Centre for Educational Growth

About us

In 2014, the Centre for Educational Growth (CEG) was set up with the aim of creating a hub that would systematically ensure academic staff’s pedagogical growth. Primarily, the centre coordinates the continuing education of lecturers by analyzing the need for competence enhancement, organising training, and collecting data on lecturer participation. Already in the first years, the scope of the center’s daily activities covered not only implementing continuing education for academic staff but also included analysis of the quality of the study process and the identification and implementation of improvement solutions. Over time, the center’s functions expanded and were defined in regulations. CEG added the functions of analysis and quality improvement of the study process, and study innovations to its responsibilities. The CEG team provides an internal support framework for the RSU community on a daily basis actively collaborates on a local and international level. The quality of the center’s operations is ensured by the competence of its administrative, pedagogical, and research staff, which in turn enables the implementation of evidence-based innovations in the field of higher education.

The goal of the centre is to modernise and improve the quality of the study process.

Lifelong learning is a never-ending journey, an exploration of the world and of oneself. Through it, you can forge a mastery of a profession that opens up an inexhaustible source of inspiration for both individual and collaborative growth.

CEG Director Dr. paed., Assoc. Prof. Nora Jansone-Ratinika

Strategic objectives

Strengthening innovations in the study process for sustainable and high-quality study programmes

We analyse and monitor study quality indicators, as well as coordinate the accreditation of study fields and licensing of study programmes. We implement the pedagogy courses that are a part of different study programmes at RSU and we distribute and integrate good practices of pedagogical work by engaging in study innovation projects.

Supporting the development of the pedagogical competence of lecturers

By analysing students' and academic staffs' needs, we ensure the continuing education of established academic staff, as well as the pedagogical growth of young lecturers. We advise academic staff on the implementation of student-centered pedagogical solutions, ensure the enhancement of their pedagogical-digital competences, and support the implementation of the technology-enhanced study process and e-learning.

Promoting the synergy between the study process and research

We conduct research in educational sciences (higher education pedagogy and adult education), as well as provide support for academic staff in implementing pedagogical research, systematically collecting, analysing and sharing the experiences of study innovations and implementing research projects.

Enriching external cooperation networks

We share the experience of RSU with both Latvian and international universities and other organisations, implement innovation projects, and coordinate the development of international and joint study programmes. We also represent RSU in Latvian (LPIA, LTC) and international organisations (EUA, AMEE) and offer opportunities for pedagogical improvement to external stakeholders (academic staff of other universities, healthcare professionals, etc.).

Cooperation partners

The team at the Centre for Educational Growth is open to external cooperation both within Latvia and internationally. We build partnerships with Latvian and European universities to jointly implement study process development and innovation projects, and to apply for and implement Erasmus+ initiatives. We are active in exchanging experiences with peers in the industry and engage in international networks to stay informed about developments in higher education.

We see the opportunity for external cooperation and involvement in international initiatives to

• brainstorm about a vision for higher education;

• share RSU’s experience and good practices;

• build a network of contacts to establish and strengthen long-term cooperation and gain external expertise.

By opening the door to cooperation, we increase the capacity for innovation!

International cooperation

University of British Columbia (Canada) We have cooperated with Prof. Andis Klegeris, the head of the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at Okanagan Campus of the University of British Columbia, Canada, for many years. The cooperation aims to strengthen the RSU academic staff’s expertise in designing study courses, assessing learning outcomes, implementing problem-based learning, and exchanging ideas on joint initiatives in research.
The European University Association (EUA) RSU is a member institution of the EUA with the CEG coordinating the cooperation on learning and teaching. We work in Thematic Peer Groups with other European universities. These promote the study and exchange of institutional practices to develop written recommendations for European universities on how to improve learning and teaching each year. We also annually participate in the European Learning & Teaching Forum, organised by EUA, where the most up-to-date higher education development trends are discussed and the Thematic Peer Groups present their work. From 2020 to 2022, the CEG participated in the Leadership and Organisation for Teaching and Learning at European Universities (LOTUS) project. This project was co-financed by the European Commission to support the implementation of Common European Higher Education Area reforms, enhancing capacity building and strategic change management in higher education institutions across Europe. We conducted research, developed materials, and organised seminars that support strategic learning and teaching innovations in education policy and universities in collaboration with universities, ministries, university associations, student and employee organisations, rectors' councils, and other partners. The following sources are useful in daily work and when planning development for innovations: EUA publications EUA YouTube channel
Koç University Office of Learning and Teaching (Turkey) We have established a close collaboration with the prestigious Koç University in Istanbul. The CEG cooperates with the Koç University Office of Learning and Teaching in the following directions: participation in international forums and working groups for representatives of higher education; implementation of continuing education for academic staff; transformation of the study process in the context of challenges posed by the Covid pandemic; mutual consultations to promote a pedagogical approach; the validation/evaluation of educational materials that have been developed;  the integration of digital solutions in the study process.
National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Ireland) In cooperation with the National Forum of Ireland, we promote international cooperation and organise educational seminars for academic staff from RSU that address the importance and possibilities of international cooperation:  strengthening the culture of lifelong learning; modernising pedagogical practice; exchanging experiences and ideas among academic staff; involving students in inter-university initiatives; carrying out joint research; applying for and implementing projects; sharing educational materials through the Creative Commons licensed collection of open educational resources, The National Resource Hub.
Arcada University of Applied Sciences (Finland) We have broad and interdisciplinary cooperation with Arcada University of Applied Sciences: we work together with the School of Business and Healthcare and the School of Engineering, Culture and Wellbeing in several Erasmus+ projects, developing the integration of the Skills Monitoring System created by RSU into study programmes; we cooperate with the Patient Safety and Learning Centre in the implementation of simulation scenarios in the study process; we strengthen the mastery of the academic staff of both universities in planning and implementing a competence-based pedagogical design in study courses by pooling the experience of the CEG and Arcada learning support specialists.
The Centre of Expertise in Learning and Teaching at the University of Twente (Netherlands) We cooperate with the Centre of Expertise in Learning and Teaching at the University of Twente by organising onsite and online experience exchange visits on: the national framework of the pedagogical qualification of academic staff; the organisation of continuing education of academic staff; the provision of pedagogical support for the creation of innovations in the study process; international trends in the modernisation of study programmes.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) We are developing the following projects within the Latvian Educational Innovation Lab’s Strategic Education Innovation Project Support Programme in cooperation with mentors from MIT: A digital platform for the unified skills monitoring system of Rīga Stradiņš University and Latvian medical institutions; Crisis communication simulation games in the healthcare sector.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Jameel World Education Lab (MIT J-WEL) Our learning and teaching experts have trained in the MIT J-WEL programme What is a course? 2023 J-WEL Course Design Workshop on how to develop a course design.

Cooperation in Latvia

We cooperate with various organisations and educational institutions in the following areas to reinforce RSU's existing initiatives and open up opportunities for new activities:

• higher education research projects;
• study process modernisation projects;
• organising training to improve academic staff’s pedagogical competence;
• conducting training to improve the professional competence of the heads of academic structural units, and the directors of study programmes;
• pedagogical and professional experience exchange activities;
• developing guidelines, recommendations, reports, and other educational materials;
• the validation of learning and teaching innovation solutions;
• disseminating good practices;
• participating in expert networks and working groups;
• reviewing scientific and educational materials.

Academic Information Centre  Academic integrity Accreditation and licensing Improvement of academic staff's competence Internal and external quality assessment A qualifications framework Future skills portfolio Mapping of learning outcomes
Alberta College The improvement of academic staff's pedagogical competence Study process modernisation A technology-enhanced study process
BA School of Business and Finance Academic integrity Study process modernisation The development of technologies and their application in the study process and business environment
Daugavpils University The promotion of active learning, interaction, micro-learning, self-assessment Quality monitoring of e-learning Virtual laboratories during the study process
EKA University of Applied Sciences Digital scenarios to improve professional competence The creation of interactive learning materials Technology-enhanced learning Self-assessment of knowledge
Ministry of Education and Science  The creation and implementation of the academic career framework Education quality monitoring Competence-based education The development and improvement of regulatory enactments Digital transformation of the study process Research and innovation projects in the study process Mapping learning outcomes Monitoring students’ transversal skills
University of Latvia Development and assessment of students’ transversal competences Academic staff’s pedagogical and digital competence The formulation, acquisition, and assessment of learning outcomes Study course design Academic integrity Artificial intelligence solutions in the study process Academic staff careers
Emergency Medical Service Designing training for professional improvement  Students' skills acquisition in clinical placements
RISEBA  University academic staff’s pedagogical improvement Internal and external quality assessment The certification of learning outcomes Mapping learning outcomes
Riga Higher Institute of Religious Sciences Internal and external analysis and assessment of the quality of higher education The improvement of academic staff’s paedagogical competence Study course design The formulation and assessment of learning outcomes
Riga Business School Innovations and leadership in the higher education ecosystem
Riga Technical University Academic integrity The integration of high-performance computing solutions into study courses The improvement of lecturers’, students’, and industry representatives’ digital skills Continuing education for lecturers The improvement of educational management competence The implementation of combined studies
RTU Latvian Maritime Academy Academic integrity Hybrid studies
Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences Simulation games in strategic communication Assessment of learning outcomes in a digital environment
Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Student-centred approach in implementing study courses Developing study programme directors’ and university management paedagogical leadership