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Regional Development

Course developer

Prior knowledge

Demo2001, Demography

Soci1013, Community Development

Soci1014, General Sociological Theory

Soci2049, Rural Sociology

VadZ3015, Management

VidZ3006, Ecology and Environmental Protection

Course abstract

The course provides students with knowledge of the nature of regions and the specifics of various territories, resources needed for regional development planning and institutions involved in regional development as well as the relevant legal framework. Students gain an understanding of the development planning system in Latvia and policy instruments for reducing socio-economic disparitiesacross the regions.
The aim of the course is to develop students' understanding of the regional development process and the ability to analyze the region as a socio-economic system.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge :
1. Students will be able to: demonstrate the knowledgeand understanding of the nature of a region, regional sciences, the structure of regional policy and the institutional framework for regional development – Test;
2. Demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of territorial development planning, diagnostics, forecasting and strategy – Test.
Professional skills :
1. Independently analyse a region as a socio-economic entity - independent work;
2. Analyse territorial development policy documents and develop proposals for the sustainable development of a region - practical assignments.
Soft skills :
1. Responsibly plan the completion of the assignments given, meeting the deadlines - practical assignments;
2. Acquire accurate information, do practical assignments and speak in public - independent work;
3. Able to participate in group work and discussions - discussions in forums.
Competence:
Independently analyse regional development as a stage in the development planning system and understand the regional development planning process and the role of a sociologist in conducting applied regional research – test, practical assignments independent work, discussions.

Course Content(Calendar)

Lecture topics:
1. Socio-economic space units. (2h)
2. The region from the sociological point of view. (1h)
3. Regional science and its formation. (1h)
4. Regional policy and regional development (2h)
5. Regional development instruments in the EU (2h)
6. Regional development policy in the world. (1h)
7. Institutionalization of regional development in Latvia. (2h)
8. Spatial planning process. (1h)
9. Regional diagnostics. (2h)
10. Regional development forecasting. (1h)
11. Regional development strategy. (1h)

Workshops / Practical Topics:
1. Territorial taxa and regional division in Latvia and the European Union. Specifics of rural areas. (2h)
2. The region from the point of view of different sciences and regional science as an integrated complex. (1h)
3. Structure of regional policy in Latvia. (1h)
4. Structural Funds and their use in Latvia. (2h)
5. Institutional system of regional development. (1h)
6. Research on administrative-territorial reforms in Latvia and their impact on territorial development. (2h)
7. Test 1 on regional division, regional science, regional policy structure, institutions and instruments. (1h)
8. National level, regional level and local government level plans and development planning system. (1h)
9. Region diagnostics in Latvia. (1h)
10. Methods included in regional development planning documents. (1h)
11. Development strategy development (2 h)
12. 2nd test on territorial planning, diagnostics, forecasting and strategy. (1h)

Requirements for awarding credit points

The course includes two tests to be performed during the practical work in the classroom and one independent work to be submitted at the specified time and practical assignments and discussions in practical classes.
Final assessment of the study course - a test with a mark, which is formed by an accumulative assessment of study results.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Within the study course, the following is allocated for independent studies:
1. 48 hours of full-time studies, which are organized as follows: preparation for two tests (20 hours), preparation of independent work (10 hours) preparation of practical assignments at the indicated times (18 hours);
2. 64 hours of part-time distance learning, which are organized as follows: preparation for two tests (20 hours), preparation of independent work (10 hours) preparation of practical assignments at the indicated times and discussions in forums (34 hours);

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final assessment of the study course consists of:
tets - 60%,
independent work - 30%,
practical assignments and discussions throughout the semester - 10%.
Test with a mark -Acumulative evaluation of study results 100%

Compulsory reading

1. Attīstības plānošanas sistēmas likums. (2009) [tiešsaiste] Pieejams:https://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=175748
2. Regional development. [tiešsaiste] Pieejams: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/regional-development
3. Reģionālās attīstības likums. (2002) LR likums [tiešsaiste] Pieejams: https://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=61002
4. Regional development policy. [tiešsaiste] Pieejams: https://www.oecd.org/regional/regional-policy/regionaldevelopment.htm
5. Augstskolas reģionos: Zināšanu un prakses mijiedarbe. Zinātniskie redaktori: Tālis Tisenhopfs, Baiba Bela, Ilona Kunda. Apgāds „Zinātne”, 2011, 495 lpp. [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams; https://www.apgads.lu.lv/fileadmin/user_upload/lu_portal/apgads/PDF/Book_Starpdisciplinaritate_2012-gala.pdf
6. Jaunas pieejas sociālās attīstības mērīšanā: cilvēki, teritorijas, pašvaldības. Latvijas Universitāte, 2015, 391lpp.
7. Territorial development, cohesion and spatial planning: knowlwdge and policy development in an enlarget EU / edited by Neil Adams, Giancarlo Cotella and Richard Nunes. London New- York Routletge, 2011, 457p

Further reading

1. Klimats un ilgtspējīga attīstība. Māra Kļaviņa un Jāņa Zaļoksna redakcijā. Rīga:
LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2016. 384 lpp.
2. Latvijas ilgtspējīgas attīstības stratēģija līdz 2030.gadam. [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams:http://polsis.mk.gov.lv/view.do?id=3323
3. Lauku attīstība. [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams:https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/key-policies/common-agricultural-policy/rural-development_lv
4. Zināšanu ekonomika Latvijas lauku un reģionu dzīvotspējai/ Latvijas Zinātņu akadēmija, Jelgava, monogrāfija, galvenā redaktore B. Rivža, 2018., 325 lpp[tiešsaiste]. Pieejams:https://llufb.llu.lv/LLUgramatas/Monografija_Zinasanu_ekonomika_Latvijas_lauku_regionu_dzivotspejai.pdf

Periodicals and other sources

1. International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development. [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: https://www.inderscience.com/jhome.php?jcode=ijird
2. Par Latvijas Nacionālo attīstība splānu 2021.-2027. gadam (NAP2027). [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams:https://likumi.lv/ta/id/315879-par-latvijas-nacionalo-attistibas-planu-20212027-gadam-nap2027
3. Reģionu attīstība Latvijā. [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: http://www.vraa.gov.lv/lv/parskats/
4. Sociologia Ruralis. Wiley Online Library. ISSN 0038-0199 [tiešsaiste]. Pieejams: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14679523

Notes

Compulsory study course for ESAF academic bachelor study program Sociology of Organizations and Public Administration