In 2012/2013, cross-border Estonia – Latvia vocational education programmes have been initiated
According to the understanding memorandum about cooperation signed by the ministries of education of Estonia and Latvia, young people from Latvia will start their studies at Valga Vocational School (Estonia) in this study year 2012/2013.
There are two cross-border vocational education programmes offered by Valga Vocational School:
- Wood processing qualification – vocational upper-secondary education programme (duration 3.5 years; leading to the Latvian professional qualification level 3, i.e. EQF level 4) intended for young people with nine-year basic education; learning will be arranged in Latvian; practical learning in enterprises will be in both Latvia and Estonia. In parallel students will be able to obtain general upper-secondary education in Valka Gymnasium (Latvia) according to evening school programme (duration 3 years), i.e., the number of study subjects is smaller than in full-time general upper-secondary education programmes. Thereby students are accepted simultaneously in two education establishments, and after graduation they will be awarded with two education documents: in vocational education (Estonia) and general education (Latvia).
- Transport and logistics qualification – post-secondary education programme (duration 2 years); learning will be arranged in English together with the Estonian students. This education programme includes such modules as logistics and client service; transport systems; ICT and cargos shipment, as well as international and cross-border services. Since the programme has been harmonized with technical HEIs in Tallinn, Tartu and Riga, the obtained credit points may be transferred to the relevant sector higher education programmes.
This education opportunity is essential because in the Valka’s region in Latvia there are no vocational education establishments. Valka (Latvia) and Valga (Estonia) are towns located on the both sides of the national state border between Latvia and Estonia.
Since 1st September 2011, Valga County Vocational Education Centre and its branch Valga Vocational School are located in recently built buildings adapted to the needs of learning and teaching process, which are situated approximately 100 metres from the border of Latvia.
Source: BNS, www.ziemellatvija.lv
5.09.2012
Tags: International, Students, Vocational education establishments
