VIDEO: Prof. Aigars Pētersons ceremoniously inaugurated as RSU rector

On the afternoon of Thursday 1st February the inauguration ceremony of the new rector of Rīga Stradiņš University Aigars Pētersons was held in the Great Hall of Rīga Stradiņš University. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Latvian government, the university leadership team, faculty deans and pro-deans, staff members, students and invited guests.

Following the formal academic song Gaudeamus igitur,  the opening address was given by Prof. Jānis Gardovskis, RSU rector from 1st January 2008 to 31 December 2017. In his address, he spoke of the achievements of the past 10 years and thanked the RSU team for their work and cooperation.  The professor wished the new rector success in "setting big goals as that is the only way to forge ahead, and good health".

RSU Chair of the Senate, Prof. Andrejs Vilks then read the RSU Constitutional Assembly ruling on the election of the rector, dated 9 November 2017, and the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers endorsing the RSU rector, dated 13 December 2017, and placed the rector's chain of office around Prof. Aigars Pētersons neck. Then in the presence of 500 attendees, Prof. Pētersons took the solemn Rector's oath, starting with, " I, Aigars Pētersons, taking on the responsibilities of the position of rector of Rīga Stradiņš University, solemnly swear that all my work will be directed towards the development and growth of Rīga Stradiņš University. [..]"

After the Latvian national anthem, congratulatory speeches were given by Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis and representatives from the Ministry of Health, Minister of Education and Science, Kārlis Šadurskis, President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Ojārs Spārītis and representatives from the Academy, chair of the RSU Student Union, Linda Skulme and representatives from other higher education institutions in Latvia.

A musical performance was given by RSU Mixed Choir Rīga at the close of the ceremony, led by conductor Zane Zilberte and Evita Taranda (choir master - Uģis Meņģelis). The organist was Inese Paiča, violin solo - Zane Ozolniece, a student at the RSU Faculty of Medicine and Boris and Inara Teterov Foundation scholarship recipient. The choir sang the first part of cantata Te Deum, composed by German composer Conradin Kreutzer and the fifth part of Diatoniskā kantāte, titled Lai tāpēc šodien torņi skan (So, may the towers resound today), composed by Jānis Lūsēns.