Although the decision for LiepU to join either RTU or the University of Latvia was tough, currently the tasks are to find the best solutions for further operation.
There are currently discussions about the name – whether the current Liepāja University will be RTU Liepāja Academy or Kurzeme Academy. When starting the reorganization, one of the most important tasks is to compare study programs. As a result of the merger process, engineering programs will be strengthened in Liepāja, while education and pedagogy will be reinforced at RTU.
RTU study prorector Elīna Gaile-Sarkane told Latvian Radio that RTU has 11 study directions, merging with the LiepU, four more will be added,
“Namely - we are joined by arts direction, cultural studies and language programs, pedagogy and sports, and social studies,” Gaile-Sarkanesaid.
When asked if any of the existing study programs could lose anything in the merger, the study prorector emphasized the opposite.
“By merging the two universities, we see that the region will only benefit from this merger because RTU has enough different study programs in the field of engineering, which we are prepared to offer and purposefully plan to provide to Liepaja and the region because after discussing cooperation with Liepāja municipality, we have initiated those directions where Liepaja municipality sees the need to develop education They are engineering and IT,“ the RTU study prorector noted.
Funds obtained during the consolidation process of EUR 10 million will be channeled toward research and development.
