A look into winter Orientation Week for new international students

Last week, Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) hosted Orientation Week for newly admitted international students. This event takes place twice a year before the beginning of the semester and provides an opportunity for international students to learn more about RSU and Latvia and get to know one another. 298 students from 37 countries are starting their studies at RSU this winter. In total, more than 2,900 foreign students from 80 countries are currently studying at RSU.

The majority of new international students come from Europe - Sweden (29.3%), Germany (23.6%), Norway (11.4%), Finland (7.4%), Portugal (3%), Italy (2.7%) and 4.4% from other regions of the world. The first-year students will study in two study programmes: 265 students are enrolled in the Medicine study programme and 33 students are enrolled in the Dentistry study programme.

This semester, 26 incoming Erasmus+ mobility students from Poland, Turkey, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Spain, and Italy will also join the RSU community. 21 of these incoming students will study in the field of health studies and five in the field of social sciences.

RSU Rector Prof. Aigars Pētersons congratulated the new students on being admitted to the international, friendly and open RSU family and wished them success in their studies. He emphasised that RSU has been a leader in international student education in Latvia for the last 34 years and that RSU has very significant achievements in developing simulation technologies. Research is a priority for RSU, which is why internationalisation and mobility, as well as the use of digital and simulation technologies, are key themes in RSU's development strategy.

In her speech, Director of the International Department Baiba Pētersone encouraged the new students to be passionate about learning and to strive for sustainable solutions, to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the international and multicultural environment of RSU, to be active and participate in events, and to promote RSU in their home countries.

Vice-Dean for International Students at the Faculty of Medicine Smuidra Žermanos promised that lecturers would provide support during the difficult studies and encouraged students to make friends among the University's local students, as having a local friend is always an advantage. Karīna Krūmiņa, the mentor for international students at the Faculty of Dentistry, greeted all new dental students.

During Orientation Week, the students learned about the support that RSU Student Services offers, the student platform, the study process, exams and grades, the services available at the RSU Health Centre, as well as safety and public order rules in the city. The event ended with a fascinating presentation by 5th year medical students about their first impressions in Latvia, complemented by photos from their personal archives and various useful recommendations. Guided by RSU student-mentors, students were led on tours of the RSU main building and the new international students were introduced to the various classrooms, the library, as well as the dental pre-clinic. The students also had the opportunity to participate in a variety of informal events, some of which were organised by the University's International Student Association (ISA).

Orientation Week was organised by the RSU International Department in cooperation with RSU Student Services, the RSU Student Union (Studējošo pašpārvalde, SP), RSU ISA, and the Riga Municipal Police.