What Has Helped the Alumni Association Work Tirelessly During The Pandemic

We were looking forward to 2021 hoping that this year would be better than the previous, with fewer restrictions, high vaccination rates, and more or less back on track. A year has passed, but it seems that the things we hoped for have not moved in the direction we had hoped. What has the past year been like for the Alumni Association?

First of all, I would like to stress that life will most definitely not go back to the way it was. It may be very similar, but it will certainly not be the same - we have all learned to approach the world a little differently than before. In the spring, we created series inspiration evenings, which we called Zināšanu soļanka (Knowledge Soup). Here many different specialists, experts, and people with valuable experience in a certain field could come together to share what they know. At first we thought the event would be an alternative to a in-person events that could take place a few times during the pandemic, but we were frequently asked when the next one would be. Because these meetings were held on Zoom, more people were able to attend than would have been possible in person. Who knows: if it hadn't been for the pandemic, most people might still not know what Zoom is, and we wouldn't know that we could have such valuable evenings for our members. So yes, after this pandemic, our lives and our work will certainly not go back to the way they were. We will have taken a lot of valuable things with us from this time.

Secondly, it's been a good thing that time has passed so quickly. We feel a lot of satisfaction from what we have achieved, and it really feels like it's been a lot! Expectations are high for next year, but this is not much different from other years as we always try to set high goals. One target we had was to get 1,000 members, and something we have now surpassed!

You mentioned that a lot has already been done and that the workload is not decreasing. What has helped the association working without stopping during the pandemic?

RSU itself is our most significant supporter. The university is able to react to government regulations quickly, and knowing what format work will proceed in has created an environment for ideas, projects and hard work. Of course, I am very grateful to the RSU Alumni Association Board, which always lends a helping hand, monitors our work, and comes up with new ideas.

We are a dynamic association, so we have actively looked at different ways in which we can create an environment where we can work in the current circumstances. The aforementioned events Zināšanu soļanka and Erudīts (Erudition) took place online so that we could ensure collaboration and networking when it was not possible to shake hands and meet face-to-face.

But the pandemic has also given us the opportunity to work on projects directly related to COVID-19. One example is our collaboration with the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation and RSU to support researchers in creating a unique COVID-19 patient biobank for research purposes. A study like this provides researchers with an opportunity to study this virus and to learn about its immunological and genetic specificities, which could help predict the course of this disease.

What is the most rewarding thing about looking back on 2021?

The RSU Alumni Association's long cooperation with the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation has been rewarding every year. A lot was achieved this year as well. For example, new target scholarships were selected to modernise study courses. Lecturers are currently working on developing courses and the call for applications for the next round is now open. It is a pleasure to see motivated and dedicated lecturers who want to improve the quality of the learning environment so that future graduates have an even more meaningful learning experience.

Because the epidemiological conditions were deemed safe, we managed to organise two events in person - an Inteliģences klubs (Intellect Club) evening at the new RSU Anatomy Museum. The second was the New Gen evening at which students were invited to a performance by comedian Rūdolfs Kugrēns. These evenings are important for members of the Alumni Association not only to meet former students, colleagues and friends, but also to network with new people and, of course, to strengthen the sense of belonging to their alma mater.

Do you already have a work plan for this year? What are the next projects and events where alumni can reconnect?

We will be holding photo orientation game in January, where participants will have the opportunity to get to know Riga and discover places that are connected to our university and its alumni. Shortly after that, we are planning to organise the first Inteliģences klubs evening of the year, if the epidemiological conditions in the country allow it.

Applications for lecturer grants supported by the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation will soon close. With the help of these lecturers have the opportunity to modernise various study courses and improve the quality of studies. We are also continuing our cooperation with the Student Council and helping with RSU Student Grants and the Research Academy, promoting research among students.

All in all, we are looking forward to 2022! It promises to be a busy year. There are certainly many challenges ahead, but there are also victories and joy, and opportunities to foster alumni's loyalty to their alma mater!