1. IST DEVELOPMENT IN LATVIA
Professor Janis Grundspenkis
Riga Technical University
Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology
Department of Systems Theory and Design

2. WORK FORCE IN THE INFORMATION AGE
Information age requires
abilities to use information technology
abilities to process information
abilities to learn new knowledge and to get skills (new type of intelligent work – knowledge work)
The most important production factor of information age economics is knowledge based high quality work force

3. STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF INFORMATION SOCIETY
Information society is based on
knowledge generation
information technologies used for information processing
Information society is organized in network structures
The main activities of information society on the global level are integrated into a network that due to the communication and transport infrastructure is operating as a united organism

4. CHARACTERISTICS OF INFORMATION SOCIETY MODELS (1)
TECHNOLOGY
Infrastructure
Production
Knowledge
ECONOMICS
National economy
Business
Innovation
WELFARE
Education
Care of public health
Welfare of inhabitants
VALUES OF SOCIETY

5. CHARACTERISTICS OF INFORMATION SOCIETY MODELS (2)
TECHNOLOGY
INFRASTRUCTURE
Number of Internet sites (per 100 inhabitants)
Number of mobile cell phones (per 1000 inhabitants)
PRODUCTION
Export of high tech production (% from total export)
E-commerce (number of servers per inhabitants)
KNOWLEDGE
Internet users (%)
Number of university students which study mathematics and engineering, and are involved in research

6. CHARACTERISTICS OF INFORMATION SOCIETY MODELS (3)
WELFARE
EDUCATION
Enrollment at schools, secondary schools, institutions of higher education and universities
Functional reading and writing skills

7. INFRASTRUCTURE Penetration of ICT 2002 2005 PCs/100 19 33 Internet/1006 25
Mobile Cell Phone/100
34,2 59
Enterprises which have at least one computer 51
75
Enterprises with Internet connections 36
>50

8. PRODUCTION
THE STRUCTURE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BRANCH IN LATVIA

9. DISTRIBUTION OF QUALIFICATION LEVELS IN IT SECTORS

10. STATE FINANCING OF RESEARCH

11. RESEARCH AREAS (PROJECTS FINANCED BY THE LATVIAN COUNCIL OF SCIENCE, YEAR 2005)No
Research area
Number of projects
Financing, % 1.
Applications of CS and IT 11
30,44 2.
Electronics 8
20,76 3.
Signal processing and communications
15,08 4.
Artificial intelligence and knowledge-based systems
13,49 5.
System modelling and simulation 5
10,79 6.
Software engineering and information systems
9,44
Total 45

12. NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN STUDY YEAR 2004/2005
Total number –
Computer science and IT students 10%
Number of graduates 1000
Number of PhD thesis in mathematics and IT – 22

13. DISTRIBUTION OF STUDENTS ACCORDING TO STUDY PROGRAMMES 2003/2004

14. EDUCATION
12 institutions of higher education have study programs in IT
Total number of enrolled
2000 – 2079 (800)
2001 – 2467 (1043)
2002 – 2421 (1229)
2003 – 2516 (904)
2004 – 2283 (732)
Total number of graduates
2000 – 731
2001 – 757
2002 – 882
2003 – 951
2004 – 1148

15. EDUCATION IN IT SECTOR 2004 (1)
University
Number of enrolled
Number of graduates
1. Riga Technical University
1A. Computer Science and Information Technology
1B. Electronics and Telecommunications
961 / 40
586 / 36
375 / 4
737
472
265
2. University of Latvia
220 / 38
202
3. Institute of Transport and Communications
0 / 455
105
4. Other Institutions of Higher Education
366 / 192
104
Total
1547 / 725
1148

16. EDUCATION IN IT SECTOR 2004 (2)
Study program
Number of enrolled
Number of graduates
1. 1st level professional studies
168 / 76 85
2. Bachelor studies
824 / 396
578
3. 2nd level professional studies
189 / 113 95
4. Master studies
341 / 140
379
5. Doctoral studies
25 / 0 11
Total
1547 / 725
1148

17. PROBLEMS IN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (1)
EXPERIENCED RESEARCHERS AND TEACHERS
Funding practically only from the state budget and it is too small for establishing strong research groups
Overload
Age
Weak motivation and lack of time to submit proposals for EU funding

18. PROBLEMS IN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION (2)
YOUNG RESEARCHERS AND TEACHERS
Doctoral students, as a rule, try to work and write their PhD thesis concurrently
Overload
High rate of drop out from doctoral studies
Rather weak motivation (salaries, prestige of teaching)

19. STRENGTH OF LATVIAN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN IT SECTOR
Number of applicants for studies in IT is high
Number of doctoral students are growing
High standards of education
Literacy of languages
Number of qualified specialists
Relatively low labor and service costs
Relatively high quality of communications