University councils need to move from arranging systems to strategic development - president

RIGA - The councils of higher education institutions should move from the arrangement of systems to strategic development, stressed Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, who met with the nominated representatives of the councils of state higher education institutions on Tuesday at the Riga Castle.

According to president's adviser Martins Dregeris, during the meeting the parties discussed the work done by the councils, as well as exchanged views on the necessary improvements in the work of the state university councils.

Rinkevics stressed that with the completion of the first four-year cycle of work of the councils in the first half of next year, they have laid the foundations for a new governance culture, organizing internal processes and promoting their transparency and efficiency.

The president noted that in the future, the councils should focus on the strategic development of universities, moving from administrative consolidation to academic integration, with an emphasis on improving the content and quality of studies. He also called on universities to adapt to demographic trends and the expected decline in student numbers.

According to Rinkevics, the new institutional funding and accreditation model will give universities more autonomy, which also means greater responsibility for quality, innovation and public trust.

"I expect active leadership and courage from universities to think bigger, act strategically and strengthen Latvia's place in the European higher education sector," the president stressed.

According to the Law on Higher Education Institutions, the President of Latvia nominates one representative for the position of a member of the council of each state higher education institution, while the Senate and the Cabinet of Ministers each nominate between two and five members of the council, depending on the type of higher education institution.