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Introduction into Economics Studies

Course developers

Course abstract

The course provides knowledge of the higher education system in Latvia, the speciality to be learnt, the way the study process is organised and the legal framework for studies. Students acquire knowledge of the history, structure and administration of LLU and ESAF. Students are introduced to the plans of their study programmes and given insight into the curricula of their courses and learning methods and skills needed to produce study papers and do research. Students build up skills to use library databases needed to produce study papers and for studies as well as skills to use information technologies for doing various economic assignments and analysing and representing the results. The course also provides students with knowledge of how to use the resources for studies available at LLU and of opportunities for studies and experience exchange abroad.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge
1. Students will be able to: demonstrate the knowledge of the speciality to be learnt, the curriculum of the study programme, the way the study process is organised and the legal framework for studies at LLU - Multiple choice test
2. Demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of the history, structure and administration of LLU and ESAF - Multiple choice test
3. Demonstrate the knowledge of technical requirements for writing and formatting study papers set by ESAF and of software for data processing - Tests, independent work
Skills
1. Apply the knowledge acquired and the learning methods and styles learnt - Educational information acquisition game, discussions in classes
2. Use information technologies to do various economic assignments and represent and analyse the results – Test
3. Meet technical requirements for summarising and representing the results – Test
4. Work in a group - Educational information acquisition game
5. Systemise and present to others the research results - Independent work
Competence
1. Use library and e-resources in their studies and in doing research - Independent work

2. Use computer software to process and analyse information as well as structure and format the results according to the requirements set - Tests, independent work

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Safety requirements at study process. (Lecture 1 hour)
2. Higher education system in Latvia. Study opportunities offered by the Latvia University of Life Science and Technologies. (Lecture 1 hour)
3. Types of studies. Knowledge testing: principles, forms, assessment system. Study organization: course, study year, semester, individual studies and examinations, academic leave. (Lecture 3 hours)
4. Content of the study program. (Lecture 2 hours)
5. Studying and practicing abroad. (Lecture 1 hour)
6. Rights and obligations of students. (Lecture 1 hour)
7. Mode of students’ life. Sports and artistic activities. Traditions of Latvia University of Life Science and Technologies. Students' Council. (Lecture 2 hours)
8. Structure, creation and development history of Latvia University of Life Science and Technologies. (Lecture 1 hour)
9. Structure of the Faculty of Economics and Social Development. Creation and development history; departments; traditions. (Lecture 2 hours)
10. Basics of bibliography. Information search in databases. (Lecture 1 hour)
11. Getting to know the basics of the Moodle environment and its application at the Latvia University of Life Science and Technologies. (Lecture 1 hour)
12. Concept of document section, its formation. Design of the cover page. The concept of design style, frequently needed styles, their adaptation to work design requirements. (Practical works 2 hours)
13. Preparation of design styles. Creation and revision of the report outline. Find and replace text. Designing and formatting of tables. (Practical works 2 hours)
14. Inserting images into text. Drawings. Attaching an image to text. Captions of figures and tables. Cross-references to figures and tables. (Practical works 2 hours)
15. Test about study process. Literature search in library database. List of bibliography. Page numbering in a document sections. Creating and adjusting automatic Table of Contents, Tables, and Figures. (Practical works 2 hours)
16. First test. Work with text processing (Practical works 2 hours).
17. Principles of making a presentation and performance. Typical mistakes in presentation design and presentation. (Practical works 1 hour)
18. Arithmetic calculations in a spreadsheet and use of their duplication functions in formulas. (Practical works 2 hours)
19. Search and selection of data from statistical databases. Processing of chronological data. Relative and absolute addressing in formulas. (Practical works 2 hours)
20. Date, Information, Logical, Statistics, Math and Trig, Lookup and Reference, Text function groups. (Practical works 2 hours)
21. Calculation with date information. (Practical works 2 hours)
22. Conducting, verifying and branching out actions depending on the outcome of the test. (Practical works 2 hours)
23. Work with lookup functions. (Practical works 2 hours)
24. Working with the functions of Statistics, Mathematics, Logic, Lookup, Text. (Practical works 4 hours)
25. Graphical representation of numerical information. (Practical works 2 hours)
26. Second test. Work with spreadsheets. (Practical works 2 hours)

27. Presentation of independent work. (Practical works 1 hour)

Requirements for awarding credit points

Test with a mark
The rating is formed from:
• 5 points – Safety and health for students;
• 5 points – Work with library databases;
• 10 points – test (Curriculum of the study programme, the way the study process is organised. The legal framework for studies. The history, structure and administration of LLU and ESAF);
• 30 points – First test (Information systematization, text processing, meeting technical requirements for the layout and formatting of research papers);
• 20 points – Development of a presentation;
• 30 points – Second test (Numerical data processing and graphical representation).


10% of the maximum score corresponds to one point on a 10-point marking scale

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Preparing for tests.
A presentation on the given subject must be made independently, following the requirements stated. Volume - at least 5 slides of a different layout. To be submitted electronically

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

A test with a mark has a cumulative grade.

Compulsory reading

1. Augstskolu likums [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: http://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=37967
2. Izglītības likums [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: https://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=50759
3. LLU Satversme [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: http://www.llu.lv/llu-pamatdokumenti
4. LLU iekšējās kārtības noteikumi studējošajiem [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: http://www.llu.lv/lv/studiju-un-reglamentejosie-dokumenti
5. LLU Studiju nolikums [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: http://www.llu.lv/lv/studiju-un-reglamentejosie-dokumenti
6. Augucēvičs J. Word Microsoft Office 2013, Rīga: Biznesa augstskola Turība, 2015, 83 lpp.
7. Metodiskie norādījumi bakalaura darbu izstrādāšanai un aizstāvēšanai. Mācību palīglīdzeklis Ekonomikas un sabiedrības attīstības fakultātes akadēmiskās izglītības bakalaura studiju programmas „Ekonomika” studentiem [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: http://www.esaf.llu.lv/lv/studiju-un-reglamentejosie-dokumenti
8. Metodiskie norādījumi studiju projektu izstrādāšanai un aizstāvēšanai. Mācību palīglīdzeklis Ekonomikas un sabiedrības attīstības fakultātes akadēmiskā bakalaura studiju programmas „Ekonomika” studentiem [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: http://www.esaf.llu.lv/lv/studiju-un-reglamentejosie-dokumenti

9. Ringa E. Microsoft Office 2007 EXCEL: strādāsim ātrāk, ērtāk un efektīvāk!, Rīga: Biznesa augstskola "Turība", 2009, 54 lpp.

Further reading

1. Augucēvičs J. Word: Microsoft Office 2010, Rīga: Biznesa augstskola "Turība", 2013, 63 lpp.
2. Bucki, L. A. Microsoft Word 2013 bible: [the comprehensive tutorial resource], Indianapolis, Ind. Wiley, 2013, 1010 p.
3. Ekonomikas un sabiedrības attīstības fakultāte, ½ no 100: 2014.-2018. gads / Jelgava: LLU, 2019, 366 lpp.
4. Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitātes mājas lapa // http://www.llu.lv/
5. LLU Ekonomikas fakultāte Latvijas izaugsmei: 2009.-2013. gads / Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte. Ekonomikas fakultāte; [galvenais redaktors un sastādītājs: Voldemārs Strīķis]. Jelgava: LLU, 2013, 279 lpp.
6. LLU Ekonomikas fakultāte: 2004.-2008. gadi / Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte. Ekonomikas fakultāte; [galvenais redaktors un sastādītājs, Voldemārs Strīķis]. Jelgava: Latvijas Lauksaimniecības universitāte. Ekonomikas fakultāte, 2008, 236 lpp.
7. LLU Ekonomikas un sabiedrības attīstības fakultātes mājas lapa// http://www.esaf.llu.lv/
8. LLU e-studijas [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: https://estudijas.llu.lv/
9. LLU Prakšu nolikums [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: http://www.llu.lv/studiju-prakses
10. MK noteikumi Nr. 240 „Noteikumi par valsts akadēmiskās izglītības standartu” (13.05.2014.) [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: https://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=266187
11. Walkenbach J. Excel 2013 bible. [the comprehensive tutorial resource], Indianapolis, IN: Wiley, 2013, 1012 p.

12. Wempen F. Microsoft PowerPoint 2013 bible.: [the comprehensive tutorial resource], Indianapolis, IN : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2013, 804 p.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Excel help center. Pieejams: https://support.office.com/en-US/Excel
2. Izglītības un zinātnes ministrijas mājas lapa // http://www.izm.gov.lv/
3. Microsoft Office. TechRepublic Blogs. Pieejams: https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/microsoft-office/
4. PowerPoint help center. Pieejams: https://support.office.com/en-US/PowerPoint

5. Word help center. Pieejams: https://support.office.com/en-US/Word

Notes

Compulsory course for the Academic Bachelor Study Programme Economics.