including the sports hall.
During the meeting, the UL also brought up questions about the involvement of scientific institutions in the modernization of the civil defence and disaster management system in Latvia, the perspective of the further operation of the UL Academic library in preparation for its 500-year anniversary, the advancing of the UL Real Estate Development Plan in the Cabinet of Ministers and other topical issues that require cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science.
