Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences
Who we are
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA), founded in 1996, is recognized for its multidisciplinary profile, qualified academic staff, insightful scientific research and evidence – based practice on regional, national and international level. ViA offers higher education in governance, business, IT, communication and media, and tourism, as well as provides lifelong learning opportunities for different target groups. The Knowledge and Technology centre (ZTC) is a project coordinator, while the Institute of Social, Economic and Humanities Research (HESPI) and Sociotechnical Engineering Institute (SSII VIA) will ensure the project implementation.
Why we are involved in SEMPRE
We are experienced in assessment of municipal environments, local communities, businesses and people in Vidzeme region. For instance we are offering indicators for sustainable development of rural areas, social entrepreneurship, empowerment planning tools and social human security assessment used in work with different vulnerable groups – poor families and children, people with disabilities, NEET (not in education, employment or training) youth and other social groups. Finally, we are endorsing the use of high technologies and networking strengthening their mobility and access to lifelong learning opportunities.
We have joined the SEMPRE project in order to acknowledge and promote application of the best innovative social practices and tools in social service provision: involving important stakeholders in empowerment planning process primary targeted on youth (NEET, young mothers and other vulnerable groups) in Vidzeme region.
What will be the most important result of SEMPRE?
We want to foster the application of innovative social services in Vidzeme region and have therefore planned to establish new innovative platform – hubs, a placeempowering young people for change; identifying their strengths, motivation and abilities that could help them to absorb the information, practical knowledge and training useful for their interaction in different social environments and labour market. We hope to engage young people in hub’s creative environment by offering qualitative learning-by-doing environment, i.e., lifelong learning and training methods, blended learning. In the pre-incubation phase our emphasis is to bring together leaders able to engage and mobilize for social entrepreneurship and other learning, training activities useful for socially creative industrial solutions.
Whom are we working with?
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences is located in the northern part of Latvia, in Vidzeme region. Our direct target group is youth – young people in need, restricted in their resources and opportunities to gain further education, training or being excluded from the labour market (NEET youth), socially disadvantaged groups and with poor living conditions (young parents and youth from poor families, disabled etc.). In order to reach the target group we are planning to establish close collaboration and build the network with surrounding local governments, and other primary social service providers, NGOs and charities working with youth, and employers being interested in socially responsible entrepreneurship activities and lifelong learning opportunities in Vidzeme region.
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Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences Main expert on social empowerment practice: Main expert on social entrepreneurship Main expert on blended and distance learning
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