Orientation Week Introduces New International Students to RSU

February is here and brings with it the start of a new semester. Most students have successfully passed their exams and are ready to start the new semester. There are, however, new students have just joined the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) community.

293 students from 29 different countries have just joined RSU this semester. 260 of them have enrolled in the Medicine programme and 33 in Dentistry. As the first semester for them is completely remote and students have been advised to remain in their home countries for now, it has been particularly important to introduce everyone to the university and study process here. In light of this, the International Department organised a three-day-long Orientation Week.

Over the course of three days the students were greeted by Prof. Aigars Pētersons, the RSU Rector, Dr. Baiba Pētersone, the Director of the International Department and Dr. Smuidra Žermanos, the Dean of the International Student Department. The International Department, Student Services, the International Student Department, the International Student Association (RSU) and the Student Union (SU) shared information about the university, the study process, different online services, immigration and the student organisations at RSU.

Prof. Deniss Hanovs from the RSU Department of Communication Studies presented several things that new students might encounter when moving to Riga. Two doctors from the RSU Psychosomatic Clinic - Dr. Laura Valaine un Dr. Renāte Kangsepa - discussed the importance of mental health and stressed the ways in which it can be affected by the pandemic. Dr. Cindy Heaster from the RSU Health Center gave  a presentation on physical health and wellbeing, and the Riga Municipal Police joined the event to discuss information about safety regulations in Riga.

Several networking activities took place in the evenings and provided new students with the opportunity to get to meet one another virtually. Another noteworthy event was a time management workshop that was led by two medical students in their 5th and 6th years – Serafima Grigorjeva un Claes William Eklund. The students shared valuable and practical suggestions regarding time and workload management in order to keep up with studies remotely.

This semester is remote and it is not possible to be onsite, so knowing how to keep in touch with one another is especially important. In order to encourage communication, the International Department has planned several online networking events that will take place throughout the spring semester.

The International Department would like to thank everyone who participated in Orientation Week and shared with the new students the very needed information.

The International Department wishes everyone a successful semester, new knowledge and a fantastic time here at RSU!