Latvian universities will switch to a new model of financing and training specialists.

The number of study places in Latvian universities in the future will be determined not by the Minister of Education and Science but by the universities themselves – taking into account the state demand for specialists and labor market needs. This is reported by Latvian media.
The relevant amendments to the Law on Higher Education Institutions were supported by the Parliamentary Commission on Education, Culture, and Science. Currently, the minister approves the number of budget places based on the proposals of the Higher Education Council. According to the new model, the government will form a general order for the training of specialists, based on the priorities of the country's development and the situation in the labor market.
The distribution of study places and funding principles will be determined independently by public universities. The university council, rector, senate, and student representatives will participate in the development of solutions. If disagreements arise among the parties, the creation of a reconciliation commission with an equal number of representatives from the administration and students is planned.
In private universities, the previous procedure will remain – the number of places will continue to be set by the founders of the educational institutions.
The system of public funding is also set to be simplified. Instead of the five existing types of funding, three areas will be preserved: ensuring the educational process, scholarship payments, and funding based on performance results. Separate development funding will be integrated into the overall system.
The Cabinet of Ministers will establish the procedure for distribution of funds and criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of universities. Contracts with educational institutions will be oriented towards training in-demand specialists and distributing funding.
The possibility of concluding agreements between universities and state or private organizations for personnel training and conducting research will remain. In certain cases, there will also be the opportunity to fund the education of students in private universities. For doctoral students, an employment agreement is introduced if their education is fully funded by the university. In addition, the contract must contain an individual training plan with expected results.
The changes will also affect the vocational education system. Colleges will receive funding in the same three areas: education, scholarships, and performance results. Admission to funded places will be conducted on a competitive basis. If the college does not fully cover the education costs, the remaining expenses will be borne by the students themselves or other payers.
It is noted that the reform implies a transition from a fixed number of budget places to an institutional funding model, which will give universities more autonomy. Meanwhile, the key criterion for effectiveness will be the outcome – the number of graduates and the compliance of their training with labor market requirements.
Changes are expected to come into effect by the end of this year, with the completely new system starting to operate in all public universities from 2027.
May 6, 09:50
Source: https://gorod.lv/novosti/365806-latviiskie-vuzy-pereidut-na-novuu-model-finansirovaniya-i-podgotovki-spetsialistov