The Higher Education Financing System: The Case of Latvia

AbstractThe aim of the present article is to evaluate the higher education financing system and to consider the opportunities for improvement of the higher education financing model in Latvia. To reach this aim, the authors have analyzed the sources of direct and indirect financing of higher education establishments in Latvia and the conditions for allocation of financial resources. Investigating the higher education financing model, the existing model has been analyzed, which comprises a range of baseline costs. It has been concluded that in order to improve the financing model of the Latvian higher education system, it should be reoriented towards increasing performance efficiency and effectiveness of higher education establishments. Having conducted the present research, the authors have come to the conclusion that the higher education financing model of the Latvian state higher education establishments should be mainly based on the state funding. It is also necessary to develop and elaborate the system according to which higher education establishments will have to perform internal proportional allocation of funds