WHO WE ARE:
University of Latvia (UL) is a major academic centre in Latvia with 13 faculties and 20 research institutions and is the largest university in the Baltic States. Around 14 000 students are enrolled in more than 130 different study programmes. UL cooperates with more than 100 academic institutions around the world and hosts around 500 exchange students annually. From 2004-2014 the UL participated in more than 350 EU and EEA/Norge/INTERREG funded projects, including the projects related to FP5, FP6, FP7, Horizon2020, COST among others. The UL quality assurance system complies with the requirements of the ENQA and currently uses the EFQM Excellence model leading to excellence in education and research. The University has substantial exchange and dissemination networks at the regional, international and national levels. The UL and its structures have the necessary capacity, skills and knowledge to carry out international cooperation projects. UL runs several educational initiatives on CCIs. It has a business incubator focusing on creative start-ups, as well as an innovation centre. Implementation of the CRE:HUB project at the University of Latvia is carried out by the Centre for European and Transition Studies (CETS).
WHAT WE EXPECT FROM CRE:HUB PROJECT:
As an academic partner of the CRE:HUB project, the UL will lead national research and develop a common methodology to assess the state of the art of the CCI sector in project partner countries. In order to build a cooperation network and raise awareness of the sector, UL will involve different level stakeholders in the CRE:HUB project. Given that the sector of CCI is relatively new in Latvia, UL expects that the project will contribute to the promotion of the CCI sector and development of its policy by exchanging experience, knowledge and best practices between less and more advanced regions within its scope. Introduction of the new policy instruments will boost the introduction and development of new creative industries’ services and products by SMEs, as well as extend the export capacity of SMEs. Furthermore, the implementation of this policy instrument will enhance the capacities of public servants and align other policy instruments promoting CCIs among Latvian employers and public at large. Policy changes will be tailored to meet specific CCIs’ needs such as the creation of partnerships, collaboration with different industries, internationalization, entrepreneurial capacity, etc.
CRE:HUB LATVIAN TEAM:
Ms. Zane Zeibote, CRE:HUB Project Manager holds a Master of Arts degree in Economic Policy Management and pursues her PhD degree in Business Management. She is a Project Manager and a Lecturer at the UL Centre for European and Transition Studies (CETS). Zane Zeibote has an extensive experience in international relations, cohesion policy and project management working as the Project Manager for cross-border cooperation projects in the framework of the EU Horizon-2020, Interreg and Erasmus+ programmes.
Ms. Denize Ponomarjova, CRE:HUB Project Coordinator in Latvia. Since 2011, working as a Researcher and Project Coordinator at the UL CETS where she has been involved in several EU projects, organisation of international conferences and publishing of international scientific publications. Holds valuable experience in the diplomatic service: from 2011 to 2015 she worked as a Senior Desk Officer and Assistant to the Ambassador at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Latvia. She holds a MSc degree in European Studies from the University of Latvia and currently continues her PhD studies on Demography (UL).
