In September 13 CBSS high level meeting "Higher Education and Science for Sustainable Development and Competitiveness of the Baltic sea region" took place in Riga which was organized within the framework of Latvian CBSS presidency and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of Science.
Latvia as a CBSS presidency country has defined competitiveness and sustainable development as the main goals of the cooperation in the Baltic Sea region where education plays significant role and should be therefore one of the priority fields of cooperation. Competitive education is an instrument to foster sustainable development, growth, ensure region's competitiveness on a global scale and to promote region's recognition and positive image abroad.
Therefore the objectives of the meeting were:
- To discuss the role and possible contribution of higher education and science in promotion of sustainable development and competitiveness in the Baltic Sea Region;
- To reflect on the best ongoing practices as well as current and future challenges in the field of higher education and science in achieving the goal of sustainable development and competitiveness of the region;
- To analyze former achievements and existing institutional framework in the region dealing with education issues and to discuss future needs and possible new initiatives to strengthen the sector of higher education within the context of the Baltic Sea region's development;
- To consider a need of new forms of cooperation in the Baltic Sea region addressing challenges in the field of education and science in order to foster innovations and promote competitiveness of the Region.
Following guest speakers were present at the meeting:
Hans Brask, Director, Baltic Development Forum: "Top of Europe: Creating a centre of gravity for talents and educational excellence"
Elise Kvarnström, EU Relations Manager, ScanBalt: "ScanBalt BioRegion - Top of Europe"
René Buch, Chief Executive Officer, NORDUnet: "Enabling Science & Education
in a Globalized economy"Alf Vanags, Director, Baltic International Centre for Economic Policy Studies (BICEPS): "Higher Education and Competitiveness: Is there a linear connection?"
Tatjana Volkova, Chairman, Latvian Rectors' Council:
Paula Lindroos, Director, Centre for Continuing Education at the Åbo Akademi University: "Strategies and challenges of education for sustainable development in higher education"
Lars Rydén, Professor Emeritus, Uppsala University, Director of Baltic University Programme: "Education for sustainable development"
Ilga Salīte, Dean, Faculty of Education and Management, Daugavpils University": "Higher education and education for sustainable development: Experience of Institute of Sustainable Education"
Carl Lindberg, Chairman, Swedish National Committee on Education for Sustainable Development: "Draft Summary of Policy Recommendations".
"Chair's conclusions" which are drafted and is open to the meeting participants for comments till October 5, cover the issues addressed and discussed during the meeting and provides several recommendations and proposals for initiatives to foster higher education field.