IMPROVEMENT OF MATHEMATICS STUDY PROGRAMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN CONTEXT OF BOLOGNA DECLARATION

One of the aims of the Bologna declaration is the promotion of European cooperation in higher education, particularly regarding curriculum development, inter-institutional cooperation, mobility, as well as exchange of experience between institutions and countries.
The ERDF project “Cross-border network for adapting mathematical competences in the socio-economic development (MatNet)” has been implemented since 2011 by the Departments of Mathematics of the Latvia University of Agriculture (LUA) and Siauliai University (SU) in Lithuania to research the development opportunities of mathematical competences and work out recommendations for improvements of mathematics study programs.
Curriculum development is based on two pillars: 1) changes in curriculum structure related to learning outcomes and competences and credit-module system; 2) improvement in the organization of study process where the focus is on integration of ICT in study process and collaborative learning in mathematics.
The external research included the analysis of strategic plans and other national documents. The questionnaire “Mathematics in professional activities” was designed and uploaded in the project website in the English, Latvian, and Lithuanian languages. During the internal research interviews were carried out with the program directors, academic personnel, social partners; in additions mathematics study programs of LUA and SU were compared and analyzed. The analysis included comparison of content of mathematics (number of hours for theory, practical and self-supporting work assigned for the topics), comparison of study process organization (indicators’ groups and corresponding indicators were determined). SWOT analysis was carried out to identify strengths and weaknesses. Finally, recommendations for the improvement of mathematics curriculum were designed.