RSU Orientation Week for international and exchange students

Last week Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) held an Orientation Week for newly-enrolled international students. Almost 280 international students from 29 countries are joining RSU this semester to study in one of four English language study programmes – Medicine, Dentistry, Public Health and Social Work with Children and Youth.

During this week freshers had an opportunity to get to know the university and familiarise themselves with life in Latvia. During a five day series of events the students also found out about what student organisations there are at RSU, and how to get involved in them. The week was filled with various cultural activities – a movie night, guided museum tours, sports activities, and a day trip to Rundāle Palace.

 “It is a great pleasure to welcome students who are highly motivated and with great previous accomplishments, both in the academic and professional fields, as well as in their public and private lives,” says Baiba Pētersone, the director of the RSU International Department (ID). “All students come with different experiences. It enriches the environment of our university and gives us an opportunity to encounter different worldviews. It is a pleasure that alongside the most popular study programmes (Medicine and Dentistry) foreign youngsters also choose postgraduate programmes like Public Health and Social Work, as these fields are essential in contemporary society.”

The Orientation Week for international students is organised each semester to foster the integration of international students into the university and the study process. In addition to the newly-arrived full-time international students, Orientation Week is also attended by Erasmus+ students from European partner universities of RSU.

“The Orientation Week events were exciting and useful. I truly enjoyed the team-building games,” said first year medical student Anette Runne from Finland. “It was a great opportunity to get to know other students, RSU, Rīga and Latvia in general.”

Newly-enrolled dentistry student Carolin Neubarth from Germany shared similar views: “I really enjoyed participating in various Orientation Week events. It was a great opportunity to meet other students. I particularly liked the activities in which the RSU International Student Association (ISA) participated.”

Orientation Week is organised by the RSU International Department together with other structural units, the RSU International Student Association (ISA) and the Student Union.