Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies is a higher education and science establishment of the Republic of Latvia, where scientific research and academic and professional study programs are carried out. The University's primary goal is to create the intellectual potential to provide sustainable development of Latvia and its countryside while becoming an up-to-date, internationally recognized, and prestigious University, which actively integrates into the united European space of higher education science. The history of the University dates back to 1863 when the Department of Agriculture was established in the Riga Polytechnic. In 1919 the University of Latvia opened the Department of Agriculture, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
In 1936 the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia decided to transfer the Agriculture Faculty of the University to Latvia to Jelgava, thus founding a new higher education establishment. On 23, 1938, Kārlis Ulmanis, the president and prime minister, proclaimed "The Constitution of the Jelgava Academy of Agriculture."
On July 3, 1939, a new academic institution with two faculties: agriculture and forestry, was opened in Jelgava. n July 1944, after the Jelgava Palace was burnt down, the Academy ceased to exist. It was renewed in Riga as the Latvia Academy of Agriculture. On October 19, 1957, the Council of Ministers of the Latvian Soviet Socialistic Republic accepted a decision to transfer the Academy to Jelgava. Till 1964 all the faculties of the Academy were transferred to Jelgava. In 1991 according to the Academy's Council's decision, the Latvia Academy of Agriculture had renamed the Latvia University of Agriculture. In 1994 the Senate of the Latvia University of Agriculture approved the symbols of the University: the flag, the emblem, the attire of the administration, and academic staff.
To develop competitive intellectual capital based on excellence in research, application of research findings, high quality of education, and effective university management. Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies is one of the leading universities of science and technologies in the Baltic Sea region, specializing in the sustainable use of natural resources to enhance society's quality of life.
The Fundamental Library of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies is an accredited state significance library. It is the biggest library of agricultural literature in Latvia and the deposit library of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation and the national center of the information systems AGRIS and CARIS. All the publications in the stock of the library are available to the public. There is a spacious reading hall with a shelf arrangement for open access for readers and wireless Internet access. At the newly renovated Subscription premises, readers can receive publications not only for work at home but also for subscribe books and articles using the international agriculture library networks AGLINET and get them from other Latvian and foreign through the interlibrary loan system. The employees of the Reference and Information Centre help to find the necessary information in the library. There are various databases and other electronic publications available at the Centre.
Student Self-government serves as an intermediary between the university administration and student, providing mutual information exchange. Student Self-government unites active, creative, and enterprising students who like to be in the Centre of events and who spend their free time dealing with their peers' problems regarding academic, social, culture and sport life. The members of the Student Self-government represent and defend students' opinion and rights culture, meetings of the University's Convent, Senate, the Councils of Studies and Maintenance Assistance, various commissions and workgroups, as well as at the Latvian Students Association and other organizations at a national and international level. The Students Self-Government allows its members to develop their skills, gain experience, form social contacts, participate, and organize various university activities and elsewhere.
The Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies provides ample opportunities to participate in sports to its students and employees. The University has two sports halls, a swimming pool, aerobics, martial arts, fitness equipment, a sports ground, and a horse-riding sports center. Sports classes are available: basketball, volleyball, ping-pong, track-and-field athletics, Greek-Roman wrestling, judo, aerobics, floorball, orienteering, football, weight lifting, badminton, and horse-riding. Employees have the opportunity to participate in six kinds of sports.
Performances of amateur art groups from the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies are always welcomed with heartfelt applause not only at home but also at music and art festivals throughout Latvia and in the world, which is a great joy both for artists themselves but also for the Students' Club of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, which is the manager and coordinator of the groups' work. The groups composing the cultural activities are: the Jelgava Students' Theatre, the men's choir "Ozols" ("Oak"), the women's choir "Liepa" ("Linden"), the Folk Dance Group "Kalve" ("Smithy") and the Dance Group "Skalbe" ("Iris") and they all are the visiting cards of our University and also are the proud standard-bearers of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies in the Latvian Nationwide Song and Dance Festival. The Jelgava Students' Theatre performs for the community at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies all year round.
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