RSU Tops University Reputation Rankings for Fourth Year

The survey reveals that RSU has managed to retain its position in the eyes of both the general public and among young people. The university continues to strengthen its position and stands out from other institutions of higher education regarding quality of education, practical knowledge and skills and a diploma that is valued highly in the labour market.

RSU’s reputation has been improving annually since Kantar started conducting the study. The largest age group (15-60) assesses RSU’s reputation with 77 index points this year, while younger people’s (15-26 years) assessment was even higher – 80 index points. This indicator significantly exceeds the average indicator in Latvia which is 59.

The study concludes that this rating is rooted in the high academic quality RSU provides. The education at RSU provides knowledge and skills essential for employability in the student’s chosen profession, and a diploma awarded by the university is highly appreciated in the labour market both in Latvia and abroad. ‘It is very important for us to know that young people appreciate these aspects, as a university’s reputation is one of the determining factors in choosing a university,’ says RSU Rector Prof. Aigars Pētersons.

The Rector stresses that this spring has been unusual for all social sectors and especially for higher education. Nevertheless, RSU has managed to move to the digital realm quickly and provided its students with a comprehensive study process remotely during the national state of emergency. RSU was the first university in Latvia to switch to remote learning, and since March the contents of e-studies have been continuously upgraded. Lectures and classes were held using Zoom, and final exams were conducted using Respondus Monitor and other platforms. ‘An outstanding reputation is an asset that comes slowly – it is hard to earn and easy to lose. The reputation survey shows that despite the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic posed, we have managed not only to retain, but also to strengthen our leading position among Latvian institutions of higher education,’ says Prof. Pētersons.

The Latvian academic reputation survey was conducted in March and April 2020 in the form of computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) and surveyed 1006 Latvian citizens aged 15–60 (this is a representative sample of the general population in the given age group).