Students and experts will discuss the current problems for ensuring a safe study environment

The Latvian Academy of Arts (LMA) in cooperation with the University of Latvia (LU) will hold a student and expert discussion “Safe study environment – current problems and solutions” on Wednesday, May 8, LETA informed the LETA agency.

The discussion will discuss the vision of Latvian university students on the current issues of a safe study environment, including the risks of unwanted behavior, and provide expert answers on legally correct steps, protection mechanisms and solutions.

The organizers of the discussion hope that it will be possible to create a clear action algorithm, how students should act in cases where their safety is threatened, and what are the rights of all parties and the legal framework, so that interpretations and false information do not arise.

Lawyer Lauris Liepa and Supreme Court judge Sanita Osipova will take part in the discussion. The students’ vision and solutions will be discussed by the representatives of LMA and the student self-governments of the University of Latvia in cooperation with the Latvian Student Union (LMA). Members of the management and student self-governments of all Latvian state universities, representatives of the LMA, the Rectors’ Council, the Council of Higher Education, the Supreme Court, the Office of the Ombudsman, as well as every student are invited to participate in the discussion.

The discussion will take place at 4 pm in the LMA building.

Violations of academic ethics, including the issue of sexual harassment in higher education, became relevant after it was revealed that the Jāzeps Vītolas Academy of Music of Latvia (JVLMA) received applications from several students about possible sexual harassment by lecturers. Similar concerns have been publicly expressed about a teacher of the Academy of Arts.

Last week, the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) held a discussion on academic ethics in higher education. During it, representatives of universities and industry organizations discussed the improvement of the ethics codes of universities and the tasks of academic ethics commissions, the improvement of the competence of teaching staff in matters of academic ethics, as well as the need for regulatory regulations.