Latvia University of Agriculture

Over time, it has evolved from a small agricultural division to a multi-disciplinary university that pursues higher education studies and research in unique directions for sustainable use of natural resources. Currently, at various levels of studies LLU implements about 60 study programs. Some of them are being implemented for several decades, constantly adapting the study content to the needs of the labor market. Technology development and digitalization nowadays encourage universities around the world to adapt more rapidly than ever before. In order to better integrate the latest trends in the national economy into the studies, the LLU program directors have started a major program evaluation. "Currently, our study program directors look at the programs they run, not only from the view from the inside but also from the outside, as a product that will serve the young person in the long term. They are the only ones familiar with the benefits and challenges of their program, so they also know what the graduate who will graduate from this program, what is happening in the labor market and why the young person currently studying in high school and relying on their own and parents' reasoned opinions as a study place, one should choose a particular field of study, "says Aigars Laizns, Vice Rector for Studies at LLU. He says that during this year, the LLU study program directors will be evaluated by industry associations that are familiar with the current labor market situation and foreign experts who are familiar with global trends. Thus, the university will include in the study programs the views of different stakeholders so that graduates will have both theoretically educated and advanced skills in the field after the study program. Which is more important - skills for today or for the future? At the beginning of the year the LLU has announced procurement for attracting Latvian and foreign experts who will be able to participate in the evaluation of the programs. They are expected to start work in the spring of 2019. According to A. Laizans, a serious challenge for the university is to maintain a balance between what the experts will offer and what the young people need in the future from the point of view of academic knowledge. Of course, employers will require practical skills that must be realized immediately so that a young person can work on a particular device in his company tomorrow. But the university must also teach general skills, have enough subjects in the program that give basic knowledge to be competitive in the labor market even after 10 years. In addition, the student should also be taught the skill to learn. "Our goal is to create a structure for a study program that encourages young people to learn. Even if he or she did not feel the urge to study previously at school. It is important that he likes to learn and he or she can do it even after finishing our programs, because it is this skill that will provide him with work and compensation in the future, "explains A. Laizans. Future prognoses are unclear