Rector Aigars Pētersons: our hard work has yielded significant results
On Thursday 5 September, both university staff and partners of the university attended the traditional academic meeting of Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU). RSU Rector Prof. Aigars Pētersons began his speech to the crowded hall by thanking the entire team for their excellent work.
‘We measure our growth and performance by comparing numbers, and the numbers clearly show that our hard work has yielded significant results.’
RSU Rector Prof. Aigars Pētersons
This year, the number of applicants to RSU increased by 20% compared to last year and by 35% over the last two years. A quarter of RSU students come from abroad - the largest number of international students come from Scandinavia and Germany. Additionally this year eight first year students from the United States have begun their studies at RSU. ‘Due to the tough competition, we enrolled only one in four international applicants, so the best and the most motivated ones are now studying at RSU,’ Prof. Pētersons said. The number of international visiting professors is growing too - every fourth visiting professor is currently from abroad.
RSU has developed intensive cooperation with several clinics in Germany, Italy, and Israel. These clinics have RSU clinical training centres so that students can practice with the best specialists in state-of-the-art facilities. Equally important is the cooperation with major healthcare facilities in Riga and elsewhere in the country that provide RSU students with placement opportunities and help address the shortage of medical practitioners outside the capital.
Social study programmes have also been successfully developed. For example, several years of work has resulted in a training programme for future police officers at RSU, which is a significant contribution to the development of the national economy.
An increasing number of RSU departments now use simulations in their teaching process. Another important task is to develop research and increase the number of internationally cited publications - this year the number of publications is estimated to be close to three hundred.
RSU also continues to invest in development and infrastructure. Recently the RSU Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy opened its doors on Jāņa Asara Iela, the science incubator will soon have its own premises, new study premises will be opened on 14 Baložu Iela and there will a be new social sciences building on Kuldīgas Iela. The installation of heat insulation at the student hostel was completed, and several other significant investment projects are currently being implemented.
In conclusion, Prof. Pētersons invited everyong to attend the university’s 70th anniversary celebration later this year, and wished everyone a creative, successful, and fruitful new academic year.
At the conclusion of the meeting Xylem TRIO, an internationally renowned group, delighted attendees with the keyboard, saxophone, marimba, and other percussion instruments.
