11 - Latvia - Curriculum
Higher education institutions may independently determine the timetable
for students. The capacity of studies is measured in credit points
(credits). Latvian credit point is defined as full-time study workload
in one week. Latvian credit point system is compatible with ECTS and is
used for both accumulation and transfer since its implementation.
In Latvia, one credit
corresponds to forty academic hours (one study week) of which up to 50%
are apprehended to be contact hours. The nominal study year comprises
forty credits.
Full-time studies correspond to 40 credit points in an academic year and at least 40 academic hours a week.
Part-time studies correspond to less than 40 credit points in an academic year and less than 40 academic hours a week.
An
academic hour is a unit of study time lasting 45 minutes. A contact
hour is a direct interface between students and academic staff lasting
one academic hour.
Education institutions belonging to the state
or municipality provide education in the state language. There are
three cases, when it is, however, possible to use foreign languages
(the first two refer to the use of official languages of the European
Union, and the last one, to any foreign language):
- in
study programmes acquired by foreign students in Latvia, and study
programmes implemented within the scope of co-operation provided for in
European Union programmes and international agreements;
- it
is rather common to invite a guest lecturer from a cooperation
university of another country to deliver a lecture, or to offer several
courses in foreign language taught by local teaching staff. In such a
case, it may not exceed one-fifth of the credit point amount of a study
programme (in this part final and state examinations, as well as the
writing of qualification, bachelor and masters thesis may not be
included).
- in study programmes,
which implementation in foreign languages is necessary for the
achievement of their aims, for example for language and cultural
studies or language programmes.
In Latvia, higher
education institutions have a significant degree of autonomy, which
affects inter alia the curricula. Institutions have the right to
determine the content and form of their education programmes
themselves. However, a higher education institution has to receive a
licence from the Ministry of Education and Science for each particular
study programme. Licensing is a kind of preliminary quality assurance,
in that within three years after getting a licence, a higher education
institution has to submit the study programme for accreditation.
In
professional higher education, the content of study courses and
placement is determined by the respective profession standards. See the subdivisions for more details.
Curriculum. Professional Tertiary Education
The
total duration of professional higher education is at least five years.
The total duration of the acquirement of a professional qualification
is at least four years.
The extent of the first-level
professional higher education programmes (college programmes) is from
80 to 120 credit points. Study courses (lectures, seminars, laboratory
and practical works, consultations, independent studies) compose at
least 56 credit points but do not exceed 75 % of the full extent of the
programme. Placement composes at least 16 credit points, qualification
work – at least 8 credit points. Independent work of students should
form 35-40% of the total programme volume.
Professional higher
education Bachelor study programmes (second-level professional higher
education programmes) last at least 160 credit points. The structure of
study programmes consists of study courses, placement outside
educational institution and state examinations including development
and advocating of Bachelor or Diploma thesis. At least 30% of study
courses should be implemented as practical work. During studies the
student develops and advocates at least three study works.
The
volume of professional higher education master study programmes
(second-level professional higher education programmes) is at least 40
credit points. Study courses include approbation of recent
accomplishments in theory and placement of the field, courses on
management, research work, pedagogy and psychology. Placement and state
examinations that include development and advocating of Master or
Diploma thesis are as well a part of compulsory study content.
Curriculum. Academic Tertiary Education
The
extent of full-time and part-time Bachelor study programmes is from 120
to 160 credit points including at least 10 credit points for Bachelor
thesis. The length of full-time studies is from six to eight semesters.
The
study programme is divided into compulsory (at least 50 credit points),
compulsory optional (at least 20 credit points) and optional courses.
The
compulsory content includes principles, structure and methodology (at
least 25 credit points), development history and actual problems (at
least 10 credit points) of the field or sub-field of science as well as
its profile and interdisciplinary issues (at least 15 credit points).
No more than six mandatory courses are prescribed at the same time.
The
extent of Master study programmes is 80 credit points including at
least 20 credit points for Master thesis. The compulsory content of
Master programmes includes research on theoretical conclusions (at
least 30 credit points) of the respective area in the field or
sub-field of science and approbation of theoretical conclusions in the
aspect of issues (at least 15 credit points) currently important in the
field or sub field of science.
No more than six mandatory courses are prescribed at the same time.
Curriculum. Postgraduate level
The
extent of full-time Doctoral programme is from 120-160 credit points
(of which 40-60 credit points are awarded for teaching a certain number
of courses). Doctoral study programme contains also the list of
compulsory and optional subjects and corresponding number of credit
points. The rest of the content of doctoral studies includes
independent research with the aim to obtain original and verified
results in the corresponding branch. The student, after consultations
with scientific advisor and professor of the corresponding branch,
works out an individual plan for the whole period of doctoral studies.
Doctoral
students must carry out well-documented studies of practical
application of the latest research methods in the corresponding branch;
studies of current IT methods, research planning, data processing and
presentation; comprehensive studies of theoretical disciplines of the
corresponding branch; mastering of lecturing and project management
skills by participating in Bachelor and Master programme as well as
research projects implementation; reporting in international seminars,
conferences, schools; in-service training in other universities
completed by publication of joint results; independent presentation of
research results and their submission for publication in research
editions.
Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe
Date: 2009
EN 
CS
DE
ES
FR
HU
IT
PL
PT
РУ
SK
TR
УК
AR
中文
