2012

LVM scholarships to be also granted to environmental education and forest ecology students this year

“We have parks, gardens and playgrounds for children, so why can’t forests be family recreation sites providing health and strength? Forests as therapeutic, well-being and quality life components are among the most important aspects in human lives,” believes LVM scholarship recipient Linda Peciņa, a third-year student at the University of Latvia’s Faculty of Humanities studying cultural and social anthropology and planning to write a project on Tērvete Nature Park.

Linda is one of more than 80 students who applied for and were granted LVM scholarships in environmental education and communications this year. This was the first time that the students of environmental education and forest ecology were offered to apply for LVM scholarships, and they also made up the largest number of applicants this year.

This year, LVM scholarships were granted to students at 22 Latvian higher educational establishments in the fields of forestry, forest ecology, environmental communications and education, tree breeding and tissue culture, forestry management, logging management, forest infrastructure, geology, chemical timber processing, geographic information systems and logistics management.

LVM Personnel Department head Ligita Pudiņa says: “The goal of granting LVM scholarships is not only to motivate students to develop their skills, but also to attract young specialists to LVM – to increase the number of students and foster their desire to improve the quality of studies in the areas interesting LVM”.

For the first time, the best students of Ogre State Technical College also received seven scholarships. They study to become forestry technicians, forest machinery operators and mechanics, plus there is one special incentive scholarship to a first-year student that will be paid out in the second term. From November 2012 to June 2013, Ogre State Technical College students will receive LVL 70 monthly scholarships, and students at higher educational establishment - LVL 90 monthly scholarships.

Most recipients admit that the scholarships are not only monetary benefits, but also an opportunity for a better understanding of forests, since LVM will organize special educational seminars – expeditions to forests – for all scholarship recipients this year. Those working on their bachelor and master papers will be able to obtain detailed information and materials for their research.

“I really want to see how theoretical knowledge can be used in practice! After the interview, my first thought was, even if I do not get the scholarship, I will still apply for participation in LVM seminars since I want to work in environmental education in the future,” LVM scholarship recipient Baiba Rudzoga, a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Latvia and studies nature sciences and IT, said after signing the contract.

LVM scholarship recipient Andris Avotiņš, who has entered the University of Latvia Biology Faculty for his master’s degree, says that the scholarship will provide a chance for more in-depth studies that are not only the subject of his master’s paper, but also his professional hobby - the influence of biotopes on the nesting and reproduction of Ural owls. 

Information prepared by LVM Communications Projects Managers Anda Sproģe and Līga Zute-Abizāre