RSU Leading Researcher Ieva Reine’s Swedish Experience

After studying and working in Sweden for many years, Dr. med. Ieva Reine has decided to return home to Latvia. Being one of the most promising psychology students, Reine was offered the opportunity to continue her studies and research at the Umeå University in northern Sweden more than 20 years ago. ‘Although I started my studies in Latvia, I obtained all my higher education documents in the field of public health and psychology at the Umeå University,’ Reine explains. ‘I also have a PhD in public health.’

While working in Sweden, Reine actively cooperated with Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) as a visiting lecturer and leading researcher. In her research work at RSU, Reine was involved in the National Research Programme project that investigated the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of seniors, and she also developed recommendations for public institutions. Recently, she started a cooperation project with the Oslo Metropolitan University which is where the impact of the pandemic on older people in Latvia and Norway will be mapped.

Reine uses the experience she has gained from lecturing at Uppsala University to give lectures to lecturers at RSU. She is also the leading Latvian researcher in the international SHARE study on health, ageing and retirement. The RSU Institute of Public Health is the coordinator and implementer of this study in Latvia.

In her cooperation with RSU, Reine acknowledges that she is becoming increasingly aware of the university's interest, motivation and willingness to involve lecturers and researchers with international experience in the study process.