Corruption, Education and Science, Latvia, Legislation

At the moment, thirteen higher education institutions in Latvia have the right to issue doctorate degrees - but not RTTEMA. The ministry has established at least eight cases when doctorate degrees were awarded by the RTTEMA.

Dombrovskis has ordered the Education and Science Ministry's Higher Education, Science and Innovation Department and State Education Quality Service to carry out an investigation.

Dombrovskis also wants to double-check if all doctor's thesis and doctorate degrees in Latvia comply with the law.

On the other hand, RTTEMA Science Department's head Sanita Madalane told LETA that the RTTEMA had been granted the right to issue doctorate degrees in 2010 by the Latvian Academy of Sciences, which said the RTTEMA had a sufficient number professors to issue doctorate degrees.

All eight doctorate degrees awarded by the RTTEMA are fully in accord with the law and were granted with the Academy Science's consent. The entire procedure is in line with the relevant laws and regulations of Latvia, and the Education and Science Ministry's reproaches are unfounded, said Madalane.