International and Latvian Accreditation Experts Evaluate Economics and Business Study Directions at RSU

On 23-25 February, Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) received both remote and in person visits by a group of Latvian and international experts and a representative from the Quality Agency for Higher Education to receive accreditation for the RSU Management, Administration and Real Estate Management study field. The experts’ visit is an important stage in evaluating a study field at RSU, which is the first part of the accreditation process.

During the three-day visit, the experts met with a number of representatives from various groups involved in the study process – RSU management, structural support units, the RSU library, programme managers, local and international lecturers, students, graduates, and employers from both Riga and Kurzeme. During the visit, the experts visited the B-Space Business Incubator and the university’s Liepāja branch.

The close cooperation between all RSU academic-, management-, and supporting structural units involved in the administration and quality assurance of the study process could be felt during the visit. Modris Ozoliņš, the Director of the International Programme Department at Riga Technical University (RTU) and the Director of the Innovations and Business study programme at the RTU Faculty of Engineering Economics and Management headed the group of accreditation experts. He emphasised that this aspect of the study direction was especially strong.

At the end of the visit, Ozoliņš concluded that ‘Clear, harmonious, and effective cooperation between the heads of the programmes, lecturers, and RSU management in the implementation of the academic process, as well as information technology, personnel, and other structural support units have demonstrated the ability of RSU and its accredited study direction programmes to quickly and qualitatively be able to adapt to distance learning using advanced e-learning environment and extensive IT support.’

During the visit, the experts also took a positive view of the RSU B-Space Business Incubator and how it is being included into the study process. Aiva Vīksna, an accreditation expert group representative and an entrepreneur nominated by the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia, appreciated how the incubator cooperated closely with the study programmes and the labour market by attracting entrepreneurs and investors. She encouraged the incubator to develop further through sustained cooperation with large Latvian business and investor associations.

‘Your lecturers are enthusiastic and innovative, your leaders are future-oriented, your students and graduates are loyal advocates of RSU and the employers involved are responsive and engaged,’ concluded the group while also recommending further strengthening the practical cooperation with students and graduates.

To enhance the quality of the programme, the experts recommended exploring possibilities for wider strategic cooperation with international and European higher education associations and universities. The accreditation group’s international experts from universities in the Netherlands, Poland, and Lithuania responded positively to the Head of the RSU study direction, Romāns Putāns’ offer to establish such cooperations.

A written report is expected by mid-April. The study direction team highly appreciates and thanks all those involved – students, graduates, employers, lecturers, colleagues, and managers, including the Liepāja branch of RSU. ‘The accreditation experts’ visit allowed us to become even more aware of the amount of work that has done, to gather best practices, to further strengthen our team spirit and assess both achievements and development plans, and to identify and strengthen our potential in contents and practice, regional coverage, and the range of formats available.

'Of course, it is nice to hear that we are on the right track and to receive support and recommendations from international best practices to achieve successful results,’ concluded Putāns.

The Department of International Business and Economics at the RSU Faculty of European Studies is implementing three academic bachelor's study programmes within the Management, Administration and Real Estate Management study direction, including one in English. There will additionally be two professional master's study programmes, and a doctoral study programme. In the future, by structuring priorities, there are plans to gradually develop this direction also at the Liepāja branch, as distance learning and in English. Elements of distance learning are already being tested and expanding within the remote study process in order for a full-fledged distance learning format to be approbated. International development is also being strengthened through international visiting lecturers coming to RSU to deliver guest lectures, and by RSU lectures going abroad to participate in international projects.