Application for accreditation of a Professional Education Study Programme
Applicant: University of Latvia
Programme name: Floral designer (code: 41214 01)
Offered qualification: Floral designer (code: 3471 14)
Legal address: 19 Raina boulv., Riga LV-1586, Latvia
Chairman of the LU Faculty of the Biology Dome (Council), Prof. J. Aivars
Director of the Professional Study Programme, Assoc. prof. U. Kondratovičs
Content
1. Self-evaluation report …….…………………………………...... 3
2. Programme ………………………………………………………...... 8
3. Programme Part A course descriptions…………………………...... 15
4. Programme Part B course descriptions………………………...... 24
5. Qualifications of the academic personnel of the Programme……...... 36
6. Student reports and assessments of the programme ……………...... 46
7. Expert reviews ………………………………………………...... 50
8. Institution and organisation assessments of the programme…...... 52
9. Obligations and responsibilities of the Programme supervisors ...... 54
10. LU Senate Ruling No. 310 ………………………………………...... 55
11. LLU programme "Landscape architecture and planning" and the Floristic craftsman education programme at the German Floristic Institute ...... 56
LU Professional Study Programme
"FloraL DESIGNER"
self-evaluation report
1. Professional study Goals and Tasks
1.1. Study goal
The goal of the Professional Study Programme "Floral Designer" is to ensure higher professional education at the Level 1 when obtaining a floral designer qualification, which will allow to work in the speciality, head a floral enterprise; to ensure general, professional education as a floral designer in artistic and management work, orientated in obtaining understanding in the areas of floristic history, floristic theory and technique, floral design composition theory, and in obtaining the required technical skills; to teach floral designer-specialists, which will promote organisation of the aesthetic and cultural environments, operation and development of small and medium-sized floral enterprises, raising the prestige of the University of Latvia.
The study goals are in accordance with the needs and desires of the community, with particular attention paid to general and artistic processes.
1.2. Study tasks
1. Conduct creative, professional, education of floral designers that will be able to work in the trade
2. Develop technical skills to a level that will ensure artistic work
3. Ensure uniform theoretical knowledge and practical skills of developing floral designers
4. Teach how to realise theoretical skills in practice
5. Develop ability to organise group and individual work, promote development of applied communication
A floral designer ending the professional study programme must be able to individually plan and organise all of the work processes, and to continually and self-critically assess the work results. A specific of the trade is the necessity to conduct a large quantity of work in a short period of time; therefore it is necessary to develop skills in communication and working in a co-ordinated group. In fulfilling the programme, it is necessary to be aware of the current (and changes in the) National economy, market, and art, so that the new floral designers are informed of the important floristic and floral design issues and trends in community social development.
2. Study content and organisation
2.1. Study programme
The programme was developed in 1998 as a Level 2 higher education professional programme with 80 credit points, of which 48 were for Part A courses and 32 were for Part B courses. Study length was planned for 2 academic years, and a prerequisite for matriculation was a Bachelor degree. Fifteen students were admitted to the 2000/2001 academic study year of the programme.
Considering the education standards of a Level 1 professional higher education programme given in the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 141 of 20.03.2001, the LU Senate on 28.05.2001, after becoming acquainted with expert and commission reports, and after hearing and discussing the report of the LU Senate Study Commission, agreed to change the professional education study programme "Floral designer" Level from 2 to 1, and at the same time accepting a change in the programme director (LU Senate 28.05.2001 ruling No. 310).
The professional study programme was developed by the Faculty of Biology of the University of Latvia in co-operation with Floral Design Association "Rezēda", the Latvian Designer Association and the Dresden Floristic Institute. The study programme was developed in accordance with the Law On Institutions of Higher Education in Latvia and Rulings of the LU Senate. The study programme is multidisciplinary, combining biological, art, economic and floristic aspects, ensuring ties between the natural and social environment, and artistic work of humans. It is based on integration of knowledge and practical and comprehensive skills in a creative artistic process.
Duration and volume of the professional study programme
The Level 1 higher education professional study programme "Floral designer" is realised, based on the previous general education of the students.
The duration of the professional studies is 2 academic years - 4 semesters in which student must obtain 80 credit points, of which 25% are for natural sciences, 15% for economics, 30% for floral design, and 30% for professional trade skills.
The obtained floral design qualification will allow to successfully enter the floral business, in accordance with market needs.
2.1.1. Student matriculation and number
Persons holding a general secondary education (prerequisites are biology, economics and mathematics) are accepted in the 2001/2002 academic study year in the professional study programme Level 1 "Floral designer" for a tuition fee of 480 Ls/year, based on the results of a competitive complex test. The programme can proceed given the matriculation of at least 25 students.
2.1.2. Academic staff
Realisation of the programme is ensured by the staff of the LU Faculty of Biology, LU Faculty of Economics and Management, Floral Design Association "Rezēda", as well as the course academic staff - 2 associate professors, 1 scientist, 3 lecturers and 4 contract lecturers.
2.1.3. Sources of finances and available material and technical resources of the Programme
The programme is realised by tuition fees - the programme budget is formed by tuition fees of 480 Ls/year per student.
The material and technical resources of the study programme are ensured by the Floral Design Association "Rezēda", the LU Botanical Gardens and the LU Faculty of Biology.
2.2. Structure of the Profesional study programme
1. Part A courses, which are compulsory for all professional study programme matriculated students. Volume of Part A courses (not including Project Methods in Floral Design and course and qualification projects in floral design) is 34 credit points.
2. Part B courses are compulsory choice courses that allow specialisation and choice of interests. Part B course volume is 28 credit points.
3. Project methods in floral design, is an A course with volume 4 credit points. To complete this course, students must participate in four floral design exhibitions ("Easter", Liepāja Flower Festival", "Interfloristika", and "Anniņmuiža"), by planning a sketch of the object and then producing it. Students must prepare a cost-estimate (the required floral and industrial material costs).
4. Course project in floral design, which is included in Part A with a volume of 4 credit points. The course project allows to assess knowledge and practical and comprehensive skills of students during the development of a required floral design object for the community. The students conduct precise choice of materials, estimate costs, and prepare the object based on a sketch.
5. Qualification project, which is included in Part A with a volume of 10 credit points. The qualification project is preparation and presentation in the community of a theme object for interior decoration.
A Floral Design qualification diploma is awarded with
· The successful completion of the professional study programme A and Part B exams and proficiency assessment tests, accumulating 34 credit points in Part A and 28 credit points in Part B;
· The successful completion of Project Methods in Floral Design (4 credit points);
· Developed and defended course project in floral design (4 credit points);
· The successful defence of a qualification project (10 credit points).
To assess and improve the Professional Study Programme "Floral Designer" quality, a questionnaire was completed. Students responded to questions with a 10-point score ("Student questionnaire test", "Student questionnaire").
The questionnaire showed that students were satisfied with the programme Part A and Part B quality (score 7 to 10), but most students had a medium academic knowledge previous to their study in the professional programme. The questionnaire showed that most wished to receive a certification to work in a floral enterprise (~40 %) as a work supervisor, which indicates the programme has a function for expansion of the work market. About 80 % of the students before the programme had not worked as a floral designer, which indicates that the students have high hopes on the quality of the programme.
Most students consider that there was good collaboration with the lecturers, but the programme weak point was the availability of educational literature, methods materials and computers.
Several students indicated lack of practice, but most of the practical skills are obtained beginning in the second semester, which is still in the future.
Students wished to work with modern computer programmes for development of object design. This indicates the development of the programme must consider greater attention to procurement of educational literature and materials.
2.3. Conditions and management of the studies
The Professional Study Programme "Floral Designer" director is an associate professor, Dr. biol. Uldis Kondratovičs. The programme Director, together with the Executive Director Dr. paed. Inta Valdena develop the programme strategy and tactics, as well as have responsibility for ensuring the scientific, methodical and material resources (Responsibilities and obligations of the leaders of the professional study programme FLORAL DESIGNER).
2.4. teaching and assessment of knowledge
The main methods of the programme are lectures, practical work, seminars, reports, practice, individual and group course projects, and project development. The form of studies in interdisciplinary: natural, art and economics sciences. The knowledge of students is assessed by oral and written exams and proficiency assessment (pass/fail grade). Student professional knowledge and skills are assessed by analysis of developed object complexes. Student rights to participate in an assessment (test or exam) are regulated by the requirements for obtaining course credits by the corresponding course lecturer.
If a lecturer assesses an exam or test as inadequate, the student has the right to repeat the exam, but in the event of a third test, a commission is formed of three lecturers competent in the course material.
The qualification project is developed under the supervision of an experienced lecturer and is defended in public at a defence commission meeting. The qualification commission is composed of LU academic staff, independent experts from the Latvian Design Association, The Floral Design Association "Rezēda", The Florist Association, and representative of floral enterprises. The qualification project is reviewed by a lecturer and the person ordering the project.
3. Research of Personnel and students
The research of the teachers of the professional Study Programme "Floral Designer" is included in a Leonardo da Vinci project, in co-operation with the German Floral Design Institute in Dresden (contract 23.03.00.). The programme executive director Dr. paed. Inta Valdena is studying problems in floral design, in co-operation with the floristic craftsman, teacher, Helmuth Neidigers of the Nirnberg Floral Gallery.
Students of the "Floral design" study communal and seasonal traditions, which are important in fulfilling the wants of client in development of specific interior decoration objects.
International co-operation is expected with foreign universities (Germany and Czech Republic) as joint projects and as preparation of Latvian student teams for international seminars in the German Floral Design Institute in Dresden.
4. Ensurement and guarantee of quality
The quality of the Professional Study Programme "Floral Designer" is guaranteed by the study content, the qualified, professional and creative teachers (LU academic personnel - 50 %, professional course lectures - 50%), and the technical and methodological resources.
In the Floral design study process, the main management and organisation work skills are acquired, as well as their specific use in solution of design problems (analysis, making decisions, communication, data analysis, information technology, interpretation, and others) in accordance with the needs of the work market.
The education content and form of the Professional Study Programme "Floral Designer" were studied and realised in the doctoral thesis "Study content and form of studies in floral design in university" of Dr. paed. I. Valdena (1998 LU Pedagogical and Psychology Institute), in the Masters paed. Thesis of V.Virkstenes ("Floristic content and form in university" (2000, LU Pedagogical and Psychology Institute), in the Masters thesis of I. Brūvere ("Course Interior fundamentals in floral design studies" (2000, LU Pedagogical and Psychology Institute).
5. Comparison of the Professional Study Programme "Floral Designer" with similar programmes in Latvia and foreign countries
In development of the study programme, information from the floristic craftsman professional study programme at the German Floral Design Institute in Dresden and the LLU programme "Landscape architecture and planning" were utilised. Presently, higher professional education in floral design in Latvia is offered only at the LU Faculty of Biology.
The LLU study programme offers professional qualification as a Landscape architect, and similar to the offered study programme, a prerequisite of matriculation is general secondary education. The LLU programme involves obtaining a Bachelor's degree and defence of a Bachelor thesis, therefore the study duration is 4 academic years. Similarities between the programmes are integrated studies in economics, art and natural sciences.
Floristic education at the German Floral Design Institute in Dresden has duration of 8 semesters. During the study period, students acquire theoretical and practical skills that are necessary for operation of a floristic enterprise. The final exam consists of 3 parts: a general education part, specialist theoretical part and a practical part. A craftsman diploma can be obtained after completing the study programme, the final exam, and a three-year work praxis.
The German Floral Design Institute, after completion of a school, offers unemployed persons also State-financed floristic education with a duration (including a work praxis) of 24 months. A significant part of floristic education in Germany is further education, which offers 42 seminars in a one-year-period.
6. Development directions of the Study programme