Plan of development of Professional Bachelor’s study programme „Psychology”

12. Plan of development of Professional Bachelor’s study programme „Psychology”

Before designing of developmental plan of the higher education programme, it is essential to assess the present situation. Analyzing development of the higher education programme „Psychology” in general, one can make conclusions which can be divided according to strong and weak sides analysis matrix (SVID).

• 
  study programme has been started successfully,
  
• 
  interest from potential students in the programme,
  
• 
  positive support to the programme from employers,
  
• 
  good basis and infrastructure for studies,
  
• 
  good possibilities to improve and strengthen material basis of studies,
  
• 
  good IT basis to ensure study process,
  
• 
  lecture halls are provided with good technical possibilities,
  
• 
  accessible multi media technologies,
  
• 
  good possibilities to extend library resources,
  
• 
  the programme involves highly qualified academics.
  

• 
  study programme is new, it does not have traditions in RSU structure,
  
• 
  for the present methodological literature for studies in Latvian is insufficient,
  
• 
  psychology study programme is not yet sufficiently recognized in RSU structure,
  
• 
  medical study subjects are piloted for training of psychologist’s assistant.
  

• 
  to continue internal development of the study programme, defining amount and content of medical subjects in the programme more precisely,
  
• 
  to extend co-operation with potential employers,
  
• 
  to perfect and extend advertising of the programme in order to make it more recognizable,
  
• 
  to extend international co-operation to make study process more effective and ensure research work .
  

• 
  high expenses per a student in the study programme,
  
• 
  competitive programmes in Latvia having budget places
  
• 
  insufficient support from the state.
  

Involvement of academics in inter-disciplinary activities and international co-operation should be emphasized, as it makes the study programme “Psychology” competitive and modern. The fact that studies are integrative is also evaluated as a possibility and a threat simultaneously, since it demands from the students additional elasticity, openness, high degree of personality maturation, it is a basis for big load in study process.

It is evident that drawbacks are mostly related to general conditions, which do not occur due to activities of academics, development strategy of RSU Communication faculty or infrastructure.

In general, it can be concluded that the higher education programme “Psychology”, established in RSU, should be evaluated as conformable to contemporary trends, and as the one which ensures qualitative education and emphasizes acquisition of necessary skills and attitudes, preparing specialists who have support in labour market. Objectives, put forward in the study programme, are not planned to change in near future.

Perspective development of the study programme is included in development strategy of RSU Communication faculty. The task for further development of the programme is successive and purposeful increase in quality of the programme in order to ensure that students acquire all-round and profound knowledge, skills and abilities.

Development of the study programme includes the following directions:

• 
  Increase in quality of the study subjects included in the higher education programme, studying requirements of labour market, keeping up with current events in psychology and making corresponding changes in the Bachelor’s programme.
  
• 
  Provision of higher education programme with qualitative methodological materials and necessary informative resources, foreseeing continuous renovation of methodological materials (descriptions of study subjects), regular replenishing of electronic methodological materials and access to them (using possibilities of electronic communication); preparation of teaching literature, special dictionaries, etc.
  
• 
  Promotion of research work and getting of scientific degrees of the academics involved in the programme, as well as their participation in international projects.
  
• 
  Perfection of qualification and professional skills of the academic staff, regular advancing of qualification of the elected academic staff; regular participation of the academic staff in conferences and seminars in RSU and other educational establishments, encouraging preparation and publication of scientific and methodological articles.
  
• 
  Perfection of feedback between students and academics, and administration of the programme (extending co-operation with students’ self-government). To carry out annual assessment of the study programme, discussing issues of its development with students and academics. To perfect communication with students by RSU web page. At the beginning of every academic year, for students’ convenience, “Students’ manual “ should be prepared, in which the most significant elements, priorities and tasks to be performed should be defined, as well as other necessary information given.
  
• 
  Establishing of closer link between students’ needs and changing environment of labour market. According to RSU strategy – “significance of opinions, obtained in inquiries of employers and graduates, should be increased when making decisions”.
  
• 
  To continue encouraging of involvement of academics and students in mobility projects (ERASMUS, etc.). To extend contacts with allied higher education programmes abroad. To continue inviting of experts in psychology in health care environment, perfecting link of the programme with development of practical skills in study process. In order to promote students’ international exchange to prepare some of the courses in English. To continue inviting of overseas academics, as well as establish stable co-operation with Psychology departments of other higher education establishments.
  

• 
  Link with potential employers should be strengthened, organising seminars in potential places of praxis, so that employers could gradually get possibility to choose future employees and get acquainted with their abilities and skills.
  
• 
  Thorough assessment of praxis should be planned, as well as inquiries of employers at the end of praxis. It would enable us to receive valuable information on students’ readiness to engage in professional work of psychologist’s assistant and make conclusions on possible corrections in the content of certain subjects.
  
• 
  To perfect information and advertising materials on the study programme.
  

Head of

___________________________

(Sandra Mihailova)

Dean of RSU Communication faculty: _____________________________________

(Taņa Lāce)

.

II APPENDICES

Appendix Nr. 1

Licence for psychological programme realisation

Appendix Nr.2

.

Nr.	Statuss	Scient./ academ. degree	Surname
	Prof.	Dr. hab. med.	L.Aberberga-Augškalne
	Assoc.prof.	Dr. med.	G. Ancāne
	Prof.	Dr.med.	R.Andreziņa
	Assist.	Mg.psych.	A.Arnicāne
	Assist.	Mg. psych.	Z. Biseniece
	Lect.	Mg. phyl.	S.Cire
	Lect.	Mg. paed., māszinību grāds	K.Circenis
	Assoc.prof.	Dr.art.	D.Hanovs
	Assoc.prof.	Dr.med.	B.Kupča
	Assist.	Mg.paed., māsas grāds	K.Lapiņa
	Lect.	Mg. psych., Mg.med	I.Majore
	Assist.prof.	Dr. psych.	K. Mārtinsone
	Assoc.prof.	Dr. psych.	S. Mihailova
	Assist.prof	Mg.iur., Mg.art.	I.J.Mihailovs
	Assoc.prof.	Dr.med.	I.Millere
	Lect.	MD, dipl.iur.	S.Olsena
	Assist.prof	Dr.phil.	S. Omārova
	Assist.	Mg.psych	I. Ozola
	Assist.	Mg.biol.	A.Puzuka
	Assoc.prof.	Dr.med.	E. Rancāns
	Assist.	Mg.psych.	D.Romanovska
	Lect.	Mg.antr.	K.Sedlinieks
	Assist.prof	Dr.psych.	G.Svence
	Prof.	Dr.biol.	U.Teibe
	Assoc.prof.	Dr.phil.	V.Tēraudkalns
	Lect.	Mg. psych., Mg. paed., Mg.med.	A. Upmale
	Lect.	Mg. psych.	Ž. Vazne
	Assist.	Mg. psych.	M.Vāciete
	Prof.	Dr.med.	A.Vētra
	Assoc.prof	Dr.phil.	L.Vilka
	Assoc.prof.	Dr.phil.	A.Vilks
	Assoc.prof.	Dr.iur.	A.Vilks
	Prof.	Dr. hab. med.	J.Zaļkalns
	Asist.	Mg.psych.	M. Zakriževska
	Assist.prof	ārsta grāds	R. Žagare

First name, Last name: Līga Aberberga Augškalne

Date of birth: 1944

Address: Ogre, Mālkalnes pr. 35-6 LV-5001

Contact phones: 5071791; 7409177
EDUCATION

1968. 
      Riga Medical Institute
      

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION

1997. 
      King's College London, Dep. of Physiology
      

1995. 
      Aarhus and Copenhagen Universities, Dep. of Physiology
      

1992. 
      Toronto University, Medical faculty
      

1968 – 1971 USSR Scientific reseach institute of Physical culture, postgraduate courses

1992. 
      Dr. habil. med.
      

ACADEMIC TITLE

2004. Professor

1998. Professor

1979. Assistant professor
WORK EXPERIENCE

1971 – present Riga Stradiņš university (Medical academy of Latvia, Riga medical Institute),

1995 –present Head of Department of Physiology

1973-1975 Institute of physical culture of Latvia

Cardiovascular, respiratory, exercise and age related physiology, bioethics

GOVERMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Senator of RSU, secretary and expert of the promotion Council in the theoretical medical sciences of RSU, member of Presidium of Senate of RSU, member of Council of Faculty of Rehabilitation of RSU, head of Ethics Committee of RSU for 10 years, member of Board of professors of Biological faculty of University of Latvia, member of Central Ethics Committee of Latvia, member of Ethics Committee of IUPS.
HONORARY TITLES, AWARDS
PUBLICATIONS

In all – 123, last 6 years - 17

Native - Latvian

English , Russian – working knowledge

With dictionary - German.

Computer knowladge – Microsoft Word, Excel, Power point, Linux

Driving licence – B category

Hobby – music, art, theater, sewing.

Date:29.05.07.

Liga Aberberga -Augskalne