Riga Technical University (RTU) for the fifth successive year has been recognized the priority university to obtain higher education in Latvia in the survey conducted by the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia in cooperation with the career and education portal «prakse.lv». Just as in the previous year, employers have ascribed the highest rank to the RTU professional study program «Computer Systems».
RTU Vice-Rector for Studies professor Uldis Sukovskis notes, «RTU is honored to receive the title of the priority university to obtain higher education in Latvia for the fifth consecutive year, this recognition is very important for us. Employers can most precisely assess the quality of RTU study programs, as they are the ones who employ our alumni and are the first to decide whether their level of professionalism meets the requirements of the labor market. Study domains offered by RTU are significant for the economic development of the country, that is the reason why the state provides us with considerable support – also this year RTU offers the largest number of state budget-funded study positions in comparison with other universities. It invites young people to study engineering, which is actually the basis of the national economy of Latvia.»
Approximately every fourth out of 50 most recommended study programs is offered by RTU. The program that has been ranked No 1 in the rating, namely, «Computer Systems» is closely followed by other study programs implemented by RTU – «Civil Engineering», «Power Engineering and Electronics», «Information Technologies», «Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering and Machine Building», «Architecture».
The Ministry of Economics has forecasted that 17,000 new specialists in engineering technologies will be required by the labor market until 2020. The Minister of Economics Arvils Ašeradens states, «Young people should very carefully choose the field of education; they have to consider whether they will be able to find employment in the selected industry. At present, it is much easier to find a well-paid job if you have education in natural sciences, engineering or if you have obtained vocational education.»
This year the portal «prakse.lv» has surveyed a record number of enterprises – 2,209 employers. Such active participation indicates that the enterprises are interested in new specialists entering the labor market and are willing to promote economic growth of Latvia taking part in young people career planning.
The list of programs and educational establishments recommended by employers has been compiled for the fifth consecutive year, providing the school leavers with an insight where they can obtain the profession they have selected. The aim of the survey is to help students of primary and secondary schools make an informed decision on further education and career choice this summer, taking into consideration the opinion of the employers.
The results of the survey of 2016 are available at www.prakse.lv.
