More Than Our Rank
By necessity, rankings rely on standardised metrics that apply across all higher education institutions. As a result, they cannot capture the unique historical and societal contexts that shape each university and the communities it serves. By joining the More Than Our Rank initiative by the International Network of Research Management Societies (INORMS), we highlight four key ways in which the value of RSU extends beyond its position in the rankings.
First, RSU is a driving force in Latvia for medical innovation that translates directly into clinical practice.
Through close collaboration with leading hospitals in Latvia and abroad, we swiftly convert scientific findings into real-world advances in diagnostics and patient care. RSU is also home to the largest medical simulation centre in Northern Europe, which spearheads the advancement of medical education in Latvia by integrating high fidelity simulations, immersive learning environments, and 3D modelling into clinical training. The transformative impact of such evidence-based clinical practices and technology-enhanced education is not captured by patent citation counts, funding from industry, or binary metrics of collaborations with health institutions, as used in university rankings.
Second, RSU plays a major role in shaping public understanding of health, science, and civic affairs.
Our faculty members appear on national television and radio almost daily, offering expert commentary on healthcare, politics, and media literacy. Their insights also contribute directly to public policy. Beyond media appearances and policy input, our students and staff actively engage the local community through various annual events, each attracting up to several thousand participants. These activities reflect RSU’s strong commitment to the public good, which has contributed to RSU being recognised by the Latvian public as the university with the best reputation in the country for nine consecutive years. Yet the tangible impact of RSU’s societal involvement is not captured by global university rankings, where public engagement is either unaccounted for or reduced to a binary metric within sustainability assessments.
Third, RSU plays a notable role in Latvia’s economy.
In 2024, higher education exports alone contributed an estimated 0.31% to the country’s GDP. As a major employer with over 2,300 academic and professional staff, RSU has also been recognised for its socially sustainable employment practices, earning the title of Latvia’s best public sector employer for three consecutive years.
Finally, RSU stands out with its ability to adapt academic programmes to meet evolving societal needs.
In response to security challenges in Europe, RSU became the first university in the Baltics to integrate military medicine into its curriculum, developed in close collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the National Armed Forces. This commitment to relevance and innovation is also reflected in the upcoming launch of Medicine 3.0, a fundamentally reimagined study programme designed to equip future health professionals with digital health, artificial intelligence, legal, and entrepreneurial skills. Having such a flexible curriculum and the ability to focus on regionally significant issues lie outside the scope of university rankings, which are designed for global comparison and often overlook context-specific strengths and emerging practices.
Use the interactive widget below to explore specific examples illustrating how RSU is much more than its rank through its strong focus on public service, innovation, and societal relevance.
Discover how RSU is more than its rank
