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Consolidation
RSU LSPA
For RSU Employees

Photo: Courtesy of the CEG

Half a year has already passed since 1 July 2024 when Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) and the Latvian Academy of Sport Education (LASE) started on their joint path of development, creating a unified health and sport science ecosystem that will ensure high-quality, internationally competitive, research-based higher education and good governance.

Behind these words lies a lot of practical work in the form of time, effort and expertise put in the staff, so that RSU and LASE can work together as cohesively as possible.  We asked representatives from different departments to tell us about their achievements, and we will publish these stories on a weekly basis.

The RSU Centre for Educational Growth (CEG) is actively working on analysing, integrating and developing study programmes at RSU LASE and RSU; staff members from RSU LASE are offered opportunities to learn different subjects. We met with representatives of CEG to talk about these and other activities.

Introduction of common quality criteria

In cooperation with faculties at RSU, the CEG is working on consolidating RSU LASE and RSU study programmes, implementing unified quality criteria and preparing programmes for external quality assessment. As part of the consolidation, the RSU LASE sports, education and health care study programmes are being integrated into the corresponding RSU study fields, with some programmes being merged and others substantially improved. To accomplish this, the contents of the study programmes have been comprehensively analysed, information has been gathered on the sector's vision of the preferred development of the programmes, and a new vision of the content and outcomes has been developed in working groups. Work has also started on developing new study courses and improving current courses, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the consolidation to combine the expertise and experience of lecturers, to share infrastructure and technologies and to use them efficiently.

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The outcome of this work will also be assessed by external experts during programme licensing and accreditation. Currently, the work that the CEG is coordinating regarding the accreditation of the Education and Pedagogy study field is almost completed, and the contents of the Sports study field is actively being worked on to prepare it for accreditation.

Professional development and support for lecturers

To support the modernisation of study programmes and to develop lecturers' competences, the CEG has made it possible for every lecturer to participate in any training organised by the centre. In addition to the regular training offered to all RSU lecturers, the CEG has implemented seminars and field cycles targeted specifically to the needs of RSU LASE lecturers and staff. This is a valuable support in understanding the RSU study process and operational systems, and to effectively use the opportunities it offers. 

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CEG Director, Assoc. Prof. Nora Jansone-Ratinika notes:

‘LASE colleagues have shown themselves as active and interested participants. We are very happy to see our colleagues’ eagerness to improve their educational competence and to share their experience, knowledge and skills.

Almost all RSU LASE lecturers, regardless of their position and experience, have participated in some of the trainings, making the IT infrastructure of the new computer classroom go through a real "stress test". Each time, the training generates interesting discussions, challenging questions and ideas for educational innovation.’

The role of educational technology in the study process

The training focuses on educational technologies extensively used at RSU, such as e-studies (development of study courses, creation of study tests, assessment and feedback) and the use of artificial intelligence solutions in the study process (planning learning activities, creating and automated import of knowledge test questions into e-studies, making presentations, facilitating collaboration and communication). 

School for Junior Academics and strengthening collegiality

Raimonds Strods, CEG Educational Growth Innovation Manager, says: ‘To enrich the experience and strengthen the collegiality of our lecturers, it is important that five RSU LASE lecturers participate in the semester-long Jauno docētāju skola (School for Junior Academics). The intensive joint learning allows lecturers not only to get to know one other better, but also to explore the fields their colleagues represent and to generate ideas for new forms of cooperation.

The friendlier and more confident the lecturers are in their teaching skills, the more exciting and supportive of learning outcomes the study process becomes for the students.’

Individual counselling and personalised support

Staff will also have access to individual consultations and support to use what they learned in training to improve their courses before the start of the spring semester. Many colleagues have already taken advantage of this opportunity by applying for consultations with colleagues from the Study Innovation and Development Unit of the Department of the Centre for Educational Growth (picinovacijas@rsu.lv), like Head of the Unit Matīss Sīlis, E-study Content Administrator Bruno Žuga, and Educational Growth Innovation Manager Raimonds Strods, and others.

Plans for next semester

An intensive training schedule has already been planned for the 2025 spring semester. RSU LASE lecturers will acquire in-depth knowledge on how to develop courses and prepare high-quality course descriptions, use student feedback for course improvement, create effective teaching presentations, prepare interactive learning materials and other topics.


Project no. KPVIS 5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/005 RSU internal and RSU with LASE external consolidation. 

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