New RSU Alumni Association Board elected
In the afternoon of 18 May, the Annual General Meeting of Rīga Stradiņš University Alumni Association was held. The aim of the meeting was to review the events of the past year, engage in a discussion about the most important events in the life of RSU graduates and elect the new Board.
The General Meeting began with a report on the Association's accomplishments in 2021, delivered by Dins Šmits, the President of the Alumni Association Board and Artūrs Kaļva, the Executive Director. Over the last five years, the percentage of graduates who become members after graduating from RSU has increased significantly. In view of this increase, further work should focus on quality assurance and promotion of the sense of belonging.
In 2021, the Association's activities were still limited by the Covid-19 virus, so other formats of events were developed, such as Zināšanu soļanka, various social networking activities and the first photo orienteering of the Alumni Association. The novelty of the last year was a graduate ring, which can be viewed at RSU supply centre and purchased by each graduate. The implementation of the projects launched in 2020 (e.g. Research Academy in cooperation with RSU SU, Student Research and Innovation Grants in cooperation with RSU and RSU SU) also continued.
Dins Šmits, the President of the Alumni Association Board, speaks on the accomplishments of the previous year
Last year, alumni.lv - an umbrella organisation that is still under development, but aims to unite graduates of the best universities in Latvia, was founded in cooperation with RTU Alumni Association and the Alumni Club of the University of Latvia.
Dins Šmits, the President of the Alumni Association Board emphasized: "Cooperation between universities is important to promote both networking and growth. Currently, RSU Alumni Association stands out significantly among other alumni associations of Latvian universities not only for the number of members, but also for a vast variety of graduate activities both in the scope and in the promotion of science."
The cooperation with the Boris and Inara Teterev Foundation providing targeted scholarships for lecturers and participating in various important events such as the opening of Boris Teterev Auditorium and the launch of the art object The Big Vase at RSU, is still being highly appreciated.
Aigars Pētersons, RSU Rector, also addressed the audience and praised the successful cooperation between RSU and the Association. "A very good foundation was laid when the Association was founded. What RSU cannot do, the Alumni Association does, and vice versa. Everyone - lecturers, students and graduates - benefits! Currently, RSU is the best university in Latvia - the number of applicants increases the most every year, as does the number of international visiting professors. RSU is in the first place both in the number of scientific publications and in the rankings, and being a graduate of RSU is an increasingly prestigious title," said the Rector.
This General Meeting was special with the fact that a new Board of RSU Alumni Association was elected. Two areas were highlighted that should be worked on in the coming years to promote growth and added value in the Association: attracting international graduates and promoting research. The members of the Association present voted unanimously in favour of the composition of the Board for the next term: Associate Professor Dins Šmits, Professor Romans Lācis, Liene Ņikitina-Zaķe, Lecturer Liene Ruta Siliņa, Juris Šleiers, Ieva Lejniece and Artūrs Kaļva. We congratulate the new Board and wish them joint and determined effort to achieve the goals set!
The newly elected Alumni Association Board:
Artūrs Kaļva (from left), Ieva Lejniece, Prof. Romans Lācis, Liene Ņikitina-Zaķe, Lecturer Ruta Siliņa and Assoc. Prof. Dins Šmits
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