DIMENSIONS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN HIGHER EDUCATION AND PRIVATE SECTOR

Abstract

Currently, higher education system of Latvia is in a search for new challenges, and one of the dimensions for the long-term development is cooperation with the private sector. The aim of the research is to provide analytical assessment of the strategic documents and normative base on the higher education and private sector co-operation opportunities and challenges in Latvia. National and EU policy documents and normative acts indicating the need for closer cooperation between the higher education and the private sector are analysed in the research. The main conclusions are focused on development of long-term cooperation between employers and higher education institutions. Dimensions of the cooperation shall be considered in the context of motivation, i.e., motivation both of the students and the employers. It is essential to create preconditions that would motivate students to acquire professional skills in their future profession providing them possibility of an effective and result-based professional practical training. It is equally essential to find instruments to motivate potential employers, so the companies would be interested in co-operation with the higher education institutions.