Scientific research and EU projects
The scientific research potential and research work of the academic staff of the School of Business Administration Turiba (BAT) ensure qualitative studies in the accredited bachelor and postgraduate programmes as well as the doctoral programmes “Communication Management” (programme director: Dr.phil. Ainārs Dimants –associate professor, Head of the department of Communication Sciences) and “Law Science”(programme director: Dr.iur. Aivars Endziņš – professor). The School of Business Administration Turiba has also been licensed to implement the third doctoral programme “Business Administration” (programme director: Dr.oec. Jānis Ēriks Niedrītis - associate professor, vice rector for academic matters).
BAT personnel have participated in 11 projects and grants in 2008. All the faculties and departments have participated in the implementation of projects and drafting application for new projects in the respective fields of speciality and competence. Moreover, three business research projects are financed by the Latvian Science Council:
- “Latvian Russian language media market and auditorium”, project manager - Ainārs Dimants, Dr. phil., asoc. prof., Head of the department of Communication Sciences;
- “Development of tourism territorial units and tourism spatial system in Latvia”, project manager - Maija Rozīte, Dr.georg., prof., Head of the department of Tourism and Hospitality;
- “Intercultural aspects of Communication of Corporate Social Responsibility in Latvia”, project manager - Silvija Kristapsone, dr.oec., assistant professor at LU, Faculty of Management and Economics.
The Department of Communication Sciences has been the most successful in this period with 4 projects being implemented with external finance. All project mangers should enhance the participation of students, in particular, doctoral students in the implementation of projects thereby offering mutual benefit.
The active and qualitative involvement of School of Business Administration Turiba in scientific activity can be noted by its 70 publications including 10 books in 2008. 22 publications and 4 books were published by the academic staff of the Department of Public law making up 33% of the total and 19 publications or 24% were compiled by the Department of Commerce. It should be pointed out that academic staff of the Departments of Public law and Commerce have for the third year running made the biggest contribution in this field by publishing their research findings.
Every year BAT organises international scientific conferences in particular fields and publishes the scientific proceedings as well as holds scientific practical conferences and seminars with the involvement of experts in the field, academic staff and students discussing topical social issues.
The scientific conference “Business Intelligence: solutions for successful communication and entrepreneurship” was held at BAT on 24th April 2008. The target audience were heads of organisations and structural units interested in the development of business analysis concepts in organisations as well as BAT academic staff and students.
A month later, on 30th May the Faculty of Business Administration organised the IX international scientific conference "Social and economic challenges for the labour market ", where experts, entrepreneurs and academic staff discussed issues regarding changes in the labour market and on the possibilities of balancing the interests of employers and employees as well as the influence of the labour market on the sustainable economic development of a country.
The opinion of BAT academic staff on topical social issues is often published in Latvian mass media. Interviews with BAT academic staff and articles on problematic issues including 14 with the opinion of Commerce department staff appeared in various mass media 25 times in 2008.
School of Business Administration Turiba has 39 doctoral students undergoing phd. studies at BAT and other Latvian and international higher education institutions. Three of them defended their doctoral theses in 2008:
- Ieva Kalve, doctoral thesis for phd. in economics “Management education in modern day society” (defended on 23.05.2008.).
- Ineta Lūka, doctoral thesis “Development of professional English language Competence in tourism studies” defended at the University of Latvia, Dr.paed. -pedagogy, phd. in higher education pedagogy (3rd April 2008).
- Andris Pētersons, - doctoral thesis “Corporate culture as a promoter of competitiveness of private higher education institutions”defended at Academy of Labour and Social Relations, Russia (April 2008)
The total funding for scientific research activity in 2008 includes BAT financing, state administrative institution commissioned projects and European Union Structural Fund financing.