About the development possibilities of RTU
The first semester has come to an end, and students have livened up – thousands of new students studying in different high schools, universities and institutes.
Riga Technical University (hereinafter referred to as RTU) has approximately 16,000 students. RTU is the second biggest university in Latvia, and it prepares specialists for many economic sectors. Moreover, RTU is the oldest high school in Latvia that celebrated its 145 birthday in October of this year. Therefore, I would like to start discussion on the development plans and targets of RTU.
Riga Polytechnic at its time was created following the standards of Polytechnic Institute in Zurich (hereinafter referred to as ETHZ), the most modern higher technical school of that time. Nowadays many different high school ratings do exist. Nevertheless, whoever is the author of these ratings and whatever methods are being used, ETHZ is always among 10 or 20 strongest high schools in the world. Unfortunately, RTU is not included in any of these ratings, besides, in Latvia there is no local high school rating at all!
Wherewith I want to ask, how can a student get information, which is the best place for studying, for example, information technologies, if there is no possibility to compare performance of the high schools that offer abovementioned study programme?
What prestige of education can we talk about, if it exists only at a conversational level? Interesting, what is the number of publications of the scientists from RTU or the University of Latvia (hereinafter referred to as LU) in Latvia’s scientific literature, and how many – in foreign? More important, how many references on these publications are in articles of other scientists? Exactly this question is one of the most dominant criteria of ratings.
Maybe now, when the work on increase of university’s financing is being done, when possibilities have appeared to change something, to define goals that RTU would like to achieve in its development, maybe now it is worth to consider it? In which place in the high school rating would we want to see RTU? For example, RTU could choose Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (hereinafter referred to as MIT), one of the leading American high schools, as a standard, follow its management, watch how they support innovations, study their requirements for students, etc. Besides, MIT, just like RTU, is founded 145 years ago. It is a wonderful tradition – to learn from good examples; it has done many good in the past and surely will do in future!
Higher demands for the studentsMany have heard that: „It is easy to enter RTU, but hard to study“. Unfortunately, it is not true anymore. Probably in comparison with studies in other Latvian high schools, in RTU there are several more difficult, harder courses, but anyway many students find time not only for studies, but for work as well. Especially it is true for students of master course programmes, among them only several students do not work. How is it possible that a student, who seemingly has difficulties with studying, finds time to work besides the learning process?
In many leading high schools throughout the world there are working students. Unlike our students, they are not allowed to work more than 15 hours a week and mostly work as assistants in laboratories of professors; it contributes to preparation of potential staff before starting doctoral program. And here we can ask ourselves a question again: what are we seeking for? If target of RTU is to become a „local“ (in Latvian scale) school, then there is no need to think much, to bother, since we can just allow the so familiar stream to carry us, allow our high school to develop drifting along. But, if we want to prove that RTU is a technical high school that prepares the best and most erudite specialists, that in RTU are being developed world level innovative technologies, there is no other way than to raise our demands for the students!
We cannot forget two important factors. First, students who are able to perform hard learning process properly are better prepared for research work in master course. Preparation of good professionals is one of preconditions for further development of science. Second, now in Latvia we can observe processes of development of innovative technologies, popularisation of innovations, innovation development parks being established and so on. But nowadays, to create new solutions or new technologies, appropriate knowledge is necessary. It is justified also by the fact that most successful innovation parks usually are created on basis of strong high schools as we can see it in cases with Stanford, Cambridge, Munich Technical, Dublin University, and MIT. We don’t want to adapt or accommodate technologies that are created elsewhere!
Suggestions for improvement of the study processLeave unaltered entering criteria. RTU is a national high school, and it gives every student an opportunity to show himself in the learning process.Raise minimal rating (level of test) in the final exams from 4 to 6.Equate content of exams to standard for level of the chosen high school.
Raise amount of higher mathematics classes during the first year of studies. Mathematic course offered in RTU does not comply with world standards.Refuse from the course of Latvian language, during bachelors programme; students have a chance to practice the language in the framework of a basic course.
Implement in the study programme philosophy and logics. Lecturers of LU could teach mentioned courses upon a cooperation agreement with LU. Create free Latvian, Russian, English, German and French language courses for RTU students, lecturers and personnel on basis of RTU Language Institute.
Suggestions for improvement of master courseEncourage student exchange both with the EU countries and with former Soviet Union republics, as well as attract talented and capable students from Russia, China, India and European countries for research work in Latvia. In five years partially or completely change study language to English.
Establish obligatory homework in all profiling subjects.
Encourage innovative thinking among engineers and introduction of new technologies in business; offer to RTU technical master and doctoral students a possibility to study Business Administration at Riga Business School (hereinafter referred to as RBS), attending courses, offered by RBS.
Popularise research and scientific activity in the field of technology, thus motivating students of master and doctoral programmes to create companies on basis of results of their own research work.
Raise amount of guest lecturers by means of signing agreements and using individual contacts.
Quicken establishment of the RTU scientific city in Kipsala by means of facilitating interdisciplinary cooperation.
Attract financial means from Lattelecom Ltd to create a grant fund for students of technical specialties.Modernize buildings to make classrooms, auditoriums and computer classes available for students at any time.
Abandon the absurd system, according to which the level of lecturer’s remuneration is proportional to the number of students.
ConclusionsIt is clear that now RTU is undergoing changes, a study portal is being created, premises are being restored, etc., but it would be nice, if this process would be faster, more effective and more focused.At the first glance it may seem that my abovementioned suggestions are pretty utopian, but it is important to remember that water does not flow under a lying rock! Activity is the main thing! I hope that these suggestions will raise discussions, motivate everyone – from the first year students to the university administration: deans and rector’s office – to be more active and modern and participate in the development of our university. I hope that my suggestions will help to raise prestige of the technical education in our country and will freshen up the tarnished image of RTU!
Lozanne, October 31, 2007
Vitalijs Butenko
Aspirant. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich
Appeal to world leaders and humanity
