METC – the “Yes” team behind RSU’s 2024 Structural Unit of the Year: ambitious, practical, award-winning
Writer: Linda Rozenbaha, RSU Public Relations Unit
The Medical Education Technology Centre (METC) has received the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Annual Award in the Structural Unit of the Year category for two consecutive years – 2023 and 2024. This recognition is particularly meaningful, as the votes come from RSU staff.
Throughout the year, we will continue to introduce the winners of the RSU Annual Awards and remind you that voting for the 2025 Awards is now open!
Ieva Šlēziņa, Director of METC, shares her thoughts below.
How do you evaluate the activities of the METC, and what do you see as most important for the development of RSU?
I value the work that METC has done so far. The Centre not only meets its goals, but also constantly seeks new solutions, demonstrating initiative and the ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances.
The role of METC as a strategic partner should be particularly emphasised –
in recent years, it has become a driving force behind several important RSU initiatives at the national level.
For example, under METC’s leadership, a Ministry of Health working group has developed a strategy for integrating simulation-based education into all levels of medical and healthcare education in Latvia. In addition, a national-level training concept has been created to strengthen the professional competence of individuals involved in civil and military crisis situations. METC has also introduced simulation instructor training in Latvia, based on international best practice, thereby raising the professional bar across the sector.
The Centre has successfully combined academic ambition with practical contributions to society, making it one of the cornerstones of RSU’s development.
Give us an insight into the history of METC – how did the Centre come about and develop?
METC began its operations in 2013 as an initiative of Prof. Jānis Gardovskis, who was Rector at the time. The idea was inspired by the experience of internationally renowned partners, particularly from Israel. In 2014, the Department of Clinical Skills and Medical Technology was established under the leadership of Prof. Oļegs Sabeļņikovs, with the goal of systematically integrating skills development in a simulated environment into the study process.
Over the past 12 years, METC has gradually designed and developed a simulation-based approach for various target audiences. Today, it is an integral part not only of undergraduate studies — training doctors, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, and professionals in other fields — but also of residency and professional development programmes. The simulated hospital project has received particular recognition, enabling students to develop their clinical skills, decision-making, and communication with simulated patients each semester in a safe learning environment.
This year, simulated patients were also included in the new format of the national examination of the Faculty of Medicine.
Two years ago, in response to the war in Ukraine, a Military Medicine Fundamentals course was developed and incorporated into the curriculum in a short period of time, with support from the Ministry of Defence, the National Armed Forces, and US experts. Practical training within this course takes place in a simulated immersion environment.
In recent years, simulation cycles have also been integrated into residency specialty programmes, ensuring not only the acquisition of clinical skills and algorithms required for each specialty, but also interdisciplinary scenario-based simulations — for example, in the area of patient rights.
Additionally, METC has developed a wide range of professional skills training programmes for healthcare professionals in Latvian hospitals. It also provides first aid training to the general public and supports national-level civil and military training efforts.
With the development of the respective strategy, METC has become a simulation centre of national importance. What began as the idea of a few enthusiastic colleagues has grown into a widely recognised and integral part of healthcare education — supporting the journey towards responsible and safe care for both patients and medical professionals.
How did the team feel, receiving repeated recognition in the form of the RSU Annual Award?
We are truly grateful for this high recognition, especially as it reflects not only our achievements, but also the long-term trust placed in us by our partners and colleagues.
We see ourselves as a “yes” team — open, responsive, and always ready to adapt, collaborate, and experiment,
creating new solutions and raising the bar for medical education worldwide.
The award also serves as a strong incentive to continue our work and to promote the development of simulation-based approaches on an ever-wider scale in Latvia, together with our partners in Riga and the regions. We recognise that this is a shared responsibility for ensuring safer healthcare for patients across the country.
METC is a place where you often host high-level guests, so you are the face of RSU. Has any particular visit left a lasting impression on you?
METC has truly become RSU’s “entry point” for many high-level guests — we regularly host foreign delegations, ambassadors, and senior government officials.
One of the most memorable moments for the METC team was the visit by the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, at the beginning of 2024. In preparation for this event, each colleague had the opportunity to showcase their contribution to METC’s activities and present how we are shaping the future of medical education in Latvia.
Although visits usually following a strict schedule, on this occasion the President’s visit extended beyond the allotted time — it was both an honour and a clear recognition of the significance of METC’s work.
This visit remains a particularly fond memory for many of us.
