Alumni Association celebrates 15 Years: Key achievements

Let's look back at year 2024!

Our 2024 began as usual with the Alumni Association’s much-loved gathering, the Intelligence Club, which also celebrated its own anniversary this year. For the 10th time, we hosted a dinner with Supreme Court Judge Sanita Osipova as our guest, enriching the evening with her valuable insights.

One of the main tasks of the Alumni Association is to attract new members and stay connected with recent graduates. In early February, in collaboration with Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), we helped organise the Maģistrs – solis augstāk (Master's - A step up) Think Tank. The event featured a discussion with several RSU alumni, including Oxana Brante, Project Manager of Pharmaceutical Technologies; Džeina Mežale, Board Member of Ūdensroze SIA; Lelde Ģiga, former Deputy Director of Treatment Services at the NHS; Laura Šāberte, Head of the Legal Department at the Health Inspectorate; Jānis Celmiņš, Member Relations Manager at the LCCI; and Inese Tauriņa, Director of the Society for Openness, Delna. Additionally, Dr. Artūrs Miksons shared insights on how to complete your master’s degree without giving up.

Collaborating with the RSU Career Support and Wellbeing Centre plays a key role in engaging and informing members. In April, we organised a discussion with our graduates about their diverse careers, featuring former Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation, Signe Tomsone, and RSU graduates Inese Vectirāne, Elīza Marta Stangaine, and Rūdolfs Vilde.

Success can be achieved individually, but great success is built on collaboration—and it’s essential to value that collaboration. In April, we were honoured with the Friend of the Year nomination by the RSU Student Union, recognising our significant role in supporting students. We are incredibly proud of this achievement!

The year was truly one of celebration, marked by our 15th anniversary event, which we began planning well in advance. The event took place before a large audience on the summer terrace of the museum Zuzeum. Those who work hard also know how to relax, but we always manage to work first and relax later. Alongside the celebrations, we held a general meeting of our members, where we reflected on our achievements. In collaboration with alumni, the band Vectēva Papirosi, and the game organisers Cietie Rieksti, we created an unforgettable event that our members will cherish for years to come. Throughout the year, we introduced the Alumni Association office and board members through our Iepazīsti savējos (Get to Know Your Peers) campaign on social media, offering a glimpse into both the professional and personal sides of our team.

For the 11th year, in collaboration with RSU and the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation, the Alumni Association is offering lecturers the opportunity to receive a targeted grant to modernise and create new study courses within four months, investing both work and resources. Our sincere thanks go to the Boris and Ināra Teterev Foundation for their continued trust and collaboration over the years!

One of the Alumni Association's biggest events of the year was the summer graduation ceremonies, where students from various faculties gathered as alumni, expanding our network to grow together after graduation. In just five years, the RSU Alumni Association has grown from 100 members to become the largest of its kind in Latvia, with more than 1,700 graduates united by a diploma from the RSU, the Medical Academy of Latvia, and the Riga Medical Institute.

In the autumn, we continued our seasonal event, the RSU Alumni Association Intelligence Club Dinner, to which all members and guests were invited. The event was opened by a special guest—eminent sociolinguist, professor, and former Minister of Education and Science, Ina Druviete. She shared her insights on the topic ‘Language as Identity, Symbol, and Instrument.’

We are also proud to have awarded the annual RSU Alumnus of the Year honour to a graduate who went above and beyond, achieved exceptional success, and carried the name of their Alma Mater around the world. Last year, the honour was given to gynaecologist and obstetrician Elizabete Ārgale, who is active in both academic and professional fields.

Our aim is not only to provide members with the opportunity to gather in a relaxed atmosphere but also to offer opportunities for learning. In the autumn, an idea emerged: to create educational lectures featuring our alumni, open to everyone—alumni, students, and RSU staff. Thus, the Vieduma tīkls (Intelligence Network) lecture series was born. Our first lecture took place in November, where endocrinologist Prof. Ilze Konrāde shared insights on how to maintain energy during the dark season. Please feel free to join our next lecture in January 2025!

The now traditional New Gen event made its return after a two-year break, taking on a slightly different form. In collaboration with our friends at Drink and Draw and Brain Games, we organised a Christmas board games evening for our members, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere—a tradition we will certainly continue.

For the fourteenth year, the pharmaceutical company Olainfarm AS (now Olpha) has been collaborating with the Association, awarding scholarships to the brightest students of the RSU Faculty of Pharmacy to promote excellence in the Latvian pharmaceutical industry. The EUR 2,000 scholarship was awarded to three RSU Faculty of Pharmacy students: Vita Servidova, Olga Zeļenka, and Daniela Plasa.

For many years, we have also collaborated with the RSU Student Union (Studentu pašpārvalde, SP), providing students with the opportunity to conduct their own research projects and apply for funding through the Student Research and Innovation Grants.

The year passed by in a flash, filled with a variety of events and many emotions. Together, the Association achieved great things, implemented new ideas, and set exciting goals for the future. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who was with the Alumni Association and contributed to making 2024 a wonderful year! We look forward to seeing you in our Sweet 16 in 2025!

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