Accessibility of Lifelong Education

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Accessibility of Lifelong Education
Opportunities and Expertise of Regional
Institution of Higher Education
Ilze Bunke,Head of Lifelong Education
Department,Ventspils University
College 19.04.2007
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VENTSPILS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE- short
introduction into history and relations with the
local society
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VENTSPILS TODAY

• NUMBER OF INHABITANTS 43 800
• NUMBER OF ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE COMPANIES 890
  
  (TOTAL 2000, MICRO 648)
• 3.2 OF THE COUNTRYS GDP
• 28,5 OF THE KURZEME REGIONS GDP
• GDP ON 1 INHABITANT 7 134 EUR
• LATVIA 3 911 EUR
• UNEMPLOYMENT LEVEL 5.7
• LATVIA 6.2
• AVERAGE GROSS SALARY 352.08 EUR
• LATVIA 300.23 EUR

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FREE ECONOMIC ZONE -VENTSPILS FREE PORT

• Ventspils Free Port is one of the 20 leading
  European ports in terms of cargo turnover.

• Long- term development programm
• Operating of regular ferry lines to Sweden and
  Germany
• Special incentives (project of Science and
  Technology Park)
• Existing infrastructure and free space for new
  business development
• - Currently approximately 1 000 ha is available
  for development from Ventspils Free Port total
  territory of 1720 ha.
• - Land lots for concession to companies are
  offered for the period of 30 years or more.

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BRANCHES BY NUMBER OF COMPANIES
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EDUCATION MAIN PLAYERS
Riga Technical University Ventspils Branch
Ventspils Vocational School No.20
PROGRAMMES ELECTRONICS, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING,
METAL PROCESSING, MONTAGE, ELECTRO INSTALLATIONS
ETC.
PROGRAMMES COMPUTER SYSTEMS, ELEKTRONCS,
TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPORATION, ENERGY,
ELECTRIC ENGINEERING ETC.
FOUNDED YEAR 1997 PROGRAMMES BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION, TRANSLATION, INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGIES ENGINEERING FACULTY TO COME!
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the only higher education institution situated
in North-Kurzeme and one from two such
institutions in Kurzeme the Western part of
Latvia
Ventspils University College
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Ventspils Augstskola

• Ventspils University College cooperates very
  closely with Ventspils City Council, partcipating
  as the partners in different projects, especially
  in the field of ICT

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Ventspils University College (VeA)

• In 1997
• 3 study programmes
• 2 departments
• 100 students
• 15 university teachers

• In Academic Year 2006/2007
• 8 study programmes
• 3 faculties
• 3 research institutes
• Department of Lifelong Education
• Technology Transfer Centre
• 70 university teachers
• 30 researchers
• 920 students, 70 studying on funding from the
  state budget
• 1088 participants of lifelong education courses
  in 2006

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Study Areas at Ventspils University College

• Management Studies and Business Management
• Translation and Terminology Studies
• Computer Science and Information Technologies
• Currently in development Engineering (In
  cooperation with Riga Technical University and
  relevant professional associations)

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Study branches

• Translation studies
• English-Russian/German-Latvian 4 years
  profesional bachelors study program of
  translators and interpreters
• German-Russian/English-Latvian 4 years
  profesional bachelors study program of
  translators and interpreters
• Part time masters study program Translation and
  Terminology (2 years)
• Business Administration studies
• Business Administration bachelors (BBA) study
  program (4 years) 4 different specializations
  one of them - Entrepreneurship in Baltics with
  English as language of instruction
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) study
  program (2 years)
• Doctors level BA program together with two
  other universities, from December 2006 (3 or 4
  years, depending on full or part time studies).
• Information technologies (IT) and Computer
  Science studies
• IT professional colleges level study program
  (2,5 years)
• Computer Science bachelors study program (3
  years)
• Computer Science masters study program (2
  years).

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Development and reconstruction works

• In the first half of 2006 the reconstruction of
  the third building of Ventspils University
  College is finished
• Information Technologies faculty,
• Ingeniering-Research Center (scientific
  institut),
• Competence Centre in ICT and Electronics,
• Technologies Transfer Center,
• Business Incubator
• Improvement of connection to optical fibre cable
  Stockholm-Gotland-Ventspils (video conference
  facilities with KTH and other universities)
• Reconstruction works in VIRAC

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Ventspils International Radioastronomy Centre
(VIRAC)

• Since December of 2004 VIRAC is included in the
  sructure of Ventspils University College as
  Research Institute
• Staff of VIRAC participates in the realization of
  IT and Computer Science study programs

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SCIENCE RESEARCH

• RESEARCH ENGINEERING CENTRE
• MATHEMATIC MODELLING
• CAD/CAM
• BLUETOOTH AND APPLIED ELECTRONICS
• TELECOMMUNICATIONS

• VENTSPILS INTERNATIONAL RADIO ASTRONOMY CENTRE
• SATELLITE NAVIGATION (GPS GALILLEO)
• COSMIC TECHNOLOGIES
• ASTROGEODESICAL RADIOINERFEROMETRY ETC.

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Cooperation partners abroad
IT Information Technologies and Comp. Sc. BA-
Business Administration TS Translation
Studies MM Mathematical Modelling

• Germany (BA, TS, IT, MM)
• Finland (BA, TS, IT)
• Sweden (IT, BA)
• Norway (BA, TS)
• United Kingdom (BA, IT, MM)
• Lithuania (TS, BA)
• Estonia (BA)
• France (IT)
• Italy (IT, MM, BA)
• Spain (BA)
• Netherlands (IT, BA, MM)
• Other new partners

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International projects (Leonardo, CBC, 5th and
6th frameworks of EC RD program, etc.)

• AVANTI (5th framework, IT)
• LOG IS (Leonardo)
• CoCoNet
• BOD II GAIN
• E-GASGRID (5th framework, MM)
• NETIAM (6th framework, MM)
• QUALSPELL
• CODEWITZ (Socrates, IT)
• ENTLEARN
• etc.

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ENTLERNER

• The project ENTLERNER,which is financed under the
  Leonardo da Vinci framework of EC
• The project takes a deeper look into the actual
  learning process of enterpreneurs and compares it
  to the entrepreneuship training offered in
  vocational training including all formal, non-
  formal training
• www.entlearn.net

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Latvija_at_Pasaule

• Within the framework of the project MICROSOFT
  UNLIMITED POTENTIAL by information company
  LATVIJA_at_PASAULE Ventspils University College in
  cooperation with LICTA has become the regional
  Education Centre.
• The main aims of the project educate people to
  work with ICT improve the access to the
  available in Internet services by public and
  private businesses.
• During the educational process computer skills
  could be obtained on ECDL level.

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Life-Long Education Department

• Some of branches of activity of the department
• different courses, including courses in
  development of IT skills,
• education and training of operating
  entrepreneurs,
• improvement of qualification of business
  administrators,
• involvement of business people in international
  projects (discussion forums, dissemination of
  corresponding information, formation of networks
  of entrepreneurs, etc.),
• wide program of socio-cultural courses.

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Resources available for Lifelong Education

• lecture rooms (including the 200-seat
  amphitheatre lecture room)
• a language laboratory
• IT resources (servers, webpage, provision of
  electronic study platform Moodle)
• 4 computer laboratories with a total of 108
  workstations 10 multi-media computers in the
  library

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Library and reading rooms
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• Opportunities for establishing a versatile offer
  of study programmes for lifelong education

Main fields of activity

• Interest related education
• Acquisition and development of professional
  knowledge
• Activities to promote initiatives and involvement
  of the community
• Correction courses to redress discrepancies
  between educational sectors

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• Main organisational forms for integrated
  implementation of lifelong education programmes
  and related activities

• Educational project Institute of Further
  Education
• (From 1997 - Ventspils Forum, courses in
  psychology, philosophy, cultural tourism, history
  of art, music, cinematography, etc.)
• Educational project Entrepreneurship Academy
• (From 2000 courses or study modules of
  professional development on offer by Ventspils
  University College or custom-developed at request
  from different other institutions)
• Cooperation projects, experience exchange visits
  
• (From 1999 International Business Forums
  networking with communities, involving them as
  referent groups in research projects to establish
  group opinions active participation in the
  development of the Policy of Lifelong Education
  (draft) under the National Programme of Ministry
  of Education and Science, and other)
• Language acquisition and development courses (6
  levels)
• IT competence courses (Contracts with Microsoft
  Latvia and Latvian Association of Information and
  Communication Technologies)
• Adaptation courses for secondary school students

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• Entrepreneurship Academy of Lifelong Education
  Department at Ventspils University College
  examples of courses (1)

• A package programme Executive Competence
  Minimum custom-made at request from Ventspils
  City Council
• A package preparatory programme before enrolling
  on MBA degree study programme for individuals
  with a longer interruption in their education or
  individuals with higher education of other
  profile
• Separate courses
• Management of Corporate Finance,
• Business Plan Development,
• Marketing Planning and Managment,
• Strategic Planning of Management,
• Management of Human Resources,
• Project Management

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• Entrepreneurship Academy of Lifelong Education
  Department at Ventspils University College
  examples of courses (2)

• Insurance,
• Methods of Commercial Accounting,
• Statistics,
• Accounting Standards
• Commercial Law,
• Presentation Skills,
• Latvian Taxation System
• Introduction to Digital Image Processing,
• Labour Protection and Labour Safety,
• Business Etiquette,
• Business English
• Communication and Public Relations (PR).

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Entrepreneurship Academy examples of courses (3)

• Principles of Business Activities
• Sources of Company Funding
• Marketing
• Principles of Company Management
• Analysis of Company Performance
• Accountancy and Taxation
• Preparing a Business Plan
• Labour Law and Labour Safety
• Computering and Records Management

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TECHNOLOGY BASED BUSINESS IN VENTSPILS
SECONDARY SCHOOLS VENTSPILS VOCATIONAL
SCHOOL NO.20 RIGA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY VENTSPILS
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
VENTSPILS BUSINESS INCUBATOR VENTSPILS TECHNOLOGY
PARK TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTRE
INNOVATIVE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN
VENTSPILS
RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING CENTRE VENTSPILS
INTERNATIONAL RADIO ASTRONOMY CENTRE
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VATP DEVELOPMENT
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VHTP BUSINESS INCUBATOR
SUPPORT FOR ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW
TECHNOLOGY INCENTIVE COMPANIES DURING THEIR FIRST
3 OPERATIONAL YEARS
YEAR NO OF COMPANIES NO OF EMPLOYEES m2
2006 6 20 460
2007 15 60 740
2008 19 99 1203
2011 36 189 2277
FINANSES -gt COMPANY FOUNDATION -gt ACCOUNTING -gt
FIRST DEAL
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VHTP TECHNOLOGY PARK

• 30 ha TERRITORY IN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE TAX
  REDUCTIONS AND INVESTMENT INCENTIVES
• SPECIALISATION
• PRODUCTION AND SERVICES IN HIGH TECHNOLOGY
  BRANCHES IT, ELECTRONICS AND MACHINE
  ENGINEERING
• SIEMENS, VENTSPILS ELECTRONICAL FACTORY, INSPECTA
  LATVIA, VENTSPILS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING CENTRE
• CLUSTERING WITH ASSOCIATIONS, EDUCATIONAL AND
  SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS, MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS
  AND OTHER PARTNERS

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VHTP BUSINESS INCUBATOR
BUSINESS INCUBATOR COMPANIES
COMPANIES OPERATIONAL AREAS
Mobile Systems Ltd. MOBILE CONTROLLING SYSTEMS, MOBILE APPLICATIONS
AudioGids Ltd. IVR TELEFONY SERVICES
Ventspils elektronikas fabrika Ltd. PRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
Malmar Sheet Metal PRODUCTION AND DESING OF STEEL SPARE PARTS OF VECHICLES
Arions Ltd. INTERNET PROVIDER
Intellectual Resources Ltd. SCIENTIFICAL PRODUCTION COMPANY RESEARCH OF CAVITATION APPLICATIONS
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VHTP STRATEGY
COMPANY FORM OF ACTIVITY
VENTSPILS ELEKTRONIKAS FABRIKA VENTSPILS ELEKTRONIKAS FABRIKA LTD. THE MAJOR TENANT IN THE PARK, PRODUCING COMPONENTS OF ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS.
INSPECTA LATVIA MOBILE ULTRASOUND AND X-RAY LABORATORIES, APPLICABLE FOR MEASURING DIFFERENT METAL CONSTRUCTIONS IN ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGETICS.
SIEMENS SIEMENS LTD. HAS ENTERED INTO AGREEMENT ON ESTABLSIHING A BRANCH IN THE TECHNOLOGY PARK, ANTICIPATING TO LOCATE IN VENTSPILS ITS CALL CENTRE FOR NORTHERN EUROPE AND BALTIC STATES.
INGINEERING RESEARCH CENTRE CAD/CAM DEPARMENT EQUIPPED WITH ENGINEERING AND METAL WORKING DESIGN AND PROTOTYPING EQUIPMENT, WHILE APPLIED ELECTRONICS DEPARTMENT WITH MEASUREMENT EQUIPMENT AND DEVICES FOR PRODUCTION AND TESTING OF NEW ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS.
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VHTP SERVICES
PROFESSIONAL TEAM SOPHISTICATED SERVICES FOR
UP-SCALE COMPANIES

• SOPHISTICATED BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE
• BUSINESS PLANS AND PROJECTS, EU PROJECTS
• INTERNATIONAL MARKETING
• ATTRACTION OF STRATEGIC PARTNERS
• BUSINESS INCUBATION
• CO-OPERATION AMONG BI AND TP COMPANIES
• HEADHUNTING
• STATE-OF-ART LABORATORIES AND RESEARCH EQUIPMENT

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• Main success factors
• for successful development of lifelong education

• Potentially close and immediate contact with
  target audience
• Winning the participants trust (the factor of
  organisers, contact persons and lecturers
  personalities)
• Taking the financial burden off the participants
  shoulders in interest related education (by
  keeping just a symbolic participation fee)
  raising money through sponsorship and making the
  sponsors interested in long-term cooperation by
  demonstrating the achievements reached with the
  donated financial means.
• Creating work environment that is specifically
  suitable for lifelong education (considering that
  most of the classes are on Saturdays or in the
  evenings of weekdays).
• Novelty or uniqueness of the offer.

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Lifelong Education Action Plan for the region
of Kurzeme (2007 - 2013)

• To provide a high quality lifelong education and
  its accessibility to the regions population at
  any stage of life or field of interest,
  irrespective of their age, gender, educational
  background, place of residence within the
  planning region of Kurzeme, level of income or
  ethnic affiliation.

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• Thank you for your attention!
• Lifelong Education Department of Ventspils
  University College
• Inzenieru 101, Ventspils LV-3601,
  Latviawww.venta.lv
• Ilze.Bunke_at_venta.lv