No.8

BOVA online

Dear Reader,

BOVA secretariat is happy to announce that the BOVA website is available online since January 31, 2003. Its address is: http://www.bova-university.org

The average visiting rate during the first month reaches 4 visitors per day including weekends.

Vitality of the BOVA website depends on contributions from all of us. So, please feel free to write your comments regarding website contents or ask to publish information you like to share in the NOVA-BOVA network. We have introduced a special section for hot news for spreading information instantly. Please do not hesitate to use this tool. Course organisers from BOVA Universities are especially welcomed to use this webpage for their needs.

Newsletter �NOVA-BOVA News� will be also available on this website include an archive of previous number.

BOVA Rector meeting

The seventh BOVA Rector meeting took place in Jelgava, Latvia University of Agriculture, in January 30, 2003. At meeting also participated BOVA CC members, coordinators and secretary as well as NOVA-BOVA coordinator Vilis Brukas representing the NOVA University.

Discussions at the meeting focused on MSc programmes and courses and especially on the promotion of teachers and students to take part in BOVA activities. Professor Vulf Kozlinskis presented MSc programme in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness and shared his experience in developing a joint international MSc study programme. The development of (NOVA-BOVA disciplinary networks was noted to be very relevant to the joint MSc programmes. Presence of strong networks could lead to joint educations at MSc level. Joint research projects also could be a basis to launch networks.

Meeting participants agreed that the first NOVA-BOVA conference will be held in Lithuania in October 16-18, 2003. Conference venue remains under consideration.

Another important topic was possibilities of the internal BOVA funding. Meeting participants agreed that majority of BOVA activities also depends on internal funding and that universities should support them. Agreement about establishment of separate budget item denoted for BOVA activities was not reached at this time. Alvidas Sarlauskas presented the BOVA logo and homepage that was approved by the meeting.

Meeting ended by signing a letter of intentions for the Baltic Journal of Agricultural Science.

NCM provides a grant for VUSABALT

In late December 2002, the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) has approved a grant of DKK 450,000 for the NOVA University. The grant is aimed at developing VUSABALT - a Virtual University for Sustainable Agriculture in the Baltic Sea Region. The grant is intended for year 2003 with possible extension to 2004.

It is expected that NOVA-BOVA will form the core in the development of VUSABALT.

During 2003, VUSABALT should give rise to:

1. Extension of cooperation activities to North West Russia, Poland and Germany.

2. Initiate model courses based on the methods of distance learning.

3. Result in application(s) to EU 6th framework and possibly other donors.

Application to NOVA PhD courses

Following the deadlines by NorFa, six NOVA courses were available in the second round. All course organisers have agreed to consider Baltic applicants and prepare applications to NorFa. Cordial thanks are extended to Egil Prestl�kken (NLH), Jan Stenlid (SLU), Hilde-G. Opsahl-Ferstad (NLH), John Sumelius (HU), Eli Grindflek (NLH), and Rolf Bjerke Larssen (NVH).

In total, 21 Baltic PhD studentshave applied, cf. the table on the right. A lesson from the second application round is that the applicants should pay more attention in describing their background and research interests.

Planning of the international MSc programme �Business Economics and Management�

Latvia University of Agriculture is planning an international Master programme �Business Economics and Management� for the academic year 2003/2004. There are 20 places available for students from the Baltic countries (5 from Estonia, 5 from Lithuania and 10 from Latvia). Studies will be subsidised be the Latvian government. Applications to the programme will be admitted from June 30 till July 22, 2003.

Director of program Prof. Vulfs Kozlinskis welcomes professors from BOVA Universities to take part in the programme.

More detailed information will be available on the BOVA homepage: http://www.bova-university.org/

Updated timing for MSc courses

Seven short intense MSc courses are planned at the BOVA universities for the spring and summer 2003. Course leaders have been on working on inviting guest teachers and planning the best time schedules. Five courses have already set timing and some of them are presently starting the distance learning part.

More detailed information about short intense MSc course could be found on BOVA homepage http://www.bova-university.org/index.php?list=msc

2002-2003 � BOVA University, NOVA University