On 17 December, the annual Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Christmas Conference was held at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, during which the university’s academic staff and researchers presented research findings and results. Within the framework of the National Research Programme project “Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for the Effective Improvement of Adult Professional Competence and the Evaluation of the Transfer of Its Results into Practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001), researchers of the National Research Programme from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Una Libkovska, Liene Resele-Dūšele and Zane Zonberga had the opportunity to participate in a scientific discussion and share their research experience.

Professor at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, researcher of the State Research Programme Una Libkovska participates in the 3rd International Scientific Conference International Conference on Advancing Sustainable Futures. Shaping the Future: Synergies Between Nature, Technology and Society On 10–11 December 2025, Professor Una Libkovska, researcher within the National Research Programme project “Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence of adults and the assessment of the transfer of its results to practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001), participated in the 3rd International Scientific Conference “Advancing Sustainable Futures: Shaping the Future: Synergies Between Nature, Technology, and Society (ICASF 2025)”, organised by Abu Dhabi University and held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. During the conference, the project’s key insights and research outcomes were presented and discussed within the scientific programme, including a paper entitled “Contribution of Sustainable Human Resource Management to Organizational Sustainability and Labour Market Transformation”. The ICASF 2025 conference brought together more than 200 participants from over 30 countries, who took part in the thematic scientific sections and presented research spanning the natural sciences, engineering and technology, social sciences, economics, and interdisciplinary studies, addressing global challenges and solutions related to sustainable development. Participants represented Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa, including Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Lithuania, the United States, Canada, India, Japan, and other countries. Participation in the conference provided valuable opportunities to expand international research cooperation, strengthen institutional partnerships, and engage in global dialogue on shaping a sustainable future. It also enabled the validation of research results within a broad international academic audience and supported knowledge transfer related to sustainable development policy, professional competence development, and the challenges of lifelong learning. 

On 28 November 2025, researchers of the National Research Programme from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Professor Una Libkovska and doctoral student Monta Anšica participated in the Kurzeme Business Forum “BALTIC DEFENCE INVESTMENT PITCH 2025” within the framework of the National Research Programme project “Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for the Effective Improvement of Adult Professional Competence and the Evaluation of the Transfer of Its Results into Practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001). The forum brought together entrepreneurs, startup representatives, policymakers and investors to foster a shared understanding of the development of modern and sustainable industries and to jointly shape a next-generation business environment. The main theme of the event was the development of the defence and security industry in the Baltic region, with a particular focus on high-tech solutions, innovation, and investment attraction opportunities. The forum also hosted “Baltic Defence Investment Pitch 2025”, the first Baltic-wide investment pitch event in the field of defence technologies, where companies presented their solutions to potential investors. This initiative encouraged dialogue between innovators and capital providers, creating real opportunities for transforming ideas into competitive products and services.  By attending the forum, the researchers gained valuable insights into the Latvian startup ecosystem, its operational specifics and development challenges, as well as the perspectives of local and international investors on companies’ growth potential. The knowledge acquired contributed to a broader understanding of current trends in modern industry development, the role of innovation in the national economy, and contemporary trends in workforce development. The forum’s thematic focus and the insights gained through discussions are closely related to the objectives of the National Research Programme project and the doctoral research, particularly in the context of adult professional competence development, knowledge transfer into practice, and the advancement of labour market relevant skills.

On 21 November 2025, Monta Anšica, a doctoral student and researcher of the National Research Programme at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, participated as a listener in the conference “National Economy Conference 2025” organised by the Latvijas Banka. Her participation took place within the framework of the National Research Programme project “Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for the Effective Improvement of Adult Professional Competence and the Evaluation of the Transfer of Its Results into Practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001). The annual national economy conference organised by the Bank of Latvia sought to address the key question of what is required to ensure that lending activity in Latvia remains sustainable in the future and continues to support economic growth. During the discussion panel “How to Increase Competition in Corporate Lending?”, the doctoral student gained valuable insights into the effectiveness of various support instruments and different aspects of access to financing. The discussions also presented new proposals on how to promote sustainable lending and attract investment to Latvian businesses. The conference was attended by Latvian policymakers, entrepreneurs, banking sector representatives, as well as local and foreign investors. The conference topics are closely related to the doctoral student’s dissertation research and its overall thematic focus.

On 19 November 2025, Una Libkovska, professor at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and Monta Anšica, doctoral student, participated in the 4th International Scientific Conference “Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Development (CORD 2025)”, organised by the Institute of Economics and Finance of Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS-SGGW). Their participation took place within the framework of the State Research Programme project “Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence of adults and the assessment of the transfer of its results to practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Education-2023/4-0001). At the conference, researchers presented a poster paper entitled “Building Investor Confidence Based on Management and Corporate Reputation in Rural Businesses in Latvia”. The conference was attended by researchers and industry experts from the European Union and other countries of the world, representing more than 15 countries in total, including Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Greece, Albania, India, Turkey, etc. Participants presented scientific reports covering a wide range of regional and rural development issues in the EU and beyond, including the development of the rural economy, the availability and development of human resources, the transformation of the labour market, the sustainable use of resources, the transformation of agricultural and food systems, social inclusion, innovation and digitalisation, as well as environmental and climate challenges. The conference program included a session of stand papers, during which participants analyzed existing theoretical approaches and empirical research methods, compared the experiences of different countries and regions and identified new areas of research. The discussions offered a multidimensional view of social, economic and environmental changes in rural and urban areas and their impact on regional development in the long term.

On 29 October 2025, Monta Anšica, a doctoral student of the National Research Programme at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, participated in the informative seminar “Good Practice in the Implementation of EU-Funded Projects” organised by the Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFLA). The participation took place within the framework of the National Research Programme project “Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for the Effective Improvement of Adult Professional Competence and the Evaluation of the Transfer of Its Results into Practice in Latvia” (VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001). The seminar provided information on current developments in the field of European Union (EU) funds, including improvements in the project selection process, upcoming changes in the EU funds architecture for the 2028–2034 programming period, the organisation of procurement in EU-funded projects (including below-threshold procurement), as well as experience in applying the New European Bauhaus principles. In addition, the seminar addressed state aid programmes for entrepreneurs offered by ALTUM and shared municipalities’ experience in implementing EU-funded projects.  During the seminar, the doctoral student had the opportunity to ask questions live and receive answers to topics of particular interest that are closely related to the subject of her doctoral research.

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Doctoral Student Presents Research at the International Scientific Conference at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Poland. On 24 October 2025, Monta Anšica, a doctoral student at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, participated in the 11th International Scientific Conference "Trends in Regional Development in the EU Countries 2025" organised by the Warsaw University of Natural Sciences within the framework of the State Research Programme project "Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence of adults and assessment of the transfer of their results to practice in Latvia" (VPP-IZM-Education-2023/4-0001) and presented the report "Managerial Competencies and Corporate Reputation from the Perspective of Investors". The conference was attended by researchers and industry experts from the European Union and other countries of the world, in total more than 15 countries, including Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Hungary, Albania, China, India, etc., who presented scientific reports on regional development in the European Union, with an emphasis on sustainable development, demography, implementation of smart solutions, digital transformation, trends in the development of human resources in sectors, etc. The research presented by the doctoral student contributes to the understanding of the role of adult education in the development of professional competences. Participation in the conference strengthens the experience of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and Latvian researchers by promoting international scientific cooperation. 

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences researchers Una Libkovska and Zane Zonberga, representing the State Research Programme project VPP-IZM-Izglītība-2023/4-0001, took part in the 20th International Academic Conference at Daugavpils University “Social Sciences for Regional Development 2025.” On October 17-18, 2025, the researchers of the National Research Programme project "Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of professional competence of adults and assessment of the transfer of its results to practice in Latvia", professor Una Libkovska and doctoral student Zane Zonberga participated in the international scientific conference "Social sciences for regional development 2025", which took place at the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of Daugavpils University. The conference presented the research implemented within the framework of the project, looking at the effectiveness of adult professional competence development, human capital development, skills transfer tools in practice, as well as the importance of regional cooperation for the sustainable development of education and employment. The conference, organized by Daugavpils University, brought together participants from 24 universities and research institutes, representing 17 countries, including Latvia, Germany, Norway, Spain, Poland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Portugal, USA, Croatia, Georgia, Ukraine and other countries. The programme covered a wide range of social sciences, from sustainable regional policy and economic transformation to social cohesion and regulatory challenges. Participation in the conference created opportunities to expand international cooperation networks and build dialogue with academic and industry partners, while also enabling the approbation of research results in a broad expert audience and fostering interdisciplinary discussion on advancing adult education policy and professional skills development in Latvia’s regions. 

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, together with partner universities, has joined a national research program project called " 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 participants Zane Zonberga and Sanita Lasmane, guest lecturers at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, spoke about their work on the project, outlining the nature of the problem and possible solutions. Rapid changes require new skills The importance of this project will be appreciated by anyone who has ever thought about how much their profession has changed in recent years – whether the knowledge and skills acquired at school twenty, ten or five years ago still meet the requirements of today's job market? Rapid changes in society, automation of production, and the development of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, require workers in many fields to constantly learn new skills to remain competitive in a changing job market. In this context, high-quality professional development for adults is of great importance, which is also clearly defined in Latvia's National Development Plan 2021-2027 as part of Latvia's sustainable development strategy to strengthen the country's ability to adapt to the changing labor market. In reality, adult education often lags behind the declared goals. To reduce this gap, a national research program project is currently being developed. Development of evidence-based solutions for the effective improvement of adult professional competence and evaluation of the transfer of its results into practice in Latvia (No. VPP-IZM-Education-2023/4-0001). The lead partner is the University of Latvia, but partner universities – Ventspils University of Applied Sciences and RTU Liepāja Academy – also play an essential role in the project. Zane Zonberga is a second-year doctoral student in the joint doctoral program in Economics and Entrepreneurship at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, and RTU Rezekne Academy of Technologies. At the same time, Sanita Lasmane has already completed her theoretical studies in this program and is preparing to obtain her doctoral degree at the end of this year. The title of Sanita Lasmane's doctoral thesis is Analysis and Modelling of Factors Affecting the Latvian Labour Market, while Zane Zonberga is working on a doctoral thesis on The Impact of Human Capital Development on Organisational Performance in Latvia, which is related to the theme of this project. In addition to the two young researchers, the project team at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences also includes the project's scientific director, Professor Una Libkovska, Associate Professor Liene Resele-Dūšele, and coordinator Linda Ūdre. "I can try to explain the project's goal in the simplest way possible with an example: a person acquired a certain level of education, technical knowledge, and digital skills five or ten years ago, but now this knowledge has very little value in the labor market due to rapid digitization, technological development, and automation," says Zane Zonberga. "Many jobs are at risk because employees are simply unable to keep up with these trends. In our project, we aim to demonstrate that adult education is not only essential for the population but also crucial for companies to thrive and compete globally. We strive to offer companies and government institutions the opportunity to evaluate the practical application of knowledge, assessing whether the learning process meets their quality standards and whether it will benefit their employees. The project also emphasizes the role of professional development for teachers so that they can provide students and adults with modern, practical knowledge and skills that are relevant to the labour market. Professional development is relevant in almost all professions, but it is particularly appropriate for those working in fields where digitization, automation, artificial intelligence technologies, etc., are rapidly advancing. For example, customer support specialists whose work is being replaced by artificial intelligence chatbots, or warehouse workers whose tasks are being taken over by automated lines. More generally, this also applies to employees in any industry who acquired technical or digital skills five or ten years ago. From interviews to cooperation solutions The project is divided into five task packages, which involve both data collection and analysis. One of the tasks of the researchers at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, together with their project partners, was to analyze 14 focus group interviews conducted with industry representatives, expert councils, government and educational institutions, and other target groups. The interviews are transcribed, coded and analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. In addition, researchers at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences have assessed the contribution to human capital development, including adult vocational education and professional development, and its impact on the Latvian economy and economic development. Theoretical reviews of the effects of human capital development on the development of the national economy and the characteristics of instruments for measuring the effectiveness of the transfer of professional development into practice have also been carried out. Researcher Sanita Lasmane reveals that, before her involvement in this project, she had worked mainly with quantitative research methods, which focus on the collection and analysis of numerical data. "This project focuses more on qualitative research methods, which are used to study something difficult to measure in numbers, such as people's attitudes and opinions on a particular issue. Qualitative research methods require a greater ability to delve into context and interpret nuances, which has personally allowed me to broaden my research horizons and become more versatile," Sanita Lasmane shared her experience. One of the main objectives of the project is to develop a practical tool that would help assess the effectiveness of transferring knowledge gained through adult professional development into practice. This tool would enable companies and government institutions to determine whether the training provided equips employees with the necessary skills and is applicable in the job market. In the long term, the project's desired outcome would be closer and better cooperation between educational institutions, entrepreneurs, and government agencies, with company representatives actively involved as guest lecturers, telling students about real problems and needs in the job market. The offer is there, but information is lacking Zane Zonberga shared one of her observations from the research process, acknowledging that "There is fragmentation in communication between the institutions involved – employees, employers, local governments, the state, and, accordingly, educational institutions and state-level institutions. Fragmented communication between these parties has created obstacles to better cooperation." She emphasizes the importance of employers identifying their employees' needs, but notes that some companies struggle to do so effectively without consuming excessive human resources time. It is in the interest of local governments to ensure that companies in their municipalities have the opportunity to develop and provide support as needed. The industry expert council is responsible for obtaining information about the needs of all industries – the knowledge, skills and competencies that need to be developed. The state is responsible for providing not only projects, but also further professional development courses, training, etc., which would be offered to both industries and residents. Zane Zonberga cites the example of the courses provided by the State Employment Agency, emphasizing: "After communicating with entrepreneurs and industry representatives, it was concluded that this offer, which usually comes from the state, does not always match the knowledge, skills or competencies they need. Similarly, various projects are currently challenging for a specific company to implement, as they often do not meet one or two criteria and are therefore not eligible for funding. These communication issues need to be resolved so that all parties understand what is needed and how to implement it." Zane Zonberga acknowledges that the current range of professional development opportunities is sufficient. Still, some shortcomings need to be addressed: "I would say that the range of professional development opportunities as such is sufficient, but at the moment the public is not sufficiently informed about the possibilities." For example, at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, anyone who is interested can take courses and earn credits for a fee, receiving a certificate upon completion. This can be done over several years, combining work with study and gradually acquiring knowledge. Similar offers are also available at other educational institutions and lifelong learning centres, including free courses, but their availability often depends on the initiative of the teachers themselves. Sanita Lasmane highlights the inequality between regions: "Opportunities exist, but they are mainly concentrated in the more economically developed areas. The biggest structural gaps in the labor market are precisely in the regions where professional development opportunities are much more limited." Zane Zonberga agrees: "There are many more opportunities for professional development in Riga, and they are more diverse. For example, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences is unable to provide professional development in medicine, but such opportunities are available in Riga." Cooperation with entrepreneurs must be expanded. The researchers particularly emphasize the importance of cooperation with businesses. Ventspils University currently cooperates with Bucher Municipal, where, in addition to the scholarship, students are also provided with the opportunity to gain experience at the company by familiarizing themselves with all work processes: "I think it is necessary to establish broader cooperation so that it is not just two or three companies and so that entrepreneurs themselves want to give guest lectures to students on current labor market issues. Ventspils University is already succeeding in this because some of the representatives of Ventspils companies are graduates of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, and better communication has been established with them, so their desire to get involved in the process is noticeable," says Zane Zonberga. " Ventspils University of Applied Sciences already attracts various industry experts and company representatives for guest lectures and practical classes, but I believe that cooperation should be even broader." The project Development of Evidence-Based Solutions for Effective Professional Competence Improvement for Adults and Assessment of the Transfer of Results into Practice in Latvia was launched in December 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in December 2026. The results of the project will be used in dialogue with the Ministry of Education and Science, which is the primary end user and client of the project. Source: https://www.ventasbalss.lv/zinas/izglitiba/52693-kad-zinasanas-noveco-petijuma-mekle-risinajumus-efektivai-muzizglitibai Photo: Krists Kūla