RIGA, June 30 (LETA) - The current management model for state-owned companies, which relies on supervisory boards, has run its course, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs (United List) told reporters Tuesday.

He believes that Latvia has an excessive number of boards. "Board after board, but all we see as a result are scandals and very poor management," the prime minister said.

Kulbergs stated that the way state-owned companies are managed needs to be reviewed, and he plans to initiate a broader discussion on the supervisory boards of these enterprises.

The government today approved the appointment of board members of several universities.

As reported, last year the Saeima adopted amendments to the Higher Education Law, which provide for a reduction in the number of board members at all types of state higher education institutions.

Until now, the boards of research universities consisted of 11 members, five of whom were nominated by the senate, another five were selected by the ministry overseeing the university, and one outstanding representative of the academic community, not affiliated with the university’s operations, was nominated by the president.

The boards of universities of applied sciences consist of seven members. Three of them are nominated by the senate, three representatives of the public are selected by the ministry overseeing the university, while one outstanding representative of the field unaffiliated with the university is nominated by the president.

The amendments provide for reducing the number of members on the boards of research universities to seven, and at universities of applied sciences to five. Similarly, the number of board members nominated by the university's senate and the government will also be reduced - to three at research universities and to two at universities of applied sciences.