On May 15, 2025, a PULSE-ART project workshop was held in Daugavpils to introduce stakeholders to the project, evaluate the Latvian education system, identify shortcomings and obstacles, and discuss the role of new technologies in education. The workshop was held online, and 16 out of 35 invited participants participated. The workshop participants represented a diverse group of researchers, creative entrepreneurs, policymakers, educators, public life activists, and others. The discussions concluded that the integration of art and cultural education primarily occurs in the informal sector, while the formal system is poorly suited to creative expressions. The participants identified several obstacles in education:

• inefficient administration and bureaucracy;
• social isolation and media-influenced fragmentation of society;
• overload in formal education;
• limited access to education in the regions;
• weak linking of vocational education with the labour market;
• lack of adult education opportunities;
• information accessibility problems.

Analysing the identified barriers, the main affected groups in society were identified: people with low incomes, young people, adults with low skills, and individuals with special needs. At the end of the workshop, the participants concluded that a structured and meaningful dialogue with national decision-makers is needed.

More information:
Dr. theol., Anita Stašulāne, DU professor,
senior researcher at DU Institute of the Humanities and Social Sciences
e-mail: anita.stasulane@du.lv

This project has received funding from the Horizon Europe Programme of the European Union under the Grant Agreement No. 101178988.