Digital Society and Economy

Academic degree and current position in TSI: professor, leading researcher of the Engineering Faculty.

Previous experience: Rector and more than 10 years a Vice-rector for Education Affairs for Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TSI), Program Director of the Bachelor of Computer Science Program, Software Engineering team lead and Quality Manager at SWH Technology (later Exigen Latvia).

Membership: LZP expert, AIC expert; Reviewer (member of the committee) in several international conferences (IADIS ML 2009-2019, ICALT 2009, ICEE/ICIT-2014 etc.); Member of the Editorial Board of the International Women’s On-line Distance Learning Journal (WOJDE, ISSN:2147-0367); TSI Representative for Europe Informatics (Informatics Latvia); TSI Member of the Senate; MIP-2006-2018 Chairman and member of the Organizing Committee (TSI, Riga, Latvia); Member of the Latvian Operations Research Society; Member of the Latvian Association of University Professors.

Academic experience:

• university lecturer with 40 years of experience (all types of teaching, including distance learning)
• expert in the development and evaluation of university programs.
• good knowledge of education and software development quality control processes (currently conducting quality audits at international level)
• scientist in the software development industry
• experienced university education process administrator
• academic internship and lecturing abroad (University of Manchester, UK -1994, Ottawa University, Canada – 1995, University of Hagen, Germany – 1999, University of Florence, Italy – 2008, University of Murcia – 2014, European Humanitarian University, Lithuania – 2018, Vilnius Tech University, Lithuania – 2021).

Author of more than 50 scientific and academic publications, 3 textbooks.

Teaching at post- and graduate level: Information and Software Systems Quality Models, Scientific Seminar (MSc in Computers Science, MIS, TSI); Object-Oriented Programming, Software Engineering, Transport Modelling, Introduction into Computer Science (Bachelor in Computers Science, TSI); etc.

Participation in projects (2013-2024):

• ERASMUS+ project “Ecosystem for European Education Mobility as a Service: Model with Portal Demo (eMEDIATOR)”, No 2021-1-LV01-KA220-HED-000027571, Project Manager, Leading Researcher (2021-2023).
• ERASMUS+ project “Strengthening digital pedagogy skills and competencies of educators” (INGENIOUS), No. 2020-1-EL01-KA226-VET-094871 (2021-2023), Manager, Researcher (2021-2023).
• ERAF Project “Strengthening the academic staff of the Transport and Telecommunication Institute in the areas of strategic specialization” Nr. 8.2.2.0/18/A/011″ Nr. 8.2.2.0/18/A/011, Supervisor (2018-2020).
• INTERREG CB 2010-2020 Project “Harmonised and Modernised Multidisciplinary Railway Education” (EDU-RAIL), Leading Researcher (2015 – 2018).
• ERASMUS+ project iSECRET “Implementation of Software Engineering Competence Remote Evaluation for Master Program Graduates”, ID – 2015-1-LV01-KA203-013439, 2015-2017, Project Manager (2015-2017).
• FP7: Enhancing transfer of Intelligent Transportation System innovations to the market (TTRANS), 2012-2015, Leading Researcher (2013).

Research Interests: Object-Oriented Programming, Software Engineering, Process Maturity, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Forensic, Quality Management Systems, Online Pedagogy and E-learning.

Supervised Doctoral, Master and Bachelor Theses (number): Promoted 1 Doctoral, more than 30 Master theses and more than 50 Bachelor theses and was official reviewers of 4 PhD theses.

Awards: Nomination for King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa UNESCO Award for the use of ICT in Education by the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia.(2017); acknowledgments by Ministry of Education and Science (2005);acknowledgments by Latvian Education Fund; TSI Goda Raksti (2019); TSI Aizinības Raksti (2019, 2021,2022); TSI Diploma for Significant Contribution to the Development of the TSI (2024); TSI Diploma for Innovation Teaching Methods(2024).

Academic degree and current position in TSI: Professor, Leading Researcher of the Faculty of Transport and Management, Vice-Dean for Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Transport and Management.

Previous experience: 30 years’ experience in Higher Education, 10 years’ experience of working as the Head of the Department (The Department of Linguistics and the Department of Management and Economics) at Transport and Telecommunication Institute.

Membership: Since 2016 – Programme Committee Member of the International Scientific Conference “Reliability and Statistics in Transportation and Communication” (RelStat); since 2016 – Programme Committee Member of the International Scientific Symposium “Economics, Business and Finance”; 2012-2015 –  Programme Committee Member of the Scientific and Educational Conference “Actual Problems of Education”; since 2020 – Member of Editorial Board of the “Journal of Business, Management and Economics Engineering”/Vilnius Gedminas Technical University (WoS, Scopus); since 2019 – reviewer of the “Journal of Marketing for Higher Education”/Routledge (Scopus).

Academic experience: Author of more than 40 publications, incl. six textbooks and book chapters. An Expert in Management (since 2014-2020); Educational Sciences (since 2020); Economics and Business (since 2020) of the Latvian Council for Science; Member of the Joint* Professors’ Council in Economics and Business, incl. Management Sciences (TSI, Turiba University and BA School of Business and Finance).

Teaching activity: Academic English (Master of Social Sciences in Management); Human Resource Management and Leadership (Master of Social Sciences in Management); Organizational Behaviour and Leadership; Strategic Management (Master of Social Sciences in Management); SMART administration (Master of Social Sciences in Management); Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility (Master of Social Sciences in Management), etc.

Participation in projects: a national representative and Management Committee Member of COST Action CA19102 “Language In The Human-Machine Era”, COST Action CA18236 “Multi-disciplinary innovation for social change”, COST Action 15221 “Advancing effective institutional models towards cohesive teaching, learning, research and writing development”, COST Action CA15137 “European Network for Research Evaluation in the Social Sciences and the Humanities” – ENRESSH, leader of the ERASMUS+ KA2 “SPREAD YOUR WINGS” 2017-1-PL01-KA203-038782 Project and ERASMUS+ “LEARN IT – Learning with ICT use” (2014-1-PL01-KA200-003353) Project, participant of the ESF project 2007/0010/VPD1/ESF/PIAA/06/APK/3.2.6.3./0110/0139 – “Professional Higher Education: TSI students practice in Transport and Logistics Enterprises”.

Research Interests: Strategic Management, Educational Management, Marketing Management and Branding in Higher Education, Human Resource Management, Corporate Social Responsibility.   

Supervised Doctoral, Master and Bachelor Theses (number): Supervision of the Master’s Theses (22: Master of Social Sciences in Management; Professional Master’s Degree in Aviation Management), an official reviewer of four PhD theses at the University of Latvia.

Awards: Certificate of Appreciation in Recognition of Research Excellence (2019, TSI); Certificate of Appreciation in Recognition of Teaching Excellence (2019, TSI); Certificate of Appreciation in Recognition of the Contribution to the Interdisciplinary Approach to Research (2019, TSI).

Motto: “Motivation is a fire from within”.

Academic degree and current position in TSI: Professor, Leading Researcher of the Faculty of Transport and Management, Director of study program MSc in Business and Management.

Previous experience: 41 years’ experience in Higher Education teaching Accounting and Finance; managing of high educational departments, and more than 25 years’ experience in industry as a consultant and professional advance qualification trainer.  

Membership: Since 2014 – Programme Committee Member and since 2018 vice-chair of the International Scientific Conference “Reliability and Statistics in Transportation and Communication”, RelStat (Scopus, WoS); Since 2006 – Member of the Advisory Committee of the Annual International conference, Bulgarian Association for Management Development and Entrepreneurship; Since 2015 – reviewer for the Emerald’s Emerging Markets Case Studies, EMCS, and 2018 member od editorial board (Scopus); Since 2020 – Reviewer of The Central European Business Review Journal, CEBR (Scopus, WoS); Since 2015 – International Strategic Management Conference, Peer-Review Committee (WoS); Since 2015 – The Clute Institute, Journal of Business Case Studies, member of Editorial Board (WoS); Since 2018 – the University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria, The University Yearbook, member of the Editorial Board; in 2012 – vice-chair of the 9th International Conference in Accounting and Finance in Transition, ICAFT-2012; 2011 – 2013 – The European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, ECSB Country Vice President for Latvia.

Academic experience:

Author more than 80 publications, incl. 2 study books, 3 monographs and book chapters.  An Expert in Economics and Business of the Latvian Council for Science; 2013–2020 – Member of the Joint Professors’ Council in Economics and Business (RISEBA, BA School of Business and Finance, Ventspils University); Member of the Joint* Professors’ Council in Economics and Business, incl. Management Sciences (TSI, Turības University and BA School of Business and Finance); Since 2016 –  Research and PhD Council at TTI; 2005-2007 – Latvian Association of Certified Auditors, LZRA – member of examination commission in Financial Accounting.

Teaching activity: Bachelor programme: Accounting, Management Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Financial Reporting and Analysis. Master programme: Financial Management, International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS; Financial and Management Analysis; Research Seminar. Doctoral programme: Financial Management.

Professional advanced qualification: Corporate Financial Management; Management Accounting; Business Plan preparation; Financial Reporting and Analysis based on IFRS.

Participation in projects: ERASMUS+ „Spread Your Wings” Nr. 2017-1-PL01-KA203-038782 project (2018-2020). ALLIANCE – Enhancing excellence and innovation capacity in sustainable transport interchanges. Grant agreement Nr. 692426 (2016–2018). ERAF project, VIAA, State Education Development Agency project “Development of institutional capacity of TSI Scientific Institution” Project Nr. 2.DP/2.1.1.3.3./15/IPIA/VIAA/006 (2015). ESF project nr. 1DP/1.1.2.1.2./09/IPIA/VIAA/011 for the year 2009-2014 „Doctoral study support programme”. The Economics and Law Sciences Expert’ Commision of the Latvian Council of Science: The main directions of Research in Economics and Law Sciences in 2003 – 2011 by LCS (different projects)

Research Interests: Financial and Management Accounting, International Reporting, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, Digital Techniques in Management and Finance.

Supervised Doctoral, Master and Bachelor Theses: Supervision of the Master’s Theses (average 5 works per study year) Master of Social Sciences in Management; an official reviewer of PhD thesis; Supervision of the Doctoral Theses.

Awards: LR Ministry of Education and Science, Certificate of honour of the Ministry of Education and Sciences, Minister Baiba Rivža (26.10.2007). Latvian Academy of Sciences, Certificate of honour of the Ministry of Sciences, LZA president Ojārs Spārītis (06.09.2019). Nomination in ‘The best tutor of the Year 2008’ from Latvia. The Institute of Certified Financial Management, ICFM (10.12.2008), London, the United Kingdom.

Motto: “Do what you love, and do it with love”.