Regulations Regarding Recognition of the Study Results Achieved in Previous Education or Professional Experience

Issued pursuant to
Section 59.² Paragraph five of
the Law On Institutions of Higher Education

1. This Regulation prescribes the procedures for assessing and recognising the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience, and the recognition criteria.

2. A decision to recognise the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience shall be taken by a commission set up by the institution of higher education or college (hereinafter - commission).

3. The institution of higher education or college shall set up at least one commission in each thematic area laid down by the classification of Latvian education, if study programmes in such thematic area of education are implemented in the respective institution of higher education or college. The institution of higher education or college may set up one joint commission for several thematic areas of education.

4. The rights and responsibilities of the commission, the conditions for setting-up thereof, as well as the specific conditions of the procedure for recognising the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience shall be included in the by-law approved by the senate of the institution of higher education or the college council, and the members of the commission shall be approved by the rector of the institution of higher education or the director of the college.

5. A person wishing to have his or her study results achieved in previous education or professional experience recognised shall submit an application to the institution of higher education or college regarding recognition of the study results achieved.

6. The following shall be indicated in the application:

6.1. the given name, surname and personal identity number of the person;

6.2. the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience;

6.3. the justification of conformity of the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience with the requirements of the respective study programme or a part thereof;

6.4. the aim of recognition of the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience

6.5. the name of the institution and the education programme or a part thereof, or the type and place of acquisition of the professional experience where the study results have been achieved;

6.6. the period of time when the study results were achieved;

6.7. the name of the study programme in which the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience should be recognised;

6.8. personal contact information - address of the place of residence to which the decision of the commission should be sent, as well as a phone number and e-mail address, if any.

7. The person shall append documents confirming the results achieved in previous education or professional experience to the application. If copies of such documents are appended to the application, the person has a duty to present the originals of the referred-to documents.

8. The application and the documents appended thereto shall be submitted in printed form or in the form of an electronic document in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding drawing up of electronic documents.

9. The commission shall review the application within one month after receipt thereof and take a decision to recognise the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience or to refuse to recognise the study results achieved. The decision shall be sent to the applicant.

10. The commission is entitled to verify the conformity of the information and data provided with the actual circumstances.

11. If necessary, the commission may determine examinations for assessment of the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience.

12. In order to recognise the study results achieved in professional experience as conforming to the study programme course or study module through which practical knowledge, skills and competence is obtained, or to recognise the study results achieved in previous education in the way referred to in Sub-paragraph 14.6.4 of this Regulation as conforming to the study programme course or study module, the person shall take the examinations determined in the respective study course or study module.

13. If the commission does not have sufficient information at the disposal thereof for making an objective and comprehensive decision to recognise the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience, the commission is entitled to request additional information extending the time period for taking of a decision accordingly.

14. For the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience to be recognised, the following criteria must be met:

14.1. the documents presented contain clear, unambiguous, and complete information regarding the study results achieved;

14.2. it is possible to grant at least one credit point for the study results achieved;

14.3. the previous education of the person corresponds to the admission requirements of the respective study programme;

14.4. the person has demonstrated knowledge, skills and competence conforming to the requirements of the respective study programme or a part thereof in the examinations laid down in Paragraph 11 or 12 of this Regulation;

14.5. the study results achieved in professional experience may only be recognised:

14.5.1. in that part of the respective study programme which consists of practice, furthermore, such study results must be achieved in the area of professional activity which corresponds to the thematic area of education of the study programme;

14.5.2. in that course of the study programme or study module, through which practical knowledge, skills and competence is obtained;

14.6. the study results achieved in previous education may be recognised if they conform to the higher education level and have been achieved:

14.6.1. in a vocational further education programme the acquisition of which allows obtaining the fourth or fifth professional qualification level;

14.6.2. in a separate course of the study programme or study module which has been acquired by the person as a listener;

14.6.3. in a part of the study programme;

14.6.4. in other ways acquired outside formal education, except the study programmes conforming to regulated professions.

15. The study results achieved in professional experience may only be recognised to the extent laid down in Section 59.², Paragraph five of the Law On Institutions of Higher Education from the vocational or academic study programme.

16. One credit point for the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience may be granted if they have been achieved in an education process of at least one week (40 academic hours).

17. The commission shall take a decision to:

17.1. recognise the study results achieved in previous education, if all the criteria referred to in Sub-paragraphs 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 and 14.6 of this Regulation, as well as the criterion referred to in Sub-paragraph 14.4 have been met, if respective examinations were determined in accordance with Paragraph 11 or 12 of this Regulation;

17.2. recognise the study results achieved in professional experience, if all the criteria referred to in Sub-paragraphs 14.1, 14.2, 14.3 and 14.5 of this Regulation, as well as the criterion referred to in Sub-paragraph 14.4 have been met, if respective examinations were determined in accordance with Paragraph 11 or 12 of this Regulation.

18. A decision to recognise the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience shall include the extent of the recognised study results in credit points, as well as the name of the study programme, study module or study course in which the credit points of the recognised study results are included in.

19. The decisions to recognise the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience shall be registered in a special register of the respective institution of higher education or college according to the procedures laid down by such institution of higher education or college.

20. A person who is not a student of the respective study programme may be matriculated in the respective study stage of such study programme after recognition of the study results, determining individually the extent of additional study courses or study modules to be acquired and the relevant examinations.

21. The study results achieved in previous education or professional experience may not be counted as the final examination of the relevant study programme, State examination or final examination - qualification examination or promotion thesis.

22. The person may be charged for the recognition of the study results achieved in previous education or professional experience according to the procedures laid down by the institution of higher education or college or the price list of paid services stipulated by the Cabinet if it is a State founded college or State founded institution of higher education which is not a derived public person.

23. The decision of the commission may contested by lodging a submission to the rector of the respective institution of higher education or the director of the college and appealed against in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Administrative Procedure Law.

Prime Minister V. Dombrovskis

Acting for the Minister for Education and Science -
Minister for Economics D. Pavļuts

Translation © 2014 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)