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Composition of the University of Latvia Council

This information is being updated.

 

Chair of the UL Council, Sanda Liepiņa

  • Representative proposed by the Ministry of Education and Science;
  • Executive with extensive experience in public policy development, coordination and the implementation of reforms in Latvia and internationally;
  • Ms Liepiņa has broad experience in change management, including business development, organisational transformation projects and the implementation of reform plans;
  • She is currently associated with the public policy think tank Providus. Previously, she served as a member of the Council of Riga Technical University and chaired its Internal Audit Committee;
  • Ms Liepiņa holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University (USA) and a Master's degree in Law from University of Latvia.
Jāņa Kloviņa portreta foto
Prof. Jānis Kloviņš

Vice-Chair of the UL Council

  • Representative proposed by the UL Senate

Dace Kārkle

  • Representative nominated by the Ministry of Education and Science;
  • Executive with more than 20 years of experience in leading a scientific research institution;
  • Director of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis since 2023;
  • Led the change management process related to the merger of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis and the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, resulting in the establishment of the National Research and Innovation Institute (NIRI), where she has served as Acting Director since 31 May 2026;
  • Member of the International Advisory Board of the Institute of Electronics and Computer Science and, since 2019, a member of the Finance and Governance Committee of the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators;
  • Holds a Master's degree in Law from Riga Graduate School of Law.
Mārtiņš Brencis
  • Representative nominated by the Ministry of Education and Science;
  • Senior public sector executive with extensive experience in legal affairs, public finance, European Union fund management and organisational development;
  • Previously served as a member of the University of Latvia Council, with responsibility for institutional governance, digitalisation and the quality of studies;
  • Previously held the positions of Legal Director at the Administration of the Parliament of Latvia (Saeima) and Deputy Director of the Central Finance and Contracting Agency, responsible for the European Union funds system. He is also a graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of Latvia.

Areas of expertise on the UL Council include the quality of higher education, representation of graduates' interests, higher education and research legislation, and investment attraction.

Prof. Mārcis Auziņš
  • Representative proposed by the UL Senate;
  • UL professor, prominent Latvian physicist;
  • Long-standing rector of the University of Latvia, a visiting professor at several universities in the United Kingdom and the United States;
  • Full member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences;
  • Advisor to the Minister of Education and Science on foreign policy issues.

Particular competence areas at the UL Council – in-depth knowledge of the Latvian higher education and science system and UL governance, expertise in the international cooperation in education and science, etc.

Prof. Inna Šteinbuka
  • Representative proposed by the UL Senate;
  • Bearer of the Order of the Three Stars;
  • UL professor, full member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences;
  • Director of the Scientific Institute for Productivity at the UL Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences (Latvijas Universitātes domnīca LV PEAK);
  • Chair of the Fiscal Discipline Council of Latvia; long-time Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia.

Particular competence areas at the UL Council – Financial policy, internal control system, investment attraction, international outreach and cooperation with policy makers, etc.

Dr. Valters Ščerbinskis
  • Representative proposed by the President of the Republic of Latvia; 
  • Editor-in-chief of the National Encyclopaedia at the National Library of Latvia;
  • Dr. hist., until taking the position at the National Encyclopaedia, he was an active history science researcher, a long-time teacher and head of the study programme at Riga Stradiņš University;
  • Formerly – a long-standing international expert in the evaluation of scientific projects and publications.

Particular competence areas at the UL Council – the UL unique areas of responsibility, representation of humanities, study quality, etc.