Discussion aligned with the Official Language Day and titled ‘Official language and 21st-century universities and science’ will take place at the Riga Castle on 17 October at 10:00. President Levits invites to take part in a discussion focused on current and future role of Latvian language in higher education and science in Latvia in the context of raising the standards in both areas.
High standards of higher education and research can be achieved through closer integration into common higher education framework of Europe and other global frameworks, as well as training of internationally certified professionals. What is the preferred balance between foreign guest lecturers and strengthening of official language in higher education? What kind of impact thesis language choices have on the competitiveness of Latvian researchers? Is international competitiveness the primary criteria, especially in human sciences? Can official language have different status when it comes to exact and human sciences? The first session of the discussion will focus on language options and challenges with respect to foreign professors. Whereas the second part will consist of expert discussion on how language affects the choice of the topic, assessment criteria, quality and other characteristics of research papers in social and human sciences.
The Official Language Day discussion will be opened by the President of Latvia Egils Levits and livestreamed on www.president.lv, the official webpage of the Presidential Chancery, as well as President Levits’ social media accounts.