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In contemporary society, constant dynamic change presents a challenge that should be perceived as a determinant factor leading to progress. The aim of this study was to explore the extent to which educational practitioners in general education institutions in Latvia are prepared for change. Additionally, the study seeks to identify the main enabling factors and obstacles in implementing the "School as a Learning Organisation" (SLO) model in general education in Latvia. That was achieved through quantitative data analysis from various perspectives, such as comparing data based on the type and size of educational institutions, as well as the positions and seniority of employees. Research data were collected using a web-based survey designed and maintained through QuestionPro. The final analytic sample comprised 671 respondents from 62 general education institutions in Latvia. The research results revealed that educational practitioners in Latvia, including leading, teaching, and supporting staff from general education institutions, are open to changes, new practices, and innovations. However, there were exceptions influenced by the educational practitioners' seniority and position, institution size, and type. These factors could both positively and negatively predict employees' attitudes towards change. A positive attitude towards change among teaching staff is a crucial element for the successful implementation of educational reforms in Latvia, such as the adoption of the SLO model. To foster a positive organizational culture, school leaders must provide supportive and transformative leadership, which is crucial for employees' positive attitude towards change.

This paper presents some results of the research on 'Adult education resources to reduce youth unemployment', which is a part of the project 'Implementation of the European agenda for adult learning'. The research applies a mixed-method approach (quantitative and qualitative data analysis). The purpose of the paper is to identify the most/least-efficient non-formal and informal learning methods, forms, and initiatives to promote youth entrepreneurship and employability in Latvia as well as to show the relationship between the profile of young adults and their opinion on these methods, forms, and initiatives. The findings show that the young adults stressed the importance of cooperation with employers in organising educational activities, field trips as well as the necessity of having internships, projects, and meetings with entrepreneurs to learn from their experience. The most efficient non-formal and informal learning methods, forms, and initiatives to promote youth entrepreneurship and employability in Latvia are as follows: internship in a company or institution, projects, other persons' experience and success stories, and training enterprises. The least efficient ones are mentoring, business incubators, coaching, individual work/action plan for the young people, business clubs, and business start-up funds/grants. The opinion of young adults on all aspects of non-formal and informal learning methods, forms, and initiatives depends on their profile (gender, education level, employment status, learning experience, etc.).

The aim of this study was to identify how key actors in school practice understand character education (CE) and virtue education (VE) in Latvia. For addressing the research question ('What advanced understanding of CE and VE do the key actors of school education hold?'), the study uses qualitative analysis and synthesis of participants' (N = 700) (pupils, parents, pre- and in-service schoolteachers, and school heads) opinions about the meaning of and differences between CE and VE. The inquiry elicited participants' views regarding the essence (purpose, 'why'), manifestations (educational focus, 'what'), and the practical implementations (kind of activities, 'how') of CE and VE. The results point to the education of a 'virtuous character', as a synthesis of CE and VE balancing their individual and social dominants and focusing on pupils' friendship attitudes, relationships, behaviours, and actions, which are the sources of well-being and flourishing and are internalised through substantive long-term actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The relevance of institution leaders' personal qualities for providing quality education is widely recognized. The purpose of this paper is to explore vocational education and training (VET) institution leaders' character features. The research question was twofold: What are the features of the character of the pedagogical leaders of three Latvian VET institutions according to students, teachers and institution board members? What are the differences between respondents' groups regarding their perceptions of leaders' virtues? Design/methodology/approach: Six members of the institution board, five teachers and six students participated in structured qualitative interviews collected in 2013 in three high-quality VET institutions from different fields (tourism, sports and maritime education). Secondary analysis of latent content was used to explore respondents' perceptions of leaders' virtues, using software AQUAD 7 for qualitative data analysis. Findings: The results revealed significant differences between students' and staff (teachers' and institution board members') perceptions: the staff members appreciated particularly leaders' performance virtues ("teamwork orientation") and intellectual virtues ("critical thinking"), whereas, for students, heads' moral virtues were more relevant, especially "magnanimity". Respondents also showed concern about VET institution leaders' civic virtues ("neighborliness," "community awareness," and "communicability"). Practical implications: The results suggest that different perspectives, and in particular students' voices, should be integrated in VET leaders' assessment process and that their continuing professional development should also address their intellectual, moral and civic virtues. Originality/value: This study represents an innovative methodological trial for investigating educational institution heads' leadership from the lens of virtue ethics.

Aim. Recent studies have stressed that education transformation can be efficiently achieved by introducing a holistic approach, embedding a culture of teaching and learning for wholeness that espouses the holism of human beings and the world. A qualitative multiple study was performed to analyse Latvian "heart" teachers' narratives about themselves and their significant life experiences to identify their dominant approaches to life and work at school to answer the following research questions: What do the narratives of the seven Latvian "heart" teachers reveal about themselves and their approaches to life and work at school and the contributions of the participants' significant life experiences to their approaches? Are Latvian "heart" teachers' approaches holistic or not? Methods. The research data encompasses seven cases based on semi-structured interviews with Latvian teachers nominated by their colleagues, students and/or parents to participate in the campaign HeartTeacher in the academic year 2021/2022. Qualitative data were processed and analysed using the QSR NVivo 12 software. Results. Implementing a holistic approach to education is evident in the Latvian "heart" teachers' professional practices. In all seven cases, evidence was found about providing a welcoming environment to all, reflecting on the interdependence of things and focusing on multiple connections as well as being an equal learning partner of others. However, a holistic approach to personal life is not sufficiently evident among the experienced "heart" teachers. By contrast, the novice "heart" teachers' approaches to personal life are perceived as more holistic. Conclusion. A whole (holistic) teacher implements the holistic approach both in their professional and personal lives, not only caring for others but also for themselves, thereby achieving balance. A whole (holistic) teacher's life philosophy is based on the principles of wholeness, inclusion, connectedness, and balance among the different aspects of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapidly changing economic, financial and social conditions require new knowledge and competences in order to be able to understand them, adapt to the new requirements and remain competitive and successful in the globalised social environment. Widening the access to lifelong learning is one way in which this could be achieved. A special role in this process is given to universities as promoters of lifelong learning. E-learning is a means of promoting the changes in academic studies and providing an opportunity to integrate non-formal and informal learning elements into formal education. Individualisation, learning opportunities flexible in time, as well as the e-environment can facilitate the development of students' competences. This article presents a study conducted during the implementation of an inter-university master's programme, "Educational Treatment of Diversity" (in Spain, Latvia, Germany and the Czech Republic) in 2008-10. The research question was: which challenges for widening of opportunities were secured in e-learning in order to promote students' generic competences as a learning outcome? (Contains 3 tables.)

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Copyright of Pedagogy Studies / Pedagogika is the property of Vytautas Magnus University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)