Ventspils University College

Ventspils University College (VUC) was founded in 1997 as a self-governing state university college and scientific institution. Its basic activity is to carry out scientific research and to implement academic and professional study programmes. VUC offers to acquire knowledge in our faculties of Economics and Management, Translation Studies and Information Technologies offering 13 Bachelor, Master and PhD study programmes. Currently, there are approximately 900 full-time students (including international students from countries like Spain, France, Germany, Lithuania, Turkey, etc.), 80% of which are funded from the state budget. VUC has 129 employees, including 67 members of academic staff.   On May 20, 2013, VUC acquired scientific institution status (i.e., was added to the Register of Scientific Institutions), which shows that it has met all state-adopted criteria for a scientific body, including at least half of the academic staff has gained a doctoral degree, the university college publishes research papers, it has scientific infrastructure, etc.

• Faculty of Economics and Management

• Faculty of Translation Studies

  Translation in three specialities, language and intercultural communication, translation of legal texts, linguistics.

• Faculty of Information and Technology

  Information technology, computer hardware, electronics, telecommunications, computer control, and computer science.

• International Business and Export Management

  The International Business and Export Management master’s program gives students the opportunity to obtain two master’s degrees at once.

The VUC Constitution of 13 December 2007 was approved by the Saeima (parliament) in the Law on the Constitution of Ventspils University College (“LV”, 208 (3784), 29 December 2007; Ziņotājs, 3, 14 February 2008); VUC was accredited as of 10 December 1999. (Accreditation form No. 014)

On 20 May 2013, VUC received the status of scientific institution (registered in the Registry of Scientific Institutions), confirming that it has fulfilled the national criteria for a scientific institution: at least half of all academic personnel are holders of a Doctor of Science degree, the higher education institution publishes scientific articles and has scientific infrastructure at its disposal, and so on.

The VUC has three faculties: the Faculty of Economics and Management, the faculty of Translation Studies, and the Faculty of Information Technology. Altogether, 14 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study programmes are available at the University College. Approximately 900 students are currently enrolled.

Studies have and will have the first place in every student’s life. However, a good student (or someone who wants to consider himself/ herself a good student) has to know how to combine studies with rest and time spent productively.

Student life is an integral part of studies and in Ventspils University College it is mainly cared for by the Students Council that organizes various activities and represents interests of students both within and outside the university college, as well as by other students, who involve their peers in various hobby groups and sports activities.

Sport

Ventspils University College is known as one of the sportiest higher educational institutions in Latvia. Despite the comparatively small number of students there is a huge cabinet cram-full with cups in the students’ lounge where one can find trophies both from local and state level competitions.

Due to the support provided by Ventspils City Council students have an opportunity to do sports free of charge in training bases of Ventspils Olympic Centre. It is done according to a particular schedule in various types of sports – swimming, hockey, skating, indoor football, basketball, volleyball, and floor-ball.

Photo club

Photo club of Ventspils University College (VUC) founded in 2002 by Andris Rebhūns, welcomes every student, who is interested in photography. Club members acquire the basics of photo techniques and photography skills. Preliminary knowledge is not necessary, because part of participants acquire art of photography from the very basics.

Choir “Ventus”

Choir “Ventus” (from Latin “wind”) is mixed choir of Ventspils University College every year welcomes every student at VUC who wants to sing. There is a constant turnover of singers each year as places of graduates are taken by new singers. The biggest event for students’ choir is participation in Baltic students’ song and dance festival “Gaudeamus” (previous was in Vilnius in 2011). In Latvia every year choirs participate in choir parades (competition), so far VUC choir has shown great results. VUC choir is happy for every opportunity to promote themselves, thus friendship concerts where two or more choirs perform together are organised in order to achieve new experience.

Dorms

Ventspils University College with good reason is proud with one of the best student hostels in Latvia. It is located under the same roof as the VUC and in the case of storm, rain or snow students can make their way towards knowledge through a closed glass passage that links the hostel with the university college. The hostel is situated in two blocks of the VUC building – in six and eight floors accordingly. There are spacious, light and facilitated premises, two students live in every room. Free internet available in all building.

Like in any other good hostel there is a separate shower for every room therefore there are no worries that anyone would have to stand in a long queue or to shiver in cold corridors while waiting. There are several kitchens on every floor that students use for making food while in situations when laziness gains an advantage it is possible to go to a café “Panorāma” that is located on the 6th floor of the hostel offering a breath-taking view at the sea.

Mission

To develop and maintain qualitative and modern higher education and scientific research, and provide good functional interaction of them in its academic fields of action – management, applied linguistics, computer science, information technology, engineering and radio astronomy.

Vision

Continuing to establish VUC as a technology- and development-oriented modern university college for its students and academic staff in order to extend its activities beyond the borders of Latvia and become an internationally acclaimed higher education institution in the Baltic region. Providing a significant contribution to the development of science in all of its fields of operation and ensuring the competitiveness of its graduates. Making steps towards becoming a university-type higher education institution and gradually acquiring an official university status.