The University of Latvia

The University of Latvia pays great attention to the development of international collaboration in order to promote international identification and to strengthen good reputation.

The University of Latvia has been always active in international collaboration. Nowadays the objective is to focus on the content and quality of international cooperation in order to make internationalization a balanced element of education and research.

The internationalization processes take place in the following areas:

By participating in international university organizations and active membership in networks such as EUA (The European University Association), UNICA (Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe), BSRUN (Baltic Sea Region Universities Network), CAMPUS EUROPAE, UTRECHT Network the University of Latvia strives to intensify different types of exchanges and to widen possibilities for internationalization of studies and research.

Active participation within bilateral partnership agreements and European programmes has promoted wide cooperation activities within ERASMUS programme. The number of agreements with European partner universities has grown tremendously within last 5 years anticipating more intensive exchanges of students and teachers. At present the University of Latvia has signed more than 350 agreements with 235 institutions in 30 European countries. The University of Latvia has developed in cooperation with partner universities and successfully carried out two Intensive Programmes in the fields of “History” and “Education”.

The University of Latvia has become an attractive place to study both for full time and exchange international students. The number of available programmes and courses on English increase every year. We are glad that the faculties are active in involving visiting professors within the study process.

Cooperation in research has been also very active and productive. Participation in the 5th and 6th RTD Framework Programmes, EU, UNESCO, NATO, Nordic, Volkswagen Fund projects has ensured unity of studies and research, has allowed to develop Centres of Excellence, e.g.: UNESCO Biomedical Research and Study Centre, EU Solid State Physics Institute, EU Institute of Physics and EU Institute of Atomic Physics and Spectroscopy, UNESCO department at Institute for Environmental Studies and Management, Jean Monnet Chair.

Over recent years the increased emphasis has been placed on institutional and departmental management. Several projects have given a lot of ideas for further restructuring of educational administration and a new institutional administrative structure.