Studentiem un darbiniekiemMecenātiemMedijiemAbsolventiem

Organization of studies

ORGANIZATION OF STUDIES TO IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM

The content includes courses in educational philosophy, theories of tertiary didactic and adult education, history of educational ideas, quality issues, European context of tertiary and adult education, program theory and practices, knowledge management and paradigm shift in a tertiary institution; several courses are devoted to mentoring and supervision. The targeted content is reflected by the competences which the learners obtain by acquiring the offered program.   The structure  The program consists of two parts: compulsory (A – 37 CRP or 55,5 ECTS) and limited option (B – 43 CRP or 64,5 ECTS).  The compulsory part (A) includes master’s paper – 20 credit points (30 ECTS) and theoretical education studies.  The scope of the limited option (B) - 43 credit points (64,5 ECTS) – includes theories and practices of tertiary and adult education.    Practical implementation   Inquiry-based full-time studies are conducted by the professors, associate professors and docents – the stuff hold a doctor’s degree. E-platform (Moodle) for the program is provided (video and Skype discussions, seminars, hands-on sessions etc.). The study courses provide the students opportunities to prepare for their work in colleges or other tertiary institutions as well as in the sphere of adult further education. Detailed description of the learning activities, as well as the criteria of evaluation is provided in the course descriptions. For precise planning of the students’ and educators’ time the scope of the courses is expressed in credit points and academic hours. The target competences of the program are described in details for each study course, and they also serve as the criteria of success. A table for self-evaluation is provided in the Moodle to complete it by the end of the course acquisition. Students’ autonomous learning and analysis of the Moodle materials, suggested or chosen sources are supplemented by short instruction leading to the target competences by acquiring structured knowledge; integrated content and discussions are suggested to acquire pedagogical regularities and development of critical thinking, skills of innovative practices, ability for further education and self-fulfillment.   Materials are available in the Moodle to initiate and conduct the students’ self-regulated studies towards successful acquiring of the target competences:
  1. Lectures or informative/instructive introductory materials in the Moodle for the students’ self-studying: introduction to problems, themes, essentialities, ways towards the achievements etc. 
  2. Compulsory literature, other sources – 1-2 for the course and several suggested additional sources – will make about 75% of the sources to be used, students’ optional sources in accordance with their specific individual needs – about 25% (the balance between compulsory and optional sources depend on their availability, theme, students’ needs etc.)
  3. Self-conducted theoretical and practical activities to develop the desired competences, structuring of knowledge, their integration and understanding, development of critical thinking and innovative practices. 
  4. Criteria of the target competence development, tools for reflection and self-evaluation. Issues suggested or chosen by the students to be analysed, discussed, reviewed etc.
  5. Introduction to discussions, development of critical thinking, initiating evidence-based arguments to develop skills of participating and conducting a discussion and presenting findings of theoretical and empirical analysis.
  6. Hands-on sessions provide the students opportunities to apply general knowledge and understanding of the nature of research in education to the investigation of a particular research problem towards completing the master’s paper and creating an inquiry-based process of tertiary teaching-learning.  
Instruction for the master’s research and completing a master’s paper is available at this Home-page under Master’s paper. Discussion on topical problems and essentialities of the studies among students, students and educators are continued in the Forum available at the site of each study course. Students’ success is being assessed and evaluated according to:
  • Acquisition of each study course and a master‘s paper is reflected by 10 point grade system (10 - the highest; 4 – the lowest successful; 3-1 - unsuccessful); 
  • Submitted and defended a master’s paper (20 credit points equal to 30 - ECTS);
  • Collected 80 credit points (120 ECTS) for the whole program   (1 credit point = 40 hours).
  • Students’ mobility is welcome in compliance with the profile of this program; acquired courses during the mobility can be recognized if negotiated with the director of this program prior to the mobility and completed successfully.
  Self-evaluation is considered a priority procedure together with the educator’s evaluation.  The scope of the activities covered by a student is expressed in % and scores that helps students and educators decide for the reached success and appropriate grade. For more details address the description of each study course. Students choose or are suggested a scientific adviser for the master’s research and preparing of the master’s paper. Commission for the defense of the masters’ papers is adopted by the Council of the faculty for each year.