First outdoor cinema evening at RSU attracts over 300 students

At the beginning of June, Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) hosted its first outdoor movie night in Inspiration Park. The event was organised by the RSU Career Guidance and Wellbeing Centre in cooperation with the Student Union (Studējošo pašpārvalde, SP) and the International Student Association (ISA).

The aim of the event was to provide students with an opportunity to meet in an informal setting, enjoy a film under the open sky, and spend quality time with classmates, friends, and other members of the RSU community in the fresh air.

Exceeding expectations

Interest in the event exceeded all expectations. More than 300 registrations were received, making it one of the most well-attended student well-being initiatives to date. Even before the event, it was clear that the idea had resonated with students, but the level of interest pleasantly surprised the organisers.

‘We organised the event Open Air Cinema for the first time, so we did not know what to expect. When we saw that the number of registrations had reached 300, we were genuinely surprised, very pleased, and, of course, excited,’ says Social Support Administrator Patrīcija Melānija Manteja. ‘It was particularly rewarding to see that students are eager to participate in community-building activities like this and appreciate the opportunity to spend an evening together outside the academic environment. 

The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, which gives us confidence that events of this kind are certainly worth continuing in the future.’

Strengthening belonging

The outdoor movie night brought together students from various study programmes and countries, fostering new connections, a sense of community, and a stronger feeling of belonging to the university. Organising the event in cooperation with SP and ISA helped reach a broad audience and create an inclusive environment where everyone felt welcome.

A new tradition

Given the strong turnout and positive feedback from participants, the organisers hope that outdoor movie nights could become a new RSU tradition in the years to come.