RSU hosts visit by President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Deputy Speaker of the Saeima

On Wednesday, 23 October, Theodoros Rousopoulos, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, visited the Faculty of Social Sciences of Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU).

During their visit, they met with RSU students and actively discussed the protection of democracy, freedom of speech, and the rule of law, as well as the role of independent media today. 

RSU students engage in a discussion on freedom of media and speech

RSU students actively participated in a discussion on various challenges of democracy and expressed their thoughts on how young people can strengthen democratic values. Topical issues such as the development of digital media and their impact on the accessibility and reliability of information were also discussed.

Kalniņa-Lukaševica stressed that freedom of speech and independent media are essential for a well-informed society and active participation in political processes. Rusopoulos shared his experience both as a politician and a journalist, pointing out that the media plays a crucial role in informing the public and strengthening democracy.

Academic and political cooperation for the development of democracy

The visit and the discussions revealed the close links between EU leaders and the academic environment. Kalniņa-Lukaševica and Rusopoulos highlighted that this interaction is essential for the development of a critically thinking and active youth capable of influencing the future of democracy. The academic environment is a platform where students can engage in discussions with political leaders, ask important questions, and gain a deeper understanding of the key aspects of the democratic process. 

In addition to engaging with students, the guests held discussions with the management of the Faculty of Social Sciences how digital change is influencing social sciences education and media professionals, highlighting the importance of the university in the educational process, as well as the role of higher education as a platform for internationally relevant discussions on the development of democracy. At the same time, Rusopoulos stressed the importance of the social sciences to building a democracy. 

The visit demonstrated the importance of cooperation between academics and political leaders, as well as the participation of students in solving global issues.