Orientation Week for International Students has Concluded

A week before the start of each semester the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) International Department (ID) organises Orientation Week during which all new international students can learn more about Latvia and the practical sides of studying at RSU.

The event took place online from 26 to 28 January and new students joined from their home countries, from their new rooms in Riga, or in some cases even from airports. This semester RSU greets 289 new students from 26 countries and 38 incoming Erasmus+ mobility students.

On the first day students were introduced to the university and student life here at RSU. The day was opened by Rector Prof. Aigars Pētersons and Baiba Pētersone, Director of the ID, who welcomed the new students to RSU. Māris Ginters, Head of the ID International Admissions Office, shared interesting statistics about the cohort of new students: most of them are beginning their medical studies, over a third of them are from Sweden and almost another third  are from Germany. He also answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the admissions process, studies and the COVID-19 vaccination certificates that are required to participate in on-site classes. Later linguist and translator Rafael Martín Calvo shared his impressions on Latvia with a presentation “Latvia from a guest's perspective” before the event was turned over to Lelde Kozilāne who have a presentation on Student Services at RSU.

On the second day of Orientation Week, the new students were informed about the study process and many academic questions. The Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Smuidra Žermanos and the Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Assoc. Prof. Andris Ābeltiņš greeted the new students. Later representatives from the RSU Student Union (SP, Studējošo pašpārvalde) and the International Student Association (ISA) Ingvars Kudeikins, Mohamed Naleef Ahamed Mazhar and Adam Bott gave a presentation on the student organisations and their role at RSU. They encouraged the new students to be not only academically but also socially active during their studies. On the second half of the day the Assistant to the Head of Academic Affairs at ISA, Mihir Shaileshbhai Jani, gave a presentation on e-studies, where to find course materials, databases, RSU’s internal rules and regulations. In the evening, the new students could join a webinar where medical student Adam Bott, Anda Strautiņa, Career Development Facilitator from the RSU Career Center, and Sabīne Riseva, a specialist and bullet-journaling enthusiast, shared some practical ideas on time management and different study methods. They reminded the new students that it's helpful to start paying attention from the very first day.

On the final day of Orientation Week, the event turned to the practicalities of living in Riga - Mārtiņš Ķipurs from the Riga Municipal Police gave a presentation on public safety and order, and informed students of the most recent epidemiological regulations, Dr. Ilze Koreškova from the RSU Outpatient Clinic talked about healthcare in Riga. Afterwards, Reinis Gailītis and Māris Ginters from the ID International Admissions Office reminded the new students of immigration procedures and informed them of the possibility to acquire a Latvian personal identification number. The incoming Erasmus+ mobility students met with RSU’s Erasmus+ mobility coordinators Maruta Funta and Anita Krastiņa in a separate Zoom conference.

The International Department would like to thank everyone who participated in Orientation Week and shared their knowledge and tips with the new students and the Erasmus+ mobility participants.

The International Department wishes everyone a successful semester and time at RSU!

video from the event

more on the orientation week