Students' Self-directed Learning in the Context of Industrial Challenges: Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies Case

Students' self-directed learning (SDL) is analysed as a means to promote the development of professionals who are active life-long learners, ready to complex problem solving, leadership and flexible adaptation to social and economic situations. That is why the aim of the study was to analyse the components of SDL essential for nowadays socio-economic situation and to find out SDL results from the students of Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LLU). The method of questionnaire was used to investigate the students' self-assessment on their SDL focusing on purposefulness, motivation for knowledge, implementation of effective learning sfrategies, responsibility, control assessment of learning progress, importance to express one' s view and time management. The results of the study were obtained from 305 first-year students of LLU. Medium results dominate in relation to implementation of effective learning sfrategies, importance to express one's view and time management. It means that preferably an electronic aid on learning sfrategies and more flexible learning environments for the first year students is necessary. The study results also indicate that more teaching methods promoting views expression are of high importance and should be included in further education courses for teachers.