Recently, she faced a new challenge and has been holding the position of vice-rector of studies for almost two months.
Please introduce yourself, your work experience and your path to the position of vice-rector of studies.
– I was born and grew up in Ventspils. I studied in the 4th secondary school. And I should mention that my daughter will also graduate this year. I obtained all three levels of education at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VeA): bachelor’s degree – management science, master’s degree – business management and doctorate – management science, sub-branch of business management. There was a gap of five years between the master’s and doctoral studies. I was motivated to study for a doctoral degree by an inner desire to deepen my knowledge, as well as to get involved in the academic work and management of VeA.
Until now, I have worked both in the public and private sectors – both in the financial field as an economist and financial analyst, and as a project manager. For about 14 years, I was an individual trader in parallel with my main job. I started working at VeA as a secretary at the Faculty of Economics and Management (EPF), then I was the head of the teaching department. Then I worked in the industry for several years and returned to VeA as a project manager at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center. From May 2016 to February of this year, I was the dean of EPF, my duties were to manage the faculty. And exactly in a week it will be two months since I have been fulfilling the duties of the vice-rector of studies. At the same time, I also teach study courses for bachelor’s and master’s level students.
How was the beginning in the new position?
– Colleagues have also asked me this question, and I must say that it was very intense. Every day is very full. My duty is to take over the overall management of the study process – both on an operational and a strategic level. Next, in each of the faculties, the dean is responsible for this in cooperation with the study program directors.
You have gone through all three study levels at VeA. How would you describe this experience?
– Studies are a beautiful time. I have always studied a lot. During my studies, I gained knowledge and skills that have opened all doors for me, I gained friends and many valuable contacts. I had the opportunity to learn from excellent teachers, some of whom are now my colleagues. I am grateful for the opportunity to look at the study process from different points of view. It is a very valuable experience that I am still gaining.
What is your vision and vision for the development of the university?
– I believe that VeA must continue to be a higher education institution that meets modern requirements, ensuring the acquisition of research-based education that is in demand in the future labor market. Currently, the university has put forward four directions of strategic development – studies, research, lifelong learning and good management. A number of strategic development goals have also been defined, which we are working towards together. Our goal is to continue the modernization and digitization of the study offer in order to prepare specialists in demand on the labor market with the knowledge and skills relevant in the 21st century. Also, the goal is to promote wider cooperation in research and science, as well as the transfer of knowledge in the national economy. We are also looking in the direction of lifelong learning to ensure moffer of lifelong learning based on the needs of the society and also to promote the culture of lifelong learning. Lifelong learning is currently relevant because the working environment is changing very rapidly.
Predicting rapid technological development in the future, there is a lot of talk about the professions of the future. How does VeA adapt to future labor market challenges?
– Taking into account the requirements of the labor market, vstudy programs have already been significantly improved in the three faculties. For example, in the EPF professional undergraduate study program Business Management have in-depth knowledge and skills in innovation and digitalization. The qualification to be obtained in the program has been changed to Functional manager of the company, and three professional specializations are offered: marketing (marketing) manager, international relations manager and finance manager. EPF and the fields of study implemented by the Faculty of Information Technology are accredited for a maximum period of six years, which can be considered as a quality assessment.
At least once a year, a self-evaluation report is prepared for each field of study, in which we both evaluate what has been done during the academic year and also identify current events and trends in the industry, so that we can prepare young specialists not only for today’s labor market, but also for the near future.
The situation in the labor market is significantly changed not only by technological development, but also globalization and trends in demography, namely the decrease in the proportion of the population of working age. Currently, there is a demand for new professions and skills in the labor market, as a result of which many professions, which were considered stable until now, are losing their positions. But pprofessions that will continue to be in demand are communication, collaboration, project management, e-commerce, analytics. The pace of technological development continues to accelerate, but I believe it is worth looking at it as an advantage rather than a threat.
You mentioned earlier that you purposefully went to work at a university. What is your motivation to devote your professional career to university work?
– Education has been at the top of the value scale for me since childhood. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that my grandmother was a teacher. She worked as a geography teacher in the 4th secondary school for many years. Also during my studies, I was one of those students who conscientiously studied, and not because it was necessary, but because I saw the benefit in it and found it compelling.
In my opinion, the university has a bright environment focused on development and human growth. And it is filled with equally bright people, those who want to learn, for whom it is important to develop themselves. Starting with students and continuing with instructors. In addition, the professional life and career at the university opens up various opportunities – you can teach study courses, you can focus more on research or administrative work. Work at a university imposes the obligation to constantly develop, continuously supplement knowledge and become better. And at the same time, it is an opportunity to transfer the best of yourself – your knowledge, skills – to others. In my view, this is a value, and this awareness is very satisfying. Especially after each completed course and successfully completed bachelor’s or master’s thesis. Graduation and September 1 – it’s a holiday!
What do you consider your greatest contributions to VeA so far?
– We created together with Mika Brakanski Bucher Municipal scholarship for EPF students. I initiated it and Mikus supported it. We have always had a very good cooperation, for which I am grateful to him!
Adopting the experience and good practice model from Finland, we created a unique study program in cooperation with colleagues Management of start-ups. Also, I got involved in a lot of doctoral study programs Economics and business in the creation of which VeA shares with Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) and Rēzekne Academy of Technology (RTA). I am the director of this study program at VeA. The fourth year of implementation of the study program is underway, and four doctoral students have already obtained a doctoral degree in the program, three of them in the joint doctoral council of ViA, VeA and RTA.
I have dedicated eight years of work to the stable existence and development of EPF. As noted by the experts of the accreditation commission, fthe faculty has a healthy balance between professors and lecturers – between older academic staff and young lecturers entering the study work environment. I believe that it is necessary to ensure the regeneration of teaching staff, and in my opinion, one of the right ways is to promote the motivation of master’s students to enroll in doctoral studies, as a result of which most of them also stay at the university as lecturers. They come with other knowledge and skills and a very valuable interaction is formed.
Also, during this time I have taught several study courses and supervised more than 30 bachelor’s and about 20 master’s theses. However, almost everything I have mentioned is a team effort, which would not be possible without the cooperation and support of colleagues.
What do you see as the biggest challenges in higher education?
– The challenges that exist in the higher education system in Latvia, of course, also affect our university. One of the biggest challenges is insufficient funding, which limits both the modernization of the study environment and the innovative digital transformation of studies, research and knowledge transfer. Also, the insufficient funding prevents investing in human resources of higher education and research, hinders the international cooperation of Latvian universities and the international competitiveness of higher education in general.
On the other hand, the second biggest challenge, in my view, is the demographic crisis, including the aging of society, migration. Everything else is related in one way or another to one of these challenges that we are facing right now.
Continuing on the financing of higher education, recently there was a problem related to the remuneration of VeA lecturers. How would you comment on the remuneration policy, do you see any problems with it?
– In Latvian universities and higher education institutions, salaries for teaching staff are very low, especially when compared to the requirements. The monthly salaries of the staff employed in the teaching positions of VeA – professors, associate professors, assistant professors, lecturers and assistants – are 22% higher compared to the lowest salaries set in the country for the respective positions.
The Latvian government had decided to increase the salary twice: on September 1, 2023 by 13% and on January 1, 2024 – by another 13%. However, the funding provided by the Ministry of Education and Science to VeA does not keep up with the promised salary increase. Despite this, in September last year, the university raised the monthly salary of employed teachers by 13%.
The Saeima has adopted amendments to the University Law, which will introduce a new doctoral model. One of the novelties is that doctoral students will have greater financial motivation. What is your view on the upcoming changes?
– It must be said that in connection with the new model of doctoral studies, there will be several significant changes – both in how the procedure for defending doctoral theses will be organized in the future, as well as in relation to enrollment and commencement of studies. Also, the financing procedure will change, which provides that doctoral students are planned to be paid during their studies. Stable funding for the remuneration of doctoral students and research for all students in doctoral study programs is one of the most important components of the new model, but the state support mechanism is insufficient. Research projects of the Latvian Science Council and projects of national research programs foresee jobs for doctoral students, but there are too few of them. On the other hand, the amount of doctoral student grant projects is small – only a small number of doctoral students receive them. Consequently, an absurd situation is emerging at this moment – there is a promise, but there is no financial cover for it. Whether these changes will succeed in achieving one of the main goals – to reduce the dropout rate of doctoral students – is difficult to judge at the moment.
Shortly before our conversation, you returned from a business trip to Germany. For what purpose did you go there?
– In March, I participated together with my colleagues COLOURS at the event of the general meeting of project partners in Padeborn, Germany. Founded in 2021, the European University Alliance unites nine European universities with approximately 126,000 students and 12,300 employees in Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, North Macedonia, Poland, Spain and Sweden. Project COLOURS the aim is to raise the quality of studies, promote open innovation, challenge-based learning and impact-oriented research, which is linked to the regional goals of the smart specialization strategy.
Lately, when it seems that each of us is experiencing a faster pace of life, the issue of burnout also comes up at the same time. How not to come to that?
– I believe that one must want and be able to maintain a balance – between time for work, time for family, friends and relatives and time for oneself. It is very important to set limits for yourself, which, if nothing else, can be measured by the number of hours. In a sense, it is a story of conscious planning and self-discipline. No matter how busy I am, I purposefully find time to go to the gym at least twice a week because I know I need it.
However, in my opinion, if a person does what he likes and is good at, if the work gives satisfaction at the end of the day, then it is much easier to withstand a heavy load and not reach the extreme state. It is also important to be able to find a moment when we are at peace.
How else do you spend your free time?
– In my free time, I like to learn new things. For example, I have taken astrology courses. I also read a lot, do handicrafts – crocheting, knitting -, ride a bike, and in the summer now and then ride a motorcycle. I like to go hiking on weekends. I really like to travel.
Tags: Interview Liena Reseli university bright growthoriented environment
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