BACHELOR S STUDY PROGRAMME TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER NETWORKS THE REPORT OF SELF-ASSESSMENT

Transcription

1 1 TRANSPORT AND TELECOMMUNICATION INSTITUTE CONFIRMED by TTI Senate Session (Protocol No.8 ) BACHELOR S STUDY PROGRAMME TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER NETWORKS THE REPORT OF SELF-ASSESSMENT Riga, 2008.

2 2 CONTENT 1. AIMS AND TASKS OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM ORGANISATION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM EVALUATION SYSTEM PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM EVALUATION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM PROSPECTS STUDENTS EVALUATION OF THE ACADEMIC STAFF ENGAGED IN THE EDUCATION PROGRAM FINANCE RESOURCES AND INFRA-STRUCTURE SUPPORT OUTSIDE RELATIONS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SWOT-ANALYSIS EDUCATION PROGRAMS DEVELOPMENT PLAN...31 SUPPLEMENTS

3 3 1. AIMS AND TASKS OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM The aims of the Bachelor s study program Telecommunication Systems and Computer Networks are: To prepare highly professional specialists, who are ready to conduct research works connected with the exploitation of technologies as well as to hold managerial manufacturing connected with implementing telecommunication, electronic and software equipment; To prepare competitive specialists for both the domestic and the international market, who would be able, upon graduating, to conduct Project - construction, scientific research, organisation - management and maintenance activities; To give the specialists proper knowledge level sufficient for their further education as post-graduates or for obtaining higher professional education. The tasks of the Bachelor study program are: To give the students theoretical and practical knowledge necessary in the field of telecommunications and computer networking; To develop the skills of independent mastering of new knowledge and its creative implementing as well as the necessity of independent re-assessment of the accumulated experience; To give understanding and perception of the most important issues of humanitarian and socio-economic sciences; To provide the education process with modern informational technologies. The results, which should be achieved upon completing the given higher education program are shown in Table 1.1: Table 1.1 Knowledge level Knowledge Notion Understanding Employment English + Mathematics + Programming + Economics and clerical work + Behaviour and Professional ethics + Labour and environment protection + Principles of working of telecommunication equipment, the bases + and standards of network technologies

4 Knowledge 4 Knowledge level Notion Understanding Employment Bases of exploitation of telecommunication equipment and network technologies + Methods of the analysis and digital processing the signals + Methods of the analysis and designing the systems of telecommunication + Bases of encoding, storage and protection of information + The methods and tools of creation of application software + The parameters and characteristics of the canals of information transmission + Computer networks Technologies + Projects supervising + 2. ORGANISATION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM 2.1. Study programme structure The study program is realised at the Faculty of computer Science and Electronics of TTI. Obligatory prior education: general secondary education. Full-time and part-time education is available. The difference between full-time programs and part-time programs is the calendar curriculum and the period of education. The period of education for the bachelor s degree in Electrical Engineering for full-time students is four years while for part-time students it is one year longer. The awarded (obtained) academic degree is Bachelor of Engineering Sciences in Electrical Engineering (Electronics and Telecommunications). The study program contains obligatory disciplines and the chosen direction subjects. The Information is given in Table 2.1. Table 2.1 Program sections LR credit ECTS credit % points points Obligatory (A) Obligatory choice (B) Free choice (C) Bachelor s thesis (Graduation Paper) (A) Total:

5 2.2. The peculiarities of Bachelor s study programme Telecommunication Systems and Computer Networks This bachelor s programme model has a range of some special peculiarities: 5 The programme integrates the basic elements of the Bachelor s study programmes Electronics and Computer Science (in part of the specialisation of Computer Networks). The major focus of the programme is directed to the Engineering Science (according to the modern policy of the Latvian Republic in the sphere of higher education). The professional orientation of this programme is strengthened with keeping of its academic status by the course of Computer Networks included into the programme since the 1 st semester, as well as the opportunity for students to pass the examination to obtain the Professional Certificate of Cisco NetAcademy after the 2 nd academic year of their study. Some basic engineering disciplines of the programme are started from the 1 st year but several humanitarian disciplines are transferred to the 3 rd or the 4 th year with the aim of further improvement and reinforcement of student s motivation. The study subject Foreign language (English) is taught under the methods foresighted for the preparation of the examination for obtaining the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Certificate. After the successful accomplishment of the Bachelor s study program Telecommunication Systems and Computer Networks the graduates are ready to continue their education on the Master s programme Electronics in TTI Comparative analysis of the education program Comparison with Latvian Higher Education Institutions Information is given in Table 2.2 and figures of 2.1. Table 2.2 Higher education institution name Transport and Telecommunication Institute ( ) Riga Technical University ( ) Study program name Bachelor s of Engineering Science Programme Telecommunication Systems and Computer Networks Bachelor s of Engineering Science Programme Telecommunications Distribution by blocks (%) Final A B C theses Credits 75% 14% 5% 6% % 16% 6% 8% 122

6 6 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Final theses A B C Gala pārbaudījums Transport Transporta and Telecommunication un sakaru institūts Institute Rīgas Tehniskā Riga Technical universitāte University Figure 2.1 Comparison with the study programme of In RTU, there is only one, yet very similar, three-year-long so-called academic study programme. In this comparison, the period of education in TTI is longer Comparison with the European Union Higher Educational Institutions Information is given in Tables 2.3 and 2.4 and figures of Table 2.2. Table 2.3 Higher education institution name Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TTI, Riga, Latvia) Vilnius Gedeminas Technical University (VGTU, Lithuania) Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (LUAS, Germany) Study program name Bachelor s of Engineering Science (BSc.Eng) Programme Telecommunication Systems and Computer Networks Bachelor s of Engineering Science (BSc.Eng) Programme in Electronics Engineering ( Telecommunications) Bachelor s of Engineering (B.Eng) Programme in Electrical Engineering (Telecommunications) ECTS Credit points

7 Study Programme s Main Sections 7 Vilnius Gedeminas Technical University (VGTU, Lithuania) Higher education institution name Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (LUAS, Germany) Table 2.4 Transport and Telecommunication Institute (Riga, Latvia) 1. Resultant degree BSc. Eng. B. Eng. BSc. Eng. 2. Electronics Field and sub field of Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Engineering, knowledge Telecommunications Telecommunications Telecommunications 3. Number of specialisations on programme Duration 4 years (9 terms) 3 years (6 terms) 4 years (8 terms) 5. Study volume, (ECTS) Educational study courses, (%) 21% 16% 16% 7. Humanitarian/social and management courses, (%) 14% 8% 9% 8. Base theory courses, (%) 19% 23% 21% 9. Professional courses in field of knowledge, (%) 41% 48% 48% 10. Obligatory A, (%) 69% 67% 75% 11. Obligatory choice B, (%) 13% 22% 14% 12. Free choice C, (%) 13% 6% 5% 13. Placement, (ECTS) 6 30 Not required 14. Bachelor s thesis, (ECTS) Bachelor s thesis preparation duration 8 weeks (in 9th term) 7 weeks (in 6th term) 10 weeks (in 8th term) 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% A B C Gala Final pārbaudījums theses Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TTI, Latvia) Transporta un sakaru institūts (TSI, Latvija) Vilnius Gedeminas Technical University (VGTU, Lithuania) Viļņas Ģedimina Tehniskā universitāte (VGTU, Lietuva) Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (LUAS, Germany) Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (LUAS, Vācija) Figure 2.2 Comparison with the EU Higher Educational Institutions Programs

8 8 Results of the EU bachelor programme analysis: 1. The bachelor programmes of TTI and the reviewed EU universities bachelor programmes differ slightly. 2. German universities put much more focus on practice training and has one year less programme s duration in order to continue the professional study for Qualification Diploma obtaining. 3. The bachelor programmes in Engineering Science of Universities of Lithuania are more similar to TTI approach in Telecommunications by the structure of programme. 4. The program structure and its realisation, the system of students control and assessment meet the requirements of the On Higher School Regulation of the LR, to the International Standard Computing Curricula 2001 recommendations, and to the ERASMUS program ECTS project Correspondence of the Higher Education Program Plan to the higher education aims and tasks The Higher Education Program Plan fully meets the aims and tasks set by the TTI Satversme (Constitution) Performance of the inside mechanism of the Higher Education Study Program Quality The main task of the Faculty is to provide high quality of the education process, which solution makes the TTI graduates highly competitive in the labour market. Conceptually, the solution of this task is based on the principle of all the education process participants mutual and genuine interest (administration, teaching staff, students) in the realisation of this process, its improvement and achieving high results. Education process planning At the first stage of working out the schedule (time-table), logic succession of study subjects is provided in conformity with their methodical plans. At this stage, the Dean of the Faculty will control the correspondence of the methodical plan and other study program methodical documentation to the assigned and confirmed study programs. All methodical documents are available for the TTI students and staffs in the TTI Intranet site TSI-Intra (intra.tsi.lv/root/).

9 9 Control To control the process of education and to increase its efficiency, the regular class hours and exams schedule delivered to the students at the beginning of each semester is supplied with the time-table of their independent work. Control of the education process quality and realisation of the study programs is performed by monitoring the attendance, the progress, the liquidation of academic debts, the correspondence of the classes content to the confirmed methodical plans (as to study groups logs entries). Control will be exercised on the performance of the schedule, the semester plan, the whole study program implementation, the students progress and the workshops methodical support, and open workshops organisation. Information about control is available for the students and staffs in the TTI Intranet site -Intra ( intra.tsi.lv/root/). Decision making and analysis Along with the Institute Control Commission analysis, anonymous students questionnaires are popular in TTI. These questionnaires cover the questions of the education process content, quality, planning and organisation and they allow detecting both the advantages and the disadvantages of this process, which conclusions, later on, will be used for correcting the education content and methodises and for improving other spheres of the Institute activities. Democratic cooperation of all participants of the education process is maintained at all stages of its planning and implementing: Teaching staff, additional teaching staff and students in cooperation with the Academic Board; Teaching staff with the participation of Chairs, Faculty Parliament, Institute Senate; Students with the help of questionnaires, Students Self-government Commission and Senate. The efficiency of the measures aimed at improving the whole education process quality is analysed at the end of the term (academic year) at the meeting of the Academic Methodical Commission managed by the Senate. On the basis of this analysis, there is developed a concrete plan of measures for the following academic year and for further prospects. The program efficiency and actuality are evaluated in the course of the annual study program self-assessment. The results of the self-assessment are discussed at the meeting of TTI the Academic Methodical Commission and approved by the Senate. The process of administrating study programs is monitored by the System of Managing the Quality of Higher schools (approved by Order Nr.01/4-V of )). The manual of study materials describes the processes of the study programs development and approval as well as the process of necessary changes and of periodic check-ups of their actuality. The efficiency

10 10 of the process of the Quality Management System is checked annually by the in-house audit. The results of the in-house audit are discussed at the meeting of management, faculties and chairs. Every semester, students are offered to fill in the questionnaires, which questions concern the Institute s activities in education, methodises and economy. Then, the statistical results of the questionnaires are processed and concluded in the form of a report. The received reports are employed in all spheres of the Institute s activities to improve the work of Chairs, Faculty and of all other levels thereof. 3. EVALUATION SYSTEM 3.1. Description of the employed methods of evaluation, reasoning of the choice The students knowledge is evaluated (assessed) in conformity with Order N208 of of the LR Ministry of Education and Science according to the 10-points system. Objectiveness of the knowledge assessment is provided by implementing the following measures: Combination of written and oral forms of exams and tests; Differentiated tests; Defence of laboratory works, course theses and projects; Public defence of the academic work results (seminars and conferences); Inviting specialists from outside enterprises to take part in the final examination (inspection) commission Analysis of the results The main forms of examining the level of the study programs perception (mastering) are exams and differentiated tests, which are conducted after the completion of the study course in either written or oral forms. The examination form depends on the study program. The form of knowledge control depends (written, oral or other) on th study course specifics and the teacher s individual approaches to assessing the students knowledge. Major part of the knowledge control is organised in oral form. Knowledge examination is usually exercised by the teacher delivering the course; chief Chair may invite other Chair teachers to the examination. The teacher lets students know about the examination requirements, content and forms at the first workshop. Every subject of the study program is subject to current knowledge control, which is conducted during the semester period: test papers, independent tasks, laboratory tasks, etc. Contents of the current control are determined by the particular study subject program. Deadlines

11 11 for current examinations during the academic year are also determined by study programs. Intermediate results of particular tasks performance are evaluated tested / not-tested. Final results of particular study program subjects are stated with the account of current control results, students activities at the lectures, seminars, practical tasks, and exams or tests results (marks). Students attitude in respect to the delivered subjects is assessed at the end of each semester in the form of anonymous questionnaires about the quality of education. Questions in these, concern the following aspects: lectures perception level and content, teachers competence and personal traits, requirements level, availability of consultations beyond the study-time frame, etc. The obtained results are discussed at methodical, administrative and chair meetings. Judging by the results, they work out measures aimed at improving the education process. During the period of education, students work out course papers, course projects, and take part in the development of group projects. All this is done to prepare for the development of the final work (graduation thesis). Completion of the study program is concluded by the defence of the Bachelor s thesis at the corresponding commission. Up to 2005/2006, particular types of control were exercised according the system: tests tested / not tested ; bachelor theses attested / not attested. At present, examination of mastering study programs at all levels is exercised according to the 10-points system with the lowest pass 4. Students progress is regularly analysed and discussed at methodical meetings, conferences, etc. The quality of education is maintained according to the Quality Manual. Quality Management System provided elimination of the weak points stated by the Accreditation Commission in PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM 4.1. Employed methods and forms of education In the course of delivering study programs, there are employed all methods of traditional education lectures, practical and laboratory workshops, independent and group work. Special attention should be paid to the students collective work on developing course projects, when there are formed groups of 2-5 people like in IT&T enterprises. In this way, students are trained to work as a team of designers, programmers or experts that is very important in the highly competitive and complicated IT&T industry.

12 12 Students are offered assistance in the form of consultations. Every teacher is to include in his/her week schedule at least 2 consultation hours; these hours can be seen in the electronic time-table available for students. The Institute management offers the two-level system of the tuition fee payment, which is a good motivation for passing the exams on time. Best students are granted scholarships of the TTI and fee discounts. For further motivation, students are invited to the meetings with employers and graduates. Once a year, there are organised the so-called Career Days. Recently, the approach to electronic education has been modernised and enriched, new e- courses have been developed. The students pole has shown that they highly approve of the electronic education possibility Research work of the academic staff and its impact on the education process All leading teachers of the Institute, who take an active part in scientific research, widely use the received results in the process of education: preparing for lectures, working out course papers and topics for final theses. Upon completing the projects, laboratory equipment and software, which are acquired for the research needs, are brought back to the scientific laboratories. In TTI there is a special laboratory equipped with program means for individual projects. Laboratory possibilities are widely used by bachelors in working out their attestation papers as well as by master and doctoral students. Students of TTI take part in many research projects by collecting and processing information for the research. One of the examples is modelling the South bridge junction ordered by Riga Council and Tilts company, which was carried out by the 2nd year bachelors and doctoral students E.Yurshevitch and M.Savrasov under the supervision of the assoc. professor I.Yatskiv. Students scientific papers are regularly published in special collections of publications; part of these papers are published in cooperation with foreign higher education partners. Scientific publications of the TTI academic staff are given in Supplement 6. The Institute takes part in more than 30 international and national scientific projects in which 60% of the academic staff are engaged. The list of projects is given in Supplement 14. It includes: 23 European development projects 4 Latvian national projects 12 Riga city projects 3 industry projects.

13 Scientific conference organisation 13 Every year, the Institute organises on its own base diferent scientific and educationmethodical conference, of which the most important are as follows: Annual conferences: 1. International Conference Reliability and Statistics in Transportation and Communication TSI, Riga, Latvia 2. Conference Research and Technology Step into the Future , TSI, Riga, Latvia 3. International Conference TransBaltica , TSI, Riga, Latvia 4. International Conference Actual Problems of Education TSI, Riga, Latvia 5. Inter-institutional scientific-practical and education-methodical conference Modern Education Problems Other international conferences: 6. The International Symposium on Stochastic Models in Reliability, Safety, Security and Logistics (SMRSSL'05) February 2005, Beer Sheva, Israel 7. The International Conference Innovative Vocational Education and Training in the Transport Area- IVETTA. 25 February 2005, TSI, Riga, Latvia 8. International Workshop of Word Bank on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Transport, 6-8 March 2007, TSI, Riga, Latvia Innovation activities TTI is pretty successful in implementing its innovation activities in the regional development with the help of the Daugavpils Academic park: There has been accomplished the first stage of constructing the set of buildings of the Academic park. On the basis of the Academic park, there are conducted sittings of the Daugavpils Investors Club. The innovation activities conducted by the TTI Academic park have been highly evaluated. In September 2005, the Latvian Employers Confederation for the first time established a special reward For Innovation in Entrepreneurship. The Daugavpils Academic park has become one of this reward laureates.

14 Participation in the international commissions activities Igor Kabashkin - Member of the COST (European Co-operation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research, Technical Committee on Transport) Eugene Kopytov and Igor Kabashkin - Members of Joint OECD/ECMT Transport Research Committee. OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, ECMT European Commission for Ministers of Transport Igor Kabashkin - Latvian Member of the Transport Committee of the 7th European Framework Programme Publication of scientific-technical journals TTI publishes internationally cited journals (in cooperation): 1. Journal of Air ISSN University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA Transportation World Wide Transport and Telecommunication Institute, Latvia TTI publishes internationally cited journals: 1. Transport and Telecommunication ISSN Transport and Telecommunication Institute, Latvia 2. Computer Modelling and New Technologies ISSN Transport and Telecommunication Institute, Latvia There is also a journal for young researchers: 1. Research and Technology ISSN , Step into the Future Transport and Telecommunication Institute, Latvia 4.3. Attraction of students to research projects The education process is closely connected with the research projects carried out by the Chairs scientific force. The faculty scientists take part and supervise scientific projects at both state and international levels. The list of the projects realised by the Institute is given in Supplement 14. Scientific research carried out by the Faculty cooperative staff is realised in the following directions: Intelligent transport systems (ITS) design and implementation; Moving target position data arrays statistical analysis; Computer modelling of non-linear system behaviour; Synthesis of new digital filters structures; Dynamical processes in automatic control systems; Radio location signal processing;

15 15 Computer modelling of antenna systems; Subsurface radio location methods implementation for environment ecology monitoring tasks; Micro processors systems and apparatuses design; Telecommunication systems reliability research and development; Wireless communications networks design. In 2007, 17 students got prizes in the competitions organised by Riga Council, Lattelecom ltd., H/S Latvian Mobile telephone, Latvian Microsoft, H/S Exigen Services, DATI, Latvian academy of sciences, Latvijas Gaisa satiksme. The students were awarded diplomas, grants and scholarships. In the reviewed period, there have been researched and defended bachelor s theses in the following branches: Research and application of digital signal processing methods in telecommunications; Research and implementation of optimisation methods in transport telematics tasks; Research and development of software systems for digital image, speech and signal processing; Research and implementation of GPS/GSM and networks technologies; Design and development of antenna systems; Development of computer models of transport systems. The TTI team (students Michael Rodins, Eugene Baranov, Ilja Kutsevalov, under the guidance of DEF teacher Anatoly Resin) took part in the quarter-final of the world Championship in programming, which was held in 2007 in the Minsk University of Byelorussia. As a result of their successful participation, the TTI team got the right to increase their presentation at the following championship up to two teams of three persons each. With the total result of the competition, TTI also got the right to organise on its base the 16th-final of the 2008 world Championship. Since 2002, the Institute has been publishing the journal Students Works in the Institute of Transport and Telecommunication, since 2003 this journal being published in cooperation with the Negev Academic College of Engineering of Israel.

16 5. EVALUATION OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM PROSPECTS 5.1. Correspondence of the higher education program to the State academic education standards or higher Professional education standards or Profession standards 16 The education program corresponds to the State academic education Standard. Program value is 160 credit points (240 ECTS). Total education period is: - 4 years full time education; - 5 years part-time education. Final examination paper is 10 credit points. Obtained qualification Engineering Sciences bachelor in Electrical Engineering (Electronics, Telecommunications). Bachelor s obligatory education part shall be no less than 50 credit points (MK Nr.2). Education subjects of the obligatory part c.p. Bachelor s education obligatory choice shall be no less than 20 c.p. (MK Nr.2). Obligatory choice part - 22 c.p Interrogation of employers about the graduates employment possibilities for the six forthcoming years Every year, the Institute organises interrogation of the employers about the correspondence of the specialists graduated thereof to the requirements of the labour market. Employers satisfaction 0% unsatisfied 38% partially satisfied 50% 12% rather satisfied than not completely satisfied Figure 5.1 Results of the employers interrogation

17 17 Every year, there are interrogated enterprises. The results of such interrogation in 2007 are given in figure 5.1. The graduates of TTI are working in 27 of the 52 interrogated enterprises, i.e. in 52% of the firms total number. One of the following answers is to be given to the question whether the employers are satisfied with the graduates performance: yes ; rather yes than no ; partly ; rather no than yes ; no. As we can see in the diagram, 88% of the employers are satisfied with the graduates performance. Of these 88% - 38% employers are completely satisfied with the level of the graduates training, 50% employers note that they are rather satisfied than not, 12% employers state that are partially satisfied with that. In evaluating the graduates, 42% of the respondents pointed out some weak points or expressed some recommendations. Most of all, these recommendations concerned the students inability to apply the comprehended theories in practice. The teaching staff were advised to give students more tasks connected with real life, which advice has been taken into account in making new plans. Moreover, in the frame of the logon Baltic Project, there has been made a review of the labour market needs in specialists of two directions: Information Technologies and Logistics, ICT Survey in Latvia, Logistics Survey in Latvia. Needs in specialists of both directions in the five forthcoming years are assessed as those having the exponential dynamics. 6. STUDENTS 6.1. The number of students and graduates The numbers of students in the given programme are shown in table 6.1 Table /2008 study year Full-time 29 Part-time 13 TOTAL: 42 First admission results in the given programme Table /2008 study year Total Full-time Part-time TOTAL: 56 56

18 18 Number of graduates The first group of graduates is planned in spring of 2011 due to bachelor s study programme Telecommunication systems and computer networks starts from September 1, 2007 only. The given results characterise the positive dynamics of the education program and prove the actuality of training specialists in this direction from the first year of programme Questioning the students and analysing the given questionnaire In the course of the program realisation, there is performed an obligatory questionnaireinterrogation of students at the end of each semester. 80% of full-time and 60% of part-time students take part in this assessment. The results of the questionnaires are summed up and assessed in the TTI Strategic development department. They are also examined by the Senate and the Education-Methodical Commission. The Strategic development department delivers the results to the TTI Administration and the education program directors. In general, students give a positive evaluation of the education program. 87% of the respondents are completely satisfied with the chosen speciality and the quality of its realisation, 5% are not sure of the rightness of their choice, 62% of the students change their opinion about the program for the better on completing the education course, 24% do not change their opinion and 4% change it for the worse. Special appreciation is given by students to the high level of education and the teachers qualification. The main weak points are stated in the spheres of the librarian activities, outdoor and leisure time events Questioning the graduates and analysing the given questionnaire After granting the diplomas, the Institute conducts annual questionnaire-interrogation of the graduates in cooperation with the Students Self-government authorities. The results of the interrogation are evaluated according to the 10-points system. The average value is 7-9 points Students participation in the improvement of the education process Students participation in the education process is exercised in cooperation with the Students Self-government authorities. The delegated students present students interests in the Senate and the faculties Dumas. Education Vice-chancellor of the Institute supervises the activities of the Students Selfgovernment. Questionnaire-interrogations are conducted every semester and the results are used to improve the education process.

19 19 7. EVALUATION OF THE ACADEMIC STAFF ENGAGED IN THE EDUCATION PROGRAM 7.1. Correspondence of the academic staff qualification to the aims and tasks of the structural unit The academic force of the Faculty of Computer Science and Electronics (DEF - Datorzinātnes un elektronikas fakultāte) includes 52 staffs for whom TTI is the basic working place, of which number 60 % have doctor s or habilitated doctor s degrees. There are also 15 professors and associate professors, 16 docents, 17 lecturers and 4 assistant teachers. From the above number, there have been elected on the competitive basis 13 professors and associate professors, 14 docents, 14 lecturers and one assistant teacher. Docents, lecturers and assistant teachers have been elected by the TTI Senate; professors and associate professors have been elected by the Board of Professors of the Latvian University or of the Riga Technical University. TTI Academic Staff (by position) DEF Academis staff (by grade) Assistants 8% Lecturers 32% Professors (assoc. prof.) 29% Docents 31% Master Diploma 40% Doctor Diploma 60% Figure 7.1 DEF academic staff Besides the TTI permanent academic staff, in the faculty education process there take part 9 teachers from other high schools. They are three professors, five docents and one lecturer. Correspondence of the academic staff performance to the educational-methodical and scientific aims and tasks is demonstrated by the staffs participation in scientific-research projects as well as by their scientific and educational-methodical publications (see Supplement 6). To conduct regular and systematic evaluation of the TTI academic staff qualification, the Institute conducts annual attestation of the personnel according to the specially designed

20 20 methodises. These methodises include the same criteria which are applied in the competitive selection of the academic staff Academic personnel engaged in the higher education programme In the realisation of the education program there are engaged 40 employees of the academic personnel. 24 doctor s and habilitated doctor s degrees make up 60% of this personnel. There are 13 professors and associated professors (32,5%) and 13 docents (32,5%), see fig.7.1. The majority of teachers exercise active scientific-research activities; they take part in scientific projects, publish their papers in scientific journals, make reports at conferences, etc. (see point 4 of Supplement 6) The policy of the academic staff selection, renewal, education and development for the 6 forthcoming years To improve the prospects of the academic staff, the following directions are being developed: 1) Attraction of the TTI graduates to the pedagogic activities: - nine masters, graduates of TTI, (A.Berezhnoys, E.Yurshevicha, I.Pticina, S.Ivanova, M.Savrasovs, S.Grishins, A.Ressins, N.Kolmakova, K.Tarasenko) have been selected on the competitive basis for the posts of lecturers and assistant-teachers of the Faculty of Computer science and Electronics; doctoral post-graduate V.Demidovs has been appointed to a docent post upon defending his promotion paper; - master post-graduate students are acquiring necessary teaching skills and experience in the course of their pedagogic training; 2) Preparation of high-quality specialists in pedagogy on the basis of the TTI workforce: - at present, 2 assistant-teachers and 9 lecturers are taking their doctoral course in TTI. 3) Attraction of high-quality professionals to the academic activities. For the pedagogic activities there are invited doctors of computer science from IT&T companies, part of them are selected on the competitive basis (docents S.Holjavina, I.Radchenko, Y.Shamshins). In the last three years, there has been a positive tendency of decreasing the age of the academic staff. There has been formed a substantial group of young teachers whose age is in the range of and who take an active part in the process of education. Age groups distribution of the permanent academic staff is shown in fig. 7.2.

21 21 Academic Staff (age) <30 >60 9% % 13% < % % >60 Figure 7.2 TTI permanent academic staff One of the TTI complicated problems is competitiveness of the teaching staff salaries. Best master-course graduates and young teachers often leave the Institute for business where they can be paid better. To let talented people stay in TTI, Parex Bank offers additional scholarships and grants for young students. To give young teachers possibilities of additional earnings, the Institute endeavours to attract them to the European Social Fund projects. In 2006/2007, the Institute finance for the improvement of the education program and of the teaching staff qualification made up about Ls. Education program Vice-chancellor Boris Mishnev is in charge of the teaching staff qualification improvement and he develops the plan of the above for the forthcoming academic year on the basis of the attestation results. In the academic year of 2006/2007, 50 teachers of the Institute attended the course of the pedagogic qualification improvement at the University of Latvia, 24 staffs completed the English language course, 8 teachers got their training abroad in the frame of the ERASMUS program, 3 teachers were trained at Latvian enterprises (ESF Project - Agreement Nr. 2006/0111/ VPD1/ESF/PIAA/05/APK/ /0144/0139 "Training of the academic personnel of the Computer science and IT education programs at software developing companies"). Teachers professional training is also exercised at Microsoft IT Academy incorporated in the Institute. In the review period, 26 teachers completed Professional courses on programming, projects monitoring and computer stations administrating in the TTI IT Academy.

22 8. FINANCE RESOURCES AND INFRA-STRUCTURE SUPPORT 22 Program finance resources are: TTI tuition fees; investments of sponsors and of the organisations interested in preparing TTI specialists; grants for international research projects, in which TTI employees are engaged (there invluded Project-Agreement ESF Nr. 2006/0111/ VPD1/ESF/PIAA/05/APK/ /0144/ 0139 «Datorzinātņu un informācijas tehnoloģiju studiju programmas akadēmiskā personāla stažēšanās programmatūras izstrādes uzņēmumā», IBM Research sponsored agreement No Translation of macro-expander based source code to equally abstract VHDL, etc.); LZP grants. Accomplishment of the study program in Riga is exercised in four study premises taking more than 9000 sq.m. and located in Lomonosova street 1/4. All buildings have been modernised and refurbished by the Institute. In , complete renewal was made in Premise 72-b, 2800 sq.m., total cost Ls. As a result of this reconstruction, the Institute became available of a new conference-hall of 300 seats capacity, 6 lecture halls, several rooms for practical workshops, 3 laboratories and 2 computer classes, and some special studies. At present, the TTI study rooms fund includes 12 lecture rooms, 10 computer classes, more than 20 rooms for practical and laboratory workshops. Laboratory workshops take place in specialised rooms: physics and electronics laboratory; laboratory of computer modelling and electronic systems; laboratory of electronic equipment; laboratory of communication and measurement equipment, laboratory of application program systems. Actually, all lecture halls and computer classes are equipped with stationary video-projectors and LCD panels. Two halls are equipped with the latest means for organising video-conferences and exercising distant education. In Riga, there are employed more than 400 modern computers and 15 workstations, which are connected as a single information system TSI Intranet. Studies in the Latgale department are conducted in 3 own buildings. At present, two buildings of these, taking more than 1500 sq.m., are at the first stage of reconstruction. For the program realisation, there are used 5 rooms for lectures and practical workshops, and 3 computer classes with 40 and 12 computer classes correspondingly, which are located in the library reading hall. One lecture hall for 55 seats is equipped with multi-media and telecommunication devices, which are used for organising video-conferences and transmitting lectures from Riga. At the base of the Latgale department there is being formed the TSIO scientific centre of

23 23 Daugavpils the Academic Park, which is supported by the Scientific Academy of Latvia, Daugavpils City Council and business structures. All TTI computers are connected in a local network with the Internet access for both the teachers and the students. In the process of education there are used more than 100 different program packets, there included: Matlab, Mathcad, Borland Delphi, Statistica, GPSS World, Extend, Anylogic, Visim/Visum, etc. As a subscriber of Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance (MSDN AA) since 2004, the Institute offers licensed software from Microsoft to the students of the Faculty of computer science and electronics (at the moment 1018 students) and to the teachers (for education purposes) for free. Any student or teacher may download the Microsoft software he/she is interested in with the help of the Internet network from the site MSDN Academic Alliance Software center. Especially for new bachelor s programme Telecommunication systems and computer networks there was founded the Cisco Nework Equipment laboratory in TTI, oriented for study process according to Cisco NetAcademy standards. TTI has concluded a number of cooperation agreements with different organisations, enterprises and establishments, which envisage the joint employment of material resources. As a result of these agreements, the Institute has got possibility of using different materials and technical resources in the education process, such as Exigen, LGS (Latvian air communication), Latvian Microsoft, Accenture and ProLine. The library of TTI supplies the Program with educational, scientific and methodic literature. The library fund is formed mainly by new editions published after By January , we had had at our disposal 1396 book articles (30072 copies) and 261 journal articles (there include 25 article in Latvian and 112 in English), subscribed mainly for one year. Some books and journals are the single copies available in Latvia. There are three reading halls in the library, from which two are located in Riga and one in Daugavpils. There is a sufficient number of computers for the library users, the latter may also use the electronic catalogue and the electronic library with the e-bookshop The dynamics of the library fund increase is shown in fig.8.1.

24 Books Periodicals Figure 8.1. TTI library fund The TTI library is being intensively replenished by many new methodical in-house instruction-books prepared by our teachers. These books are acquired by the students of TTI in the quantity of about 80% of the edition copies. The number of methodical books prepared and published by TTI in the reviewed period is shown in fig.8.2. A slight decrease in the published output in 2007 was due to the transfer to the new technologies of electronic education with the introduction of the distant education system Moodle. Though it brought about an enormous increase of on-line methodical materials. TTI Publications TTI Publications Figure 8.2 TTI published output

25 25 9. OUTSIDE RELATIONS 9.1. Cooperation with employers TTI regularly (annually) conducts labour market research in Latvia and partially in Europe. The main purposes of the research are: 1. To examine the needs of enterprises in TTI specialists; 2. To find out the opinion of the enterprises administration about the level of the TTI graduates qualification; 3. To collect information about the tendencies of the labour market development, about the employers wishes and recommendations. Research is carried out by questioning the employers and by analysing different publications (the Internet including) in the given sphere. Research is organised by the Department of Training and Practice manager S.Agapov, the results being put down in the annual report. By the results of the research of 2007, the distribution of the TTI specialists-graduates is the following: IT 43%, specialists in logistics -20%, specialists in economics and management -19%, specialists in electronics and telecommunications -15%. The main conclusion of the research all the specialists planned for the 8 forthcoming years will be in demand in the Latvian labour market. TTI cooperates with the following enterprises: SIA "ATLAS", SIA "AGROAPGADE", SIA "N Logistiks", SIA "SCHENKER", SIA "Trīs V Aģentūra", AS "Rīgas Kuģu Būvētava", SIA "EKL/LS", SIA "Hermis Transport", SIA "Kuehne+Nagel Latvia", SIA "Ahlers Latvia", SIA "DFDS TRANSPORT LATVIA", SIA "Dzelzceļu tranzīts", SIA "MSC LATVIA", SIA "Baltic Tranzit Services Comp.", SIA "ESTMA", SIA "Loadstar Unimars", SIA "TFS Trans", Nurminen Maritime Latvia SIA, A/S "Exigen Latvia", SIA "Diatom Enterprises", SIA "Focus Technologies", VEF Radiotehnika CEMEX. SIA Proline, SIA Jet-Computer, LDz skaitļošanas centrs, SIA Proline-D, SIA Santa Monica Networks, SIA TSR, VAS Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme (LGS) etc. The employers are invited to assess the content of the education programs. TTI has collaboration agreements with number of organisations and enterprises: State Joint Stock Company Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme (LGS), JSC RRR-Radiotehnika, JSC Alfa. The On base of these agreements the Institute has the possibility to use the facilities and apparature of these companies in the study process ( see Table 9.1.).

26 26 Table 9.1. Name of enterprise Field of technical resources SJSC Latvijas Gaisa Satiksme Telecommunication, radio navigation and location devices, used by air traffic management systems as well as satellite technologies elements JSC RRR-Radiotehnika Acoustic laboratory, measurement devices, radio devices designer s, builder s, radio device tuner s and controller s work places JSC Alfa Semi-conductor s producing, measurement and verification facilities 9.2. Cooperation with Latvian and foreign higher schools employing similar higher education programs International cooperation with universities partners is gathering pace. TTI students were and are being successfully educated in foreign universities in the frame of the students exchange program. TTI has signed and got the ADVANCED EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY ERASMUS CHARTER (No IC LV-ERASMUS-EUC-1). TTI has concluded 5 international agreements with the foreign universities of: Matej Bel University (Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, ) Bydgozcsz University of Economy (Poland, ) Vilnius Gegeminas Technical University (Lithuania, ) University of Florence (Firenze) (Italy, ) University of Zilina (Zilina, Slovakia, ) The above universities have recognised the high quality of the TTI education level, thus giving our students direct access to their programs of education. Every year, starting from 2005, the number of students in the exchange program has been increasing (2005/2006 academic year -2 students, 2006/ students, 2007/ students). The TTI teachers are working in some foreign higher schools (Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania and Italy. Altogether: 2005/2006 academic year - 2 teachers, 2006/ teachers, 2007/ teachers. TTI has also signed some other partnership agreements, which envisage academic activities between the university-partners. These agreements envisage further exchange of students and teachers, regular audit of the TTI academic performance quality, access of the TTI graduates to further education abroad. The list of university-partners is given below.

27 27 TTI cooperates with the following educational institutions: Table 9.1 Name RTU (Rīgas Tehniskā universitate) LU (Latvijas Universitāte) RAI (Rīgas Aeronavigācijas institūts) LJA (Latvijas Jūras akadēmija) Andrey Cohen College, New York Linköpings Universitet, The University of Nebraska at Omaha, Helsinki University of Technology, London University, UK University of Sheffield, UK University of Hertfordshire, UK Technical University of Berlin, Tartu Aviation College Vilnius Technical University, Institute of Transport Economics, Politechnica Warszawska, Politechnica Swietokrryska w Kielcach, Tashkent State Aviation Institute, Ukrainian National Technical University "Kiev Polytechnic Institute" Civil Aviation Academy of Kazakhstan, Belarus State Economical University, Moscow State Automotive and Road Institute (Technical Institute), Toliatti Polytechnic Institute (The Tatischev Volga University), Nizhny Novgorod Technical University, Moscow State Academy of Motor and Tractor Mechanical Engineering, Siberian Aerospace Academy, Moscow State Technical University after N.E. Bauman, Baltic State Academy of Fishing Industry Fleet, The Gagarin Russian State Research Experimental Centre for Cosmonaut Training, Lublin University of Technology, L`UNIVERSITE EVRY-VAL- D`ESSONNE The Sami Shamoon College of Engineering Beer Sheva Phusik der Universitat Osnabruck Latvia Latvia Latvia Latvia USA Sweden USA Finland Great Britain Great Britain Great Britain Germany Estonia Lithuania Norway Poland Polaqnd Uzbekstan Ukraine Kazakhstan Belorussia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Russia Poland France Izrail Germany Country

28 10. GUARANTEE AGREEMENT 28 Guarantee Agreement signed with the Riga Technical University confirms that in case of the Higher Education Program Liquidation, the Applicant shall provide realisation of the Program in the Riga Technical University.