Latvia Students' Union

Infobox Union
name= LSA
country= Latvia
affiliation=
members=
full_name= Student Union of Latvia
native_name= Latvijas Studentu apvienība


founded= December 10, 1994
current=
head=
dissolved_date=
dissolved_state=
merged_into=
office= Baznicas street 5-20, Riga, LV-1010, Latvia
people=
website= [http://www.lsa.lv Official website]
footnotes=E-mail: [e-mail]
Phone number: [phone]
Fax number: [phone]

The aim of "Student Union of Latvia (LSA)" is to represent Latvia’s students and to fight for the observance of their rights and interests at a national and international level.

LSA Structure

The principal decision–making body of the LSA is the Congress that develops conceptual action plans, approves finances as well as elects the president and vice-president. The Congress gathers once a year and representatives are nominated by student unions.

The LSA Council comes together regularly once a month and decides about LSA statements and positions, about the development of the organisation as well as defining the responsibilities of the members of the Board. It elects the Board. Representatives are nominated by student unions.

LSA’s president, vice-president and officers are responsible for the daily work of organising and executing the policies laid down by the Congress and realizing the statements of the Council. The president administers the work of the officers.

LSA presidents and board members (and coordinators):

2008/2009

*Igors GRIGORJEVS (President)
*Anna CĪRULE (Internal Commuication Coordinator)
*Inga SAKNĪTE (Academic Affairs Officer)
*Kirils SOLOVJOVS (International Affairs Officer)
*Mārtiņš BRENCIS (Legal Officer)
*Anete ENIKOVA (PR Officer)

2008

*Uldis LUCKĀNS (President)
*Anna CĪRULE (Internal Commuication Coordinator)
*Inga SAKNĪTE (Academic Affairs Officer)
*Kirils SOLOVJOVS (International Affairs Officer)
*Igors GRIGORJEVS (Social Affairs Officer)
*Mārtiņš BRENCIS (Legal Officer)
*Miks MUIŽARĀJS (PR Officer)

2007

*Katrīne PĻAVIŅA (President)
*Jānis GRANDĀNS (Vice president)
*Zane GRIGALE (Academic Affairs Officer)
*Konstantīns LUKOŠKO (Social Affairs Officer)
*Mārtiņš LŪSIS (PR Officer)
*Kirils SOLOVJOVS (International Affairs Officer)
*Dace GRANTE (Legal Officer)

2006/2007

*Uldis LUCKĀNS (President)
*Dainis JAKOVELS (Vice president)
*Katrīne PĻAVIŅA (PR Officer)
*Diāna NAGLE (International Affairs Officer)
*Toms MIKS (Social Affairs Officer)
*Kirils SOLOVJOVS (Academic Affairs Officer)
*Miķelis RAGAINIS (Legal Officer on academic issues)
*Jānis GRANDĀNS (Coordinator of Private HEI's)
*Kitija KURSA (Coordinator of Public HEI's)
*Valērija KIŠKURNO (Coordinator of Regional HEI's)
*Vita TAUBE (Coordinator of Creative HEI's)

2005/2006

*Uldis LUCKĀNS (President)
*Dainis JAKOVELS (Vice president)
*Anita LĪCE (International Affairs Officer)
*Ēriks DAUKSTS (Social Affairs Officer)
*Vita VASIĻJEVA (Financial Affairs Officer)
*Katrīne PĻAVIŅA (PR Officer)
*Kārlis SĪMANIS (Academic Affairs Officer)
*Andris SAULĪTIS (Academic Affairs Officer)
*Mārcis ROKJĀNIS (Coordinator of Private HEI's)

2004/2005

*Mārtiņš GINEITIS (President)
*Sanda PURVIŅA (Vice president)
*Uldis LUCKĀNS (International Affairs Officer)
*Anita LĪCE (Financial Affairs Officer)
*Elīna DOBULĀNE (PR Officer)
*Sergejs SEŅKĀNS (Academic Affairs Officer)
*Ivars LUKAŠEVIŠS (Social Affairs Officer)
*Laura KASTANOVSKA (Information coordinator)
*Natālija JERMOLAJEVA (NGO's coordinator)

2003/2004

*Kristīne ANTE (President)
*Jolanta VIŠKERE (Vice president, International Affairs Officer)
*Jānis LIELĀMERS (Financial Affairs Officer)
*Agnese ALKSNE (Information Affairs Officer)
*Andris MILLERS (Academic Affairs Officer)
*Ivars LUKAŠEVIŠS (Social Affairs Officer)
*Malinka KAWSHANTA RAMBADAGALLA (International Affairs Officer)
*Inese VĪGANTE (Baltic Organization Meeting coordinator)

2002/2003

*Ēriks SAMULIS (President)
*Antra KUKUKA (Vice president)
*Kristīne ANTE (Academic Affairs Officer, International Affairs Officer)
*Ivo BERKOLDS (Social Affairs Officer)
*Liāna PUDULE–INDĀNE (Information Affairs Officer)
*Ēriks LINGEBĒRZIŅŠ (International Affairs Officer)

2001/2002

*Juris PŪCE (President)
*Guntis GLUŠŅONOKS (Vice president)
*Ēriks SAMULIS (Academic Affairs Officer)
*Ivo BERKOLDS (Social Affairs Officer)
*Antra KUKUKA (Information Affairs Officer)
*Dita SĪLE (International Affairs Officer)
*Edgars JAUNUPS (Project Officer)
*Madars LASMANIS (Coordinator of Regional HEI's)
*Jānis ZANDBERGS (Coordinator of Private HEI's)

2000/2001

*Sandra JANSONE (President)
*Kārlis BIRZNIEKS / Juris PŪCE (Vice president)
*Dita SĪLE (International Affairs Officer)
*Egita AIZSILNIECE (Project Officer)
*Ritvars EGLĀJS (Board Member)
*Inese SAIVA (Board Member)

1999/2000

*Andis MALĒJS (President)
*Sandra JANSONE (Vice president)
*Laura MARTIŅUKA (Information Affairs Officer)
*Anda ĀBOMA (International Affairs Officer)
*Dita SĪLE (International Affairs Officer)

1998/1999

*Maris EGLĪTE (President)
*Andis MALĒJS (Information Affairs Officer)

1997/1998

Jurģis PORIŅŠ (President)

1996/1997

Jurģis PORIŅŠ (President)

1995/1996

Ēriks BLUMBERGS (President)

LSA Tasks

*To contribute to the development and advancement of education and the cooperation of local unions of students of higher education institutions
*To collaborate with organisations related with students and youth issues
*To turn to enterprises, state officials, authorities, state and municipality institutions with requests, proposals and declarations in the name of the students in Latvia
*To improve the quality of education and academic traditions, democracy and individual initiative, the self-esteem of students and development of personality, healthy life-style and mental health, civil integration of youth and participation in society
*To nominate student representatives towards different authorities; etc.

Membership

Since 1998, LSA is a full member of ESIB – The National Unions of Students in Europe. ESIB is the umbrella organisation of 50 national unions of students from 37 countries. The aim of ESIB is to represent and promote the educational, social, economic and cultural interests of students at a European level towards all relevant bodies and in particular the European Union, Council of Europe and UNESCO.LSA is a member of NOM/BOM.

Members

The members of LSA come from student unions of all Latvia higher education institutions thus LSA representing all the students of Latvia.

LSA members are:
* [http://www.lusp.lv/ Student Council of the University of Latvia]
* [http://www.rtusp.lv/ Student Parliament of the Riga Technical University]
* [http://www.llusp.lv/ Student Union of the Latvia University of Agriculture]
* [http://dau.lv/studpad/ Student Council of the Daugavpils University]
*Student Union of the Riga Stradins University
*Student Council of the Latvian Academy of Culture
*Student Union of the Liepaja Pedagogical Academy
*Student Council of the Police Academy of Latvia
*Student Parliament of the Riga Higher School of Pedagogics and School Management
*Students’ Deans Office of the Latvian Academy of Sports Education
*Student Council of the Banking College of Higher Education
*Krivs Council of the National Academy of Defence of the Republic of Latvia
* [http://studenti.venta.lv/ Student Council of the Ventspils College]
*Student Union of the College of Social Technologies
* [http://www.turiba.lv/index.php?s=226/ Student Union of the School of Business Administration Turiba]
*Student Union of the International Higher School of Practical Psychology
* [http://www.va.lv/lat/studenti/ Student Union of the Vidzeme College]
*Student Union of the Rezekne Higher School
*Student Union of Higher School of Information Systems
* [http://www.bki.lv/student/student.htm/ Student Parliament of the Baltic Russian Institute]
*Student Council of the Latvian Maritime Academy
*Social Work and Social Pedagogy Institute "Attistiba"
* [http://sa.sseriga.edu.lv/ Student Association of the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga]
*Student Council of the Art Academy of Latvia
*Student Union of the Institute of Transport and Telecommunications
*Student Union of the Higher School of Psychology
*Student Council of the J. Vitols Latvian Academy of Music
*Student Council of Higher School of Economic and Culture
*Student Council of the Latvian Christian Academy

Accomplishments

Since 1994 LSA has submitted a number of proposals, regulations, amendments of law, as well as organised educational and informational seminars and other events. Among the main recent events the following can be mentioned:
#Elaboration of Codex of Administrative breach – inclusion of an obligatory clause about study contract of HEI and responsibilities of HEI (February, 2005).
#Research project about necessity of implementing intercity transport discounts instead of cash benefit for students, living far from HEIs (February, 2005).
#LSA has worked in preparation of the amendments to the Law on Higher Education Establishments. The main proposal concerns defining LSA as the student representing body in the law. The law will soon be discussed in the Parliament (Since March, 2005).
#Informational campaign among secondary school students about LSA, accreditation of HEIs, loans, grants and student’s rights (March, 2005).
#ESIB Commodification Committee seminar (May, 2005).
#Study about science and research in Latvia: current situation of student involvement in PhD studies and scientific research work (May, 2005).
#Informational campaign for 1st year students – consulting on the telephone line about accreditation of study programs, HEIs, loans etc. before the study year begins (July – August, 2005).
#Forum for Latvian student leaders about informal learning and labour market (August, 2005).
# Seminar for student representatives in senates of universities on HE trends in Europe (October, 2005) [http://www.lsa.lv/ss/ Seminar website]

In execution:

#Negotiations about enlargement of scholarship fund.
#Development of Law of Higher Education.
#Reform of implementing intercity transport discounts.
#Reform of student health insurance.
#Info campaign in all secondary schools in Latvia about further study possibilities, system of higher education, accreditation, loan/grant system etc.
#Elaboration of Youth Law.

Partners

#Ministry of Education and Science, An LSA representative is a member of the Accreditation Commission
#Council of Higher Education, An LSA representative is a member of the Council
#State Youth Initiative Centre, An LSA representative is a member of the Convention of Councillors
#Rectors’ Council
#National Youth Council of Latvia
#National Pupil Council of Latvia
#Baltic Organisation Meeting (BOM) – member of co-operation platform of Baltic national unions of students

Projects

Taking into account the specific work of LSA, its main aims are the development of student unions of the higher education institutions and utilization of different channels to influence decision – making process for the good of students.

Additionally to the legislation process LSA every year organises both thematic and educational seminars for the activists of local student unions.

Annual

*Seminar cycle “Who Cares About Students?” for education of activists of local student unions
*Seminar Cycle “Rights for Every Student” about rights of students and local student unions
*Student Year Prize Ceremony
*Seminars for regional and private higher education institutions
*Latvian Student Leaders’ Forum
*Seminar for students - senators (Members of Senates) of Latvian higher education institutions’; etc.

Future

LSA has developed to be an important actor of higher education politics, as well as gained the status and capabilities. For the year 2005 LSA Congress set forward the following guidelines:
#Improving the quality of higher education;
#Provision of student social well-being;
#Student right protection;
#Internal strengthening of the organisation.

References