Four-way cooperation agreement signed to elevate health and sports science research

The Ministry of Education and Science (MoES), the Ministry of Health (MoH), Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), and the Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LASE) signed a four-party cooperation agreement on 18 April this year. The agreement was concluded on the basis of an order of the Cabinet of Ministers’ that provides for the consolidation of LASE and RSU from 1 July this year. It will define the obligations of the parties involved as well as the procedure for the integration process of the two institutions of higher education.

‘RSU has a clear vision of the future prospects and development of a research university in a joint organisation with LASE.

We will create a unified health and sports science ecosystem that will ensure high quality, internationally competitive, research-based higher education and good governance together with our colleagues from LASE,’ emphasised RSU Rector Prof. Aigars Pētersons. ‘We anticipate a transition period of two years for the consolidation process, during which we will implement all activities funded by the consolidation grants and adapt the study and research infrastructure and processes to the standards of a research university.’

Having signed the four-party agreement, the Rector of LASE, Assoc. Prof. Kalvis Ciekurs also sees an opportunity to improve the quality of studies and research in sports science and health care, as well as to establish closer cooperation with practitioners in the field of sport:

‘The signing of the agreement is another important step towards further strengthening the cooperation between the two universities.

I am convinced that the joining of LASE as the only university in Latvia that coordinates and conducts research in sport and trains sport specialists of all levels is a mutually reinforcing process.’

Additionally, Ciekurs stressed that the government’s decision on LASE’s consolidation and inclusion into the RSU structure as of 1 July this year will not significantly affect the study programmes of the current LASE students: ‘In parallel, work will be carried out on interdisciplinary programmes. The integration into RSU will allow us to introduce new digital solutions and develop new projects by efficiently sharing resources. The common goal of both universities is to provide students with quality education and the specialists and research needed for the development of the sports sector.

We are currently facing a lot of work and many challenges to meet the interests of our staff and students in working for the development of sport in Latvia.’

The cooperation agreement will define the responsibilities of the MoES and MoH in the consolidation process, ensuring the availability of financial instruments, monitoring of the process, as well as the principles of future activities of LASE after its integration into the RSU and the procedure for cooperation between the two universities during the reorganisation process.

After the reorganisation, LASE will retain its academic and scientific autonomy, as well as its name and symbols, in order to develop research excellence in the field of health and sports sciences, and thus also in the field of national sports policy. The resources of RSU will ensure a higher quality of educational studies and research, and LASE will be able to use IT systems, project management, legal, and other resources.