Academic CentreThe interdisciplinary study program "Spatial Planning" provides a master's degree in spatial planning and a professional qualification of a spatial planner.
The program offers key knowledge and practical skills in the field of integrated planning, which are necessary for the researching and finding solutions for the issues related to the development of different territories. These include managing spatial change for the development of places, cities and regions, in line with societal, environmental and economic needs.
The program includes lectures, practical classes, seminars and various practices. Studies take place by developing course works for specific places and territories, thus practically mastering planning for the creation of places, development of regions and/or urban spaces.
The study program is regularly improved taking into account the spatial planning trends from local, regional and global scales, as well as the recommendations of employers, students and graduates.
Study program director
Pēteris Šķiņķis
In the program students are acquiring v different courses - spatial planning and law, strategic planning and methods, social and psychological aspects of planning, spatial planning, geographic information systems (GIS), strategic and project management, environmental sciences, etc.
Practical skills are acquired by doing various practices in local governments, state institutions and planning offices, furthermore practical skills are enhanced in the development of course works in cooperation with the spatial planners from the local authorities from different places and territories.
Professional studies take place in close cooperation with the employers. Course works are developed for the areas where spatial planning solutions are needed and requested by authorities or civic society. As mentioned previously studies include several practices different in types and length and within the framework of the ERASMUS + program, it is possible to go abroad for practice - e.g., Germany, Italy, Finland, Sweden, etc. EU member states.
Spatial planners are in demand at the labour market. Graduates of the study program work in local municipalities (both in cities and in rural areas), in planning regions, in state institutions, ministries and agencies, and also in the private sector - planning offices and companies, as well as in international organizations and in the non-governmental sector.
A master's degree in spatial planning provides an opportunity to continue doctoral studies in Latvian and foreign higher education institutions.
Nika Kotoviča, EU project expert at the Riga Energy Agency and City Development Department of the Riga City Council.
"I believe that this is a great opportunity for an already practicing planner to improve their professional qualification, because this master's program is following the situation in the field of planning in the country and in the world, and this provides the most current knowledge and skills necessary for the planner's daily work."
Sabīne Zāģere, Planning Specialist at Riga Planning Region
"The study subjects included in the study program ensure a regular exchange of views between specialists of various fields. By developing course works in the interdisciplinary working groups, skills for planning work in a team of specialists of different profiles are developed, as well as an in-depth understanding of the problems existing in the industry."
Previous education:
Academic bachelor's or second-level professional (or equivalent) higher education in the field of engineering, natural sciences or social sciences.
Competition evaluation calculation formula: weighted average mark (25 × 10 = 250) + total (or average) mark of final examinations (25 × 10 = 250) + entrance examination (1 × 450 = 450) + in addition, assessment of work experience, if any (description of experience according to the study program profile in territorial development planning), (1 × 50 = 50).
Additional rules: Curriculum vitae (CV) for the confirmation of the work experience.
Coordinator of the study program: Gunta Lukstiņa, e-mail: gunta.lukstina@lu.lv, mob. phone 29188535.