In order to create a modern education process and effective changes in Latvia, the Education Innovation Laboratory, in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, provides two programs for education, business, and government leaders – the Leader Program and the Strategic Education Innovation Project Support Program.
Three partners ensure the development and implementation of the program. The Ministry of Education and Science finances this project, the Riga Business School, as a structural unit of Riga Technical University, ensures the implementation of the project, while the main strategic partner in these programs is J-WEL, the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The first Leader Program graduation was a testimony that Latvia’s higher education leaders do not stop at what they have achieved and are looking for new ideas and knowledge to promote education innovation in Latvia. Until April 3, education leaders can apply for this program to bring the breadth and experience of world education to Latvia. At the same time, I invite science universities to participate in the Education Innovation Program to use the expert time and innovation methodology to develop higher education.
Paula Elksne
Project Director of the Education Innovation Laboratory
The Leaders Program
Providing access to global practice, the Leaders Program provides an opportunity for high-level education, government, and business leaders to learn about effective innovation initiative structuring, management, financing, and stakeholder interaction. One of the most anticipated program activities is a visit to Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, USA.
This is the second time that the Leader Program is run. Last year, 17 leaders from the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, Riga Stradins University, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economics, LMT, Ernst & Young Baltics, and Latvenergo graduated from the program.
The Education Innovation Program
The Strategic Education Innovation Project Support Program calls teams from Latvian universities to apply for support in implementing ambitious educational innovation projects. The program is seeking teams that have already identified a project idea and understand the project’s alignment with the university’s strategy in the following thematic areas: systematic improvements to the student experience; improvements in collaboration between universities and organizations; initiatives that promote the achievement of the university’s strategic goals.
As part of the program, participants will receive expert consultation from MIT, support from innovation and change implementation mentors, workshops, networking, knowledge exchange events, and support in project planning, implementation, and content development according to the project plan. Team members will be able to participate in a paid and individually tailored exchange visit to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, USA.
Teams from Latvian scientific universities – the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, Riga Stradiņš University, and the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies – can submit applications for the Education Innovation Project Program. However, other universities, as well as private and public organizations, are encouraged to approach one of the universities and collaborate to participate in the program and implement the planned project.
This is a unique development opportunity for strong professionals and teams who will be able to lead significant changes in the public sector, state-owned companies, large companies, as well as in the education sector. Meanwhile, the Education Innovation Laboratory is a platform co-led by the best partners for bold experiments and influential pilot projects for our science university teams to work on meaningful changes in an encouraging and stimulating environment.
Santa Šmīdlere
Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Science
MIT J-WEL is the education laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of the world’s best universities (ranked 1st in the “QS World University Ranking 2023”), and promotes educational innovation through collaboration with other universities around the world, as well as works with its partners to promote excellence and transformation in education globally.
For more information on the Education Innovation Laboratory and programs (in Latvian), please visit: https://innovationeducation.lv/par-mit-projektu/
The program is being implemented within the framework of the agreement concluded between Riga Technical University and the Central Finance and Contracting Agency for the implementation of the project “Support for RTU international cooperation projects in research and innovation” (1.1.1.5/18/I/008).
