LBTU Council
Insight into the LBTU Council
The Council of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) is the university’s highest collegial decision-making body. It plays a key role in ensuring the university’s sustainable development, strategic governance, and financial oversight, while safeguarding institutional autonomy and academic freedom.
The Council is responsible for:
Approving the university’s Constitution and development strategy;
Overseeing the implementation of the strategy and internal control systems;
Approving LBTU’s annual budget, financial plan, and performance reports;
Evaluating and appointing the Rector, as well as setting their responsibilities and remuneration;
Making decisions on key matters such as organizational structure, the establishment of branches and units, involvement in companies or associations, and attracting investments.
Council members are expected to act in the university’s best interests, with integrity, responsibility, and transparency. High ethical standards are maintained, and potential conflicts of interest are avoided in accordance with legislation.
Before adopting decisions affecting tuition fees, scholarship policies, or study program closures, the Council seeks the opinion of the LBTU Student Union.
This governance structure supports LBTU’s mission to be a forward-looking, innovative, and internationally active academic and research institution.
Council Members
Laimdota Straujuma
Chairperson of the Council
laimdota.straujuma@lbtu.lv
Ģirts Krūmiņš
Deputy Chairperson of the Council, State Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Director of the Rural Support Service
girts.krumins@lbtu.lv
Edīte Kaufmane
Senior Researcher at the LBTU Institute of Horticulture
edite.kaufmane@lbtu.lv
Vladislavs Vesperis
Senior Researcher at LBTU, Deputy Head of the Cross-Sectoral Coordination Centre, Head of the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Division
vladislavs.vesperis@lbtu.lv
Armands Vekšins
Lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LBTU
armands.veksins@lbtu.lv
Arnis Muižnieks
Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Forest Owners' Association
arnis.muiznieks@lbtu.lv
Artūrs Bukonts
Executive Director of the Latvian Forest Industry Federation, the Latvian Independent Timber Harvesters Association, and the Latvian Wood Processing Entrepreneurs and Exporters Association
arturs.bukonts@lbtu.lv
Signe Bāliņa
Professor at the University of Latvia, President of the Latvian Information and Communications Technology Association (LIKTA)
signe.balina@lbtu.lv
Gints Birzietis
Professor at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, LBTU
gints.birzietis@lbtu.lv
Inga Ciproviča
Professor at the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology, LBTU
inga.ciprovica@lbtu.lv