Latvia University of Agriculture (LLU) was founded in 1939 and its oldest faculty is the Faculty of Agriculture, founded in 1863, which has close cooperation with many universities abroad. LLU has been a rapidly growing institution in the time period since Latvia regained its independence.
The university is located in Jelgava - an old cultural city which is only 40 km from the capital of Latvia - Riga, which offers a good service of transportation between both cities.
The university is multi-profiled - the studies as well as research deal with agriculture, forestry, food technology, veterinary medicine, civil and environmental engineering, economics, education, social sciences and information technologies.
Latvia University of Agriculture provides education, research, extension and continuing studies in agriculture, food industry and forestry. LLU is the only higher agricultural education establishment in Latvia and it aims to: promote intellectual potential for rural development in agriculture; encourage young people to acquire higher academic and professional education; develop research; contribute to the cultural development; study, maintain and perfect the gained experience from the Latvian people and pass it over to the future generations.
The number of students is about 9000 and the number of lecturers and researchers reaches more than 500; they carry out research significant for Latvia. They also carry out research concerning actual issues in the Baltic Sea Region. The lecturers are involved in various study and research programmes of the European Union.
Students often start studying in Jelgava and continue their studies in different European universities using a number of European programmes. Additionally, especially those who study towards their masters` and doctors` degrees are proceeding with their research in experimental fields or research forests, which are scattered all over Latvia. Study, research and training centres are located not only in Jelgava, but also in Vecauce, Pēterlauki, Sigulda, Skrīveri, Ulbroka and Vaive. The Forest Faculty carries out research in experimental bases of State Forest Research Station in various regions of Latvia.
The university has a large Fundamental library with almost 0.5 million books at its disposal. It has a wide access to information systems, technology, computer networks and computers.
Book resources in the field of agriculture, forestry and food technology are with national characteristics. The library has several branches at some faculties and a UN FAO deposition library.
There are study and research laboratories at the faculties. They, for instance, are laboratories of agronomical tests, wood properties research, water analysis and some other laboratories and they are certified and used on a national scale. At the faculty of Veterinary Medicine there are clinics for small and big animals. The seed cultivation, plant protection, environmental, landscape architecture, multi-profile engineering - technical, as well as home economics and other laboratories are being organized and upgraded.
Moreover, the Study and Research Centre of Rural Development has been set up at the Faculty of Economics.
Jelgava is recognized as a true students` city. It is famous not only for its old cultural traditions but also for its sports activities.
We welcome all who are interested in studies and research to Jelgava, Latvia University of Agriculture!
