The Characteristic of Professional Higher Education Bachelor Study Programme “Computer Design” in Daugavpils University

Prof. Aleksandra Slahova, Dr.Paed;

Lecturer Maris Cacka, Mg.Paed;

Lecturer Ilze Volonte, Mg. Paed;

Lecturer Jolanta Savvina, Mg.Paed;

Lecturer Zeltite Barsevska, Mg.Paed;

Assistant Alnis Stakle, Mg.Paed;

Assistant Mairita Folkmane, Mg.Paed;

Assistant Baiba Valpetere, Mg.Paed;

Assistant Ilze Meldere, Mg.Paed;

Assistant Agita Aleksandrovica, Mg.Paed;

Department of Art, Faculty of Music and Art, Daugavpils University

e-mail: artdep@dau.lv

Abstract

One of the priorities of the European Union is to lend stability to Latvia (including Latgale as well), which is impossible without the presence of art. Therefore the task of Daugavpils University is to strengthen the development of creative work in the Latgale region, which can be affined by implementing the study programme and training highly qualified specialists.

Currently higher education institutions of Latvia train the specialists in computer design, however Daugavpils University is the first university that has started the implementation of this programme by combining the former programmes (art and programming) into one whole.

In this article features of the professional higher education bachelor study programme “Computer Design” directed on the development in trained creative and professional abilities are opened.

1. Aims and objectives of the study programme

The aim of the Professional Higher Education Bachelor Study programme “Computer Design” is training of internationally competitive specialists with versatile knowledge in art, design and computer design. With a further professional training these specialists could become proficient experts able to meet the current and prospective demand for this type of specialists in various branches of Latvia’s economy (art, culture, research, production).

The objectives set to achieve these aims are as follows:

to foster the perfection of students so that they should become free, responsible and creative personalities;
to promote the acquisition of artistic knowledge, skills and abilities so that the students should be competent in contemporary art, design and computer design and should motivate themselves for further education;
to offer possibilities for preparing to continue there professional education in master study programme.
to introduce the students to the theoretical fundamentals of art and information technologies;
to teach the practical implementation of composition tasks by qualitatively analysing their separate stages;
to develop visual perception by observing objects and phenomena in nature;
to reveal aesthetics values in works of visual art;
to develop visual memory, feeling for colors; to teach to depict the form of an object in space graphic means;
to impart the necessary knowledge and skills of practical work by working in a computer environment and applying different software.

These objectives are to be realized by giving the students theoretical knowledge and professional practices. By during practical tasks, in which the results of systematic training and the obtained skills and abilities in portraying are mirrored, the psychic cognitive processes and creative activities are developed.

The studies take place at the Faculty of Music and Art of Daugavpils University. By acquiring the study programme, the student obtains both the professional Bachelor’s degree in art and qualification “Computer designer”.

The acquisition of the programme in full-time studies will take 4 years (160 CP).

2. Structure of the Study Programme

Structure of the study programme is illustrated in a diagram (see figure1).

General education courses (20 CP or 12% from the study programme in total: General theory of culture; Semiotics; Phenomenology of art; Theory of art; General history of culture; Psychology of art; Technologies of personal growth; Psychology of image; Foreign language studies) are compulsory for all students enrolled and matriculated in the Professional Higher Education Bachelor Study Programme “Computer Design”. These studies comprise the basic courses of art theory in the bachelor’s standard part, which give versatile knowledge, skills and abilities in principal branches of art. Students work out and defend study papers in history of art.

Figure 1. Structure of the study programme

Theoretical basic courses and courses in information technologies (36 CP or 22% from the study programme in total: History of art; Composition; Plastic Anatomy; Chiseling; Studies of letters; Graphic works; Foundations of descriptive geometry and perspective; Study of colour; Theory and history of philosophy and others) comprise theoretical courses as well as other basic courses in art, culture and information technologies.

Courses of professional specialization (60 CP or 38% from the study programme in total: Operating System Windows NT and Windows 2000, basic software administrating; General characteristics of new information technologies. Introduction to the theory of colours; Computernets and communications; Mathematical logic; Software of non-linear video montage; Word processors, spreadsheets, data bases (Microsoft Office); Drawing; Painting; Professional composition; Raster graphics, preliminary of print work; Raster graphics, preliminary of print work; Two-dimensional animation (Ulead Gif Animator, Animator Studio); Three-dimensional graphics and animation (MAX); Vector graphics (Corel Draw); Desktop publishing software (Adobe Page Maker) Creating portable files; Creation of home page; Multimedia technologies and project; Sound in multimedia; Theory and practice of modern programming; Technical graphics). Students have a possibility to acquire the academic foundations of art in practical classes of artistic creativity and creative activities. In this part of the programme, students work out and defend their work in composition.

Optional courses (6 CP or 4%) comprise several optional courses of the bachelor programme. From these students have to choose courses comprising 6 credit points from the study programme in total.

Bachelor’s thesis and practices (38 KP or 24% from the study programme in total). During the training students have three professional qualification practices (26 CP), and they have to work out the bachelor’s thesis.

To obtain a professional master’s degree in art, the graduates can continue their studies in master study programmes higher education institutions both in Latvia and abroad.

The second, third and forth year students are to have professional qualification practice: 8 weeks long in the second year (8 CP), 8 weeks long – in the third year (8 CP), 10 weeks – in the fourth year (10 CP). The DU regulations on the organization of practices regulate the process of professional qualification practice.

Practice in art – pleinair is organization in open air in Dagda, Kraslava and Daugavpils. According to the study plan it takes place in the first and second year of studies during two weeks of spring semester (4 CP).

During the art-pleinair in the second study year, the students have their training practice (visits to museums in some country; after that 1 week long exhibition of their creative works is organized – see figures 2,3).

Figure 2. Figure 3.

Drawings created by nature Drawings created by nature

The study process envisages 3 study works: one in history of art, the second and the third – according to the qualification chosen (see figures 4,5).

Figure 4. Figure 5.

Fragment of study work Fragment of study work

In the end of training students carry out and defence of the bachelor thesis (see figures 6, 7).

Figure 6. Figure 7.

Fragment of bachelor thesis Fragment of bachelor thesis

3. Information about the cooperation with other frameworks, theoretical and applied research

Professional study programme has a successful partnership with other Latvia’s and foreign higher education institutions, state organizations and non – governmental organizations. The cooperation with similar programmes of the Liepaja Academy of Pedagogy, Art Academy of Latvia and its branch in Latgale fosters exchange of experience, participation in joint conferences and other projects. As a result of this cooperation the content of the study programmes has been coordinated with the programmes of the Liepaja Academy of Pedagogy, joint research has been organized.

Most significant partners are:

· Association of Artists Educators,

· Association of Daugavpils regional artists.

Some lecturers are members of international professional organizations.

Academic staff of the Department of Art exchange the information, scientific materials and, on special occasions, carries out common research with the scientists from such countries, as Sweden, Belarus, Lithuania, Finland, Germany, Italy, USA.

Main directions of research work conducted by the Department of Art are a study of ways toward a perception of structure and content of the subjects of the programme, fostering the students’ interest in visual art and their creative activities. The results also are approbated through participation in international conferences and seminars (Australia, Belarus, Estonia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, Finland, France, Portugal, Sweden Thailand, USA).

Each year the academic staff of the Department of Art participate in Art exhibitions held in Daugavpils, in other cities and countries: in Belarus, Sweden, in Denmark, Lithuania, Germany, Russia, Italy. Altogether there were 82 exhibitions.

References

Figure 2 - Drawings of student Natalija Maksimcikova.

Figure 3 - Drawings of student Sarmite Logina.

Figure 4 - Fragment of study work of student Danute Janaudite.

Figure 5 - Fragment of study work of student Daina Vilcina.

Figure 6 - Fragment of bachelor thesis of student Ludmila Ekalne.

Figure 7 - Fragment of bachelor thesis of student Jelena Labonarska.