According to Kokina, one of the other main issues will be to reduce bureaucracy as well as the development of new, modern and market-oriented study programs. For example, the reorientation of teacher training programs is currently a major task, and it is planned that this will be done in cooperation with other Latvian higher education institutions.
"It is planned to develop an integrated bachelor's study program, which currently involves all universities operating in Latvia, which have trained teachers so far," Kokina said.
She also underlined the fact that in order to attract substantial numbers of overseas students to fill up the University's available places, it is necessary to develop English-language study programs.
"It would be ideal, it is our challenge to design and offer study programs that would be available in English," Kokina said, adding that facilities such as student accommodation would also be targeted for upgrades using EU money as a means of attracting students from further afield than presently.
As shown by the University's Twitter feed, the ambassador of the United Arab Emirates paid a visit to Latvia's second-largest city only last week to discuss future cooperation possibilities.
H.E. Mrs Hanan Al Aleeli, Ambassador of the #UAE to #Latvia, visited the Daugavpils University and met Mrs Irēna Kokina, Rector of Daugavpils University. Both parties discussed the opportunities of future cooperation in the field of education. @DU_LV @MOFAUAE pic.twitter.com/FEJUd619S7
— UAE Embassy Riga (@UAE_EMBRiga) April 25, 2018
In December last year, within the framework of the Erasmus + program Daugavpils University signed a cooperation agreement with Lesotho University giving an opportunity for staff and student exchanges between Latvia and Lesotho.
