News

 BISS has started project "Sociological analysis of factors facilitating and impeding development of Private Public partnership in Latvia"  

01/02/2010

In the February 1st, 2010 BISS has started a project „Sociological analysis of factors facilitating and impeding development of Private Public partnership in Latvia”. Project is supported by the Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway within the framework of the EEA financial tool and the Government of Norway bilateral financial tool, as well as with the support of Latvia through the Society Integration Fund. The rights to implement the project BISS achieved in the competition of the NGO project program. Read more

 Results of research on "Third Country Nationals' Integration System Development"  

30/12/2009

The Baltic Institute of Social Sciences took up a research project "Third country nationals' integration system development" (contract no. 2007/1.1/1). The aim of the project is to facilitate development of welcoming society which is aware of immigration policy significance and necessity and could regard immigrants and guest workers positively and adequately, both at the everyday communication level and at the level of state institutions providing social services to immigrants. The research was co-financed by the European Union.

We have identified five areas of research which focus on the main aspects of the integration of third-country nationals inLatvia. These five areas interweave through all of the segments of the study:

• Accessibility of the labour market and inclusion therein (including labour and residence permit producers, economic and social dependency upon one’s employer, and a shortage of social guarantees);

• The provision of and access to social services (including health care, education, housing and language lessons);

• The establishment and maintenance of social contacts and open social networks (including problems related to culture, segregation in labour and housing, as well as fences erected by various groups in society);

• Political participation (the right to vote in local government elections, participation in consultative mechanisms, membership in labour unions, and membership in other social and non-governmental organisations);

• Discrimination (particularly focused on racial, ethnic and religious discrimination, as well as institutional discrimination).

Report (PDF)

This year, following the requirements of the European Commission with respect to immigrant integration, Latvia has started the acquisition of The European Fund for the Integration of Third-country nationals. The aim of the fund is to facilitate the development of immigrant integration sysyem which takes into consideration recommendation of the EU. The EU recommendations suggest inclusive society, based on communication, mutual respect and humanism, as well as inclusive institutions with lucid functions according to juridical norms. This summer, the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences took up a research project "Third country nationals' integration system development" (contract no. 2007/1.1/1). The research is co-financed by the European Union. Read more

  Formation of the Inhabitant's Regional Networks for Knowledge Dissemination and Open Dialogue 

01/06/2009

The project - communicative social research "Formation of the Inhabitant's Regional Networks for Knowledge and Open Dialogue", by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences, aims to stimulate the social, economic and political activities of inhabitants. For a half-year period, entrepreneurs and farmers participated in discussions over the European Union fund acquisition, their future intentions with respect to the fund acquisition and overall experiences. The design of the project followed a bottom-up model of policy development. The entrepreneurs and farmers were also invited to discuss these matters with decision makers hailing from various levels as well as social partners. Initially, local discussions were held by the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences in order to learn the effect these EU funds had over entrepreneurs un farmer's lives. With every subsequent project stage, higher levels of decision makers and opinion makers were involved in discussions that faciliatated debate and helped identify barriers to the EU funding acquisition.

Information on the project and its results is available here

 BISS participates in international project on educational strategies that promote social cohesion 

19/02/2008

Baltic Institute of Social Sciences participates in INCLUD-ED Project which is financed by the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission. Together with University of Barcelona and other project partners BISS realizes research on educational strategies that promote social cohesion in Europe. In order to analyze effective educational practices, where education contributes to overcome social exclusion in different educational levels, several case studies of different educational institutions (kindergarten, primary school, secondary school and vocational school) in Latvia will be carried out.

Read more about project implementation process here