Orientation Week – a busy week ahead for winter intake international students

The traditional RSU Orientation Week for newly-enrolled international students will be held from 5-9 February. There are 270 international and exchange students joining RSU this semester – the majority of them to pursue medical and dentistry studies. There are also international nursing and public health students joining our community this semester.

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During Orientation Week newly-arrived international students will be offered a busy, informative and fun-filled timetable of diverse activities and information sessions to familiarise with Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), the study process, e-studies, everyday practicalities, immigration procedures and life in Latvia. Nursing and public health students will have a special welcome day at the Faculty of Public Health and Social Welfare whereas the incoming Erasmus+ students will attend an information session outlining important issues for exchange students.

The RSU International Department in collaboration with the International Student Association have put together an extensive and colourful social programme – icebreaker and team-building games, traditional cuisine tasting, a visit to Rundale Palace, a movie night and a range of other activities.

As recognised by Director of the International Department Baiba Pētersone, “It is important for Orientation Week to not only serve a purpose of informing incoming students on academic processes, RSU internal regulations and other formal matters concerning academic life, but to give them the possibility to meet their future classmates and socialise. With every Orientation Week we try to increase the involvement of the International Student Association (ISA) and the Student Council as no one can give the students more valuable recommendations than students who have gone through this experience themselves.”

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ISA president Robert Ekman highlights the role and importance of Orientation Week, “This is an excellent opportunity to familiarise new students with the RSU academic world, ease any uncertainty or anxiety about the upcoming years. It is an important week to motivate and support the students’ choice of university and study field. We, the members of ISA, have gone through this experience when starting our academic path at RSU. Therefore we are dedicated to offering incoming students the same support for better integration into the academic world and their new country.”

Each semester, Orientation Week for newly-admitted international students is organised by the International Department in close cooperation with ISA and strong support from the Student Union, IT Department, International Student Department and Student Services.