Latvian Partner
Proposals for W-EDUCATION
Bauska District and Council
Our Country
Egija Stapkēviča, Main expert of Development and Planning Department
1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
November 18, 1918 –Proclamation of Latvia’s independence
Translation
“For the Fatherland and Freedom”
•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
November 18, 1918 –Proclamation of Latvia’s independence
Latvia celebrates its 90 Anniversary
Occupied by the Soviet Union (1940-1941, 1945-1991) and Nazi Germany (1941-1945)
Restored its independence and sovereignty in 1991
Joined the United Nations, WTO, European Union, NATO
•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Latvia - Geography• Located on the East coast of the Baltic
Sea, central country of the Baltic States.
• Strategic location: international crossroad for trade, commerce, cultural exchange.
• Area 64,589 sq. km (twice the size of Belgium).
• Consists of fertile lowland plains, most of the territory > 100 m above sea level, highest point: 311.6 m.
• Extensive network of rivers, thousands of lakes and hundreds of km of undeveloped seashore lined by pine forests, dunes, and white sand beaches.
•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Latvia - Geography
• Regions: Kurzeme, Zemgale, Vidzeme, Latgale
• Population in 2008 – 2 270 894 people
• Urban 68%, rural 32%
Administrative Territorial Reform
• The goal - to form capable authorities to ensure their functions and dynamic development of the local territories.
• In September 2008: 550 authorities – 26 regional and 524 local: 59 cities and towns, 37 counties, 428 parishes.
• Mostly there are small authorities (for 2,3 mil. peoples)
• In average in one authority live 4,3 thousands inh.
• In Bauska District for 50 811 inh. 18 authorities.
• To be changed from 2008 till 2010.
•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Rīga – capital of Latvia
• Founded in 1201.
• Home to 788 000 residents – one third of Latvia’s population.
• Centre of finance and economy.
• Popular tourist destination well connected with European cities.
• Largest city in the Baltic States.
•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Rīga – capital of Latvia
• Hosted Eurovision Song Contest, 2006 NATO Summit.
• Site of 2006 World Hockey Championships.
• Listed on UNESCO World Cultural Sites.
• Art Nouveau (Jugendstill) architectural capital of the world.
•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Education
• The Latvian State guarantees free primary and secondary (high school) education.
• More than 90% if children attend state schools.
• Latvia has a long history of a vibrant academic life and over 60 higher education institutions.
• In Bauska District: 16 primary schools, 12 secondary (high school) schools, 1 vocational secondary school, 3 higher education institutions (Riga’s branch)
•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Culture
• Latvian cultural heritage dates back well over a thousand years.
• For Latvian’s the four most popular holidays are Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Easter and Jāņi.
• The celebration of the summer solstice, or Jāņi is one of the oldest and most popular pre-Christian traditions in Latvia.
•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Culture
- For Latvians, singing is something that unifies.
The Song and Dance Celebration is a unique cultural phenomenon that has thrived for 135 years.
UNESCO list “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.
< 30 000 singers, dancers, musicians - in the 2008 Song and Dance Celebration.
•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Nature
• Latvia can truly be viewed as one huge nature park – white, sanday beaches, green forests, clean air, water and soil, and ecosystem barely touched by civilization.
• Lush forests cover nearly one half of Latvia’s territory.
- The longest beach in Europe – 500 km of sundy coastline, 2256 lakes, 12 500 rivers.
•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Nature
Latvia is home for a variety of species, including many extinct in other parts of Europe.
-10% of the world’s black stork population nests in Latvia.
-Yes, there really are ‘blue cows’ in Latvia.
•1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Official language: Latvian
Hi – Sveiks!
Good-bye – Uz redzēšanos
Yes – Jā
No – Nē
Thank you – Paldies
Please – Lūdzu
Sorry - Atvainojiet
Bauska District Council
Second level local authority, formed by 17 other local municipalities. Responsible for: public transport, tourism, environment protection and management, Bauska Castle, education of interests, IT, 5 boarding- schools, regional development and etc.
1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Goal - to improve knowledge and skills about water protection.
Target group - 3 target groups in Bauska district: Vocational education (students, teachers, planning specialists) and pupils from comprehensive schools.
Objectives
-To develop water quality monitoring school – “W-EDUCATION TRAIL”.
-To improve methodological materials for teachers.
-To improve planning specialists skills in water management through implementation of the project activities.
-To reduce water pollution.
Proposals for W-EDUCATION
1st Transnational Meeting, 12-16 November 2008, Maribor - Graz
Water quality monitoring school –“W-EDUCATION TRAIL”
Thank you for the collaboration!
Dace & Egija