Representatives from universities and colleges will discuss life-long learning development perspectives in the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences

Participants of Latvian association of higher education institutions for Life-long Learning (LAKMA) will meet on the 24^th of October in the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences held seminar, in order to discuss university and college role fortification in life-long learning, as well as will discuss the further development of the association.

Life-long learning implementation in Europe and world is a self-evident university function; however in Latvia the role of higher education institutions in adult education has still not been appraised. Inguna Jurgelane, ViA life-long centre director, describes the situation today: “Despite the fact that it is one of priorities in the national development plan and other state documents, in reality in many state and municipality level standard acts different contradiction can be found, which create crucial obstacles for life-long implementation processes and for finance division to this aim”. In other parts of the world a standard practice is a long-term dotation marking for life-long learning in the state and municipality budgets, but the situation in Latvia is radically different”, Inguna tells. In order to find solutions to the specific situation, LAKMA searches collaboration possibilities with Latvian and foreign universities. That is - the representatives of the association plan to go for an exchange visit to Denmark, Norway and Iceland, furthermore, also the Baltics life-long learning association is being developed.

Dagnija Gulbe, Vidzeme region Planning Development and Project Department director, Tatjana Koke, Professor Dr.habil.paed, Ingrida Muraskovska, Ministry of Education and Science project director Dr. paed., Vita Žunda, author of several international life-long learning projects, coordinator and director, will introduce seminar participants with different adult education aspects in Latvia. But Gudruna Larusdotira from Agricultural university of Iceland will tell about Iceland’s experience with life-long education. Everybody, who is interested, is welcomed to the seminar!

Latvian university and college Life-long Learning association has united 10 universities of Latvia, and the aim of it is to support education in Latvia, by promoting life-long learning field development in universities and colleges.