Description
In the light of rural depopulation and decreasing number of school children, the overall objective of the project is to provide scientifically reliable information on processes in rural communities in Latvia and Norway, particularly on education governance in shrinking communities. The aim of the joint project is to provide the main stakeholders in Latvia and Norway with the evaluation of the school system and the needs of communities in shrinking rural areas. Project aims to explore and compare different models of education governance, and evaluate their efficiency in adequately ensuring the education needs of children and needs of communities in shrinking rural areas. The joint development of theoretical framework and comparable methodology, scientific publications co-authored by researchers in Latvia together with researchers from Norway, the discussion of research results in scientific conferences and in wider audiences, will strengthen research capacity in Latvia and increase application of research results through research cooperation between Norway and Latvia. Partner from Norway: NIBR will contribute in the project in research with their scientific knowledge, experience with multi-disciplinary and complementary methods. Outcomes: Strengthened research capacity and increased application of research results: 5 internationally refereed scientific publications, 2 scientific publications co-authored by one or more reserchers from Norway and Latvia and 4 scientific publications.
Summary of project results
The overall objective of the project was to provide scientifically reliable information on processes in rural communities in Latvia and Norway, particularly on education governance in shrinking communities. We aimed to provide the main stakeholders in Latvia and Norway with the evaluation of the school system and the needs of communities in shrinking rural areas, and this objective was fully achieved. The project explored and compared different models of education governance, and evaluated their efficiency in adequately ensuring the education needs of children and needs of communities The dissemination of the project outcomes included 6 internationally refereed scientific publications– two of them co-authored by one or more researcher in Latvia and researchers from Norway – as well as 5 other publications, 13 presentations at international conferences, and presentation of the project results to experts of education in Latvia and Norway, including representatives of Ministry of Education, representatives of local municipalities and school principals. The policy brief in Latvian was also published on the project website. The joint development of theoretical framework and comparable methodology, scientific publications co-authored by researchers in Latvia together with researchers from Norway, the discussion of research results in scientific conferences and in wider audiences, has strengthened research capacity in Latvia and increased the comparative context of Norway and Latvia increases the potential of applicability of the research findings. Along with other stakeholders, the Ministry of Education and Science was informed about the findings of the project. This will ensure that the research results will be not just academically important, but als practically applicable by the government institutions, and inform the processes of future optimization of the school network in Latvia and Norway.
Summary of bilateral results
The established contacts are likely to lead to a joint Horizon 2020 or similar application on the topic of education and rural communities in the future. Finally, we also used the opportunity to present and discuss the findings of the “Rural Depopulation and the Governance of Education. Comparative Study of Latvia and Norway” project, collecting feedback and, thus, improving the analysis of results. For example, Karl Jan Solstad’s framework of the activity status of schools that we learned about at the workshop proved to be a valuable asset in the analysis of results. Hence, all the goals of the activity were achieved, and the bilateral funds have helped to strenghten bilateral relations, innovation and visibility of the project, contributing to further collaborations and the sustainability of the established networks. Information about the workshop was publihed on the websites of the Norwegian and the Latvian partner institutions as well as
www.skolalaukos.fsi.lu.lv. Finally, it must be noted that the discussions about future cooperation have already resulted in a joint grant application: “From past to future: Migration and Identity trough Life-stories' network” led by the Latvian Oral History researcher's association "Life-story" that was submitted to Nordplus Adult program, with both LU FSI and NIBR as project partners.