WORK-BASED STUDIES IN HIGHER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OF LATVIA AND EUROPE: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS

Abstract

Work-based learning has been developing rapidly in Latvia for the last three years. Since 2017, the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia has been implementing a project of the European Social Fund, which provides for a tripartite learning implementation agreement between the educational institution, the student, and the employer. The project targets vocational learners, but equivalent opportunities are also spoken of in higher vocational education. Such an approach would help the employer direct the future employees in the direction of acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills. The publication aims to give a short overview of the historical development of learning opportunities in the working environment in Latvia, the concepts used in research, as well as to look at the research methodology used in the studies of work-based environment in higher professional education in Latvia and Europe and the results of those studies. The first section of the article discusses historical problems of work-based learning, analyses the normative acts and relevant concepts to support further research. The second section analyses methodological approaches to the studies related to the organization of work-based learning. The results of this theoretical and methodological review will serve as a theoretical basis for empirical research related to the introduction of work-based studies in higher professional education in Latvia.