Strategies for Funding Higher Education in Latvia: Today and Tomorrow

The significance of education policy in the EU has risen in recent strategies. During the past couple of years, the higher education system in Latvia has been undergoing a major transformation influenced by national and international developments such as the rapid expansion of student enrolment, a relative decrease in public funding along with a shortage of private funding, the increasing importance of research and innovation in the global and knowledge-based economy, and the wider competition between higher education institutions. The higher education system has experienced democratisation, restoration of academic autonomy, and changes in its funding system as some educational expenses were shifted from the government to parents and students. Therefore the policies, regulations, incentives, and accountability measures are discussed within the contexts of governance structures and funding. The aim of this study is to provide an in-depth understanding on national strategic frameworks of higher education funding and governance in Latvia. The article deals with the theoretical and practical research of financing the HE in Latvia. The research is primarily based on quantitative comparative research methods. Quantitative indicators are used to characterise specific features of the funding systems of higher education in Latvia, and to compare funding schemes of higher education with the ones used in other EU member states. Analysis of legislative and policy documents is performed as a part of the research. Methodology and definitions UNESCO/OECD/EUROSTAT (UOE), Eurydice and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia data collection on education statistics were used for the calculations. Previous researches, comments, and analysis of international experience of OECD, UNESCO, World Bank, Eurydice experts were applied as the research basis. The research results will help evaluate the current situation in the sphere of higher education, the procedure of financing, general material provision as well as analyse the necessity and directions of changes of the models and schemes of funding. The obtained research results could be used by those people who form the policy of education or plan the funding, as the research contains statistical data related to the general funding of the sphere of education and its structure.