QUALIFICATION PRACTICES IN THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF LATVIA: THE SITUATION OF PERSPECTIVES OF DEVELOPMENT
Journal Title: Problems of Education in the 21st Century - Year 2008, Vol 7, Issue 6
Abstract
Qualification practice is an essential and obligatory component of higher education programs of the Republic of Latvia, one of pre-conditions to obtain a professional qualification, as well as professional skills. However, till now, the regulation of qualification praxes and implementation mechanisms are unsatisfactory that usually makes obstacles to reach the target of qualification practice, reduces the efficiency of component of this education, respectively influencing common quality of education and potential possibilities of students in the work market. It must be accentuate that the target of qualification practice is the acquisition of professional skills and basic knowledge in connection with a profession out of the respective higher education institution for targets of practice in a respective environment. An analysis of normative acts regulating scientific literature and education is in the basis of article, as well as control materials of education of Latvia. The target of article is based on investigation performed beforehand and results of control of higher education of the State Inspection of Education of Latvia, to provide analysis on implementation of qualification practice problems at higher education establishments in Latvia. After establishing the independence of the Republic of Latvia in (1990), as a result of reforms of more higher education systems, a qualification practice has become as a compartment of obligatory programs of higher professional education, and its amount fluctuates depending from the level/kind of the program from 6 to 26 credit points (average from 13% to 20% from the amount of study program and respectively from 9 to 39 ECTS). Possibilities of practice are provided also in the framework of some academic programs, however, the implementation of practice in these programs is not obligatory. However, despite of the sufficient time of experience in implementation of qualification practice, a higher education establishment and students studying there face more problems: An imperfect legal regulation of qualification practice. Still discussible content of practice, as well as the attitude of employer to the content of practice and practicant himself. The implementation of practice is usually burdened with the condition that the remarkable part of students are in work relationships with other employer, respectively trying to enter own work experience as a practice. Also the employer is not interested in creation of own potential competitor. Potential managers of practices (mentors) usually perceive the practice as an additionally unpaid duty that bothers everyday duties. In the process of implementation of practice, desires of higher education establishments, studying ones and employers differ essentially; the educational establishment perceives the practice as a compartment of developing professional competency and acquiring study program, the student wants to obtain new skills and experience, but the employer has a practicant with good communication and cooperation skills, as well as a motivation for his job, who is able to join in the work environment and really to operate in the team. 4 parties must be involved actively in the development mechanism of qualification practices at higher education establishments: the employers – participating more actively in the development of standards of profession and making unified demands for organizing and implementation of qualification practices, in such a way warranting the attachment of potential qualified employers, for higher education establishments – improving the system of qualification practices, making and implementing in the life unified evaluation and comparing criteria of qualification practice, more precisely, working out the content of practice itself and controlling the implementation of provisions of practices from the side of employers. In turns, state governing institutions in the area of education management and interested in social partners must activate the work on the improvement of legal regulation of qualification practice, especially taking into consideration the necessity to transfer to framework structure of qualifications, as well as the reform of content and status of provided higher education programs. But the main in the development of the practice system is the responsible attitude of students to the practice as an essential component of studies, acquiring new and valuable experience. Proposals: To include as an obligatory demand the conclusion of qualification practice agreements of three parties between the employer, practicant and the higher education establishment, providing mutual rights of parties, duties, responsibility; Licensing, but later accrediting the study program of higher education, the description of qualification practice, coordinated with the employer must be included as a demand. Before the start of qualification practice, to organize obligatory an introduction seminar for managers (mentors) of qualification practices on the specification of specialty chosen by practicant, tasks, targets, content, evaluation criteria of qualification practice; An active co-participation of professional unions must be obtained in the development of standards and in the implementation mechanism of qualification practice, understanding that practicants are next professionals of the area and their qualification is one of pre-conditions of existence and development of the area.
Authors and Affiliations
Mihailovs, I, Zakrizevska, M
Keywords
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