The role of regional university in the Information Society development

1. The role of regional university in the Information Society development Irina Arhipova Latvia University of Agriculture Faculty of Information Technologies

2. Introductory Latvia University of Agriculture Faculty of Information technologies and Jelgava City Council collaboration in knowledge-based economic activities: • ICT human resource development; • providing modern ICT knowledge and skill acquirement, according market requirement; • students practice in ICT enterprises; • education system improvement and modernization.

3. Faculty of Information Technology was founded in 2001 2006 year graduates

4. ES projects (1/2) • PHARE 2000 ESC project „Building of human resource development and infrastructure backbone for information technology services in Jelgava city”, 2002 – 2003. • PHARE 2000 ESC project „Establishment of Zemgale region business support and adult education centre”, 2002 – 2003. • PHARE 2003 project „ICT knowledge standardization in Zemgale region”, 2005.-2006.g. • EU European Social Fond activity project “Professional education availability improvement for the invalids in the Zemgale region” 2005.-2007.

5. ES projects (2/2) • EU European Social Fond project „Professional study program “Programming” practice implementation for 4th study year students in IT companies development in Faculty of Information technologies of Latvia University of Agriculture”, 2006-2007. (Nr.2005/0158/VPD1/ESF/PIAA/05/APK/3.2.6.3./0127/0067). • EU European Social Fond project „Professional study program “Programming” practice implementation for 3rd study year students in IT companies development in Faculty of Information technologies of Latvia University of Agriculture”, 2006.-2007.(Nr. 2005/0176/VPD1/ESF/PIAA/05/APK/3.2.6.3./0022/0027). • EU European Social Fond project „Information Technologies study programs modernization in the Latvia University of Agriculture” 2005.-2008. (Nr.2005/0131/VPD1/ESF/PIAA/04/APK/3.2.3.2/0004/0067).

6. ICT human resource development (1/2) • initiation of ICT literate human resource development that complies with labour market demands: • adoption integrated accounting information system, • development of e-LLU concept; • improvement of municipality administrative capacity and communication with business and people; • attraction of investors to potential ICT-related clusters in perspective economic territories of Jelgava; • provision of technical reliable, efficient and fast access to internet to economically active & perspective territories, Latvia University of Agriculture (LLU) and municipality.

9. ICT human resource development (2/2) • establishment of Business Support and Adult Education Centre (BSAEC): • establishment of metal works and engineering training unit and its facilities; • development of strategic and action plans for the long-term development of the centre to play a central role in human resource, entrepreneurships, and cluster development in the region; • development of curricula for courses targeted at entrepreneurship; • development of business support module; • development of involvement and career assistance module; • development of training curricula for the metal works and engineering unit and training of its staff; • establishment of the e-learning system.

10. ICT knowledge and skills improvement • self-government and educational establishment’s employees knowledge ICT level determination: • employees knowledge ICT level determination; • study modules and teaching process development; • ECDL certification. • education availabilities for the persons with disability improvement in the Zemgale region: • computer systems technician (3rd qualification level); • programming technician (3rd qualification level); • programs are fitted for e-learning study; • face-to-face lectures in Business Support and Adult Education Centre (BSAEC) in collaboration with experts from Faculty of Information Technologies.

12. Professional study program practice implementation • Professional practice implementation for 3rd and 4th year students in IT companies: • A/S DATI Exigen Group, • A/S Datorzinību centrs, • SIA Baltijas Datoru Akadēmija. • Practice methodical materials: • for students, • for practice coordinator. • Practice home page: http://indra.cs.llu.lv/prax/index.php

13. IT study programs modernization at LLU • The project goals are: • to modernize master study program “Information technologies”; • to develop new cross disciplinary study subjects for full time studies; • to create the preconditions for the part time study program development using e-learning system possibilities. • Project partners are: • a/s „Datorzinību centrs”, • Jelgava City Council. • Project administrator:Vocational Education Development Agency.

14. Project activities • Teaching materials development for the master study program modules: • production computer control systems, • system analysis, • information technologies in biosystems modules. • master study program implementation: • lectures and practical works supervised by experts, • improvement of FIT teaching staff professional skills, • research part of master’ paper development in Jelgava city self-government organization. • e-learning methods development, • recommendation for “Information technologies in biosystems” study program development.

15. Study process organization

16. Distance-learning and e-learning • Distance-learning methodology: • printed materials; • audio; • video; • consultations; • ordinary post; • CD-ROM; • e-learning; • m-learning. • Distance-learning principles: • possibility to study in distance, • receptiveness and wide availability, • flexibility and adaptation.

17. E-learning system functional groups • Communication: • e-mail, • Chat, • discussion, • audio and video conferences. • Publication of study materials: • general study course information, • study course time schedule, • knowledge control requirements, • study course acquired grades, • lectures’ materials, examples and tests, • web sites address, • the list of literature, • actualities and • study course evaluation. • Administration • study course management, • study materials management, • students and results management.

18. E-study systems materials for full time study: Obligatory: general study course information, study course time schedule, knowledge control requirements, study course acquired grades. Advisable: lectures’ materials, examples and tests, web sites address, the list of literature, actualities and study course evaluation. E-study systems materials for part time study: Obligatory: general study course information, study course time schedule, knowledge control requirements, study course acquired grades, lectures’ materials: For face-to-face classes For individual study examples and tests, the list of literature, actualities and study course evaluation. Advisable: web sites address, previous years test examples, additional advances materials. e-learning methods development

19. e-learning methods evaluation E-learning system should be as discussion tool between student and lecturer, not only lecturer materials database.

20. Thank you for your attention!