Meet the Grant Recipient of the “VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants”: Kristiāna Balode

December 12, 2025

In 2025, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences launched the project “VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants”, under which grant funding was awarded to two doctoral students through a competitive selection process to support the successful completion of their doctoral dissertations. Meet the Grant Recipient – Kristiāna Balode! 

Doctoral Study Programme: Economics and Business (Joint Doctoral study programme of VUAS, ViA, and RTU Rezekne Academy)


Doctoral Dissertation Topic: The Impact of Brain Drain on Regional Development


Doctoral Dissertation Supervisor: Associate Professor Liene Resele–Dūšele.


Smart Specialisation: The research focuses on Latvia’s smart specialisation priority area, “Information and Communication Technologies” (ICT), examining critical development factors – labour productivity and the availability of a highly skilled intellectual workforce. The doctoral dissertation examines labour productivity dynamics in Latvia’s ICT sector, an essential factor for realising the smart specialisation goal – the transformation of the economy to generate higher added value. By analysing the impact of skilled workforce mobility (brain drain/gain, brain circulation) and the role of the innovation system, the research can support the implementation of smart specialisation tasks linked to human capital development, strengthening innovation capacity, and enhancing competitiveness in the ICT sector. Given that ICT is a horizontal, cross-cutting technology, the research results are expected to have an indirect impact on the digitalisation and productivity of other smart specialisation fields. 


Why the VUAS and ViA doctoral programme “Economics and Business”?

So far, my professional career has been closely connected with Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and with the development of higher education. My work in the Study Department, along with a range of professional development courses, has provided valuable experience in the fields of educational technologies, teaching methods, and the organisation of the study process. During my work at the Science and Development Department, I have participated in the substantive management of projects, which has enhanced my understanding of the importance of research and development. At the same time, for the past three years, I have been working as a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Management of VUAS.


Doctoral studies are the next logical step in my professional and personal development. For me, doctoral studies are not only an academic qualification, but also an opportunity to pursue in-depth and meaningful research, along with building new forms of cooperation that would enable active participation in both the development of science and the strengthening of Latvia’s competitiveness on a broader scale.

 

Why “VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants”?

The doctoral grant is essential to allow full dedication of time and energy to research activities, free from regular employment obligations, thereby ensuring high-quality scientific work.

 

Project No. 1.1.1.8/1/24/I/001 “VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants” is a project under Measure 1.1.1.8. “Doctoral Grants” of Specific Objective 1.1.1. “Strengthening research and innovation capacity and introducing advanced technologies into the common R&D system” of the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021-2027, to be implemented at VUAS and ViA.

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