Department of International Business and Economics

Areas of work, main tasks and objectives

The Department of International Business and Economics aims provide higher education on a bachelors', masters' and doctoral level in different fields of business and marketing creating a modern, innovative and development-oriented learning environment, as well as to conduct scientific research integrating results into realising the study process.

Tasks

1. To prepare highly qualified specialists who will be in-demand on the labour market with a profound knowledge of international business management, marketing, advertising and start-ups, who are able to achieve high performance in the private and public sector by implementing the following programmes:
   • bachelors' programmes in Latvian (International Business and Sustainable Economy, International Marketing and Advertising, Startup Entrepreneurship) and in English (International Business and Start-up Entrepreneurship)
   • masters' programmes (in Latvian) International Business and Law, International Marketing and Advertising
   • doctoral programme (in Latvian and English) Business Administration.
2. To ensure students master theoretical knowledge, research abilities and skills in the main disciplines of business management, marketing, advertising and organisation of start-ups.
3. To develop research work by participating in the implementation of scientific and practical projects, as well as disseminating results in the international academic environment.
4. To promote the professional growth, competence development and careers of academic staff and employees.
5. To cooperate with universities, employers, industry associations and professional organisations in Latvia and abroad.

Research directions

International and local cooperation

Collaboration with Latvian and international universities and colleges that have similar study programmes:

• The University of Latvia, Riga Technical University

• City University of Applied Sciences, Hochschule Bremen (Germany), University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Business School, United Business Institutes, Middlesex University Business School branch in Brussels (Belgium), Free University of Brussels (Belgium), Chitkara University (India), Kutaisi University (Georgia), European University Tbilisi (Georgia)

• Cooperation agreements have been signed with the following universities under the Erasmus Mundus programme:
  • Universitetet i Oslo (Norway)
  • Vaasan Yliopisto (Finland)
  • Süleyman Demirel University (Turkey)
  • Otto-Friedrick Universität Bamberg (Germany)
  • Hochschule Wismar (Germany)
  • Universität Konstanz (Germany)
  • Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelme Universität Bonn (Germany)
  • University of Akureyri (Iceland)
  • Università degli studi di Trenta (Italy)
  • Aarhus Universitet (Denmark)
  • Fontys International Hogeschool Economie (Netherlands)
  • Wyższa Szkoła Biznesu (Poland)
  • and other European universities.

Cooperation with Latvian employers and professional organisations

To following steps are being taken to promote the involvement of employers and professional organisations in preparing prospective highly qualified specialists, as well as enhance the RSU students’ labour force competitiveness:

• there is active cooperation with the Art Directors Club, the Business Efficiency Association, the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Start-up Association, the Latvian Ergonomics Association, the Riga High Tech Education Association, the Latvian Association of Economists, the LAS Institute of Economics, the Latvian European Community Studies Association;
• visiting lectures are organised on a regular basis that are conducted by prominent Latvian and international specialists, researchers, leaders of public institutions and international organisations;
• classes on location at various companies are organised to be able to review and learn about specific companies, as well as to learn best-practice examples at local and international companies;
• cooperation agreements with business companies (for example, BSMS, Spilva, Evotek, PanoniaGroup, OWA, Behrens Corporate Finance, Executive Search Baltics etc.) have been concluded covering guest lectures, student visits, master classes and student placements;
• there are placement agreements with local, international companies, organisations and public administration institutions;
• a Week of Career Opportunities is organised annually at which representatives of local and international companies participate to share their experiences and inviting students to work with them.

Cooperation with international employers and professional organisations

• the European Commission's representation in Latvia
• Business Systems Laboratory
• International Ergonomics Association
• Centre for Studies in International Development and Economic and Social Movements
• EBES (Eurasia Business and Economics Society)
• IFO Institute – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich Center for Economic Studies
• Ebert Foundation.

International and local projects

Local projects

• Fundamental and Applied Research project Climate change narrative in Latvia: in search of a “golden opportunity” for civil society, the economy and foreign policy (lzp-2020/1-0047). Project approved. Starting date: 1 January 2021
• National research programme to lessen the effects of Covid-19
• Involvement of society in social innovation processes to ensure sustainable development of Latvia (INTERFRAME-LV) (in Latvian) which is part of the national research programme 'Latvian heritage and future challenges to national sustainability'
• Involvement of society in social innovation processes to ensure sustainable development of Latvia (in Latvian) which is part of the national research programme 'Transformation of the national economy, smart growth, management and legal framework for the sustainable development of state and society – new approaches for creating a sustainable knowledge society (EKOSOC-LV)

International projects

• Risk Management and PREVENTion of AntIbioTics Resistance | PREVENT IT
• ESPON study on a European Territorial Reference Framework
• New assessment of administrative costs and burden in the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds
• World Competitiveness Yearbook
• Jean Monnet Network
• Study on the expected results of Cohesion Policy in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia
• COST project CA16206 Empowering the next generation of social enterprise scholars
• Empowering Citizens to Transform European Public Administrations (CITADEL)
• World Economic Survey, IFO Institute – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich Center for Economic Studies