Use of information technology competences is rapidly becoming a necessity in all industries and professions. In order to increase the competitiveness of graduates in the labour market and their contribution in companies where they are employed, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) together with six other partners and  Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies - LBTU (formerly Latvia University of Agricultural - LLU) as leading partner by the end of 2023 will jointly implement a large-scale project to strengthen student digital competencies.

The aim of the project “Digitalization Initiatives for Improving the Quality of Studies in the field of Strategic Specialization of Higher Education Institutions” (No.   8.2.3.0/22/A/005) is to strengthen digital capacity and introduce digital initiatives in Latvian higher education institutions, integrating technological solutions into the content and process of study courses.

Project manager Ilze Beitāne explained that during the new digitalization project the focus and all activities will be aimed to improve students’ digital competences. In addition, a unified digital competence evaluation system will be developed and implemented, as well as a unified digital solution for ensuring the examination process will be created.

Kristiāna Balode, coordinator of the VUAS project, points out that Ventspils University of Applied Sciences in this project has chosen to strengthen the digital skills of students of the Faculty of Translation Studies and the Faculty of Economics and Management. A number of study courses at both faculties will be updated or new course content will be developed, integrating various artificial intelligence solutions, data processing tools and other technologies. Given that the VUAS has already invested significant resources in the past years to upgrade the qualifications of the teaching staff, modernise the infrastructure and improve the content of study programmes in line with the needs of the labour market, the activities carried out in this project are an excellent complement to the already started path towards improving the quality of studies through digitisation initiatives.

In previous years, LBTU and other universities have invested significant resources to raise the qualifications of teaching staff, have improved the content of study programs 

The project consortium involves six Latvian higher education institutions, where the aforementioned activities will be implemented, and two merchant organisations. The leading partner of the consortium is LBTU, which has united the other seven partners: Rezekne Academy of Technologies, Daugavpils University, University of Latvia, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, "Turība" University, SIA "WeAreDots" and SIA "Baltijas Datoru Akademija". LBTU agency Malnava College is also involved in several project activities.

REACT-EU funding for mitigating of the consequences of the pandemic crisis has been attracted to the European Social Fund's project “Digitalization Initiatives for Improving the Quality of Studies in the field of Strategic Specialization of Higher Education Institutions" (No. 8.2.3.0/22/A/005).The total cost of the project is 2,052,269.47 EUR. Its implementation started on November 1, 2022 and will end on December 31, 2023.