Education and Science
Education and Science
Education and Science
Latvia's parliament, the Saeima, decided on Thursday, March 12th, to expand the ban on the use of mobile phones in schools, stipulating that from now on, students will not be allowed to use them throughout elementary school - from grades 1 to 9.
Tatjana Pladere, a leading researcher at the University of Latvia, has been awarded the Optica Ambassador title — a distinction granted by the international professional society Optica (formerly The Optical Society of America) in the fields of optics and photonics, reports Labs of Latvia.
The Senate of the University of Latvia (UL) has approved regulations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the study process, establishing a legally defined framework for the use of AI in studies, reports Labs of Latvia. The new regulations will come into force almost immediately – on 16th March, 2026.
Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) data, published on 2nd March, show that the number of new entrants in vocational education totalled 10.3 thousand in the 2025/2026 school year. Engineering, manufacturing and construction recorded the largest number of entrants – 4.1 thousand (39.6 % of all new entrants).
The planned transition to full Latvian-language education in all Latvian schools is being hindered by a shortage of suitably qualified specialist teachers, reports Latvian Radio.
The Latvian team at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) is working on a new sensor for an experiment, LSM's Kārlis Miksons reports.
Latvian language technology company Tilde has adapted its large language model (LLM) TildeOpen for translation and integrated it into a machine translation platform that will provide translations in 34 European languages, including Latvian, the company announced.
On Thursday, February 19th, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Education Law that had been returned for reconsideration, deciding that distance learning will be gradually restricted from the 2027/2028 academic year.
The state and local governments have not created conditions that would guarantee equal quality basic education at the school closest to the place of residence, as a result of which children in Latvia acquire basic education with significantly different opportunities and results, according to the conclusion of the State Audit Office (VK) audit, published on 18th February.
According to the latest Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) data published on February 12th, the number of students in tertiary education in Latvia reached 76.4 thousand in the academic year 2025/26, which is 1 594 students (2.0 %) more than in the previous academic year.
Eurostat data published on February 11th to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science show that Latvia is one of Europe's leading regions when it comes to the number of women scientists and engineers it has.
The Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga) is inviting members of the public to a guest lecture titled: "Geopolitics Unscripted: Innovation, Influence, and China — What Changes in Asia Mean for the World" with Dr. Vincent Yip, a Singapore-born China specialist with extensive experience in science policy, diplomacy, and business consulting.
In the Latvian Academy of Sciences’ annual competition for the most significant scientific achievements in Latvia in 2025, 12 studies from various fields have been selected as winners, reports Labs of Latvia.
A new drone laboratory has begun operating at the Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU). It will allow students and researchers to learn about unmanned technologies, develop projects, and work with modern data collection tools, Zemgale Regional Television reported on 2nd February.
One of the world’s most cited authors in the field of marketing strategy and innovation research, professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Jerry Wind – will visit the University of Latvia (UL) in March to deliver a lecture titled: “Should the Educational Paradigm Change in the Age of AI?” and to give a masterclass to students.
Latvia has significantly increased how much the state spends on research and development (R&D) over the last decade, but the country still remains among the European Union's lowest spenders on R&D, according to Eurostat data published on January 30th.
President Edgars Rinkēvičs has sent amendments to the Education Law to the Saeima for a second review, which would significantly limit the availability of distance learning in primary education, according to the president's advisor, Mārtiņš Drēģeris.
On Thursday, January 22nd, the majority of the Saeima voted in favour of amendments to the Education Law, which significantly restrict access to distance learning in the first stage of basic education – for students in grades 1 to 6.
Attracting students from third countries to Latvia has been promoted for years as "education export," but government agencies warn of the risk that, in some cases, studies are used as a cover for entering Europe, Latvian Television's De Facto investigative show reported on 18th January.
As previously reported by LSM, later this month Rīga will play host to a major quantum computing conference. But those with a love of matters quantumnal might like to consider sticking around in the Latvian capital because a couple of weeks later another quantum conference will be taking place, according to Labs of Latvia.
The Quantum Information Processing Conference (QIP) is a major quantum technology annual event, and this year it will be taking place in Rīga, Latvia.
In the 2025 call of the University of Latvia (UL) Development Programme for High-Impact Projects, 16 research projects have been supported with funding totalling €4.25 million, reports Labs of Latvia.
On Monday, January 12th, applications for free Latvian language courses in Riga began – at least 596 adult Riga residents will be able to learn Latvian this year. The courses are supported by the Riga Municipality and are usually fully subscribed in a matter of hours.
Riga Technical University (RTU) intends to establish a modern and internationally-recognised business and management education centre in the Baltic region in 2027, reports Labs of Latvia.
According to a draft order prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science and approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, the forthcoming merger between the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis and the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre will result in the formation of a new organisation — the National Research and Innovation Institute, reports Labs of Latvia.
In 2025, 32.7% of people aged 16-74 in the EU have used generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
The Latvian Association of Young Scientists, together with seven other Nordic-Baltic academies of young scientists and similar organizations, have issued a joint call to defend academic freedom in the face of various modern threats to unbiased research and scientific objectivity.
Eurostat data collected in 2024 and published on December 15th show that 14.2% of people aged 15-34 in the EU left formal education or training at least once during their lifetime.
The Ministry of Education and Science (MES) has submitted a new schedule for teacher salary increases for approval, which provides for the lowest salary rate to rise from January 2027, Latvian Radio reported.
Last year, Rīga Technical University (RTU) began accepting potential students in the spring, before they had taken their centralised exams. According to information provided by the Higher Education Council, approximately half of all higher education institutions will accept students into some of their study programs in the spring instead of summer, Latvian Radio reported on 10th December.
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