Development of Strategic Partnerships for Work-Based Learning

Competitiveness of companies on local and international markets greatly depends on skilled labor force. There is an increased need for well-trained medium level specialists prepared by the vocational education and training (VET) systems. For countries with school-based VET systems tailor made approaches for work-based learning need to be implemented. This requires also new strategic partnerships. In Latvia in 2016 legal regulation on work-based learning was adopted. However, there is little research on the pre-conditions enabling the public administration to implement innovative VET approaches. The purpose of the study is to investigate the opinions of relevant public stakeholders from the …

Development of Household Income Towards Modern Welfare Economics in Latvia

Latvia in international comparisons is among the countries with rather low average income for households but rather high differences in income in households, especially in highest income households (richest quintile) characterised with significant indicators of variability in euro zone countries by Household and Consumption Survey conducted buy Bank of Latvia by methodology of European Central Bank in all eurozone countries and according EU- SILC (European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions) data. This current research is devoted to analysis of development of income and variability of income of households in Latvia in comparison with other OECD countries and eurozone countries…

Coherence of Work Based Learning and Regional Development in Latvia

Integration of young people into the labour market is an issue of a high priority. The youth unemployment problem has explicit links to the vocational education and training (VET) system. Since 2009 there is an ongoing reform in the Latvian VET system. In this respect also the role of local governments increases. The paper addresses the issue of introducing innovative approaches in the Latvian VET system. The aim of the study is to estimate the overall readiness of public administrations to implement VET reforms within regional economic development in the context of the EU and national strategic priorities.

Some aspects for modern solutions for strengthening social resilience as guarantee for the future well-being of an open and inclusive society

Social inclusion and reduction of inequalities is becoming an increasingly topical problem in a range of OECD countries, due to the demographic structure of inhabitants and inequality of income, in many cases depending on labour contribution taking into account skills and competence often lacking for part of population gaining education many years ago. Big share of this part of the population currently is not able to keep the speed of technology development and increase of requirements for digital skills and internet use. The aim of the current research is to investigate possible solutions to address social inclusion by possible involvement in the labour market of different groups at risk –…

Critical evaluation of the necessary changes of the interaction of employers, employees, local authorities, state and other stakeholders of the education system

Expansion of business creates globalization, which should be balanced by the localization and development of adequate changes in education. Aim of the paper is to find the ways to solve the social problems linked with the globalization. The review of the existing problems reveals many shortcomings of the classical “free market” theory. The increased speed of exchange of information demands special care to improve the accessibility and quality of education, using life-long learning and distance education. The appropriate attitudes, skills and knowledge should be proposed to support innovations, localization of economics and organization of interaction between employers, employees and other i…

Expenses for Dwelling – Comparisons by Regions and Territories in Latvia

The research was supported by the NATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMME “LATVIAN HERITAGE AND FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE STATE” project “CHALLENGES FOR THE LATVIAN STATE AND SOCIETY AND THE SOLUTIONS IN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT" (INTERFRAME-LV, Project No.VPP-IZM-2018/1-0005).

Employers’ Needs and Expectations for Qualified Employees (Case Study on the Opinions in One of the Regions in Latvia)

Abstract Qualified, loyal and motivated employees are highly demanded by employers and business promoters. The paper deals with employers’ needs and expectations for qualified and loyal employees, and investigates cooperation of employers, educators and municipalities. The following methods were used: analysis of scientific publications; focus group discussions; surveys of employers, teaching staff, students and graduates of VEI. For survey data analysis descriptive statistical analysis, non-parametric statistical test of Kruskal-Wallis and factor analysis were applied. The main findings indicate that besides professional skills and competence, social competence, motivation to work and resp…

Role of Education and Training on Income in Different Regions of Latvia

Latvia is often critisised by international institutions on rising gap for income differences in several social groups. This current research is devoted to analyse of role of education and training on income level. Research methods used: scientific publications and previous conducted research analysis, analysis of EU-SILC data on differences in income depending from education level, from regions and from territory (urban/rural), interviews of regional authorities on life-long training arrangements and applications in regions with lower income level. Data analysis methods: descriptive statistics (indicators of central tendency or location, indicators of variability), cross-tabulations of hou…

INVESTING IN SKILLS AND INNOVATION – NEW STRATEGIC TASKS FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONS

Evidence shows that in the labour market the most demanded specialists are those with high-level vocational skills, implying also their competence for innovation. The latest EU policy initiatives explicitly call for innovation in vocational education and training (VET) systems. This is a relatively new VET policy development. At the same time, it is not yet sufficiently discussed how innovation in VET systems could be best translated in practical terms. Traditionally innovation has been related to the research and development domain, and little routine practices exist regarding the VET system. The present paper will explore the opinions and estimations by public administrators and experts r…

Matching Vocational Training and Labour Market Demands- the Opinion of Public Adminstrations

Changing The Management Paradigm Of Education And Training For Improved Competitiveness

Quality and Transparency in VET: New Challenges for Public Administrations in Latvia

Abstract The main problem discussed in the paper is the new challenges for public administration of vocational education and training (VET) due to innovations and globalization. Most of the attention in the paper is paid to the readiness of entrepreneurs jointly with municipalities to participate in the preparation of future qualified specialists. Co-operation among various educational establishments, the local government and the employers is crucial. A much neglected aspect still is the co-operation between VET and higher education (HE) institutions – which the authors see as a real driving force for the success of local partnerships to promote regional economic development with respective…

APPROACHES TO IMPROVED INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS IN TRAINING LABOUR FORCE TO PROMOTE INNOVATION

The paper deals with the approaches for satisfying the need for the training of modern labour force capable of implementing innovation. The focus of the research is the existing and potentially new institutional mechanisms for enhanced co-operation among the various key stakeholders. The authors’ assumption is that more co-operation between the higher education and research system on the one hand, and the vocational education system on the other hand, would have a beneficial influence on the overall labour force training at all levels to promote innovation. Therefore, the target group for the empirical study of the present research have been medium and high level public administrators in bo…

MATCHING VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND LABOUR MARKET DEMANDS – THE OPINION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONS

Matching vocational education and training (VET) competencies with actual labour market demands is an increasing challenge for European VET systems. This requires innovation in national VET systems and sets new tasks for public administrations that are responsible for the implementation of the VET systems. The aim of the research is to study the opinion of relevant stakeholders regarding innovation in VET provision. Textual analysis and expert survey among various stakeholders have been carried out. Conclusion has been drawn that experts and social partners express increasing awareness regarding the need of VET innovation. This requires continued research, especially on the interests and mo…

Strategic Partnerships for the Development of Competitive Labor Force Through Vocational Education and Training

Establishing closer links between education, training and the world of work is a high level EU policy priority and increasing in the focus of academic research. Constant skills’ upgrading of the workforce to promote employability requires innovative approaches at national, regional and local level and demands new forms of strategic partnerships. This sets new tasks also for public administrations involved in vocational education and training (VET) provision. In Latvia VET reform is ongoing, with gradual changes in VET governance through increased involvement of social partners. It is important to evaluate the existing institutional mechanisms for co-operation among the social partners and, …

Role of Social Partners for Work-Based Learning: Results of Surveys

Abstract Introduction of work-based learning (WBL) in Latvia has required new approaches in decision making of different stakeholders. Experience from countries with long-standing WBL tradition has shown the numerous advantages but also the challenges this approach presents. One of these challenges is the need for new forms and mechanisms of cooperation among the key stakeholders – policy makers, public administrators, employers, educators and social partners. The current paper analyses the results of scientific research in this field, as well as uses the empirical results of two surveys performed by the authors: a survey of public sector experts and a survey of employers in Latvia. In orde…

Social Inclusion Challenges for Different Society Groups in Latvia

Latvia has been receiving critical remarks from international institutions in regard to high level of social inequality of various groups in the society. Statistical data indicate that the society of Latvia has to address serious challenges in social inclusion, including several aspects in health care. The aim of the paper is to propose possible solutions for social inclusion of different society groups, especially in relation to health care aspects and including application of life-long-learning for health care for several society groups. Research approach to the problem: analysis of data obtained in representative survey 9280 respondents: health condition self-evaluation analysis by regio…

Publiskās pārvaldes pieejas konkurētspējīga darba spēka sagatavošanā profesionālajā izglītībā Latvijā

Elektroniskā versija nesatur pielikumus

Role of Cooperation with Stakeholders in Work-Based Learning Realization

The research was supported by the NATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMME “LATVIAN HERITAGE AND FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE STATE” project “CHALLENGES FOR THE LATVIAN STATE AND SOCIETY AND THE SOLUTIONS IN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT" (INTERFRAME-LV, Project No.VPP-IZM-2018/1-0005).

THE ROLE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION INSTITUTIONS IN IMPROVED APPROACHES TO MODERN LABOUR FORCE TRAINING

The current research is aimed at studying the role of public administration institutions in securing improved approaches towards modern labour force training. More specifically, the research is being targeted at the existing and emerging institutional approaches (mechanisms) for a comprehensive treatment of the problem of labour market skills in relation to ‘innovation capable’ labour force. The presupposition behind the research is that the relatively weak links between the higher education and research system and the vocational education and training system may be a potential obstacle for the training of ‘innovation capable’ workforce at all levels. To study the problem, the opinions of t…

Work-based-learning development in Latvia: success and further challenges by views of educators, employers and students

Latvia is among countries showing significant results in the introduction and implementation of work-based learning – being a country with historically school based vocational education and training system. The current research is devoted to the analysis of developments and challenges of work-based learning in Latvia - by views of entrepreneurs, educators and students. Research methods used were: scientific publications and previous conducted research analysis, analysis of survey results of entrepreneurs, educators and students on several aspects of work-based-learning. To have deeper analysis of specific aspects of work-based-learning the respondents were asked to evaluate the analysed asp…