International experts evaluate RSU Medicine study programme

Photo: Courtesy of RSU

On 1 and 2 December, representatives of The Accreditation Agency for Health and Social Sciences (AHPGS), an agency recognised by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), visited Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) on an accreditation visit. The visit is one of the stages in the accreditation process of the second cycle of the professional higher education Medicine study programme, which will be completed in spring 2026.    

‘The accreditation will open opportunities for our graduates in both the professional and academic fields, as well as open doors for close international cooperation and strengthen RSU's position as a regional leader in medical education,’

said RSU Rector Prof. Aigars Pētersons.

RSU welcomed experts from Germany and Switzerland, as well as representatives from AHPGS. The purpose of the visit was to assess the compliance of the study programme with the standards and guidelines for quality assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG), taking into account the WFME global standards for improving the quality of basic medical education. The delegation included internationally recognized experts: Leopold Beham (Technical University of Munich), Prof. Stephanie Herbstreit (University Hospital Essen), Christian Schirlo (University of Lucerne), and Prof. Marjo Wijnen-Meijer (Technical University of Dresden). The AHPGS delegation was represented by Corina Sutter, Head of International Accreditation, and Eva Pietsch, Executive Director of the agency.

During the two-day visit, the experts familiarised themselves with the university's infrastructure, study process and quality assurance system.

On the first day, the delegation met with RSU management, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Professor Jana Pavāre, the Vice Dean and Director of the Medicine study programme Assoc. Prof. Ingus Skadiņš, and lecturers from the Faculty of Medicine. Under the guidance of Prof. Haralds Plaudis and Aleksandra Oborina, Head of Simulation-Based Education Development, the experts visited the RSU Study Centre at Riga East University Hospital and became acquainted with the hospital’s material and technical base used for clinical training. An important part of the visit was a tour of the Medical Education Technology Centre, where RSU simulation specialists introduced the experts to RSU’s simulation-based teaching approach.

The second day focused on students’ and alumni experience. Conversations took place on the quality of studies, support systems and possible improvements.

At the end of the visit, the experts provided feedback on the strengths of the Medicine programme and recommendations for further development.

The accreditation by the WFME-recognised agency confirms that the RSU Medicine programme meets the highest international standards, strengthens the confidence of students and employers, and opens up opportunities for graduates to work in the US, Canada and other countries where such accreditation is compulsory. This significantly increases RSU's competitiveness and attractiveness among foreign students. At the same time, the accreditation process contributes to the development of a quality culture, as experts make recommendations for improving studies, infrastructure and the academic environment.

RSU thanks all colleagues, students and alumni for their involvement and contribution to the accreditation process. 

The RSU Faculty of Medicine would particularly like to thank the RSU Study Quality Unit, Dagnija Briede and Simona Semjonova, as well as the Centre for Educational Growth and Matīss Sīlis for preparing the accreditation process and organising the visit.