At the initiative of the Ministry of Education and Science, nearly 30 million euros will be invested to modernize the study environments at Latvia’s higher education institutions, with a special focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) fields. This decision was approved by the government on Tuesday, January 7. Additionally, industry-appropriate technologies will be implemented in the study process by 2029.
The initiative is being carried out in three phases within the framework of the European Union’s Cohesion Policy program, with a total project funding of 29.6 million euros. The project will create or modernize classrooms to accommodate 6,589 students, aiming to attract approximately 9,000 students annually, thereby improving the quality of studies and student satisfaction.
Anda Čakša, Minister of Education and Science, emphasized: "The Latvian higher education system must be both flexible and modern to compete internationally and provide our youth with the necessary knowledge and skills. Specialists in STEAM fields - graduates in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics - play a critical role in Latvia’s economic development. This project will enable students to acquire skills aligned with contemporary demands, essential not only in the job market but also for fostering innovation. This is a significant investment in the long-term well-being of society."
As part of the project, information and communication technology solutions will be integrated into the educational process, and the infrastructure and learning environments of higher education institutions will be modernized. Additionally, necessary equipment, tools, and other resources required for implementing STEAM study programs will be purchased.
Funding Phases:
- Phase 1 (1.7M EUR): Allocated to “State Real Estate” in collaboration with the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) to complete the first phase of the "TabFab" project.
- Phase 2 (26.1M EUR): Beneficiaries include 11 higher education institutions, such as Daugavpils University, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Latvian Academy of Arts, University of Latvia, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga Technical University, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Riga Building College, and Riga Technical College, for infrastructure modernization.
- Phase 3 (1.8M EUR): Allocated to the LAC for implementing the second phase of the "TabFab" project.
This initiative will provide modern equipment, technologies, and digital solutions while fostering the development of e-education. It aims to promote high-quality and accessible first-level professional higher education and advanced higher education programs.
The publicity image is for illustrative purposes only. Source: pexels.com.
