Project title: Elaboration of evidence-based solutions for effective professional competence development of adults and assessment of the transfer of its results into practice in Latvia

Project's No: VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001

Project acronym: VPP4

Project's partners: University of Latvia (UL), RTU Liepaja, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS).

Project's scientific manager:  UL FESP SIP leading researcher Svetlana Surikova.

Project's duration:  December 22, 2023 – December 21, 2026

Project's total budget: 730 000 EUR

Contacts:

Project scientific head (VeA) – Dr. sc. administr. Una Libkovska, una.libkovska@venta.lv

Project coordinator for administrative matters – Linda Ūdre, linda.udre@venta.lv

Project's summary:

The goal of the project is to elaborate an evidence-based framework and practical solutions for effective professional development of adults, including teachers, and the transfer of its results into practice, offering tools for assessing the impact of professional development on practice in Latvia. Implementing a design-based research approach, it is intended to carry out a systemic study of the transfer of professional competence development of adults, including teachers, into practice, its main obstacles and tools for measuring effectiveness, analysing theoretical knowledge and international experience in coherence of the context and needs of Latvia. The impact of the results of current professional competence development of adults, including teachers, on practice in Latvia will be analysed, considering the context of existing policy priorities and ongoing reforms. An evidence-based framework for effective professional competence development of adults, including teachers, and for the transfer of its results into practice will be developed, offering validated practical solutions for assessing the effectiveness of the professional development in organisational and system levels in accordance with the Latvian context and current educational policy goals. The results of the research will be presented in at least five international scientific conferences. It is envisaged that within the project four articles will be submitted or accepted for publication and three articles will be published in WoS or Scopus indexed journals and proceedings. It is planned that by the end of the project, two Master's theses will be defended. The results of the research will contribute to evidence-based decision-making on promoting the effectiveness of professional development of adults, including teachers, and the achievement of strategic education development objectives, as well as it will generate new knowledge and practical solutions at educational institution, local and national levels.

The objectives of the project:

1. To analyse the scientific literature on the transfer of professional competence development of adults, including teachers, to practise, to identify theoretical concepts, processes, indicators of effectiveness, identifying target groups of adults, including teachers.
2. Identify and describe international good practice in the transfer of professional competence development of adults, including teachers, to practise, identifying barriers and solutions, including in relation to the Latvian context and needs.
3. To analyse the current situation in Latvia regarding the transfer of the results of professional competence development of adults, including teachers, to practise, by analysing the policy in Latvia, the results of research commissioned by public institutions, conducting focused interviews with a variety of target groups, and discussing the results with expert groups.
4. To analyse instruments for measuring the effectiveness of the transfer of professional competence development of adults, including teachers, to practice, and to identify the possibilities of their use in the Latvian context.
5. To develop and validate a framework for effective professional competence development of adults, including teachers, at the organisational and system level in the Latvian context in the private and public sectors.
6. To develop practical solutions for ensuring effective professional competence development of adults, including teachers, and evaluating the effectiveness of transfer to practise at organisational and system level in Latvia.
7. Communicate the results of the research (presentations at conferences, preparation and publication of scientific publications) throughout all research cycles.

Results:

The results of the research will be presented in at least five international scientific conferences. It is envisaged that within the project four articles will be submitted or accepted for publication and three articles will be published in Web of Science or Scopus indexed journals and proceedings. It is planned that by the end of the project, two Master's theses will be defended and one PhD thesis will be submitted for defence. Two conferences will be organized on the results of the project in the middle and at the end of the project. Regular press releases, social media publications and popular scientific articles will be used to inform the society about the progress of the project and the results achieved.

The results of the research will contribute to evidence-based decision-making on promoting the effectiveness of professional development of adults, including teachers, and the achievement of strategic education development objectives, as well as it will generate new knowledge and practical solutions at educational institution, local and national levels.