Faculty of Social Sciences strengthens cooperation with industry and signs memorandum with LMT at Partnership Day

On 16 September, the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Faculty of Social Sciences brought together potential cooperation partners at Partnership Day to introduce them to the faculty’s competencies and discuss new cooperation opportunities in research, students’ professional development and innovation.

Partnership Day is part of the purposeful efforts of the RSU Faculty of Social Sciences to forge closer connections between academia, businesses and other organisations.

‘We wish to create partnerships that go beyond formal cooperation to jointly create knowledge, address topical challenges and provide students with the opportunity to work with innovations that are important for the labour market and society already during their studies.

The social sciences can make a significant contribution to such areas as technology development, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, societal resilience and international competitiveness,’ emphasises Līga Ozoliņa, Acting Vice-Dean of the RSU Faculty of Social Sciences.

The cooperation proposal of the RSU Faculty of Social Sciences is based on the broad competencies of the social sciences and the opportunity to combine different perspectives. Partners have the opportunity to cooperate in research, engage students in projects and internships, use academic expertise, and jointly develop new solutions.

Cooperation areas include artificial intelligence and technology, communication, data analysis, international relations, entrepreneurship and marketing, organisational and state resilience, health and safety, and other relevant fields.

‘Our aim is to promote data- and knowledge-driven decision-making within the country and society, and we wish to play an active role in this process.

To achieve this, collaboration between academia, the public sector and industry is essential – it is precisely through this interaction that research, data and practical experience can be brought together,’ emphasises Ieva Puzo, Dean of the RSU Faculty of Social Sciences.

Signing a memorandum with LMT

On of the most important moments of Partnership Day was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Faculty of Social Sciences and Latvijas Mobilais Telefons LLC (LMT).

The memorandum highlights the commitment of both parties to strengthen cooperation in the development of innovation, technology, research and human capital, as well as to promote knowledge transfer between academia and industry.

RSU Vice-Rector for Studies Haralds Plaudis (right) and Head of Artificial Intelligence at LMT Mārtiņš Zeps sign the memorandum

‘Cooperation between LMT and RSU is an organic next step, combining the knowledge and expertise of two leaders in their fields. We live in a time when technology is increasingly intertwined with our everyday life, work and education; therefore, it is particularly important to forge a stronger bond between research, innovation and the creation of practical solutions. Together with RSU, we wish to not only develop new projects and knowledge but also to strengthen public understanding of the opportunities technology provides and their impact on our future. We see particular potential in the field of artificial intelligence, where the best results are achieved by cooperating with businesses, researchers and new talent,’ emphasises Mārtiņš Zeps, Head of Artificial Intelligence at LMT.

The RSU Faculty of Social Sciences will continue to develop cooperation with businesses, governmental and non-governmental organisations by creating partnerships that help bring together knowledge, experience and new ideas to address current developments and challenges.