Most applications for tenured professorships at RSU come from abroad

Applicants from abroad have so far shown more interest in international job offers for tenured professorships at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) and Riga Technical University (RTU), but less interest in positions at the University of Latvia (LU), according to the news portals TVnet and LETA.

RSU has announced seven vacancies and received a total of 57 applications, 47 of which were from abroad.

Currently, six tenured professors at RSU come from abroad, which is slightly more than half. Additionally, RSU has extended job offers to several more professors who have not yet been fully employed as their immigration paperwork is still being processed. 

To help international tenured professors, RSU provides financial support for relocation expenses. If necessary, they can also live in comfortable quarters in the University's dormitories for up to six months, or until they find independent accommodation in Latvia. RSU also provides the assistance of an administrative staff member for support navigating the language and, where possible, documents and systems are provided in two languages - Latvian and English.

The main obstacles for attracting international applicants to the University are the language requirements - professors must have a high level of proficiency in Latvian. Other obstacles include immigration procedures and the salary for permanent professorships to ensure that these positions are competitive with those in other EU countries.

Another significant barrier is living and family circumstances, such as job opportunities for partners or educational and extracurricular opportunities for children. RSU proposes that temporary housing support, opportunities for professional development, and regular mentoring could be offered to tenured professors from other countries.

RSU also calls for incentives in the form of specially made programme packages to be introduced in order to encourage Latvian scientists abroad to return home.

Eight tenured professors have been approved at RTU, and the university expects that at least four more will be appointed by the end of the year. Meanwhile, no one from abroad has been approved for a position of tenured professor at the University of Latvia, according to LETA. 

Source: TVNET