With the government support received on November 19, 2024, the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) continues the implementation of the pilot project for institutional funding of higher education, beginning collaboration with the University of Latvia (UL), which will carry out the project from November 20, 2024, to December 31, 2026.
The goal of the project is to create a funding system that provides a more flexible approach to student support, taking into account the specifics of different study programs. This model will give UL greater freedom to make rational decisions regarding admissions and study funding, and will allow the adaptation of study programs and graduate preparation in line with the needs of the national economy. UL will be able to set tuition fee principles, including offering opportunities to study either free of charge, for partial payment, or to fully cover the costs of studies. MES will sign an agreement with UL on the number of specialists to be trained and the results to be achieved within the pilot project.
The project also includes several prerequisites to ensure the successful implementation of institutional funding, such as the development of governance, a strong quality management system, and financial planning at the university. It is expected that as a result of the pilot project, the number of graduates in UL’s strategic specializations will increase, lifelong learning will be promoted, funding acquisition will be improved, and the number of students who drop out without a degree will decrease.
The implementation of institutional funding in higher education is an important step in improving the quality and efficiency of higher education in Latvia, providing universities with the ability to adapt flexibly to students' needs and labor market demands. Pilot projects help identify challenges and solutions in the implementation of this system. As part of the project, a financial model will be created to promote more efficient use of funds and grant higher education institutions greater autonomy in implementing their missions.
In the future, the transition from the current budget-based place allocation model to institutional funding is planned across all state universities. Currently, the pilot project for institutional funding in higher education is also being implemented at the Riga Technical University.
The draft decree "On the implementation of the higher education institutional funding model pilot project at the University of Latvia" and the conceptual report "On the conceptual report 'On institutional funding of higher education'" can be reviewed on the Cabinet of Ministers' website.
Photo: Andrejs Terentjevs, University of Latvia