Daugavpils University

Environmental Planning

The aim of the professional higher education master study programme “Environmental Planning” is to provide the students matriculated in Daugavpils University with qualitative education which addresses the needs of the state and complies with the requirements of profession standards, and as such, provides opportunities to acquire theoretical and practical knowledge, improve research skills and abilities, thus training students for work in two spheres of environmental planning: environmental management and nature protection and creating opportunities for them to undertake doctoral studies.

By successfully implementing the study programme and developing skills to independently analyse and tackle problems of environmental planning and nature protection, we intend to train specialists who will be competitive at an international level and will have versatile, up-to-date knowledge in environmental planning.

To achieve the aim, within the framework of the study programme several tasks should be fulfilled. The more important of them are:

• to impart theoretical and applied knowledge necessary for specializing in environmental management and nature protection by integrating various environmental sciences, branches pertaining to ecology, geography, economy, law and environmental planning, and laying stress on the interconnections between theory and practice;
• to develop an understanding about the application of the basic principles, methods and legislation acts on the environmental policy, environmental management and development planning valid in the EU and Latvia on the basis of  the European and the world experience;
• during practical work classes and training practice, to develop and reinforce professional skills and abilities which comply with the requirements of profession standards for “A specialist in Environmental Management” and “A senior specialist in Nature Protection”, as well as the ability to independently organize research, obtain and process data, to carry out monitoring of environmental indicators and draw up research records;
• to develop skills that are needed for work and/or management of a team, that contribute to self-development and professional growth.

The learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and competence) of the study programme should provide achievement of aims and fulfilment of tasks set by the programme, thus contributing to the growth of knowledge- and innovation-based economy of the Republic of Latvia and, consequently, to the well-being and sustainability of the Republic of Latvia.

During their studies the students acquire definite knowledge and skills and develop attitudes in the sphere of environmental planning:

Knowledge:

• the students are competent in the RL and EU environmental law and institutional system as well as in administrational principles of enterprise and institution management;
• they understand the interrelations between and diversity of nature environment and its basic components (waters, relief, plant and animal world, climate etc.);
• they understand the interaction that takes place between economic, social environment and nature environment during the development of the society;
• they accept the sustainable development conception as the basis of environmental management and protection;
• they are competent in methods of assessing the environmental quality (in compliance with the parameters and indicators required by the RL and EU normative acts);
• they are competent in methods of mathematical analysis of the data and  know how to obtain information necessary for environmental planning by employing geographic positioning equipment and geographic information systems, maps.

Skills: students are able

• to apply practical skills and theoretical knowledge acquired during their studies to make and take decisions;
• to prepare and use information in the areas relating to environmental conservation and management;
• to define principal tasks and activities necessary for environmental management and nature conservation, and choose the most optimal environmental management methods or nature conservation activities;
• to organize the environmental quality control, make the analysis of the obtained data, prepare surveys, prognosticate and model the future situations by employing special products of information technologies;
• to develop and implement nature conservation plans for the protected nature territories, and manage monitoring programmes for protected territories, biotopes and species;
• to develop and introduce environmental projects;
• to prepare and provide the public with the information pertaining to environmental problems;
• to speak in public and express their own opinion by offering sound arguments;
• to work in team (group);
• to plan and organize their own and structural unit’s work.

Competence: students are able:

• to apply their knowledge and understanding in a way that testifies to their professional approach to work and to their competence in issues of environmental management and nature conservation;
• to base their professional activity on the principles promoting a sustainable development;
• to observe the norms of interpersonal communication culture and professional ethics;
• to strive to perfect their knowledge and skills in the respective activity sphere;
• to regularly follow the latest information published in Latvian and foreign periodicals, teaching and scientific literature, as well as be well-informed about the topical tendencies in environmental planning.